Which model Omega is this?

[eurekaiv]

Can someone identify which Omega version this is? I couldn’t find a photo online, with the associated model info, that matched the look of this one exactly.

 

[Paul Howell]

Looks to be a D2 no focusing rails so not a D3 the model is found on a plate attached to the column, you can see the plate but I cant make out the model.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Please post a photograph of the front plate and the small print on the white part.

 

[ic-racer]

Could be this with a variable condenser head.

 

[eurekaiv]

Have no other pics to post, this one's on eBay. If it's a D2, it requires the lens cones to match the lens in order to focus correct? I'm looking into enlargers as I'm going to build a darkroom sometime in the future. Figure I might as well collect some stuff while prices are low but I'm really just familiar with the Beselers since that's all we had in the darkrooms when I was using them in college.

 

[Paul Howell]

The D2 to early D5 used a cone for the 90 to 105, then a second cone for 135 to 162. Beselers and later models Omegas used a double bellows that replaced the cones. In addtion without opening the condenser housing you don't know if the second condensers is there. The Omega variable condenser allowed the upper condenser to be moved to optimize the light for 35mm to 4X5.

Here is a link to the D2 manual.

http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/manuals/enlargers/omega/D2%20Condenser%20and%20Dichro.pdf

 

[MattKing]

It looks to me like ic-racer probably got his info from KHB:
http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Enlargers.htm
I'd agree with his guess.
You will want to be sure that it comes with the cones and a bit more.

 

[Paul Howell]

If you plan on buying the Omega then building it out by buying parts, start with lens, a 50mm, 80mm. 135 and 150mm which cover all the formats from 35mm to 4X5, then you make sure you buy right lens boards for each lens and cone.

 

[eurekaiv]

So I picked up an Omega. Not the one pictured but another from a CL seller and it's exactly as ic-racer described... a D2 with the variable condenser lamp house. This was a smokin' deal I think, $50 for the enlarger and loads of stuff, negative carriers for 35, 6x45 6x6 and 4x5. Got a premier 4 in one easel, an analog GraLab timer that works, a cute little Arkay safelight, a couple other random negative carriers and so forth. Oh, and a set of Ilford below lens contrast filters. It's missing the filter tray and possibly the heat absorbing glass? Not sure if the Omega is supposed to have either by default. There's also no cones and the only lens I found was a 105mm Schneider in really nice shape. All the condensers were present and the lamp is still good too. I already pulled the janky power cord out so I can replace it, did that before I took a photo.

Any tips for servicing it? It goes up and down fine and the focus is ok, but I'd call it a little stiff.

 

[Sirius Glass]

So I picked up an Omega. Not the one pictured but another from a CL seller and it's exactly as ic-racer described... a D2 with the variable condenser lamp house. This was a smokin' deal I think, $50 for the enlarger and loads of stuff, negative carriers for 35, 6x45 6x6 and 4x5. Got a premier 4 in one easel, an analog GraLab timer that works, a cute little Arkay safelight, a couple other random negative carriers and so forth. Oh, and a set of Ilford below lens contrast filters. It's missing the filter tray and possibly the heat absorbing glass? Not sure if the Omega is supposed to have either by default. There's also no cones and the only lens I found was a 105mm Schneider in really nice shape. All the condensers were present and the lamp is still good too. I already pulled the janky power cord out so I can replace it, did that before I took a photo.

Any tips for servicing it? It goes up and down find and the focus it ok but I'd call it a little stiff.

View attachment 309213 View attachment 309214

Ensemble of great compatible equipment that will serve you will in your darkroom work. Enjoy.

 

[ic-racer]

Good deal!
The service manual is available on line. I’ll see if I can find the url.
All the hardware is SAE.

 

[Paul Howell]

Here is the link to the service manual. You got a great deal.

http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/manuals/enlargers/omega/Tech%20Service%20Manual%20-%20Various.pdf

 

[eurekaiv]

Thanks, I‘ve looked over the service manual. Looks like a pretty easy job to get it cleaned and lubed.

 

[Paul Howell]

I've used Omega off and on, mostly on, for the past 50 years, have a D 3, I took the auto focusing rails off as I did not have the matching lens, so it is more like a D2 for close to 40 years and of course I bought it used. Unless you are going print from negatives larger than 6X6 the flat lens board for a 50 and 80mm is all you need. If you plan on printing from 6X9 and 4X5 you need the additional cones and of course lens. Once in aliment just check the aliment on occasion and readjust as needed. Omega was used by the Air Force, Army and Navy until all the services moved onto all digital. If you need parts KHB in Canada carries most of the common parts and sells color and cold heads. And, an important point, check the wiring and lamb socket, if worn or even dated you might want to think rewiring. I had my lamp head rewired at a lamp shop with a modern 3 prong plug with a ground.

 

[eurekaiv]

I've used Omega off and on, mostly on, for the past 50 years, have a D 3, I took the auto focusing rails off as I did not have the matching lens, so it is more like a D2 for close to 40 years and of course I bought it used. Unless you are going print from negatives larger than 6X6 the flat lens board for a 50 and 80mm is all you need. If you plan on printing from 6X9 and 4X5 you need the additional cones and of course lens. Once in aliment just check the aliment on occasion and readjust as needed. Omega was used by the Air Force, Army and Navy until all the services moved onto all digital. If you need parts KHB in Canada carries most of the common parts and sells color and cold heads. And, an important point, check the wiring and lamb socket, if worn or even dated you might want to think rewiring. I had my lamp head rewired at a lamp shop with a modern 3 prong plug with a ground.

The first thing I did when I got it home was pull out the old cord. It was frayed at the grommet where it entered the lamp housing and had tape on it in other spots. Replacing power cords is something I do often for my normal day to day “job” repairing/restoring pinball machines.

I don’t shoot 4x5 but I do shoot 6x9 from time to time so I’ll definitely be on the hunt for an appropriate cone, lens and carrier.

 

[Paul Howell]

You also need a lens board, then the cone, sometimes on Ebay you can find a lens with a lens board and the correct cone. For a lens, a 90 to 105 covers a 6X9 negative. Unless you plan on making large prints such as 16X20 a good 4 element lens is just fine, but if you can find a 6 element lens at an affordable price, why not.

 

[Pieter12]

It's missing the filter tray and possibly the heat absorbing glass?

There is no filter tray, the 6x6 filters just go in the variable condenser housing, either on top of the condenser or at the bottom, depending on the condenser position. And the heat absorbing glass is an accessory. It also goes in the variable condenser housing, usually in the top slot.

 

[Sirius Glass]

OP, since you are in southern California contact the DarkroomDoctor.com to contact Dave & Norma C. Smith both of whom are on the FreeStyle board of directors.

 

[Paul Howell]

In the day most people used under the lens VC filters with the D2 I think only ILford makes a set of under the lens filers which last I looked were expensive. . I would avoid any of the old Kodak filters, under the lens or 6X6 as they likely have faded. You might see old Dupont filters on Ebay, these will not work at all.

I use heat absorbing glass when using a 150 watt bulb, the standard 75 watt does not seem to get hot enough to need one, still you need to make sure you don't overheat the top condenser and crack the glass. I had a friend who had a D5, in the middle of a printing session he got a call from his boss and left the enlarger in focusing mode, got caught up, he cracked the top condenser. Currently I use a LED bulb to print grade 2 to 3, if I need to print at grade 4 I switch to a 75watt bulb. The only time I used a 150 was when printing 16 X 20 or 20 x 24, the enlarger turned around to print to the floor.

 

[eurekaiv]

Thanks for all the advice. I got a set of perfectly fine Ilford below lens filters with this lot but there's no filter holder for below the lens either. But I'll have plenty of time to keep collecting items for my future darkroom project, so I'll keep any eye out for anything I can ultimately use for it.

 

[jvo]

all i ever had was a D2 - a superb enlarger... I'll see what few remnants i still may have around. enjoy

 

[Bill Burk]

If you look on eBay for “D2 Filter Holder” you will find an under the lens filter holder. I think it is home-made because it looks like the “red” filter holder that someone riveted a tray on top. Clever gadget, it might be what you need. Many lens cones come with the arm that holder will attach to.

 

[eurekaiv]

I went though the box of carriers and other stuff I got with the enlarger... does any of this look familiar? The 6x4.5 carrier is clearly for some smaller enlarger of some sort. Not sure if the twist on lens mount is Omega or not and I have no idea what that screen thing, or the silver bit that looks like a low strength magnifier is. The filter holder also seems like it's probably for some other type of enlarger.

 

[MattKing]

A. Something like a swing away diffusion filter that is intended to mount on a post attached to a lens cone or board.
B. The holder for a condenser lens.
C. Lens board.
D. Negative carrier for something like an Omega medium format enlarger.
E. Holder for variable contrast filters that you attach to the lens.

A., B, and C. could be specific to a number of different enlargers, although C. could certainly be intended for mounting to a lens turret for your enlarger.

E. looks like it might have been designed for the under the lens Kodak Polycontrast/Polymax variable contrast filters, but the Ilford version should also fit in it.

 

[Paul Howell]

I've not the diffusion screen, wonder how well it works.