A friend is offering me an omega dichroic II with color head for very low money. But i just want it for b/w printing. I´ve heard that diffussion enlargers arent that good for getting contrast. Should I buy an only b/W head enlarger?

-- marsal font vila (mussons@retemail.es), December 17, 2001

Answers

The light from a color diffusion head is similar in character to the light from a cold light head. Many B&W printers prefer this type of light. While the contrast is slightly lower than condensor, it's not all that lower. Maybe half a grade at most. Modern VC printing papers offer more than enough contrast range to compensate, and modern graded paper also offer high contrast grades.

If the price is good, and the enlarger is in good condition, go for it.

By the way, if the color filters are in good condition you can use them with variable contrast papers.

-- Charlie Strack (charlie_strack@sti.com), December 17, 2001.

The enlarger you have been offered is an excellent choice for printing B&W. As far as being "good for getting contrast", this will depend upon how you are exposing and developing your film. (e.g.- if you have been printing with a condenser head, you might find that to match these prints on the diffusion will require a higher contrast.) Reguardless of what type of head the enlarger you are using, (condenser, diffusion or cold light) each will require a negative of different contrast to "fit" with that type of light source.

-- James Megargee (jmegargee@nyc.rr.com), December 17, 2001.

I have an Omega D5XL with a dichroic head, and I have been extremely pleased using it for black & white printing. Previously, I used a similar enlarger at a community facitity with a variable condenser head. For almost all of the printing I have done recently, I prefer the results with the dichroic head and find the prints generally more pleasing. I have reprinted old negatives, and only have one where I definitely prefered the print from a condenser light source.

There is a slight bit less contrast, which seems to be about a 1/2 filter grade. I used to start with a 2 filter, but now my starting point is a 2 1/2. You just have to see what works for you. Given a choice between the two light sources, my choice would be the dichroic head.

-- Jim Rock (jamewrock@aol.com), December 17, 2001.