I'm planning to move from 35mm to 120. I have a Beseler 4x5 enlarger with Zone_VI variable contrast light and an old Negatrans 120 which has a glass plate above the film. Two questions. Firstly, is this neg carrier likely to do a good job of keeping negs flat? I've read that not-quite-flat negs are responsible for more print deficiencies than is often recognised. Secondly, are the film grabbing parts, that grab the film in the adjacent frames across the image area, likely to do any damage at all to the negs?

Any comments would be appreciated.

-- john stockdale (jjss@bigpond.com.au), August 05, 2001

Answers

John,

Especially since you are using the cold light head, negative flatness should not be an issue providing the lens and negative stages are aligned correctly with the baseboard. I use the same enlarger with a cold light source, without glass negative carriers on my medium and large format films.

-- Jim (jim@jimbillups.com), August 05, 2001.

There's nothing wrong with the Negatrans. I've got two for my Beseler 23C and one set up for use with my Omega D2. I'm not sure what you are talking about when you say "that grab the film in the adjacent frames ACROSS the image area" [emphasis added]. The Negatrans only pulls the film through by the EDGES! Actually, only one edge at that, since it only has one rubber belt. It doesn't grab the film in any way I can imagine that you would describe as ACROSS the image area. The only problem I've encountered with the Negatrans is that the rubber "belt" [actually just a large, round rubber band] wears out over time and finally won't grip the film anymore. They cost about $35 to replace. Also, be sure and keep the glass clean [only found on the 120 model].

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), August 05, 2001.

Alec, what I was referring to is that there is a lever near the front underside of the 120 Negatrans (not the 35mm one). The belt moves the film only when the lever is in one position. Then the lever is turned and the film is clamped in position, by 1. the glass lowering onto the top of the film, and 2. by the clamps lifting onto the underneath of the film. On my old Negatrans, one clamp is damaged, and will have to be finely sanded smooth again, but I was wondering about the pressure on the film, and perhaps slight bending when it's clamped.

-- john stockdale (jjss@bigpond.net.au), August 05, 2001.

John, I've never had a negative damaged using the 120 Negatrans. If a clamp on yours is damaged, you can replace it with a new one from Beseler. Most everything on it is attached with screws. Don't take a chance on anything that touches the negative. It could come back to haunt you later.

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), August 07, 2001.