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hwbookout · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 12:11 pm Post subject:

My darkroom has a low, 42 1/2" ceiling that barely accommodates my Omega B8 enlarger (small & medium format). Even with this compact enlarger full rise is not possible. I'm interested in doing 4x5 enlargements and have been thinking about trading my B8 in for a D2-V. Is that a bad idea since Harry Taylor calls the B8 a "compact gem", and is the D2-V is humongously taller than a B8? I don't have enlargements from 4x5 much larger than 2x in mind, so I guess I would not need full rise on a D2-V but I am in the dark how much longer the 135mm enlarging lens' working distance would be. Thanks for any thoughts.
Henry

FrankS · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 4:06 pm Post subject:

If you can't raise the enlarger head, then drop the level of the easel. In order to do this you'll have to remove the enlarger's baseboard and anchor the enlarger columb to either the wall or a narrow shelf along the wall. The table top should be constructed so that it is like a shelf that can be slid into supports on either side, at various levels below the normal table top level.

You could also remove the part of the ceiling just above the enlarger head so that it can occupy the space between the ceiling joists. You can get an extra 8 to 12 inches of height that way, depending on the height of the joists in the ceiling.

[ This Message was edited by: FrankS on 2003-02-08 08:09 ]

hwbookout · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 4:51 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Frank, for these useful suggustions. I still would like to have advice whether it's smart to trade in an Omega B8 enlarger for a D2. Are there any *dedicated* 4x5" enlargers besides the graflarger?
Henry

[ This Message was edited by: hwbookout on 2003-02-08 08:52 ]

Nick · Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 494

Do you mean you have 42" of head room above the enlarger base or is the room actually a crawl space? Assuming the Omega will actually fit in that much room [my enlarger wouldn't] then I think you could get 2x with a 135mm lens. From glancing at my manual my enlarger gives 6x with the lensboard about 48" above the base. At least that's what it seems. But the top of the condensor head itself is about 2feet higher then that point. Best I can do. Hopefully somebody with the exact same enlarger and a 135mm lens can test it out.

I think somebody makes a wide angle 120mm enlarger lens. That would help but the question is how big is the enlarger itself.

hwbookout · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 8:07 pm Post subject:

Yes, I did mean I have 42" of head room above the enlarger base. Thanks for reading my mind, not what I wrote. My goodness, I don't think that I would squeeze into a crawl space of those dimensions myself! I'm just wondering if the Omega D2-V (cranked all the way down) would stand in that space. As Frank pointed out I can always lower the easel rather than raising the enlarger head when actually making an enlargement, which renders the focal length of the lens moot.

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

My D2-V is 45" to the baseboard. Add another 1.75" for the base board if you don't mount the enlarger to the counter.

larrys · Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 42 Location: SW Ohio

I solved that problem by cutting up 3 8' 2x4's and building a 2' framework (read table without a top) to set the baseboard on. I'm vertically challenged at 5'4", so the low work level doesn't really get in the way. Total cost was about $15.
-ls-