Beseler Enlarger Problems

[bwells7]

Hi, I'm still pretty new to the home darkroom scene but I do know that somehing is wrong with the rpints I'm able to make with my Beseler 35 Printmaker. The enlarger is new, but I had to buy a different lense (El Nikkor)for it (what i think must be the problem). Basically, the field of light that comes through the negative is cylindrical, which gives all of my prints intense exposure in the center and under exposure at the edges. Is there a simple fix to this or do I need to buy some better equipment?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Marko]

Hi Bwells7,

I own a Besseler enlarger so I may be able to help. For a 35 mm neg most people use a 50 mm lens - is that what you have?

Can you please describe your level of experience with printing with enlargers - that can also help. Have you printed elsewhere - or is this your very first stab at it?

Do you know how to work the bellows on the enlarger?

Thanks!

Marko

[bwells7]

well, you see that also might be the problem. I'm not very experienced. My only other shot at it was with a durst enlarger, which I taught myself on. However, this problem didn't come up.

My lens is a 50mm and it fits so I assume it should work just fine. Concerning the bellows, I guess I do... I use that to focus the picture and I adjust the height of the enlarger to get the right size. Is there more to it?

Once again I'm coming from a very inexperienced position please don't take anything for granted in your reply. Thank you so much!

[Marko]

There may be a section at the top of the enlarger that also has a bellows that you set for 35 mm.

Then, First you need to adjust the height of the enlarger for general focus. - next use the bellows for fine focus.

Make sure that the negative is in a neg carrier....
The lens should be at f5.6 or f8 or f11 (usually a middle aperature)
These are real basic steps...but maybe as a beginner you are missing something.

Is there anything here that you are not doing?

If you are still stumped....

Can u upload a pic of the enlarger?

Marko