i have a 50mm nikkor lens on my durst enlarger. i came back to printing my own stuff after not doing so for about a year and have found that my prints look quite soft. the equipment was in my darkroom, which although permanent, is in a cellar and so can be quite damp.what could cause this other than the quality of the lens? thanks in advance

-- Moiz Abdulkader (moiz.a@breathemail.net), November 07, 2001

Answers

Check to see if mold is growing in your lens. Look for fine filaments that are between the lens elements. I've had this happen and it required taking the lens apart (carefully) and cleaning the glass.

-- r (ricardospanks1@yahoo.com), November 07, 2001.

Clean everything on the enlarger. Pay particular attension to the lens and condensors. Make sure that you are using fresh chemicals and paper. Also, go back and reprint some of your old negatives. Make sure that you can get the same print quality with those before moving on to new work.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), November 12, 2001.