Introduction
The three Simmon brothers began producing enlargers in the mid-30s and are still in business today (as OmegaSatter). The original company was Simmon Brothers, and the greek Ω symbol was the logo; but over the years the symbol became the name of the product. Enlargers by Simmon Brothers are almost always referred to as "Omega" enlargers.
Omega enlargers typically follow a reliable name scheme: the letter designates the format size of the enlarger (i.e. the largest negative the enlarger can accept); the following number indiciates the model generation. A B size enlarger is larger than an A, a D is larger than both, etc. Typically the higher the number, the more recent the model. E.g. a B-22 is more recent than a B-3.
The letter formats are: "A" (35mm), "B" (2-¼-square), "C" (3-¼-square), "D" (4x5), "E" (5x7) and "F" (8x10).
There are some exceptions, as noted. Marketing departments love to depart from a standard naming scheme, and in some cases, a very popular model enlarger (such as the D5) remained in production after more recent machines were discontinued.
To the best of my knowledge, the XL designation refers to an extended-length column.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Mfg | Col. Type | Col. Height | Lens Focus | Focus Method | Baseboard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | 1937-1940s | Single Tube | Unknown | Bellows | Manual | Unknown | The original model inthis series |
| Super B | 1939-1940s | Dual-Rail | Unknown | Bellows | Manual | Unknown | The smaller sister of the Super C |
| B-3 | 1949-1953 | Triangle | Unknown | Cone | Autofocus | Unknown | A major revision, first of this series to use autofocus. Sometimes referred to as the Automega B-3 |
| B-4 | 1949-1953 | Triangle | Unknown | Cone | Manual | Unknown | Manual-focus, non-geared elevation version of the B-3 |
| B-5 | 1953-1955 | Triangle | Unknown | Cone | Autofocus | Unknown | Revised B-3 chassis to accept the Omega Light head |
| B-6 | 1953-1955 | Triangle | Unknown | Cone | Manual | Unknown | Manual focus version of the B-5 |
| B-7 | 1955-1973 | Dual-Rail | Unknown | Cone | Autofocus | Unknown | Revised autofocus system and dual-rail column |
| B-8 | 1955-1974 | Dual-Rail | Unknown | Cone | Manual | Unknown | Manual focus version of the B-7 |
| B-9 | 1960-1960s | Dual-Rail | Unknown | Cone | Autofocus | Unknown | Updated chassis specificially designed to accept Chromega color heads |
| B-10 | 1960-1960s | Dual-Rail | Unknown | Cone | Manual | Unknown | Manual focus version of the B-9 |
| B-22 | 1962-1974 | Triangle | Unknown | Bellows | Manual | 16x20 (18x26 on XL model) | Offered with both standard and XL column lengths. Originally sold with a condensor head, offered with the Chromega B Dichro head at the end of its run |
| B600 | 1976-1979 | Single Beam | Unknown | Bellows | Manual | Unknown | Low-end version for beginners and home darkroom use |
| B-66 | 1974-1980 | Single Beam | Unknown | Bellows | Manual | Unknown | Replacement for the B-22. Adapters allowed it to take the C-700 or C760 Dichroic heads. Modern Photography Test July 1975 |
| B635 | 1979-1985 | Solid Beam | Unknown | Bellows | Manual | Unknown | Export, tweaked version of the B600 |
Series Comments
The B series is Omega's most widely-represented, at least in numbers of models. With only a couple of exceptions, it stayed at the 2-¼"-square (6x6cm) format, which made it a favorite for hobbyists and serious amateurs who worked with both 35mm and 120 roll-film, or for 35mm users who liked the fact that these larger models looked more substantial, often had more accessories, and might prove useful for larger work "just in case."
Model Comments
Complete Enlarger (Model B)
Please see my comments in the Other Omega section.
B
Actually the second of the series, if you count the "Complete" model. This was a conventional enlarger: it had a pipe column with a tape-spring counterbalance. Instead of using bellows, it had an adjustable tube for focussing.
Super B
The first of this series to look like a modern Omega; it had a dual rail column. Like the Super C, its big feature was a set of bellows both above and below the negative. The upper set could be used to adjust the negative stage relative to the light source, and thus eliminate the need for different condensors for different film formats.
B-3
The big new feature on this model was autofocus, and Omega sometimes called it the Automega B-3. A specially cut aluminum track fit along the column and a wheel rolled along it. The wheel in turn varied the distance between the lens and the negative stage. The idea was that you could focus once and the image would remain in focus as you shifted the head up and down to change the cropping. This system would show up on various other Omega enlargers, such as the large format D-3. But the B-3 also had rack-and-pinion head-positioning, and triple condensers for various formats—nice additions in any enlarger.
B-4
This was a budget edition of the B-3: no autofocus, no rack-and-pinion head movement, and only two condensers (you had to buy the third one if you wanted to do other formats).
B-5 and B-6
Very similar to the B-3 and B-4 respectively, except that they've been modified to accept the option Omegalite B cold light head, and later the Chromega B color head could be retrofitted to it. The B-5 is autofocus, the B-6 manual. Both have rack-and-pinion head movement.
B-7 and B-8
A major updating; the single aluminum column changed to dual-rail, and the B-7 got a revised autofocus mechanism as found on the D3. The B-8 is the manual-focus version of the B-7.
B-9 and B-10
This was a variant of teh B-7 and B-8, respectively, except that they were designed specifically to take the Chromega B and Chromega-Sphere color heads.
B-22
Back to the single-box aluminum column. It was sold for years with the condenser head, but toward the end it could take the Chromega B Dichroic head as well.
B600
This is the B-series version of the C700, a beginner-level enlarger meant to be particularly simple and easy to use. It originally took the Chromega B Dichroic head, but could also accept the C700 Dichroic and C760 Dichroic heads as well.
B-66
The successor to the B-22, it took a redesigned, simpler condenser head, but it could accept the Chromega B Dichroic and (with adapters) the C700 Dichroic and C760 Dichroic heads.
B-635
A non-USA product (though it was available in Canada). It's basically a B-600 except for the lamp and condensers, which run on foreign input voltages. Like the B-600, it could take the Chromega B Dichroic and (with adapters) the C700 Dichroic and C760 Dichroic heads (if using USA voltage).