DeVere 504 brighter than a million suns

lostlandsuk · Post by **lostlandsuk** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:01 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Hi Folks - the 24v/250W bulb in my 504 is almost too bright to make prints on 8x10's. I find I am having to deal with exposure times of less than 6 secs, which is just a bit too frantic for my liking. Any ideas on how I can cut down the intensity of the light without stopping down too much (I've had it down to f22 and beyond and the light output is still pretty crazy). Rodenstock recommend f11 for a Rodagon and I don't want to get into the realms of diffraction etc.
So, any tips gratefully received. Are there different bulbs I could use (it's a Dichromat Mk IV head).
Cheers
Phil

George Hart · Post by **George Hart** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:49 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Phil, may we know which paper you are using? Various suggestions come to mind such as put a MG filter under the lens (assuming that you are using MG paper!), which should reduce speed by 1 stop for grades 00–3.5; use a slower paper (MGT is 1 stop slower than MG4RC, for example), put a ND filter under the lens; lower the lamp voltage (variable power supply, rheostat, etc, though this may affect the colour temperature); and last but not least, make bigger enlargements!

lostlandsuk · Post by **lostlandsuk** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:29 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Sorry - forgot to add, I am using Kentmere Fineprint, which I quite like.
I have sort of standardised on 10x8. I did wonder about putting things under the lens, but wonder if these will affect print quality.

Paul. · Post by **Paul.** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:42 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

I will swop you my transformer for yours if you like my 504 never gets that quick, course it may be my negs being denser than yours.
Also check your filters are indeed in the light path, I found I was not getting them fully into the light path because I had not turned the knob far enough.
Regards Paul.

Matt5791 · Post by **Matt5791** » Sat May 16, 2009 6:10 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

That sounds astonishingly fast - I have a 507 and would probably require 15 - 20 seconds at f8 for Kentmere fineprint.

Might be worth calling the technical line at Odessy sales.

Matt

lostlandsuk · Post by **lostlandsuk** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:06 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Thanks for all the interesting answers - looks like I've got a super-speedy one! My transtab, makes a very slight hum, but as everything seems to work fine, I feel it is probably working quite normally. The bulbs I am using are the ruggedised Philips ones (I think off the top of my head about 1000 hrs life) that I sourced from a disco shop (honest!)

I wonder if they might be the problem. they are certainly incredibly hot.
All this being said I might have found a workaround - got an old kodak Portre Filtre Holder #2. It screws onto almost any size of lens, and then maybe a Lee ND in front of that? might well work . . will have to try it soon.
Again, thanks for all replies!
P