Omega D2V users: printing max size question / baseboard

[interneg]

The answers you need are here

The official line from Omega for the regular D2V seems to be: 150mm = 4.4x; 135mm = 5.2x (all excluding thickness of easel).

[Serge S]

150 will give more even illumination with less falloff, a 180 even better. But I once had a 135 Rodagon, which was otherwise excellent for 4X5.

I ended up getting an 150 El Nikkor.
I have a ways to go before I have the enlarger set up.

I've got it apart, cleaned & lubed it.
The condenser housing is flaking paint - I need to strip it and repaint it.
Other than that the enlarger is in fine shape and will be ready soon.
I will have a sink almost done also.

[Serge S]

Yes I recall Bob mentioning that lens.
It's very expensive though.

I like to do 16x20's (with the epson) but think I will start with 11x14's until I get things fine tuned

I was told if I want a negative that I can print & also scan I would be better off using the condenser head & not a cold light.
Don't know if that is accurate or not?

There is also the 120mm W.A. Rodagon - which is a truly wonderful lens (as Bob S. will agree!), which I use to make 30x40's on my Zone VI series 2 enlarger, which also has a light source (Heiland LED/VC 5x7) that is oversized for 4x5, so I don't need to worry about uneven light distribution as Drew implies above. Have not yet tried the 120 on my D2V-XL, so cannot vouch for its use on that machine, but might tend to worry about light distribution.

ON the other hand, I've had great luck with the 135mm focal length with the D2V-XL for making 16x20's, with both condenser and diffusion based light sources...but do keep in mind that this is the XL (extended heigt) version.

[Pieter]

Yes I recall Bob mentioning that lens.
It's very expensive though.

I like to do 16x20's (with the epson) but think I will start with 11x14's until I get things fine tuned

I was told if I want a negative that I can print & also scan I would be better off using the condenser head & not a cold light.
Don't know if that is accurate or not?

I assume you mean print and not negative. The condenser head will give you a crisper print that will show more grain and detail (and dust), my preference.