35mm & 6x9 enlarger

Hello,
planning to set up a home darkroom, I've started looking at enlargers (and all other equipment). I shoot for hobby in the 35mm and 6x9 formats, both color and B&W. I would like something in the range of the DURST M805, meaning recent and nicely built (according to web reviews, my only source for info). No problems with room, I'll have enough where I'll move to in a few months.
Also, being completely new to processing, I would appreciate if anyone warned me against venturing (i.e wasting money) into something that could prove too difficult, keeping in mind that I won't have any source for help but the web.

Thanks all those who'll take their time to answer,

Lino

Give the enlarger range of the German Kaiser company also look (still in production). It is an extremely modular system where you not only can change the lightbox (direct/diffuse), but also filter modules, condensers, which should be important in your case, and of course film holders.

But there are more modular enlargers around.
Durst does no longer produce enlargers, but I guess there is enough material on the market.

Besides the web there are so many books written about home processing.

MAGNIFAX 4a COLOUR ENLARGER

http://www.silverprint.co.uk/

The above enlarger is a good buy and will (with the appropriate mixing box) cover all sizes to the 6x9 you say you use.
They may seem cheap(ish) but are very well built and if anything like mine, will last you years.
The same company do some very good enlarging lenses that are worth looking at, also maybe look at Nikon etc; because that is not an area to buy cheap as you definitely get what you pay for.
If money is not tight then also look at the Nova slot system as an alternative to trays, along with their archival washers. (Both colour and B&W)
I could go on ….. however, have a look at the link for Silverprint; they have a good descriptive site.
If this is the first time for you setting up a darkroom, then take it step by step. You are right when you say that money can be wasted. Buy the necessities and then go forward as you find a need for things.

David.

I use a Meopta Magnifax 4. You can get a 35mm insert for the 6 x 9 stage. This too is a modular system with condenser, diffuser and colour heads available etc. You'll need a 105mm lens for 6 x 9. You can print 35mm with the same lens, but a 50mm will give you more enlargement.

David.

ggirino said:

No problems with room, I'll have enough where I'll move to in a few months.
Also, being completely new to processing, I would appreciate if anyone warned me against venturing (i.e wasting money) into something that could prove too difficult, keeping in mind that I won't have any source for help but the web.

Click to expand...

If room isn't an issue a Durst 1200 It's not likely you'll pay a big premium on the used market for a 4x5 enlarger versus a smaller one. I bet a lot more people are looking for something small to fit into a tiny room then have the room for a 4x5. That helps keep the 4x5s cheaper then they should be.

Lino what are you worried is too difficult? The process of making B&W and even colour prints isn't that complicated. The process of making good photos can be but that's not a techincal issue normally. You can certainly make better prints then the average quicky lab normally.

Dear Lino,

I can not comment on equipment because I am not familiar with what is common in Europe, but I would like to say processing your own b&w film is relatively easy and inexpensive. Processing color can be done, but I find that the added expense of having my color film processed for me to be small.

See these links for b&w:

Dead Link Removed
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/o3/o3.pdf
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/ak3/ak3.pdf
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/aj3/aj3.pdf

For color:

http://www.kodak.com/global/plugins/acrobat/en/service/Zmanuals/z131_03.pdf
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/j39/j39.pdf

For information on color printing, search the forum for "RA-4 processing". If you can find a "KODAK Color Darkroom DATAGUIDE" you will find a good deal of useful information as well.

Good luck. I hope you will enjoy hand processing your own photos. Great fun.

Neal Wydra

Good Morning, Lino,

"Also, being completely new to processing, I would appreciate if anyone warned me against venturing (i.e wasting money) into something that could prove too difficult, keeping in mind that I won't have any source for help but the web."

In APUG you have already located the best source for photo information. Either do a topic Search or post specific questions.

Konical

Hi !
Still made, perfect for your goals, the Kienzle (was the maker of Leica's Focomat)
http://www.kienzle-phototechnik.de/home_english/enlarger/A-type/A69S_type/a69s_type.html
Ask them for a price quote.

many thanks,

AgX, I looked at the Kaiser site. Those seem affordable even new.

Daud and Woolliscroft, I looked at Silverprint. Living in NW Italy shipping costs from the UK may be an issue.

Nick, the Laborator 1200, I thought about that too, also in perspective of giving large format a try. That is a dream enlarger, is it not? I keep both eyes open in case a good deal goes by.

Thanks for the links Neal, I know there must be tons of material available on line. When I search I usually get messed up trying to sort the good from the rubbish and trying to understand what should come first and what should be considered advanced.

Konical, thank you for your kind willingness to support.

The main reason why I'm deciding to go through this, besides thinking I'll like it, is that over here (NW Italy) it's getting more and more difficult, expensive and lengthy to get film processed, let alone quality. I've already got to pay 20 euros for a 120 format B&W film printed to 10x15 cm - that is eight tiny prints looking poor even to my unexperienced eyes!
Reading the web I got to think that it might not be that difficult to process even color by one's self. Given a Jobo machine or equivalent and either enlarging or going the scanning/inkjet printing route (hope this is no blasphemy here) and a good amount of learning, one could become lab-free.

Thanks all again,

Lino

Hi again,
This post could get me shot!

Photography is a form of self expression so if that takes you down the scan and inkjet route then why not?
Yes some here will try to say blasphemy….. however, it is only their way of trying to keep this non digital, not a bad thing but is can become almost an obsession.
If it stops people like you from asking questions from a site of VERY knowledgeable people, then it is wrong. In a time where digital could be making conventional film processing almost a lost art, then encouragement is a must.
Off my box.

Have you thought about slide film (E6) processing using a Jobo rotary processor? You would get the best of both worlds then: good film projections, good prints (inkjet or otherwise) and while you are looking in to this? Have a look at B&W slides, they can be fantastic.

David.

Lino,
if you would in some future like to process film in colour (as this subject came up), give the manual method a try. If you are carefully and know what you are doing (by then), that should work. If not, you could achieve a processor anyway.

Neal, a maybe dumb question: once you know the Kodak pub. you want, let's say AE-13, how do you find it on Kodak's site?

Lino

Lino, what about Kodak's search engine?

In any case, you can click on `All Kodak Businesses´rather centre above, then you will be offered everything what could be of interset to you. Choose one, and you will find a new menu on the left hand side. Choose again a topic of your interest and finally you will be offered `technical literature´ on that very topic.
Can't describe it better.
Anyway I'm a printed paper guy; have got those from when they were still available...