Zone VI 5X7 negative carrier

nsurit · Jan 20, 2017

I have a Zone VI (Type 2) enlarger that has a 5X7 carrier, which I haven't use but plan to in the future. Unlike the other carriers, it is a one piece construction milled from a heavier aluminum than the other 2 piece carriers. It looks like the negative just drops into the carrier. Is the the proper carrier and am I the only one who this there might be a better way to do this? Bill Barber

resummerfield · Jan 21, 2017

Could you post a picture?

I designed a 5x7 carrier for the Z6 type 2, but it didn't work very well. I ended up using a single sheet of glass and taping the ends of the negative.

I was never happy with the Z6 for 5x7 enlarging... the light just didn't seem very even.

Allen Friday · Jan 21, 2017

My Zone VI 5x7 film holder (type 2) has two pieces which are roughly the same shape and size. You basically build a negative sandwich. You lay the negative on the bottom piece and drop the top piece over the negative to hold it in place. The top piece has holes in it which fit over nubs on the bottom.

From your description, it sounds like you have only the top or bottom of the carrier.

payral · Jan 22, 2017

My Zone VI 5x7 film holder (type 2) has two pieces too but an another one with only one piece and a keeping flat system did exist. See catalog picture I include. May be you have that one.

resummerfield · Jan 22, 2017

Nsurit, please post a picture... this is getting interesting.

resummerfield · Jan 22, 2017

Payral, I remember seeing that catalog, too. But I never saw one in person. Very interesting.

Nsurit, please post a picture...

nsurit · Jan 23, 2017

Will post pictures later today.

nsurit · Jan 24, 2017

Well I guess the next day is what happened. I'm wondering if what I might have is the bottom part of the "Out Straight" negative carrier.

payral · Jan 24, 2017

Here is the two parts of my 5x7" Type 2 carrier. Original one.

John Layton · Jan 27, 2017

I also have a one-piece 5x7 holder for my Zone-6 series II. This holder incorporates two rather heavy pieces of optical glass. The first of these rests permanently in the bottom of the holder's "well" (cut out portion). The negative rests on top of this piece, and the second glass rests on top of the negative. Works really well - especially after I added a couple of gaffer-tape "tabs" to the top glass...making it much easier to lift the top glass away from the holder.

At any rate, Richard Ritter made this holder - and you might want to contact him for further info. Good luck!

resummerfield · Jan 27, 2017

John Layton said:
I also have a one-piece 5x7 holder for my Zone-6 series II. This holder incorporates two rather heavy pieces of optical glass. The first of these rests permanently in the bottom of the holder's "well" (cut out portion). The negative rests on top of this piece, and the second glass rests on top of the negative. Works really well - especially after I added a couple of gaffer-tape "tabs" to the top glass...making it much easier to lift the top glass away from the holder.

At any rate, Richard Ritter made this holder - and you might want to contact him for further info. Good luck!

John,

Your description sounds EXACTLY like the Z6 negative carrier I designed about 10 years ago. And coincidently, I sent my plans to Richard Ritter to have him machine a single copy of my design.

Could Richard have made more than one copy of my design?

My design had cutouts, or ramps, machined into the metal on each side (L and R) of the “glass well” you mention, starting about half way up and continuing to the edge of the carrier. This was to allow a longer film strip.

See my post from June 26, 2009 along with a picture, (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Care to post a picture of the one you're describing?

I’m just curious, because I didn’t think my design was very good, with light falloff near the edges, newton rings, damage to the negative strip, and excessive dust and scratches (4 glass surfaces to keep pristine). So I quit using it, in favor of a single piece of glass cut to fit the Z6, onto which I tape the ends of my negative.

nsurit · Feb 1, 2017

The mystery has been solved after poking around in my stash pile, I found the two pieces of glass which fit in the carrier. This is obviously a custom piece. Npw all I need to do is use it. This is not the same design as resummerfield's as both pieces fit in the well of the carrier.

John Layton · Feb 2, 2017

Eric - Yes, this sounds exactly the same. Both pieces of glass are secured within the well of this holder - with the cutouts functioning to facilitate removal of the top sheet. Incidentally, these cutouts also leaked light sideways from both sides of the carrier - but this was easily remedied with a couple of strips of adhesive-backed black foam. I have not experienced any of the problems (falloff, newtons rings, etc.) which you've mentioned.

resummerfield · Feb 2, 2017

John Layton said:
Eric - Yes, this sounds exactly the same...

John, I think this Z6 carrier is the exact design that I created and had Richard Ritter machine.

I’m just surprised and a bit disappointed to think that Richard Ritter would violate my trust and sell my design as his own. For shame!

mshchem · Feb 3, 2017

payral said:
My Zone VI 5x7 film holder (type 2) has two pieces too but an another one with only one piece and a keeping flat system did exist. See catalog picture I include. May be you have that one.

I have an 8x10 carrier like what is shown in the photo. Not the one with the gloved hand, the one above it. It works great. I got a deal, 2 type 2 enlargers w, vc heads. One is 5x7 the other is 8x10. 200 bucks total. I have Beseler equipment for 4x5 on down. I'm setting up the 8x10. Hopefully will be printing this weekend. Mine came with the compensating timer as well. Very low hours I think I'm going to really like.
The stabilizer is a bit quirky, Paul Horowitz designed the compensating timer to make up for the oddities in the stabilizer. None the less Ansel Adams claimed that the original stabilizer was the most important advance since sliced bread.
Based on my experience with my glassless "out straight " 8x10 carrier it's about the coolest thing, for big negatives I have ever seen.
Best Regards Mike

mshchem · Feb 3, 2017

Can

payral said:
My Zone VI 5x7 film holder (type 2) has two pieces too but an another one with only one piece and a keeping flat system did exist. See catalog picture I include. May be you have that one.

you post a couple more pictures of the pages on the Enlargers, and carriers, from the catalog along with the date of the catalog? ? Is this a Calumet or Zone VI catalog?
Thanks, Mike.

payral · Feb 3, 2017

mshchem said:
Can
Is this a Calumet or Zone VI catalog?
Thanks, Mike.

It's from a Zone VI catalog, the last one.

mshchem · Mar 27, 2022

Resurrection!

Other than catalog pics has anyone ever seen a 5x7 "Out Straight " carrier? I have one for 8x10 and 4x5, my 5x7 carrier is the ordinary 2 pieces of aluminum, which work fine.

Zone VI 5X7 negative carrier

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