Hi folks!

I just recently set up two enlargers that have been sitting around for six months while I dug out a place for my darkroom. One is a 23CII-XL with Dual Dichro S colorhead and the other is an older blue 23CII with the Dichro 23 DGA colorhead. After set up, I attached lenses and threw in some negs to see if everything was working. Then I realized that I had no way to adjust the height of either condenser!

After doing a bit of research, I found out that the knob must be removed for the colorhead to fit over the condenser housing and a shaft extension put in its place. I got around that by cannibalizing a focus knob to put on the shaft, but the colorhead must be removed each time to adjust the height. I work with various neg sizes and this could get very old quickly.

I'll probably have to go ahead and call Beseler for the part, but decided to check here to see if anyone had a DIY solution. I don't mind pulling MacGyvers at Home Depot but this actually seems like a fair amount of work to make sure it slips over the shaft, attaches without scratching (hopefully taking advantage of the tapered end), and room on the other end for the focusing knob (keeping in mind that the inside of the knob is molded for that taper).

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Try Beseler, It shouldn't be that costly. By the time you chase down materials it'll cost more than the phone call

Hi, I think color heads don't have condensers, so no adjustment is necessary?

I used a needle nose vice grip on mine for years. Worked great.

Don Bryant

Hi, I think color heads don't have condensers, so no adjustment is necessary?

This is the first time that I've used color heads for black and white and my (very novice) understanding was that all color heads are diffusion. Well, after finding a manual online and speaking to Steve, the tech rep at Beseler, it seems that it can be used in both modes, BUT you will need two key parts to convert the head and enlarger to do so.

Unfortunately, I bought the condenser 23CII and color head used and the previous owner didn't include the parts to convert it (she had bought it used as well and had given me everything). On the plus side, I do have the other 23CII already set for diffusion.

Called Steve at Beseler this morning about that shaft extension. The shaft runs for $20, the knob for $6, and a 3 1/2" screw that skewers the whole thing to the original shaft for $1. I have the part numbers on hand if anyone needs them.

Hrm, so $27 plus s/h or $5 for pliers?

You could just set the condensor for your largest format and leave it there. The purpose of the condensor is to distribute light evenly over the negative area. If it is even over a 6x7 area, it will be even over a 35mm, 6x4.5, and 6x6 area. The only real gain you get by matching the condensor precisely to the format is increasing light output for smaller formats, and that is usually small--typically on the order of 1/2 stop between medium format and 35mm--only really of interest if you are printing really big from 35mm.