At our local arts collage we have a very well equipped darkroom with about
20 or so enlargers, mainly colour, mainly durst and LPL. They DO get an
awful lot of use, but someone was trying to print a low contrast B&W
negative using a colour head and despite dialling in the strongest
filtration, was only able to get a very low contrast print with no real
blacks. On examining the neg, we thought that it really should print OK so
we swapped to a B&W enlarger with Patterson filters and it printed fine at
grade 3.
General conclusion was that the filters had faded.
Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry A. Otto" <LarryOtto@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: 16 August 2001 11:21
Subject: Re: [OM] Enlarger recomendations
>
> Hi Steve,
>
> I do not mean this as argumentative, but I had never heard of those
> filters fading in color heads before? I was under the impresion that
> these specifically were touted as having fade-free filtration systems. I
> have had my Durst for about 15 years and had no problems in this regard.
> Could you tell me more about this? Of course I have always heard that
> the best is those fancy variable contrast cold light heads made by Zone
> V, but I can not afford those enlargers.
>
> Thanks
>
> Larry
>
>
>
> Steve Gullick wrote:
>
> > As I recall, the questioner was asking about B&W printing.
> >
> > If this is the case, he absolutely does NOT need a colour head, in fact
I
> > would strongly advise against one.
> >
> > I have come across numerous examples of the colour filters in colour
heads
> > fading, in some cases to such an extent that it has been impossible to
> > obtain a full contrast print on multigrade paper.
> >
> > In my opinion, it MUCH better to use proper multigrade filters either
above
> > or below lens, the results are much more consistent. The choice of
> > condenser/ diffuser is very much a personal one, I prefer condenser, but
do
> > have a very dust free darkroom.
> >
> > I use an old Phillips enlarger, extremely solid yet very easy to adjust
and
> > it has all of the required movements.
> >
> > I do agree that the lens choice is very important, there is no point in
> > using one of these remarkable Olympus lenses if your enlarger lens is
crap!
> > Nikon are very good, as are Rodenstock Rodagon, Fujinon etc. Try to get
a
> > six element lens if you can, but if buying second hand look vary
carefully
> > for fungus, it is VERY common on enlarger lenses due to the conditions
in
> > which most of them are used.
> >
> > Good luck
> >
> > Steve
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Larry A. Otto" <LarryOtto@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: 16 August 2001 02:16
> > Subject: Re: [OM] Enlarger recomendations
> >
> >
> >> Hi Bill, I have no experience using the Printmaker 35. I think it is
> >> simply a "condenser light" type of enlarger. I would really recommend
> >> that you get an enlarger with a dichroic color head. The quality of the
> >> light is much better, and the convenience of built in filtration for
> >> adjusting contrast on variable contrast paper is really nice. I have a
> >> Durst M-370 with the upgrade kit so I can print up to 6x7 negatives,
and
> >> it is a wonderful enlarger, but there are not a lot of them out there.
> >> My next choice would be an Omega C760 with color head. Also try and get
> >> a good lens. The El-Nikkor 50mm f2.8 is a great lens and they can be
had
> >> at reasonable prices used.
> >>
> >> Larry Otto
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Bill Stanke wrote:
> >>
> >>> Hi everyone:
> >>>
> >>> The discussion about B&W film has inspired me to set up a traditional
> >>> "wet" darkroom, after a hiatus of about twenty-five years.
> >>>
> >>> Does anyone have any experieince with the Bessler Printmaker 35
> >>> enlarger? I sold my Durst M-301 and all the other darkroom gear when
I
> >>> lost interest, so I will have to purchase an enlarger, developing
tanks,
> >>> trays, tongs, etc.
> >>>
> >>> I used to bulk load Plus-X, and developed it (one-shot) of a 1:3
> >>> dilution of Microdol-X. I thought it was pretty hot stuff at the
time!
> >>>
> >>> Thanks!
> >>>
> >>> Bill Stanke
> >>>
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
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> >>
> >
> >
> > < This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
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> >
> >
> >
>
>
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