Hello,
Now that my darkroom is finally up and running, I have some concerns about maint aining the enlarger alignment of lens, film plane, baseboard and easel. My enl arger is a Beseler 45MCRX. While I've much success with the enlarger in the 197 0's, it certainly doesn't allow for fine tuning the alignment. My late father b ought this for me new so I do have a sentimental attachment to it (but I wish I had a Durst!!!) While I need to get a laser unit when funds permit, I do have B eseler's "groovy" alignment tool, which consist of metal plates (to insert in th e film plane and lens standard) and two float levels. I THOUGHT after spending two hours with shims and the limited adjustments available I had everything alig ned. BUT, upon examination with a 25X grain focuser; moving to various points o n the easel; lens wide open (150mm APO Componon HM)...uniform focus cannot be ob tained without stopping down the lens. I will continue to try and align everyth ing better. Here is my question: Do depth of field charts exist for the common focal lengths of enlarging lenses? For example, using a 150mm lens on a 4 X 5 negative enlarged 4X (16 X 20) lets say at f/8...how much depth (in inches or mi llimeters) will be in focus. I would love to be able to use my lenses at their ideal f stops but I'm afraid if I don't stop the lens down enough I am always go ing to face out of focus areas on my prints. OR, please give me some suggestion s...I'm just getting back into printing after several years and I am rusty.
Another issue while on the enlarger subject....I have read several posts (usuall y on Leica sites) that the Leica Focomat enlargers will perform MUCH better than competitors and to get the most out of your Leica shots, one needs to use a Lei ca enlarger. Now I may be missing something, so please educate me!!! If anothe r condensor enlarger is used and aligned properly (UNLIKE MINE!!!) with a high q uality lens such as a APO Componon or APO Rodagon, wouldn't the enlargements be just as good? What is the magic about a Leica enlarger? I realize this is a la rge format site, but many of you have good in-site for all equipment. I'm afrai d this question to the "Leica Users Guide" (LUG) website may result in bias answ ers (no disrespect meant to the LUG).
Thank you for your time, as always.
Best regards,
J. P. Mose
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