Can an Omega D2 enlarger make full 4x5 prints, and why am I seeing focus and corner vignetting?
Asked 9/8/2017
5 views
2 answers
0
I’m using an Omega D2 enlarger to make 8x10 prints from 4x5 negatives, but two issues made me wonder whether it can really handle 4x5.
First, with a 130mm enlarging lens the edges of the print were not sharp. I then tried a 180mm lens, but with my current setup I have to raise the head so high to focus that I lose too much of the image area.
Second, the circular opening at the bottom of the condenser/head seems to cut into the corners of my 4x5 frame, causing vignetting unless I crop slightly.
Is the D2 actually suitable for full 4x5 printing? If so, what setup changes are needed to fix the focus and corner cutoff problems?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
2
As a rule-of-thumb the focal length lens mounted should be equal to greater than the diagonal measure of the negative to be printed. For the 4X5 negative this works out to 6.4 inches = 160mm (rounded). Think about buying a shorter enlarger lens.
In the meantime, you can mount a camera close-up lens to the 180mm. Such a lens will effectively shorten the focal length.
The math for a +1 added to the 180mm Convert the 180mm to the diopter unit = 1/180 X 1000 = 5.556 diopter power
The +1 is stated in diopter power
Add the two diopter powers = 5.5556 +1.0 = 6.556 system total diopter power
Convert 6.556 to millimeters = 1/6.556 X 1000 = 153mm
To see what a +1 addition will do: Go to the drugstore and buy a pair of +1 reading glasses. Hold one of the lenses under your 180mm and compose and focus. This will show you how a 150mm will behave.
The +1 addition won’t make you happy as the reading glass quality lens will degrade. A photo grade achromatic +1 might suite your need but a 150mm quality enlarger lens is not that expensive.
Originally by user44949. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user44949
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — the Omega D2 can print 4x5 negatives, but your setup is likely the issue.
For 4x5, the enlarging lens should generally be around the negative’s diagonal, about 150–160mm or longer. A 180mm lens can work, but on the D2 you also need the correct lens cone for that focal length. If you use a cone meant for a shorter lens, you may run out of bellows/focus range and be forced to raise the head too much. The reported fix was to use a longer lens cone for the 180mm lens.
The corner cutoff/vignetting was not an inherent 4x5 limitation of the enlarger in the provided answers. It was caused by foam around the bottom of the condenser intruding into the light path. Removing that foam stopped it from blocking the corners; light leaks can be controlled instead with fabric or another non-intrusive seal where the condenser meets the negative holder.
So the D2 is suitable for 4x5, provided it has the proper lens/lens-cone combination and nothing is obstructing the condenser opening.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI8y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How can I lengthen enlarger exposure time without stopping down too far?
Why are my 4x5 enlarger prints sharp in the center but soft at the edges?
How does a Beseler 23C variable-contrast head differ from a condenser head in printing?
How can I support a large enlarging easel that overhangs the enlarger baseboard?
Why are my 8x10 darkroom prints from 4x5 negatives not sharp?