Questions on converting a condenser head to a diffusion head

[Jeff Dexheimer]

I have been searching here and the net, and I am having a hard time coming up with a clear answer.

I have a beseler 45M series enlarger. It is a condenser type enlarger and I want a diffusion enlarger. Would it be as simple as buying the right LED bulb and replacing the condenser lenses with diffusion material, such as frosted poly?

As a note, I print on VC paper and use ilford contrast filters. Assuming I use a white light LED, would my ilford filters work the same?

[William Whitaker]

No, a diffusion source needs to be immediately above the negative stage. The simplest thing would be to watch for a used cold light head to fit your Beseler. Whatever setup you end up using, you will probably be able to use your Ilford filters, but you'll need to calibrate the light source to your paper to establish exactly what contrast grades you're getting.

[Ginette]

A coldlight can be found easily for the Beseler 45. If you ask for in the for sale section, you will have probably some propositions.

Another diffusion option system is the Ilford Multigrade 500 Enlarger Head.
If you look at, make sure the power supply is the latest 600W and that the diffusion boxes are in the head (at least the 4x5 one).
Came with a keypad that you can decide the contrast without need of the filters set (filtering system into the head).
One on eBay actually but expensive, came with the enlarger and lenses.

[Leigh]

Another diffusion option system is the Ilford Multigrade 500 Enlarger Head.
That's what I use, and it's absolutely wonderful.

Note that there are two versions...
One uses two 150-watt lamps, while the later version uses two 300-watt ELH lamps.

This is an additive system.
One lamp has a blue filter, the other has a green filter. There is no red source.

The control unit for the later one has two rows of seven keys below the LEDs, and an "expose" button that runs the full width of the controller panel. The earlier one has two groups of buttons with a vertical space separating them, and multiple control buttons below.

- Leigh