My Ilford 500H head is very bright, so much so that burning and dodging times are often way too short for comfort, less than 2 secs perhaps. I usually print at 12x16 (the rest of the time 11x14 or 16x24) on Ilford MGIV FB, from 4x5 B&W negatives on a DeVere 504 with a Rodagon 150mm. I can see that this lovely lens gives me the sharpest image of the grain (as viewed in a grain magnifier) at f8 or f11. At f16 the grain softens and at f22 it seems very soft indeed, beyond that down at f45 I can no longer see the grain.
I wonder if any other enlarging lens, notably Apo Rodagon N 150mm (anyone selling?), would remain significantly more grain-sharp at f22 than the Rodagon?
I guess I could try replacing the bulbs with weaker ones, but I am wondering what else could I do to solve this issue.
Many thanks,
Rafal Lukawiecki, Ireland
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