Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/08/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Akhil Lal wrote: > > Hello Everyone, > > The University is about to throw out an old Omega D 2. Condenser Head. > Well used, but 100 % functional. > > Is it worth saving for a home darkroom ? Are spare parts and instructions > still available ? > The Omega D2 is widely considered to be the workhorse standard of the industry in the darkroom. Over the past 30 years a starting out photographer would be recommended to have one. A basic tool, not really open for option, the Beseler a far second. The new Beselers are made more like Omegas and are much better than before. They may even be possible to align. The Omega D2 is built like a tank without one bit of plastic and can be aligned perfectly without any third party add ons. The head is a wide open question as to whether you want the Condenser Head or not. I've use it it on my D2 and various Aristo cold lights, now a VC coldlight. I think it accepts more 3rd party heads than any other enlarger. Even if you only go to medium format it is good to have an enlarger one format larger than your largest format. And you never know. And if you ever get an Xpan you can print those panoramics. If you're able to get it cheap especially I'd go for it! Get neg carriers and lens boards for it. I'd checkout the Zig-Align people who can tell you how to align it and can sell you a thing to help you do so which isn't cheap but i love mine and wouldn't go into my darkroom without it. http://www.zig-align.com/ Mark Rabiner Portland, Oregon USA http://www.rabiner.cncoffice.com/