[LargeFormat] DII enlarger question

[Jim Hemenway]

I haven't done any work with an enlarger for several years but I can 
tell you that using the correct condenser does make a difference if you 
are enlarging disparate negative sizes to the same sized print.

To make an 11x14 print, [the smallest worthwhile size IMHO :-)]  from a 
   35mm negative using an enlarger and condenser for 4x5 for example, 
you need to raise the head much higher from the baseboard than you would 
for  the same 11x14 sized print from a 4x5 negative.

This means that without the correct smaller sized condenser, you will 
have a lot less light for focusing and exposing that 11x14 from the 35mm 
(or 6x6cmm) negative.

  --- Harder to focus and longer exposures.

-- 

Jim - http://www.hemenway.com



LNphoto wrote:
>  The more I think about it the more I wonder how much of a difference 
> there really would be.
> 
> The "4x5" condensers are the full diameter (about 7") and they columate 
> the light falling on the top condenser.
> 
> But the smaller condensers are just that... the 2x2 condenser is a bit 
> more than 3" dia, but the top condenser isn't 7" but 3.4" dia  so I 
> would think that you wouldn't really be gaining any more light with the 
> smaller condensers as the larger, It's just the larger would be putting 
> more light on top of the neg carrier.
> 
> Maybe Richard Knoppow can bail me out on this one....
> 
> 
> That's too bad, cause I've got several of these boat anchors around 
> here.  Maybe I can give them to the Boy Scouts so they can toast ants 
> and start forest fires....
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Les
> 
> 
> On Tuesday, October 21, 2003, at 02:43  PM, Kent Gibbs wrote:
> 
>> Thanks for the info.  I guess I will try it and see what I get.
>>
>> Kent
>>
>> --- LNphoto <LNphoto@twmi.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>>> There's theory and there's practice.
>>>
>>> In theory the smaller condensers will concentrate all of the light
>>> onto
>>> a smaller area, thus giving you faster times.
>>> Buy using the larger condenser with a smaller neg wouldn't be any
>>> different than cropping that portion of a 4x5 neg and printing
>>> anyway.
>>> The light MIGHT be more even in the center of a large condenser than
>>> the entire area of a smaller condenser. but I doubt that you would
>>> readily see it.
>>>
>>> Les
>>>
>>> On Tuesday, October 21, 2003, at 12:34  PM, Kent Gibbs wrote:
>>>
>>>>   I have a DII with the 4"x5" condensers installed and I have a
>>>> question about smaller formats.  Can 35mm and medium formats be
>>>
>>> printed
>>>
>>>> using this condenser set or do I need the smaller condensers?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>>