Page 1 of 1

Enlarger lamp

Posted: 17 Jun 2013, 10:20
by Photomark
Hello all , new to the forum here with a question or two

Anyway I am just getting set up in 4x5 printing , I have a Omega D2 condenser enlarger.

Looking for a good replacement lamp for it , I have always used the Photocressenta lamps but I am unable to find any 150 watt and the 75watt are just to dim for me.

Vanbar do not have anything .

I was thinking of rigging up a 50 watt LED , any one ever done this ?

Any other lamps that are suitable ?

Re: Enlarger lamp

Posted: 17 Jun 2013, 10:38
by Walter Glover
I suspect that an LED may not work with the optical system of a condensor enlarger.

Trty Ben Boardman on 03 5786 5060. If anyone knows he will.

Cheers,

Re: Enlarger lamp

Posted: 17 Jun 2013, 11:10
by Maris
I run an Omega D2V enlarger with a 75 watt Photocresenta bulb and the brightness is ample to enlarge a 4x5 neg up to 16x20. But a dense negative does mean exposures more than a minute so I try to avoid those overexposed/overdeveloped mistakes. Importantly the Omaga D condenser head is rated for a 75watt bulb at maximum and a 150watt bulb will overcook the lamphouse usually by burning out the lampholder or the bulb base. When I really need extra brightness I use a 150w Photocresenta bulb in an old Gilkon 4x5 enlarger that I got for free. If it fries it fries but I still worry about shortened bulb life with rare and $$$ Photocresenta lamps.

Re: Enlarger lamp

Posted: 17 Jun 2013, 11:49
by Photomark
Yes I know the enlarger is only rated at 75 watt however I have tested it with a 150 watt left on for over 1 hour and there was no real heat build up to worry me at all , certainly not enough to worry all that aluminum in the lamp house with exposures under 60 seconds with a 25% duty cycle or less.

I like using a 150 watt as it keeps my exposure shorter and I print a lot at 50 x 60.

I was wandering about lamp alternatives as I know the time will come when I will not have any more photocressenta bulbs left.

I still have a spare 150 and a dozen 75 watt bulbs but when these run out what can be used in there place.

I guess some experimentation will be my best bet

Re: Enlarger lamp

Posted: 18 Jun 2013, 11:31
by smbooth
Tony Egan has done a conversion using a single 30 w LED here. You may wish to read through the thread.
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum43/1167 ... 138-a.html

Re: Enlarger lamp

Posted: 19 Jun 2013, 08:48
by Photomark
Thank you Shane .

All I have at the moment are a few 100watt LEDs and I think they are way to bright .

I can get 50 watt but I think a 30 watt would be more than enough.


I did do some experiments a few years back with my 6x6 condenser enlarger and simply sat a cheap LED torch on top of the condenser and did a print from that , the only think wrong with it was that I could see the individual LED light sources from the torch , it did however print ok , I just never got around to doing a proper job of it and high power LEDs where not as available as they are now.

Incandescent bulbs are on there way out , I dont even know where I can get a 150 watt photocressenta bulbs any more and the only 75 watt bulbs I can find are on eBay , I am wondering if they are even made at all anymore.

Re: Enlarger lamp

Posted: 19 Jun 2013, 09:37
by Walter Glover
Why do I get the sense that we are headed back to light through a ducted skylight as they used over 100 years ago?

Re: Enlarger lamp

Posted: 19 Jun 2013, 22:33
by Photomark
Walter Glover wrote:Why do I get the sense that we are headed back to light through a ducted skylight as they used over 100 years ago?


Cyanotype printing as well I guess

Film Photography = technology in regression :(