Ilford MG Express paper. can i use it for normal printing?

[quizzard87]

Hi!
I just got a free 500' roll of Ilford Express Multigrade RC paper...i found out that it's made for printing with very short exposures in automatic printers.
Is it possible to use this kind of paper with a normal enlarger like a Meopta Axomat?
What do I have to keep in mind when printing with this paper? any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[markinlondon]

Short exposures would be your problem here. Depending on the model of Axomat an ND filter would help extend your times to something manageable. You could either pop a Cokin filter in the filter drawer or even just blu-tack or tape it to the front of the lens.

 

[quizzard87]

thanks for the tip! i guess i'll try that...now that i have more than enough paper to find the right times.
what filter strenght would you suggest?

 

[markinlondon]

Checking the data sheets, there's not that much in it. Maybe a 4x (2 stop) and test. You could get the right idea by stopping your lens down further as you won't want to keep your tests and then buying a filter to bring your lens back to optimum aperture. for instance I like my EL-Nikkors best at f5.6, so if f16 gives times in the right range I'd dial in 3 stops of ND.

 

[quizzard87]

yeah, i'll play around with the times and f-stops a bit and then choose a filter...thanks again.