Olivinyl
Hello everyone,
I’ve bought the Kaiser VCP 3501 enlarger with a colour mixing head to replace my Durst M301 with a Rodenstock Trinar 4.0 50mm lens.
What do you think of the Kaiser compared to the Durst? I’ve been using the Durst with Ilford multigrade filters up to now. Now I would like to use the colour mixing head for the gradient.
The negatives on the Durst M301 are supposed to have a gamma of 0.55; what about the Kaiser? Gamma = 0.63?
Which lens is better of the two?
What parts do I need to replace on the Kaiser for 6x6 processing? Lens, double condenser, film stage... can the 6x6 condenser remain fitted for 24x36?
Is the use of AN glass absolutely essential with the Kaiser VCP? With the Durst, I occasionally had rings on the enlargements.
So many questions... I’d also appreciate your tips and insights.
Best regards, Oliver
AchimBauer
Hello Oliver,
I’m not familiar with either of those enlargers. But I have two Kaisers in my darkroom: an old one for 35mm with an opal lamp, and a newer one for 35mm up to 6×7 with a multigrade unit and a colour mixing head.
They look the same but aren’t compatible.
If you have round condenser lenses in round plastic mounts, then it’s an ancient piece of kit where retrofitting is hardly worth the effort.
If you have square condensers, there’s a better chance that the current ones will fit. (Or don’t bother looking.) The best thing is to find out the year of manufacture; otherwise, send an email to Kaiser with the serial number asking which parts are needed.
You’ll usually get a reply within a week. But it’s often cheaper to wait until an affordable unit turns up on eBay, but be careful: depending on the model series, the heads aren’t interchangeable, as I’ve already tried with mine.
As for the lenses, I’m not familiar with the Trinar, but I think the Rodagon is the better one.
Regards, Achim
AchimBauer
Hello again,
I forgot to mention that I’d prefer a mask without glass at the bottom and with glass at the top,
Best regards, Achim
Tandemfahren
Hi Oliver,
As for converting to 6x6, I’d also advise you to keep an eye out for a complete unit or head. But then again – they’ll certainly be able to help you at Kaiser.
Your new toy should be mechanically far superior to your old one. I’ve had both. The same goes for the optics, although people tend to underestimate the three-element lenses – I once had an Anaret, which was wonderful.
For 6x6 you’ll need a 75 or 80mm; Schneider Componon-S, Rodagon and Nikkor are likely to be the best options. If you like, I’ll have a rummage for you – I might still have something in my treasure chest.
If you’re converting it, the 6x6 condenser for 35mm can stay in. The exposure times will be a bit longer, that’s all (I use a 6x7 for everything).
AN glass on top is certainly not a bad idea, regardless of the camera. You might be able to do without the clear glass.
I don’t use gamma to determine negative contrast, but with Zone VIII at 1.25–1.35 logD it works quite well (whatever the gamma happens to be)
My2cts
Frank
Olivinyl
Hello everyone,
Ever since I got a densitometer, I’ve got into the habit of testing my films. That’s why, thanks to Dr Otto Beyer’s Excel spreadsheet, I’m able to determine the gamma. So far, I’ve tried developing all my films to a gamma of between 0.55 and 0.59, which corresponds to Zone 8 at approximately 1.25–1.30 logD.
I think I read that a gamma of 0.63 would be optimal for mixed-light enlargers, which is why I’m asking if that’s correct.
I was aware that I need a different lens for 6x6. I’ll have a look at which condenser is fitted. It would be nice if I could convert it.
According to the instructions, the double condenser for 24x36, No. 4443 (the round one), is fitted, and for 6x6 I need No. 4442. The 4442 isn’t listed in the current Kaiser catalogue, but the 4542 (for 6x6) is listed and is suitable without restriction for cameras up to October 1994, prior to the 05 series.
The film stage is either the 4435 with flat glass or the 4486 without flat glass; unfortunately, I can’t say which yet.
I would then need the 4434 or 4485 film base for 6x6.
Perhaps they can still track down the parts; then I could finally get my Rolleicord up and running.
Where is the AN glass located? Above the film base? What is the point of the glass beneath the film base?
Best regards, Oliver
SxDx
Why not start by checking what gradient you need for the films you’ve developed so far? If you regularly find yourself having to pull the film hard, you can adjust the development process accordingly.
I use the frameless masks in my Kaiser, and I don’t have any problems with flatness even with 6x7. However, I only work with formats up to 20cm on the short side, as I don’t like larger formats.
Olivinyl
Hello,
I don’t go any larger than 20x30 either; most of my prints are 10x15 and 18x24.
So the lower glass is only needed for the flatbed, and the upper one as a focusing screen.
Then I just need to look for a 6x6 condenser, a 75 or 80mm one, and the 6x6 format masks for the book-style stage.
Best regards, Oliver
WolfgangF
Hello Oliy,
The V System on the Kaiser enlarger is very easy to upgrade.
In the housing head, beneath the colour mixing head, there is a round condenser, secured with two screws.
This condenser can be replaced with a 6x6 No. 4542 or a 6x7 No. 4441. You can sometimes find them on eBay for around €60.
You will then need the corresponding format inserts – 6x6 and 6x7, around 10 to 15 of each second-hand – and, for the 6x7 condenser, you would also need to replace the filter drawer with a larger No. 4448 model.
You’ll also need a 6x6/6x7 diffuser screen for the colour mixing head.
So, upgrading to 6x6 involves minimal effort whilst maintaining the same quality.
I myself upgraded from 6x6 to 6x9 in this way.
Good luck
Wolfgang
AchimBauer
Hello Oliver,
I hope the images upload successfully; in them, you can see the old system on the left and the new one on the right, which might be possible to upgrade to. But it’s best to check with Kaiser using the serial number.
Format or glass insert 4434, 4485, condenser 4542.
But that’s just a possibility, because it’s not as simple as Wolfgang described. I’d have liked to convert mine to 6x9, but for that I’d need a new lower housing and a new lighting head.
The really simple conversion only works on the brand-new models.
Regards, Achim
WolfgangF
Hello Oly, hello Achim,
I need to correct myself slightly.
The conversion is as simple as described, but with the VCP 3501 and 6001 it only goes up to 6x7.
My conversion to 6x9 was carried out on the newer System V ooo5, VCP 6005, and is also possible with the VCP 3505.
Attached are the conversion instructions for the 6001 and 3501.
If you’re interested, I’d be happy to send them to you as a PDF by email.
Regards, Wolfgang
Olivinyl
Hello everyone,
I’ve got the manual for the 3501, but I seem to have missed the bit about the conversion catalogue.
I’ve already had the 4477 conversion kit in my hands, but I wasn’t sure if it would fit. I’ll go ahead and express my interest then.
6x6mm is the largest format I want to work with, and 6x7 or 6x9 are completely irrelevant to me and negligible.
Once I’ve got the conversion kit, I’ll have a look around for a second-hand 80mm lens.
Best regards, Oliver
Olivinyl
Hi everyone,
Can anyone please tell me what you can, should, and must pay for a Schneider Componar-C 4.0/75mm?
I’ve been offered a second-hand lens and I’m supposed to suggest a price.
Please, no crazy eBay prices ;-)
How much did this lens cost back in the days of the Deutschmark?
Best wishes, Oli
sputnik
I wouldn’t pay a penny for that. A three-element lens of the lowest quality!
Get yourself a decent six-element lens. Even THOSE are often given away for next to nothing these days:
http://www.ebay.de/i...&orig_cvip=true
Here are a few 1999 retail prices for six-element lenses from Stochay & Ley:
Rodagon 4/80: 446DM
ditto APO: 1096DM
Componon S 4/80: 516DM
ditto APO (4.5/90): 1176DM
EL-Nikkor 4/75: 316DM
In practice, the ‘standard’ 6-element lenses are unlikely to differ much.
The APOs are slightly better, but by no means as much as the price difference would suggest!
It may be that there is a greater difference in quality when enlarging colour prints. I don’t know.
An Anarat 4.5/80 with four elements is also said to be quite good. BACK THEN, at 129 DM, it cost significantly less than the ones listed above.
Given today’s second-hand prices, the price difference is likely to be around 20 or 30 euros. I wouldn’t skimp on THAT.
After all, the V-optics are the be-all and end-all when it comes to enlarging!
Oh, and regarding the original price. The Componar C seems to be a very old model, so unfortunately I can’t find a price for it. The Componar S, which was already a 4-element lens, cost 186 DM in the catalogue cited above in 1999.
Olivinyl
Thanks, S.
In that case, I’ll give the Componar C a miss and wait for a Rodagon 4/80.
Best wishes, Oliver
AchimBauer
Hi Oliver,
Why not have a look at www.secondhanddarkroom.couk? You’ll find an overview of almost the entire range there.
Best regards, Achim
WolfgangF
Hi Oly,
Have a look here at aphog
http://www.aphog.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=23725
Regards, Wolfgang
Olivinyl
Damn, I can’t view the link at the moment as there are issues with my registration on Aphog.de
Best wishes, Oliver
