Omega D5500

Darkroom check

Light, carriers, bellows and lens

Light source and lamp

The Auto CLS head is a closed-loop dichroic lamphouse with a 200 W 82 V halogen reflector lamp, and KHB Photografix had that lamp in stock in October 2026. The head does nothing without its controller or translator/controller, so the controller has to be in the listing. Early controllers with membrane keypads were prone to keyboard failure. The rare D5500 condenser enlarger and the ProLab II condenser use the DV head with a 75 W PH211 lamp.

Carriers and condensers

The D5500 uses its own carriers, magnetic mask sets in C size holders for formats up to 6x7 cm and D size holders for 6x9 cm to 4x5 in, set in a cassette that rotates up to 180°. The 4x5 mixing box covers every format, and Omega made 35mm and 6x7 light multipliers that shorten exposures. Look in the photos for the cassette, both holder sizes and the masks you need.

Column and bellows

Coarse elevation is a self-locking quick-release handle, and fine elevation is a friction drive with two resilient rollers on a splined shaft. Those rollers crack and come off the shaft, and then the fine knobs spin with no effect. Focus knobs sit on both sides. Ask the seller to raise the head with the fine control and to show the bellows lit from inside.

Alignment

Omega fixed the head in place and moved the negative stage forward so the lamphouse sits square with no overhang, both to reduce alignment trouble. When it's wall mounted, the wall brace's adjustable arms also act as an alignment adjustment. On arrival, check the baseboard, negative stage and lens stage with a spirit level.

Lens

Lenses mount on a single lens mount with ½ in or 1 in cup lens plates for 32.5mm, 39mm, 42mm and 50mm threads, or on a three-lens turret that takes 39mm lenses from 50mm to 150mm. A ProLab II uses the same lens mounts. Check the photos for the mount or turret and the plates for your lenses.

Timer and power

The CLS controller doubles as the timer and connects to the head by a ribbon cable, and Omega offered a dual-pedal footswitch for it. The chassis was built to take Omega's power elevation and power focus units. Ask the seller to show the controller powered up with the head lit, and check the ribbon cable is in the photos.

Shipping and pickup

We couldn't find a sourced weight for the D5500. It's a 4x5 chassis with a fixed head and a separate controller, and Blue Moon Camera sells the 4x5 Omega D5XL, listed at 88 lb, for pickup only. Plan on local pickup, or ask the seller to box the head, controller and column separately.

Should come with it

• Auto CLS controller or translator/controller and its ribbon cable
• Negative carrier cassette
• C and D size holders with mask sets
• 4x5 mixing box
• Single lens mount or three-lens turret with lens plates
• Baseboard

Hard to find if missing

• CLS controller (the head won't run without one)
• Mask sets and holders for the D5500 carrier system
• 35mm and 6x7 light multipliers
• Keypad conversion kits for early controllers

Check the listing photos against these lists, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing carrier, condenser or lens board should come off the price.