yeah agreed. but people like to do things and publish on the internet that people said it couldn't be done and it could,
you know .. like if you buy a 23C and remove the condenser head and make a bigger negative stage and convert it to a 45MXII ..
nothing like throwing a few C-Notes at a project just to say it can be done .. but couldn't agree more with what you said, and at some point
one should just find a 4x5 enlarger seeing they are pretty much being given away and save the few C-Notes for other things
exactly !
When a 4X5 Beseler M type enlarger is converted to 8X10, it requires spacer to bring the head, and the lens, further out over the baseboard so larger prints can be made. This might be required on a 23C to 4X5 conversion.
yes the 23c II left the factory as a condensor system, however the one I own happened to have come with a beseler dual dichro color head, and the beseler factory shipped THOSE with a mounting kit, and a DIFFUSION set for the enlarger. I have the diffusers in a box, on a book case. Just looked at them, so cute and light.
Reading over the posts, I see many members have converted cameras to enlargers. Some may have realized, as I did, that having an enlarger that can focus from the negative stage rather than, or as well as the lens stage is extremely useful, and something I missed when I transitioned to Beseler 8X10s. Just as with view cameras that feature rear focus, the lens to subject distance need not change. Sizing and focusing the projected image is much easier than if one only has front focus.
Most people think about enlargers as vertical objects requiring a support post - think horizontally instead then you can mount any camera to an adjustable box on rails and/or movable easel for the paper. It may be more comfortable to work vertically on a baseboard but imagine larger prints and roll paper. You can then MacGuyver your light sources and filter paths. The rails and screwdrives that let you fine focus can be easily found.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
http://www.searing.photography
horizontal can give great sizes of paper to choose from, but how many people can actually afford to purchase LARGE sheets and rolls of paper?
But i admit that having the ability to print a 56x40" image would be rather cool,,, but i dont think i can afford to purchase a developing tray for it.. and id hate to wonder what it would cost to build a paper tube for that. That diameter water pipe i believe is 100$ per foot
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