I do not consider any 4x5 enlarger portable.
I have a Durst L-1000.
I do NOT consider it portable. Maybe compared to other 4x5 enlargers, but it is still large, heavy and clumsy to move.
And you MUST remove the condenser lenses before you move the enlarger, or you could damage the lens.
I would also not assemble/disassemble it regularly once setup. This is because the weight and bulk of the head and column, makes it difficult to handle.
If you can, somehow figure out how to put the enlarger on a cart.
The large Durst bulbs are no longer made, and VERY expensive if you find them.
A usable alternative is a globe bulb. In the US, a G-30 bulb is a usable replacement. I don't know if they make a 220v G30 bulb.
But the neck of the G30 is shorter than the Durst bulb, so you may need a socket extender, to raise the bulb.
Whatever you get, make sure that it is as complete as possible. Finding missing parts can be frustrating, time consuming and expensive. This is especially the case for enlargers like Durst, where the manufacturer no longer makes parts, so you have to find all the parts on the used/secondary market. I bought and had a condenser shipped over 5,000 miles, from France to California, USA. I am still looking for parts for my L-1000.
Another option is to do what I did at my parents home.
My brother and I took over the kitchen, covering the windows, and under the door, and printing at night.
My mother made my father make us a darkroom, to get us OUT of the kitchen. I think she did not like the lingering smell of the chemicals in the kitchen.
I also printed in my bedroom, being very careful to not drip any chemicals onto the carpet.
I have a Durst L-1000.
I do NOT consider it portable. Maybe compared to other 4x5 enlargers, but it is still large, heavy and clumsy to move.
And you MUST remove the condenser lenses before you move the enlarger, or you could damage the lens.
I would also not assemble/disassemble it regularly once setup. This is because the weight and bulk of the head and column, makes it difficult to handle.
If you can, somehow figure out how to put the enlarger on a cart.
The large Durst bulbs are no longer made, and VERY expensive if you find them.
A usable alternative is a globe bulb. In the US, a G-30 bulb is a usable replacement. I don't know if they make a 220v G30 bulb.
But the neck of the G30 is shorter than the Durst bulb, so you may need a socket extender, to raise the bulb.
Whatever you get, make sure that it is as complete as possible. Finding missing parts can be frustrating, time consuming and expensive. This is especially the case for enlargers like Durst, where the manufacturer no longer makes parts, so you have to find all the parts on the used/secondary market. I bought and had a condenser shipped over 5,000 miles, from France to California, USA. I am still looking for parts for my L-1000.
Another option is to do what I did at my parents home.
My brother and I took over the kitchen, covering the windows, and under the door, and printing at night.
My mother made my father make us a darkroom, to get us OUT of the kitchen. I think she did not like the lingering smell of the chemicals in the kitchen.
I also printed in my bedroom, being very careful to not drip any chemicals onto the carpet.
Last edited: