Zone VI Negative Carriers: Difference Between Series 1 vs. Series 2

[Old-N-Feeble]

I've been searching but can't find the answer. What's the difference between the Series 1 and Series 2 Zone VI negative carriers? Photos would be great!!

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Anyone?

 

[Keith Pitman]

I only have Type II, but I believe the Type I carriers are slightly smaller and a slightly different shape.

 

[mshchem]

I'm in the same situation as Keith. I have carriers for the type 2. From 4x5 on down they are quite large and very nice. These are hard to find on Ebay they go for 75 and higher. From what I've been told the type 1 carrier is not as wide side to side.
I use a Beseler 4x5 with a color head for most of what I do. I have a Zone VI type 2 with the variable contrast 8x10 conversion, it's a very nice setup.
I sent an email to Adam at SK Grimes, he quoted 95 dollars plus shipping to make a lens board for the type 2. Quite reasonable but out of my price range.
He makes glass carriers for the Zone VI units too.
Best Regards Mike

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

I have an Omega D6 with Chromega II color head that I'll use for 4x5 negs enlarged up to 16x20. I chanced upon this Z6 Type 2 a few days ago and snapped it up because I read that it can enlarge up to 6x8 inch negs with nothing but a spacer between the standard light source and the negative carrier. Or I could convert it to 8x10 but I'll likely never again own an 8x10 camera. So, if I can ever find an affordable 5x8 Chamonix camera then I'll have an appropriate enlarger for it. The Z6 will be mounted on a frame attached to the second story loft of a detached garage that I'll eventually convert to a darkroom.

Unless the Omega needs repair (it's untested) I have all I need for it.

For the Z6 enlarger I need 4x5 and 6x8 (5x8, or custom) negative carriers, a light source and a 240mm lens to cover 5x8.

 

[mshchem]

There's a type 1 35 mm holder on ebay right now. Difference that reall stands out is there is no "flap" just two bid sheets of metal the you sandwich your neg between.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

I used to have both enlargers and now have only the Zone VI Type II.

Type II negative carriers have dimensions 15 3/4" x 8 1/4". Type I were indeed smaller. The original Zone VI enlarger was designed as an oversized 4x5. So, the negative carriers for that enlarger were smaller, as one might expect.

As to the Type I being designated as a "5x7", somewhere along the line, things got carried away. It could never really enlarge 5x7. When Calumet purchased Zone VI, they developed the Type II to correct that discrepancy, enlarged the head, negative carriers, chassis, etc. They also built heads of the same Type II design that would fit the Type I enlarger. So, there are some Type I enlargers that can enlarge 5x7, but not using the original head.

 

[choiliefan]

I have a Z6 type 2 but none of the factory carriers. Have used various Eastman, Omega E and Beseler 57 carriers with success. These carriers are smaller than the originals but I've never had a problem centering them in the machine. My light source is an adapted Aristo 8X8 so your results may be different...?

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Excellent information... precisely what I needed. Thank you, all!!

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

As I understand it, the Zone VI Type 2 enlarger will handle up to 6x8" film (full plate??). So it can easily do 5x8" (half 8x10").

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

I just bought a carrier I think will work for all my needs. I'll only be enlarging 4x5 and 'maybe' 5x8" if I can ever find a camera of the latter format I can afford to buy.

The outer measurements indicate it's a Type 2 and the inner opening measures 6x8". It's a double-thick one-piece unit with a rabbet cut at the inner aperture to make a retention ledge for a piece of glass. If I'm not mistaken, this is the piece that uses a plain sheet of glass on the bottom and a sheet of anti-Newton glass set on top of the film. Most likely, I'll only use AN glass and tape the film to the bottom of it and place an edge mask on top.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

I have a Z6 type 2 but none of the factory carriers. Have used various Eastman, Omega E and Beseler 57 carriers with success. These carriers are smaller than the originals but I've never had a problem centering them in the machine. My light source is an adapted Aristo 8X8 so your results may be different...?

In addition to my Zone VI Type II negative carriers for various medium format film formats, I made an adapter that enables me to use Omega D5 type negative carriers on my Type II Zone VI.

It was relatively easy to make this adapter. D5 enlargers have a square hole in the negative stage (on the chassis) that accepts D5 negative carriers. On the bottom of each D5 negative carrier can be found metal guides that recess into this square hole. I had an extra 4x5 Zone VI Type II carrier that was missing the round negative guides.

So, I had a metal smith enlarge the 4x5 opening in the carrier to the same sized square hole that exists on the D5 chassis. This larger, square hole also had to be properly positioned. Using this adapter is a matter of placing the D5 negative carrier into this hole, much the same as they would place the negative carrier into the hole on the D5 chassis. Then, it's a matter of inserting the combined "sandwich" onto the Zone VI enlarger chassis and lowering the light source onto this combination. It's a close fit, but my Zone VI type II 5x7 head (being larger than the Type I head) just covers the D5 negative carrier.

Works great! Since there are two halves of a Zone VI negative carrier, I was able to make two of these, one of which I sold with an extra Type II enlarger that I had. (The 2nd adapter made up for the fact that I didn't have Type II negative carriers for the Type II enlarger that I sold. This adapter makes it possible for me to use an Omega D5, glass 4x5 carrier. Sweet!

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Thank you, Neil. I'll research that option.