Lpl 7700mx

[Ian Humphrey]

Hi I have just bought a LPL 7700MX Colour Enlarger on ebay .
Has anyboby got a manual or knows the where abouts of a pdf on the net.
Also am i right in thinking that Ilford underlens filters are better than the colour magenta ones in the head. Thanks Ian

 

[Richard Ross]

I use the built-in filters in my 7700 Colour. You will probably get more contrast out of an Ilford G5 filter vs the 170 maximum magenta in the head, but it's not a huge difference, and if your negs routinely need a grade 5 I'd increase development time a bit!

 

[Ian Humphrey]

Lpl 7700mx

Hi Richard
Thanks for the info ill try what you said and see how i get on .
Is their any quirks that you know about with these enlargers as its the first time ive used them.
Ian

 

[Chris101]

I use an LPL 4550 dichroic enlarger. The highest contrast it delivers is a bit over grade 4. I can appreciate the advice to up one's development if the negs come out too thin, this is usually not the case when I need a #5 filter. I can think of several situations - heat cooked film, staining developers, orange Kodak BW400CN negatives ...

So although it is rare, when I need a grade 5 - I need a grade 5. I much prefer the 'above the condenser' filter tray of Bessler enlargers, to holding a #5 below the lens - in the path of the image! The color head works just fine for all other grades (the Ilford site has the settings.)

 

[Richard Ross]

Is their any quirks that you know about with these enlargers as its the first time ive used them.
Ian

I don't think there are any quirks, they're pretty much a conventional enlarger. The only problems I've had with mine in 20-odd years are some focus drift, which was cured by tightening the adjustment screw on the focus control, and an inability of the cyan filter control to stay on the zero setting. That was cured by a lump of Blu-Tack! It's worth keeping an eye on the lamp contacts as well as in time they can corrode and cause flickering. Replacement lamp holders are available I think.

I'm still very happy with mine and have never felt the need to change to a different brand. The only minor criticism is that it could be a bit brighter.

Regards
Richard

 

[tbm]

I use a Saunders 670 MXL color dichroic enlarger that I bought 10 years ago new and I love to use it with my black and white Leica-based negatives! I get phenomenal prints when I use the Adox MCC 110 paper from Germany that was initially released a few months ago and is available at Freestyle Photographic Supplies in Hollywood, California. It is the most magnificent fiber paper I have ever used!

 

[ath]

Since this LPL has a diffusion light source contrast tends to be on the lower side. You might want to develop your negatives to a slightly higher contrast than for a condenser enlarger. I aim at a CI ~ 0.65.
In fact I think that the color filters are superior to the fixed filters because they do not fade and can be changed step less in case you want to fine-tune the contrast.

 

[Ian Humphrey]

Lpl7700mx

Lpl7700mx

Hi
I understand from ilfords website that the 7700 is the same as the kodak settings for black and white .
has anyone used these on multigrade fibre and how did you get on

Also i would just like to thank everyone for their comments on this topic.
It has been really helpfull and set me on my way i hope to some great photos .

Thanks Ian

 

[Richard Ross]

The dual Y+M filter settings Ilford publish for enlargers using Kodak filter settings are quite a good match for Multigrade filters on the C7700. Don't get hung up on "grades" though; with built-in colour filters you have stepless control of contrast, and can choose a setting between grades. Adjust the filters to give you the result you want.

 

[Steve_F]

Since this LPL has a diffusion light source contrast tends to be on the lower side. You might want to develop your negatives to a slightly higher contrast than for a condenser enlarger.

When I print on Ilford MGIV FB I start at 30/40 Magenta with my Meopta Opemus colour-head diffuser enlarger.

Steve.