Long exposure time for Leitz V35 Focomat

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Hi,

i finally got my dark room set up (in 2015 yay!).

i am using a leitz focomat v35 enlarger with replacement philips 13139 bulbs.

having printed around 15 8x10 prints, i find that my average exposure is around
45sec to 1m and if variable-contrast is used, it goes up to 2 - 3mins (!).

Is there something wrong with such long exposures ?
(or is there any upsides to long exposures ?)

i use f5.6 aperture on the 40mm focotar and I am wondering if f2.8 would be too "soft".

the reasons i understand are:
* Diffuser head taking longer time
* Incorrect bulb
* Filters (i am using the color hear)
* apertures

thanks !

raytoei
 

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Seems like an excessively long time. I've been using a V35 since the late 80s, always with Variable Contrast RC paper - mostly Ilford Warmtone. I have never used the color head; I use a variable contrast head with the Splittone system and get exposures ranging from 16 seconds to 35 seconds, depending on the negative, for 8X10 prints. These are all at f 5.6. Does your enlarger have the regular module - no filters at all? If so, give that a try just to see if the times drop dramatically. BTW, Leitz also made a VC module for this enlarger. Hope this helps.
 
This is way too long - exposure times, even for a large format print, are assumed to be below 30s. All filters set to zero? Voltage supply set to the right voltage (assuming you have a 220/110V switchable one), and you are not running a 220V fixed supply in a 110V country either?
 
If it came with the old bulb, you will need the new holder.

Also the bight box was fitted with double condensers to spread light better. There will be a pin mark in the diffuser surface corner indicating double.
 
thanks for the all reply. after installing a rare original philips 13139 bulb, my dev has gone down to a more manageable 30-60seconds, with contrast filter (color head) turned on and f4 aperture. Still not as short as my russian upa725 with a condenser head (15 seconds @f5.6 with same contrast grade and same negative), but i am not complaining.

small-print.jpg
 
Probably alignment, old bulb and old Styrofor diffuserbox which you can replace by a new one (Kienzle in Germany).

Philips 13139 75W is not in production anymore for several years. But in time you can replace it by a LED cold light source (Heiland Germany):
http://shop.fotohuisrovo.nl/product_info.php?cPath=44&products_id=506&language=en

With the Focotar F/5,6 aperture and 8x10"/20x25cm prints it should be 20-30s max. in exposing time.
 
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