Aoresteen Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 After a year of work I finally have an enlarger that will handle my 16mm and 110 size negatives easily. I didn�t think it was going to be this involved just to be able to quickly make 11x14 prints from my sub-miniature negatives. Let me back up. The first camera I bought was a Minolta MG 16mm that I found in a pawnshop outside of Ft. Hood in 1972. I had always been fascinated by the Minox cameras and the Minolta MG looked cute. I used it for 8 months then my Dad gave me a 120 6x9 folder. I�m not sure but I think I sold the MG in 1974. In 1979 I picked up a few more Minolta 16�s. In 1983 I bought a used Pentax Auto 110. I sold all of them in 1989. I have about 150 to 200 B&W negatives that I always wanted to print but it was tough with my Besseler 23C. With a 50mm lens I couldn�t get the magnifications I wanted. So I bought a Voss 25mm lens. It would not focus on the 23C so I got the recessed lensboard for the 23C. The 25mm would focus but I could not see the lens settings and I cobbled up a lever to stop down the lens. It wasn�t easy to use. There had to be a better way Last year when I built my darkroom in our new home I resolved to solve the 16mm printing problem. I purchased a near new Rodenstock 28mm f/4 Rodagon enlarging lens off of ebay for about $50 ($389 new from B&H!). When I mounted it on a flat Beseler 23C lensboard it would not focus a negative. So I popped it into the recessed lens board and it still would not focus correctly. Rats!! I guess it was not meant to print 16mm negs on my Besseler 23C with a short lens. I looked around for other enlargers that might work. I settled on the Beseler Printmaker 35 (same chassis as the Printmaker 67 but with different condensers). I bought a basket case Printmaker 35 off of ebay for $25 plus $20 shipping. When it arrived it was in bad shape (the seller had described it accurately!). After some TLC and parts hunting I got the Printmaster 35 (PM35) into shape. After locating a 39mm lensboard I mounted up the 28mm lens and gave it a go. Murphy�s law struck � it too would not focus the 28mm lens properly. Double rats! The problem was that the 28mm lens was to far from the negative. The 28mm lens included a 39mm adapter ring that was actually like a short extension tube. Taking the adapter ring off of the 28mm lens and holding it in the lens stage I determined that the PM35 would focus the 28mm lens if it were mounted without the adapter ring. The mounting size was about 25mm and Beseler doesn�t make a lensboard with this smaller size hole. Rats again! I packed up the 28mm lens and a Beseler 39mm lensboard and sent them to SK Grimes. Joel made a new lens board, drilled it, made a proper retaining �jam� ring, and counterbored the lensboard on the lens side to get the lens as close as possible to the negative. Total cost including shipping was $85. The lensboard was beaded and black annealized. In the meantime I located a used 110 negative carrier for the PM35 from B&H for $28 and bought a set of Ilford MG 3 �� filters as well. Victory! I got the 28mm lens back from SK Grimes yesterday and it focuses correctly on the PM35. The Voss 25mm lens also focuses easily. I�ve decided to keep both lenses as I may need the 25mm to enlarge center portions or for use with Minox negs should I ever get a Model B. Bottom line is I�ve spent $175 or so making �improvements� to a $25 enlarger! But now it won�t be a chore to print those 16mm negs. And I just acquired a Minolta MG and a film striper (35mm to 16mm) for the frozen rolls of AgfaPan 25 that I have in my freezer. I am now looking for an Aristo cold light head for the enlarger! Sorry for the long post but I thought the sub-mini community might be interested in a printing solution for 16mm/Minox negatives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTC Photography Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 I have the same problem with my 16mm B&W negatives from my Wirgen Wiesbanden Edixa 16M. I cannot find an adapter for my Enit Color 25mm lens to fit on my 35mm enlarger.<p> For the time being, I use a Canon FS4000 scanner to scan my 16mm negatives.<p> <center> <img src="http://www.photo.net/bboard/image.tcl?bboard_upload_id=18234584"border=6,width=600><p> Edelbrock<p> </center> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTC Photography Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 Edixa 16M, Schneider Kreuznach 25mm/2.8 lens<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTC Photography Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 Rail<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aoresteen Posted June 3, 2004 Author Share Posted June 3, 2004 Martin, I am sure that SK GRimes could make you an adapter. Give Joel a call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aoresteen Posted June 3, 2004 Author Share Posted June 3, 2004 Also, I like the photos! What film did you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTC Photography Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 Anthony, I use Agfa Copax Rapid Pan unperforated 16mm bulk film bought from frugalphotograher.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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MTC Photography Posted June 4, 2004 Share Posted June 4, 2004 Vienesian cusine<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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