I am embarrassed in asking this question, but would like some help. I am trying to print an 11 x 14 print with quarter inch borders from a 35 mm negative. The problem is the enlarger head is up so high on the column that I cannot reach the focus knob. And my head is in the way of the light source when using the grain focuser. I would appreciate any solutions to this problem or is there something wrong with the enlarger setup? I have an Omega D5500 4x5 enlarger.

-- Jane Rice (kjrice@frontier.net), May 14, 2000

Answers

Jane,

What is the focal length of you enlarging lens?

-- Jim Billups (jimzpace@yahoo.com), May 14, 2000.

The short answer is to get a 50mm lens. If you absolutely must use the 80mm see if you can have a focusing extension installed. For many years I used a 90mm lens for printing all formats from 6x9 to 35mm and I experienced the same problem. In addition stability was a problem as well with the enlarger head cranked up so high.(I have a somewhat older Omega with the same girder design). About 3 years ago I bought a 50mm 2.8 el nikkor for my 35mm work. Coverage is perfectly even edge to edge and my enlarger head is at a much more comfortable height.Don't forget to adjust your condencers if you have a condencer lamphouse.

-- Robert Orofino (rorofino@iopener.net), May 14, 2000.

A short term solution might be to attach a medium sized C-clamp to the focus knob, with the screw pointing down. You can probably reach that, and the extra lever length will give a bit more resolution in focusing. It should be snug so it doesn't fall off, but don't crush the knob!!!

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), May 14, 2000.

Might a magnifying glass, or one of those plastic-magnifying sheets they sell in bookstores work? That way you could stand to turn the focus knob and still look at the projected image on the easel.

chris

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), May 15, 2000.

How about getting a second person to help you. I have done this a couple of times when printing panorama shots with dimensions of more than a metre. If you give slow, unambiguous commands while looking through the focuser, an assistant with a calm hand can do the focusing.

-- Thomas Wollstein (thomas_wollstein@web.de), May 15, 2000.

You can get long reach grain magnifiers, and this should solve your problem. I'm 6ft tall with arms like a gorilla (in length, not hair), and I used to have problems with a normal grain viewer when focussing top-of-the-column prints. The long reach magnifier saves a lot of bodily contortion.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), May 15, 2000.

A common lens for 5x4 enlargers is 150mm, but a more suitable lens for 35mm format is around 50mm. If that is your problems, then the solution is ... just get a 50mm enlarging lens (one that will fit your enlarger, of course).

-- Alan Gibson (Alan@snibgo.com), May 16, 2000.

I want to thank everyone for their support. My problem was I was using an 80mm enlarging lens and changed to a 50mm lens. This seems to have solved my focusing problem and the enlarger is at a comfortable height. I am now able to print a full 11x14 print.

-- Jane Rice (kjrice@frontier.net), May 17, 2000.

There is an extension for the focusing knob that Omega sells. You take off the knob from the shaft and mount the flexible shaft and it will give you about 2 ft. of extension. The paet # is 464-055 and is for Omega D's and E enlargers. At their site, they should have one for your 5500 if this one doesn't fit. Cheers, Scott

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), May 18, 2000.