Zone IV 5x7 help needed

[mwr]

O.k. I have been lurking and reading all over for answers, but I still need a little help:
I was given a complete 5x7 set-up, with timer, controller, 35/ 6x7 /4x5/5x7carriers. Super cool, I even built a brand-new darkroom around it! However,
I can't get it to focus with a 50mm lens and a 35mm neg, unless I go down to about 4x6. It just runs out of bellows retraction. It seems like I need a recessed lensboard, but I can't see one of those existing for this rig, as it it seems pretty tight up there already. I bought a 105 Fujinon on Ebay, as I like a longer lens anyway, and I figured I could just use that for 35mm as well. While I can (in theory) get it to focus, I will never be able to reach the focus controls and see the grain focuser at the same time. SO:

1)What is the deal with recessed lensboards for this machine? Are there any hints for fabricating one with little or no skill/facilities?
2) Is there a focus extension available? And where?

 

[Les McLean]

I use the same enlarger and have no problems in focussing a 50mm lens when using 35mm. You are racking the head in the wrong direction, you need to rack the bellows up so that they are virtually closed.

 

[resummerfield]

I have the same enlarger, and like Les, I’ve never had a problem focusing a 35mm neg with a 50mm lens. I have never seen any listing of a recessed lens board. Are you sure your lens is fitted tight to the lensboard?

Focusing at high magnifications or head elevations is a problem. Zone VI / Calumet does / did make a focus extension rod that fit on one of the focus knobs. My solution was to make a wooden arm with a hole for the Zone VI focus knob and a split down the long axis that fit around the focus knob. When I gripped the wooden arm, it would tightly grip the focus knob and allow me to fix final focus with the grain magnifier.

 

[jstraw]

Perhaps a moderator could edit the thread title so that future searchers can find it when looking for "Zone VI."

 

[voceumana]

I owned a Zone VI 5x7 version II enlarger for a while, but ultimately sold it. I, too, had troubles using it with 35mm film, including not enough bellows retraction (movement upwards towards the negative). If it got the bellows compressed enough, the focus then slipped. To tighten the friction, I'd have had to unbuild the head assembly, which I did NOT want to do.

For 4x5 it was a fine machine, but not for MF or 35mm, in my opinion. Another problem I had was that with 35mm, you're using only about 4% of the light, so while I could easily focus using a grain magnifier, I had a devil of a time trying to compose--not enough light was coming through for me to see the image reasonably clearly. Part of the problem here is that with blue & green light, you don't have much light where the eye is most sensitive (yellow).

Ultimately, I decided Fred Picker was wrong: the best enlarger for 4x5 is NOT the best enlarger for 35mm. It's really difficult to build a one-size-fits-all-formats enlarger unless you to go interchangeable components. Now I have two enlargers. Both are LPL, and this works just fine for me. I like their operation much better than the Zone VI. The Zone VI seems like a "brute force" design that works fine for large format, but isn't quite refined enough for smaller formats.

You do need a focusing extension for the Zone VI to be able to reach it when the head is up high. Zone VI/Calumet made one, I think.

Disclaimer: these are my opinions from personal experience. Others are likely to have different experiences & opinions.

Charlie Strack

 

[rmann]

Focusing at high magnifications or head elevations is a problem. Zone VI / Calumet does / did make a focus extension rod that fit on one of the focus knobs. My solution was to make a wooden arm with a hole for the Zone VI focus knob and a split down the long axis that fit around the focus knob. When I gripped the wooden arm, it would tightly grip the focus knob and allow me to fix final focus with the grain magnifier.

Seems like a simple solution to a common problem - like a lens filter wrench with long handles - thanks for sharing - I think I will be building one of these real soon.

 

[mwr]

Hmmm.....
The focus extension makes sense, I have seen these for lots of other equipment. It sounds like I can either build one or maybe buy one.
But as far as the focus issue, I am just not able to get the focus rack up tight enough to get a sharp image with a 50mm lens. I do have the lens mounted in a normal fashion, and it is just a Companon-S, a normal enough lens. As I said, I don't think a recessed board is a possiblity for this thing, but I am pretty puzzled.....

 

[TimVermont]

My Zone VI type II is in storage, or I'd go get you some measurements. Mine works fine down to 50mm, and has a very bright light head (I've seen 4 or 5 of them in use now: very noticeable differences in light output- I got lucky.) I suggest that you run the chassis down the column quite low, then remove the light head and look straight down inside it at the bellows. Now turn the focusing knob to extend the bellows, then retract them as you would for 35mm. I'm betting that you'll find the bellows is either bunching on itself someplace, or is binding up on the lip of the frame that surrounds it. Perhaps another member can suggest something to make the bellows move with greater ease -- Armor All, 303? Richard Ritter may have a suggestion in this regard.

My trick for the one time that I needed to use a 38mm lens was to take the lensboard from my 210, which has a big hole in it, then I put a Durst recessed "cup" on it (ixtub? latub? I can't remember) and stuck it in place with blue-tack temporary adhesive. Voila, recessed lensboard.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

Stretched Arm to Focus

There's also the grain focuser that Patterson made that stands about a foot or so high. Makes it easier to focus.

A thought that I had for the Type II Zone VI is maybe adapting an Omega focus extension to the Zone VI enlarger. Maybe S. K. Grimes Co. could come up with something.

 

[Chazzy]

Perhaps a moderator could edit the thread title so that future searchers can find it when looking for "Zone VI."

Yes, please.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

. . . 2) Is there a focus extension available? And where?

I picked up an Omega enlarger last year, and it came with an Omega focus extension. It's a couple of feet long. It's just a flexible metal tube with a 2 inch or so knob on one end of it. On the other end is an adaptor into which can be inserted a cylinder that's just shy of 3/8ths of an inch. There are two set screws in the adaptor to hold the rod tight within the hole.

I just checked my Type II. Removing the left focus knob, the revealed shaft has a hole down the center that accepts a rod of just under 1/4th of an inch, and this shaft also has threaded holes for two set screws.

Sooo, if one could machine (or have machined) about a 1 inch length of cylinder, half of which is just under 3/8ths of an inch in diameter and half of which is just under 1/4th of an inch in diameter, it should be easy to marry the Omega focus extension with the Type II enlarger.

This is for the Type II. Not sure if the Type I has the same design.

 

[Edward Pierce]

The type 1 and type 2 enlargers have different focusing shafts. Type 1 is a solid rod. Type 2 has a hole in it to accept the extension.

On the side of the chassis you should see two small holes near the focusing knob. These are to hold the extension casing.

I happen to have a zone vi extension which I've been thinking of selling and replacing with a knob. It works great but my new darkroom is too short for the extended column, so I have my type 2 head on a standard column.

In fact I have been working on selling a complete zone vi enlarger...haven't posted it here yet.

 

[Keith Pitman]

Remove the focusing knob, then measure the diameter of the shaft. Take the measurement to a store that sells astronomical telescopes. They sell focus extensions for telescopes. You should be able to find one that will work, although you may have to drill out the end of the extension to fit the shaft on your enlarger's focusing mechanism.