Using a 50mm lens on a Omega Type DII Enlarger

[David Payumo]

My friend has a really old enlarger. Its the Omega D series. It looks like a do uble condenser enlarger. Both condensers are in a metal tube and it does not lo ok like its meant to be move easily for different enlarger lenses. She was usin g a 135mm lens with it. She bought a 50mm lenses so she could do some 35mm work . She isn't able to get an large magnification with the enlarger. Increasing t he enlarger's height and the image is still 6x9 inches max. It might be the ext ended lens cone she put the lens on. We tried playing with the condenser but th ey always projected the same size image. Does anyone know what is wrong with the enlarger and what I have to do to increase the size of the image? Thanks.

[John Kasaian]

David, Check this out: www.classic-enlargers.com Good Luck!

[Fred De Van]

On a D-2 a 50mm lens must be mounted on a flat board (no cone). The condensers remove by the 3 aluminum thumb screws. The correct condensors are small 2" affairs mounted in a similar large alum. Housing. The are many pounds lighter. Check the alignment since often the light weight condensors do not meet flat with the neg. Carrier. Basic design flaw of the Omega enlargers is that they lift the condensers from one side, making the lamphouse skew to one side.

[Wilhelm]

Actually, for best results with a 50mm lens, there is a recessed board.