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Thread: Bright circle from enlarger lens

  1. #1

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    Bright circle from enlarger lens

    I have just acquired a Fuji 450 M-D enlarger with a Beseler dichro head and a 135mm Nikon lens. This is my first large format enlarger so bear with me please.
    With a 4x5 neg in place the image on the easel is mainly a bright circle in the middle of a faint rectangle.
    I can focus the image but at any aperture and with the head at any height and the focussing bellows at any extension, the bright circle remains.
    Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this and how I might change it.
    There is nothing between the Beseler diffusion screen and the lens.

  2. #2
    Beverly Hills, California
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    Re: Bright circle from enlarger lens

    does it have a 35mm mixing box installed?

  3. #3

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    Re: Bright circle from enlarger lens

    No, nothing between Beseler head and enlarger lens.

  4. #4
    Gary Beasley's Avatar
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    Re: Bright circle from enlarger lens

    The mixing box is inside the head. Did the gear come with any manuals?

  5. #5
    ic-racer's Avatar
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    Re: Bright circle from enlarger lens

    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick M View Post
    I have just acquired a Fuji 450 M-D enlarger with a Beseler dichro head and a 135mm Nikon lens. This is my first large format enlarger so bear with me please.
    With a 4x5 neg in place the image on the easel is mainly a bright circle in the middle of a faint rectangle.
    I can focus the image but at any aperture and with the head at any height and the focussing bellows at any extension, the bright circle remains.
    Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this and how I might change it.
    There is nothing between the Beseler diffusion screen and the lens.
    "Beseler dichro head" can mean many things. Need a picture of the configuration.
    "...nothing between the Beseler diffusion screen and the lens." Where and how are you positioning the negative? Is the negative holder Beseler or Fuji? Is a mixing box present or absent? If present is it Fuji or Beseler and what are the dimensions? Is it installed upside down?

  6. #6

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    Re: Bright circle from enlarger lens

    It is a Beseler 45S head.
    The negative is in the Fuji holder.
    The mixing box is integral to the Beseler head and is labelled '4x5 diffusion chamber'; it is installed as per images in the Beseler handbook.
    I believe this set up - just as I have it - has been used previously to print 4x5 negatives.

  7. #7
    Beverly Hills, California
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    Re: Bright circle from enlarger lens

    I believe some guys on this forum could solve this in seconds if you posted 3 or 4 different cell phone snaps of your enlarger as it is set up, including the illumination pattern on the underside of the mixing box, with enlarger light turned on and also the illumination pattern at the baseboard that you speak of. Lets not make this a riddle.

  8. #8

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    Re: Bright circle from enlarger lens

    Here are some images.
    I hope these help.Click image for larger version. 

Name:	easel_image.jpg 
Views:	84 
Size:	17.6 KB 
ID:	135540Click image for larger version. 

Name:	diffuser_light.jpg 
Views:	77 
Size:	7.2 KB 
ID:	135541Click image for larger version. 

Name:	bright_circle.jpg 
Views:	77 
Size:	13.4 KB 
ID:	135542Click image for larger version. 

Name:	beseler_head.jpg 
Views:	82 
Size:	36.5 KB 
ID:	135543

  9. #9

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    Re: Bright circle from enlarger lens

    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick M View Post
    Here are some images.
    I hope these help.Click image for larger version. 

Name:	easel_image.jpg 
Views:	84 
Size:	17.6 KB 
ID:	135540Click image for larger version. 

Name:	diffuser_light.jpg 
Views:	77 
Size:	7.2 KB 
ID:	135541Click image for larger version. 

Name:	bright_circle.jpg 
Views:	77 
Size:	13.4 KB 
ID:	135542Click image for larger version. 

Name:	beseler_head.jpg 
Views:	82 
Size:	36.5 KB 
ID:	135543

  10. #10

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    Re: Bright circle from enlarger lens

    I have just been on to the previous owner and the problem is solved. The condensers were removed for shipping and I had not reinstalled them because I was not familiar with the inside of enlargers. I am now familiar with the inside of this one!
    Many thanks for all help.

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