Beginner Question....

[monicagivens]

I just set up my first darkroom!!! I am starting off with a Rollei 6x7 CXL

dichroic enlarger, but I need a bit of help....I just played with it yesterday

(sort of checking to make sure the chemicals weremixed right) and as I used the

enlarger, I tried to make a standard 8 x10 from a negative. I could NOT get it

to focus... I could only get the picture to be approx. 3 x 4 inches or so. Am

I missing something? I am used to using the Beseller enlargers at my school,

and never had a problem, but maybe I need something I did not know about.. Any

suggestions?

[david_dorcich1]

Is the lens mounted on the board properly? And what lens are you using on what size film?

[chuck_albertson1]

Don't know the enlarger, but is it a condenser enlarger, and does it have some provision for moving the condenser lens up or down to adjust for different focal lengths of enlargings lenses (like the Beseler enlarger)? That could be the solution.

[SteveH]

You would normaly use an 80-100 mm enlarging lens for your negatives. If you have a longer

lens, you might not get be able to get enough height on your carriage to enlarge to 8x10.

Also make sure your negative is mounted properly in the carrier.

[Fotohuis RoVo]

>>Rollei 6x7 CXL dichroic enlarger<<

So a color head with diffuser box.

 

For 6x7cm negatives you need a 80-100mm enlarger lens.

When doing 35mm negatives you need a 50mm enlarger lens.

 

Also you need the right lens board with it. For 80mm or more it's conical, for 50mm it's flat, otherwise you can not focus it and that's your problem. With some systems (e.g. Meopta) you can turn your lensboard upside down. Then you're also in focus. If this is not the case you're missing the right lensboard.

 

Best regards,

 

Robert

[monicagivens]

Thanks everyone!!!! Yes, The lense (which the camera shop put on for me) was upside down on the lensboard! Once I asked the store owner about it, we flipped it over and sure enough.... it works!!! YEAH!!! Thanks so much for the help!