Want to Buy (WTB) ND filter for enlarger

swittmann · Jun 22, 2011

Hi all,

I am looking for a ND filter for my enlarger. I have an Opemus 5a. The filter drawer holds filters of 7x7 cm (2.75x2.75 inch).

The reason is that I have a new RHD Analyser Pro and want to calibrate it to my papers. For this, I need to reduce the light to get times that I can work with.
(For those of you who are familiar with the Analyser, the first reading gives me a time of 3.41 seconds, but I need to achieve a time between 10 and 20 seconds, so a filter of about 1.5 stops should do fine if I am not mistaken. Yes, the lens is stopped down to minimum aperture and the enlarger head is in its highest position.).

Any help/offer would be greatly appreciated.

L Gebhardt · Jun 22, 2011

Do you have a polariser or ND filter you can screw into the lens. That would be the easiest option, and the one I use when i need to reduce the light level.

swittmann · Jun 23, 2011

I have a ND filter, 77mm, for a camera lens. Well, I use Ilford under-the-lens contrast filters, so at the moment, I have no idea how to use both at the same time (except maybe hand-holding the 77mm filter, which sounds a bit awkward...).

A step-down ring would not help much in this setup, would it?

MattKing · Jun 23, 2011

Do you know anyone who shoots 5x4, and could expose and develop an out of focus, thin negative for you?

swittmann · Jun 23, 2011

Matt and L Gebhardt, thank you for your help.

Matt, unfortunately not...

I found a shop that sells screw-in filters with a small enough diameter to fit my enlarger lens (just 30mm; a Meopta Anaret 4.5/80mm). L Gebhardt, this is this the kind of filter you were thinking of, isn't it? (link)

MattKing · Jun 23, 2011

If I recall correctly, the Opemus enlargers use a tungsten bulb as a light source. If so, you could use a dimmer to lower the light output.

You need to be careful with a few things though - dimmers change the colour temperature of the light emitted, and variable dimmers may make it hard to get repeatable results.

Here is a "how to" video link:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcei63_the-frugal-filmmaker-dimmer-switch_shortfilms

MattKing · Jun 23, 2011

Sandra:

The material referred to in this thread would also work:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

swittmann · Jun 23, 2011

Matt, thank you once again. My Opemus 5a is a condensor enlarger with an opal lamp. I found an overview here: http://www.meoptahistory.com/?id=312 (please scroll down, it is almost at the bottom of the page).

I just opened the lamp house of my enlarger to see how many watts my bulb has: 150 W. Maybe the easiest way of all would be to buy a new bulb with 75 W because mine is very old (I never changed it, shame on me, and the previous owner... I have no idea if and/or when he changed the bulb). Fotoimpex has them for just around 10 Euros. However, would a 75 W increase the time by 50 %? Then I would end up with around 6,82 seconds, which is still not long enough, and then I could try your suggestion or get one of these ND filters.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jun 23, 2011

Don't know if these will work, but they're 20"x24". You can cut them to size.

http://www.amazon.com/Rosco-Cinegel...3PBS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1308869747&sr=8-4

polyglot · Jun 23, 2011

swittmann said:
Matt, thank you once again. My Opemus 5a is a condensor enlarger with an opal lamp. I found an overview here: http://www.meoptahistory.com/?id=312 (please scroll down, it is almost at the bottom of the page).

I just opened the lamp house of my enlarger to see how many watts my bulb has: 150 W. Maybe the easiest way of all would be to buy a new bulb with 75 W because mine is very old (I never changed it, shame on me, and the previous owner... I have no idea if and/or when he changed the bulb). Fotoimpex has them for just around 10 Euros. However, would a 75 W increase the time by 50 %? Then I would end up with around 6,82 seconds, which is still not long enough, and then I could try your suggestion or get one of these ND filters.

Try it but be careful. As for dimming bulbs, lower-wattage bulbs often (but this is absolutely not a rule) run at lower temperature and therefore have redder light, which will give you less contrast.

If you use a lower-wattage bulb, make sure it's a halogen and get the whitest-looking one you can find. Getting some ND gel seems like an easier approach.

laser · Jun 25, 2011

Change the bulb. The 150 watt lamp creates too much heat.

swittmann · Jun 25, 2011

Thank you very much

Edtog · Jun 25, 2011

I use a sheet of ND filter, made by Lee filters, and cut it down.
Works perfectly

L Gebhardt · Jun 26, 2011

swittmann said:
Matt and L Gebhardt, thank you for your help.

Matt, unfortunately not...

I found a shop that sells screw-in filters with a small enough diameter to fit my enlarger lens (just 30mm; a Meopta Anaret 4.5/80mm). L Gebhardt, this is this the kind of filter you were thinking of, isn't it? (link)

Yes, that is the type of filter I was thinking of. I use a 52mm one because it fits my 150mm enlarger lens. To use it on the 80mm I use a step up ring.

But after seeing your recent posts I would try the 75watt bulb first. It will increase your time by more than a factor of two from the 150 watt bulb.

swittmann · Jun 27, 2011

L Gebhardt said:
But after seeing your recent posts I would try the 75watt bulb first.

Thank you, L Gebhardt, I think this is the way to go since I need a new bulb anyway and then I will see if I get the times required. If not, I will also get a ND filter.

Thank you all for your help, everyone.

Want to Buy (WTB) ND filter for enlarger

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