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5x4 Enlargers for small dark rooms?

locutus

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I shoot a lot of 5x4 and i would like to get a enlarger for it.

Now, this has some challenges, my darkroom (read: bathroom) is tiny and i cant leave the enlarger setup permanently.

What are the 5x4 enlargers to look out for that are reasonably easy to disassemble and setup repeatedly (like once a month, fine if it takes an hour), dont weigh a ton and can fit on top of a 1x1 meter square surface?

I plan to use a 135mm enlarger lens for a bit less column rise, dont need a colour or multigrade head and my max print size will likely not be bigger then 30x40 centimeters.

Fire away
 
RE a specific enlarger: I can't help with that.

If there's room for a small cart on casters, I'd go that route. If there's room between the toilet and cabinet/wall then you could get a cart which will roll over the top of the commode to save floor space. The tank may be too high to accommodate workable enlarger height but the cart could butt against the front of the tank. Or you could just set the enlarger on top of the bowl lid and pray you don't need to pee during printing.
 
Similar here)) I went for Durst L1000 - it is not super heavy, is relatively easy to disassemble and store. But it seems to me that this assemble/disassemble routine is wearing it off.
 
  1. I can't directly answer your question -- most enlargers weren't meant to be very portable -- but you should consider making digital negatives (or using analogue negative-copying processes... not very easy in a bathroom) and using contact printing techniques that allow the use of more portable 35mm enlargers (or even projectors!), as long as their image circle covers the paper. Also, alternative processes commonly use a contact printer and a UV lightbox (or just sunlight) that would be much, much easier to move around at the cost of the time and care these processes take. Finally, some people have used large format cameras, especially Speed Graphics, as enlargers. Graflex once manufactured "Graflarger" accessories that may be findable today.
 
The smaller LPL 7451 4x5 enlargers are relatively compact compared to other 4x5 enlargers. They are, however, heavy. The baseboard is 60 cm square.
 
My 4x5 enlargers (Omega) are pretty heavy. When I need to get them off the counter for service I have to take the head off first. Even then it probably should take 2 people to be safe lifting it off the counter (but I usually lift it myself).
 
I'm in the same situation. What I did is put my enlarger on stand, and put wheels on the stand. That way I can wheel it in and out as needed. I also have a laser leveler to check that everything is lined up whenever I move them. I also have a smaller enlarger that I use for 135 and medium format prints that I just attached wheels straight to the base board. I usually use that one sitting on the ground. It's a lot easier to move around without all of that additional weight, but does require a lot of squatting and standing.

The wheels I use are about 3" in diameter and made of rubberized plastic. The size of the wheel you get will be important. Too small will be hard to move (especially over carpets or rugs) too large will be hard to turn and get in the way. Locking wheels are best (especially ones where you can lock both the wheel and the pivot). And make sure the wheels come with bearings (to make them easier to roll around) and at made of some kind of plastic that won't scuff up your floors or get flat spots from sitting still over time.
 

Sorry, but none of those comments apply to my question.

Otherwise...

I dont really have space for a cart, i would be placing the enlarger on of my washing machine, currently i do this with my 6x6 Meopta enlarger.

David, have you noticed what parts suffer extra wear from reassembly?

Storage wise the enlarger would need to split up in baseboard/column/head, if i can store those seperately i'm happy.

Thanks!
 
voceumana said:
The smaller LPL 7451 4x5 enlargers are relatively compact compared to other 4x5 enlargers. They are, however, heavy. The baseboard is 60 cm square.
Click to expand...

I have an LPL 4500II, which is the US-market version of the 7451. Per the reference page at KHB Photografix, its weight is approximately 26 kg. I had to assemble the enlarger myself when I installed it in its first location about 25 years ago and then when I moved it to its current location 22 years ago. I'd hate to have to do that repeatedly; wrestling with the column-and-head unit is not fun. You may be stronger than I am, though. But I'd also worry about messing up alignment by continually banging the head around.

EDIT: You'd have to worry about alignment with any enlarger. So if you want to do this, factor in the additional time for an alignment procedure every time you set it up, plus whatever budget you need for alignment tools.
 
i would be placing the enlarger on of my washing machine

Wall mounted enlarger above the washing machine?
 
locutus said:
Storage wise the enlarger would need to split up in baseboard/column/head, if i can store those seperately i'm happy.
Click to expand...

I have an Omega D5 and it's actually fairly easy to separate the head, column and baseboard. Those are manageable sized pieces to move on your own. The head comes off without tools, the column/baseboard would need a spanner (7/16" from memory) to get them apart.
 
I cannot comment on the 4"x5" enlargers available to you. 4"x5" enlargers are heavy so I would recommend that the enlarger be put on a cart, not disassembled [avoid alignment problems] nor lift and move.
 
If you were in the US then I would recommend an old Federal, made in the 40s and 50s, single column, easy to brake down, but was designed for 4X5 so no separate condensers or adjustment like a Bessler for smaller negatives, so printing 35mm and MF is slow. These were bargain basement enlargers, stamped parts, there might similar entry level enlargers on you side of the pound.
 
I use an old Omega D2 for 35 to 4x5, the head and column separate from the baseboard via a knob screw, without disturbing the alignment. Separated it will store in the back of a closet.
 
If you can find one Line and Jones in the UK made a budget 5x4 enlarger with a cold cathode head they were inexpensive and probably the lightest least bulky LF enlargers made.

You could look at a Graflarger, I think Linhof made something similar, essentially converting a camera into an enlarger with a light source. I have a horizontal Houghton "King" enlarger set up for Quarter plate, but it will cover 5x4 with the right condenser set, it's 61cm long, 28cm wide and 38cm tall you can pick enlargers like this up for next to nothing, I was given mine they often don't sell on Ebay.

Ian
 
hi locutus -

i saw your post earlier and was trying to think about it ..
the smallest enlarger i think you will ever find is a camera wtih a graflarger back. ( ian beat me to it ! )
basically its a cold light source ( aristo ) you put on the back of a camera ( any 4x5 camera )
wtih a graflok / international back. they used to sell for about 50 bucks a handful and a couple of years ago
( at least that is how much i sold mine for i think ) ... if you are handy, and have a 4x5 camera with a removable back ...
you might be able to create somethng similar using a LED light source.
the graflarger was used with a special tripod ( i never had that ) so the leg wouldn't get in the way when projecting
( maybe the neck stuck out ? ) maybe a tripod column with an articulated neck like a patio umbrella will work ?
i only suggest these things because every 4x5 enlarger i have ever seen was pretty bulky/heavy and probably would not do well on
a wheeled cart, and would take up a rather large portion of a small bathroom ...
if you are interested, i have some old wooden (4x5) cameras you can experiment with for the price of postage .. ( they ain't perty )
 
Concerning carts:
One could design it as cabinet, with a swiveling mount through the center of the baseboard. Thus one could swing the complete enlarger by 180° down into the cabinet. A large baseboard still would neccessitate quite some volume. One could cut off the sides of the baseboard and hinge them instead.
Though likely the length of the collumn would make the cart too high, one then must shorten the collumn and thus reduce on enlarging scale.
 
Why not? I have a 60SF darkroom with a Beseler 45MXT for 30 years. Works great.
 
Get a Graflarger back for your camera. Graflex sold 10's of thousands of those things . It just an Aristo cold light that replaces the back on your camera with a Graflock "International " back. It's a piece of crap, but you want something super quick to set up, Graflarger.
I would find a single column enlarger and mount it to the wall above the washer, fix the holes when you leave. Better to ask forgiveness than permission when it comes to land lords
 
Thanks for all the comments!...

I'm reconsidering the requirement to be able to disassemble the enlarger, my bathroom is next to the hallway and i could just put a cupboard there that the enlarger could sit on top when not in use, hen i only need to be able to lift and move the enlarger 2 meters.....

I took a look at the options mentioned in this thread:

- Graflargers, i only have a 5x4" ShenHao... it serves me well but i am pretty sure using it as a enlarger would drive me nuts.. then also comes the issue of finding a column for it etc

- Omega D2, these really look perfect for what i want...however they seem to be very rare over here in Europe.

- LPL, not available locally but secondhanddarkroom.co.uk has them, i will take a look at the manual once i find it.

I see there is a Beseler 45MX for sale locally to me, any idea what that weighs? I found a brochure online but it only states shipping weight. I'll go measure the dimensions in the meantime >

Other question, i've read that 5x4 enlargers usually don't compress their bellows enough to be useful for printing 35mm negatives....how is that with the 45MX? If it can do 9.5x12" it means i can scrap my Meopta.
 
the best set-up I've ever seen for such a darkroom was a Durst L1200(large, heavy and robust) mounted to a cart on casters; the cart held all supplies and paper and even a bucket of water. Set-up time is less than 15 minutes and it looks clean and orderly; in a pinch somebody can still use the bathroom too.
 
The Durst L1000 must be one of the smallest 4X5 enlargers. Rather small column and base board. I would say it will give you prints of about 12X16. Great metal built and very reasonable in prize. However you need to be well informed before you buy it.

- the various condensers (it always takes a combination of two)
- yes / no filter tray
- the need to have larger bulbs
- the bulb's wattage: there were 200, 300 and even higher. And active ventilation with the higher watt bulbs. Or using a dedicated heat glass between lamp house and and the head with MG filters and negative . . .

What would be best is you find a very complete one with spare bulbs. Mine is against the wall, using the Durst wall mount and gives me beautiful 20X24 prints. I took two years to get it complete.
 
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