Omega DII Questions (I'm STUMPED)

[corgan4321]

I have a couple questions about my Omega DII:

First, I can’t produce prints smaller than (approx.) 10 inches in either direction with the correct lens. By the correct lens I mean a 50mm for 35mm film, an 80mm for 6x6 film, etc. Reason being, If I move the enlarger head all the way down as far as the track will let me go and I focus the image, it is still about 10 inches in one direction; too large to make an 8x10 print. I’m using flat lens boards for both lenses. Any idea why this is?

Second problem is that the lens cone I have for my 135mm lens doesn’t fit into the enlarger! The person from whom I got it said it was for the Omega D series but it is just slightly larger than the flat lensboard I use for my 50 and 80mm lenses. Maybe this cone was meant for the D3 or larger D series enlargers?

Thanks!

[Brian C. Miller]

I have a D-II and and D-3. The D-3 is set up at the moment, so I'm using it as a reference.

First, you don't a cone at all on the enlarger, right? There is the lens mounting board, and then there is a flat insert which slides into the enlarger, and the lens board (with the lens) screws into that.

Second, is the enlarger head going all the way to the top and all the way to the bottom? It isn't binding, right? The band springs should be maxed out, the gears should be an inch from the end of the track, and the negative stage should be about 16 inches above the base board.

The D-II and D-3 both take the same lens boards and cones. The D5 is completely different.

The 50mm lens should be mounted on a flat lens "cone," the 80mm should be mounted on a 2-inch or so cone, and the 135mm should be on a 4-inch cone. All of the lenses mount on a circular flat board, which is screwed into their respective cones.

Also, if raise your easel up with a box or something to give an 8x10 print, can you focus the image?

If you can, please post a picture or two.

[Brian Schall]

You're limited by how far down the head goes. With my DII, I've raised the easel by placing books under it to print as small as 2x3 on one occassion. You can also just use your 80mm lens, nothing wrong with using a longer lens.

As far as the cone, it could be for the D5.

[Vaughn]

Don't think of it as the "correct" lens. The only "incorrect" lens is one that is too short to cover the film format (and even that one can be "correct", depending on the desired results). To make smaller images, use a longer lens than the "normal" lens for the film size. I always do this when making 8x10s or 11x11s from 6x6 negs -- using the 135mm lens (on a D5). That way the enlarger is at a reasonable height and I am using the "sweet spot" of both the lens and condensers.

D5's don't use cones.

[lenser]

Corgan,

First of all, do you have the D-II or the D-2? The D-II is the first version of the D series and has some differences from the later D-2 and more advanced D series machines that came later. That may or may not effect what you are attempting, but it is worth looking into.

You can find historical and mechanical information at www.khbphotografix.com/omega/ which is an extremely comprehensive Omega informational website.

Secondly, Omega made an add on bellows unit for exactly the purpose you are trying to achieve. It simply went on in place of the normal lens board or cone, and the lens was attached at the end of the supplemental bellows allowing for prints as small as wallet size on the baseboard. I've seen quite a lot of these come up on the bay over the years, so it may be fairly easy to find.

Good luck.

Tim

[Roger Cole]

I recall I had problems making smaller than 8x10 from my 35mm negatives with a 50mm lens, but no problems with 8x10. For smaller prints I used my old little Bogen X-35.

I've been reading that 50-105mm take flat boards. I have one on the way for my 100mm Componon-S. I'm going to be perturbed if it does require a cone. I have the right cone for my 135 and it works fine - or did back when I printed. I have to get this stuff set up again.

Anyway, the OP may have a D5 cone as someone said. My cone definitely fits my enlarger, which is a DII (not 2) chassis with a D2V lamphouse.

[Louie Powell]

I have a couple questions about my Omega DII:

First, I can’t produce prints smaller than (approx.) 10 inches in either direction with the correct lens. By the correct lens I mean a 50mm for 35mm film, an 80mm for 6x6 film, etc. Reason being, If I move the enlarger head all the way down as far as the track will let me go and I focus the image, it is still about 10 inches in one direction; too large to make an 8x10 print. I’m using flat lens boards for both lenses. Any idea why this is?

Simple solution - elevate the easel.

All enlargers have this problem - the only difference is what are the dimensions of the smallest print they can make.

That's why paper comes in boxes - just put a paper box under the easel.

[lenser]

Corgan,

I should also have mentioned that you can use a longer lens such as a 135 or 150mm designed for 4x5 with the smaller negatives, which will project a smaller print than the 50 or 75mm lenses for smaller formats.

[Dave Brown]

You'll need to move the easel up towards the lens, and as you do that, chances are you'll run out of bellows draw. Back in the day, Omega made an auxiliary bellows called the "close up attachment" that solved this problem.

As for your lens cone not fitting, I can only guess. If the fit is close, perhaps a little work with a file or a grinder would solve the problem.

[Vaughn]

The "easy" solution of raising the easel is easy -- but make sure that the easel stays aligned with the baseboard or else you could have problems with sharpness across the image area.

A longer lens is better for that reason -- and for two other reasons. 1) the lens is farther away from the paper, making burning and dodging easier (less likely to bump the lens, etc), and 2) depending on the power of the bulb, paper speed, and negative density, having the paper that close to the lens might require you to close the lens down past the optimum aperture.

Good luck!

Vaughn