Enlarger Question

[Raffay]

Hello, recently I saw an enlarger with no name on it, the only thing I could find was the specs, it read sizes from 16x24 to 6x9. Does that mean it covers 4x5 as well. It also mentioned that it has a Leica thread.

Cheers

Raffay

[Leigh]

That sounds odd.
16x24 is a common print size (in inches), the metric equivalent is 406mm x 610mm.
6x9 is a common film size (in mm).

Perhaps it means you can make prints as large as 16x24 on the baseboard from 6x9 negatives.

The Leica thread (39mm diameter) would be for the enlarging lens. This suggests that it would not work for 4x5 negatives, since lenses for that format usually require a larger thread.

- Leigh

[Bob Salomon]

That sounds odd.
16x24 is a common print size (in inches), the metric equivalent is 406mm x 610mm.
6x9 is a common film size (in mm).

Perhaps it means you can make prints as large as 16x24 on the baseboard from 6x9 negatives.

The Leica thread (39mm diameter) would be for the enlarging lens. This suggests that it would not work for 4x5 negatives, since lenses for that format usually require a larger thread.

- Leigh

This is a bit simplistic. If the enlarger is for medium format film the negative stage would be too small for 4x5 as would the negative carrier.
A 120 WA enlarging lens like the Rodagon-WA or the 135mm Rodagon will both fit a 39mm Leica thread mount so putting a high quality 45 enlarging lens on the enlarger is no problem. Putting the 45 negative in it is another matter. Same for 6x12 panoramics.

Additionally the print size possible depends on three things: Enlarger column height, negative size and lens focal length.

A WA enlarging lens will let you make a print 30% larger then a standard enlarging lens at the same column height with the same negative. And I have never seen 16x24 silver paper. 16x20, yes.

[Chauncey Walden]

Maybe it is from 16x24mm (half frame) to 6x9cm (but not 9x12cm or 4x5inches.)

[Bob Salomon]

Maybe it is from 16x24mm (half frame) to 6x9cm (but not 9x12cm or 4x5inches.)

Close, but half frame was 18 x 24mm. We still have some mounts left in this size.