Getting started with 4x5 printing.

[hamradio]

I got an offer from a friend a few weeks ago to pick up a free enlarger. All I saw in the phone pic was Beseler, and assumed it was a 23c. Perfect, I thought.

A 45MCRX was unloaded from his car at my house. I now own this beast and hadn't previously planned on printing the 4x5 stuff I shoot, though now that I have the means, I'd like to mess with printing from 4x5 negs. The enlarger is set up for 35mm currently, with a 50/3.5 Rodenstock. That needs to go away. However, I know next to nothing about what lenses one typically runs when printing from 4x5 negatives. I'm planning to just print 8x10s...what lens am I seeking? 150mm?

Thanks!

 

[aizan]

yup, 150mm. a $50 el-nikkor should be easy enough to find.

 

[mbisc]

Yes, 150mm lens, but I'd try to get the Rodenstock version

 

[Moto-Uno]

135mm works also and requires less head room than the 150mm for the same size
enlargement ( important in my little dark closet ) Peter

 

[Dwig]

135mm lenses were probably the most commonly used "back in the day". Advanced users wanting the best image quality generally opted for premium 150mm lenses.

The longer 150s generally give more uniform performance center to edge. The Beseler can handle the 150s just fine if your darkroom ceiling doesn't pose limits.

My old darkroom had a Beseler 4x5 (an ancient HV model) with condenser head. I used the rarely seen but excellent Vivitar VHE 150 f/5.6 for my 4x5, 3-1/4x4-1/4 (I shot a lot of Polaroid 665 P/N) and 6x9 work. I wall mounted the enlarger so that at maximum extension it just cleared the ceiling. I then had a movable baseboard that could be positioned at counter height for normal use and lower when making larger prints.

 

[venchka]

You need:
4x5 negative carrier.
The best 150mm lens you can afford.
A means of checking the alignment with the baseboard after final installation.
Timers, easels, safelights, trays, etc., etc.,etc.
Lots of paper, chemicals & practice.
Rock & Roll!
Enjoy.

Wayne

 

[mervynyan]

45MX I have, haven;t done darkroom for years now. miss the action.

 

[venchka]

Membership in this forum will help a lot.

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/index.php

Schneider Componon-S and Rodenstock-Rodagon enlarging lenses are going for silly cheap money.

Wayne

 

[gunsmithing]

You try use your camera lens for temp till you can find the right lens
The 50mm will work to point for some types of work.
Try cragslist and ebay I am getting back in to film and found some things I need for free just pick up

Dave