Condenser part missing? help needed.

[Brunoxyz]

Hello, I recently bought an Omega DII enlarger that looks like this

except it does not have that custom made filter holder.

My problem is, that it also came with an Omega D2 head and two large condenser lenses.

I heard that cold light lies softer looking prints (is it true?) so I wanted to get the condenser working just in case.

I removed the aristo cold light that came with it. I placed one condenser lens belly up on the bottom of the aluminum ring, but the problem is when I try to install the upper lens, there is no way to do it, nothing seems to hold it in place and I dont think the lenses should touch each other. so I am guessing I am missing a part? there is no way I could find anything about it on the internet after days searching.

sorry for the long explanation.. and thank you very much in advance.

[BrianShaw]

It has been a long time since I looked at my D2 (which has lived comfortably in storage since about 1982), but I seem to recall that there was a corrugated aluminium collar (a separate piece from the condensor housing) that held the two condensor lenses apart.

[Brunoxyz]

thanks for that, at least now I know there's something missing.

Could I just make a custom separator or the distance between the lenses needs to be super exact?

Also, one of the lenses has a small scratch near the center, if I put that one on top, will it still affect the image?

thanks!

[BrianShaw]

I suspect you can craft a replacement separator. Not sure about the exact distance issue, though. I tried to get to my enlarger, but no chance of that right now. I can see it but access will require moving more stuff than I'm able to at the moment. I seem to recall that the top of the upper condensor was "just below" the notches in the housing. How far below, I can't exactly say.

Incidentally, one of mine has a scratch too... right near the center. Like you I suspect that keeping it as far as possible from the film plane is the best idea.

[BrianShaw]

Oh, BTW... I assume you are talking about the 4x5 condensor set. Did you know that there are two others... one for MF and another set for 35mm? The 4x5 condensor set is the full width of the condesor housing; the others are smaller -- perhaps masked; perhaps different focal lengths, I don't know for sure since I have never owned the others.

[BrianShaw]

Here's a good info source. I forgot about this site until just now:

http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/

[Heroique]

[...] I seem to recall that the top of the upper condensor was "just below" the notches in the housing. How far below, I can't exactly say.

I just looked inside my D2v's condensor housing. (I'm sure it's identical to your housing in the photo, which holds the standard 6.5" lenses for 4x5 work.)

Looks like the flat top of the upper-most condensor is approx. 9 mm (or close to 1 cm) below the bottom edge of the notches. This is with the spacer in place.

If you improvise a corrugated spacer, please share the details! That would be fun to hear about.

[BrianShaw]

Here's the other (more expensive) option, a DV conversion kit:

http://cgi.express.ebay.com/Omega-DV...QQcmdZViewItem

As always, I have no dog in this fight... don't know the seller, bla bla bla. I'm just considering this as a future option... if I can ever get the enlarger past all of the junk in the garage and into a darkroom. Oh, and while I'm at it... a little more spare time would be nice too!

[Heroique]

BTW, what’s the focal length of that lens?

Typically, you’d want a 135mm or 150mm lens for 4x5 work.

And you’ll want to mount the lens on a lens cone – I think I see a flat lens board in the photo.
— 2.75” cone for 135mm
— 4.5” cone for 150mm

[aduncanson]

When people say that prints from cold light or diffusion sources are softer they mean that they are less contrasty, not less sharp. People using diffusion sources typically develop a little more to achieve the same print contrast. So they benefit from reduced visibility of scratches and dust but presumably suffer from the larger grain size caused by the greater development.