Greetings,

I am new to printing 4x5 and am frustrated by my Omega neg. caariers because they significantly mask the image area around the edges. My 6x6cm and 35mm carriers have been filed out to show beyond the image. I wish to have a glass carrier that would allow the full view. I have inspected my Omega glass and found it to be too small. Perhaps you could help me find anti-newton glass that would be about 4.5x5.5" and then I could grind out the carrier and remount the glass with new screw holes. Any sources for the glass? Or other tips for this task? I appreciate your page very much. Thank you for the whole web site. Peace,

-- Denis Kelly (deniskellyjr@earthlink.net), April 13, 2000

Answers

Denis: Are you really sold on glass neg carriers? They offer four extra surfaces for dust to collect on and you will go nuts spotting prints. I print 4x5 negs 90% of the time and have not found the need for a glass neg carrier. Why not get an extra D-2 carrier and file it out to show all the 4x5 neg? To answer your question, I have seen anti-Newton glass advertised in Shutterbug and most of the larger photo equipment dealers should be able to order it for you. I am not trying to tell you how to run your darkroom, but glass negative carriers are a lot of problem to solve a problem that ususally doesn't exist. Most of the time, you can put the neg into the enlarger, turn on the light for a few seconds and wait for the negative to "pop". Then focus and it should stay put.

-- Doug Paramore (dougmary@alanet.com), April 13, 2000.

I'm with Denis. I have a glass 3 1/4x4 1/4 carrier for my D-2, and 35mm for the Leitz V-35. They aren't that hard to keep clean, and sure make it easier to get sharp prints right to the very edge of the negative. There must be 4x5 glass carriers for the D-2 out there; have you checked the Omega catalog?

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), April 13, 2000.

I garee with the others who question the glass carrier? You might look at the 4x5 carier made for the saunders LPL;it is not totally oversized, but it does have a larger opening than the Omega unit. Bob

-- Bob Moulton (bmoulton@icc.cc.il.us), April 13, 2000.

I have an omega 4x5 carrier and don't seem to have this problem and i only have two extra surfaces to clean(hint, hint!) ....in fact the glass is at least 1/4" larger than the neg and consistently projects the neg's blank edges....so look at a swap meet or ask your favorite camera dealer for another 4x5 carrier...there were so many produced over the years there's bound to be another like mine. Mine appears to be a newer make or possibly a custom job....it's silver and has strap-springed hinges. I ordered it from Marvel Rhyme in Little Rock Ark. Good luck.

-- Trib (linhof6@hotmail.com), April 17, 2000.