5x4 Enlargers for small dark rooms?

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ac12

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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.
 
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mooseontheloose

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Here's another option for you:

When I lived in Canada I had a Beseler 45MX enlarger, but there was no way to put it in the bathroom, plus, the bathroom height was smaller than the rest of the apartment, which meant there was no room to raise the enlarger head without putting a hole in the ceiling. So I set up a small table in my bedroom, and kept the enlarger in there permanently. Blacked out the windows when printing. Put the prints in an empty paper box and the went to the similarly blacked out bathroom to develop and wash the prints. It was slightly inconvenient, but something I was familiar with having done the same in public (uni) darkrooms. The Beseler is a beast, I wouldn't consider moving it at all - alignment would be an issue after every single move.
 

John51

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I set up a small table in my bedroom, and kept the enlarger in there permanently. Blacked out the windows when printing.

If the enlarger has to be moved from the bathroom every time, it does seem easier to expose the paper wherever the enlarger happens to be outside of the bathroom.

Not going to be as many printing sessions if the beastie has to be set up, aligned and then taken down every single time.

Might be easier to replace the washing machine with a front loader and strap the enlarger down so it doesn't fall off during the spin cycle. :smile:
 

Sirius Glass

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My 4"x5" enlarger is in a bedroom, my dry darkroom. The bathroom is my wet darkroom where I have the development trays, wash prints and hang film to dry in the shower. I put a red darkroom light in the socket which is powered when the bathroom fan goes on.
 

AgX

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Might be easier to replace the washing machine with a front loader and strap the enlarger down so it doesn't fall off during the spin cycle. :smile:
Here in western Europe I have not seen a top-loeader for many decades.
 

John51

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Here in western Europe I have not seen a top-loeader for many decades.

Me neither. I assumed it was a top loader because why else would the enlarger need to be moved? Apart from the risk of it vibrating off of course.
 

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locutus

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Okay, to put a end conclusion to this thread:

I couldn't get hold of the Beseler, but did find out that there is a darkroom association in Finland that have a shared space about 5 minutes walk from my apartment.

Their darkroom includes 2 5x4 and even a 8x10 enlarger! Their membership fees are a bit dear but would sort this in the easiest way.

So... getting my own 5x4 enlarger is a canceled plan, unless at some point i get a bigger house where this would be practical.
 

Sirius Glass

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Some people have all the luck. Enjoy!
 

Paul Howell

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Sounds like a good deal, allows you dip you toes in the water without investing in a lot of gear. An 8X10, that's really special, I don't of any community darkrooms in the U.S that has a 8X10.
 

Ko.Fe.

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I would build small rolling table for enlarger to move it around rental unit.
If hieght is a problem, I would make it telescopic and use car highjack to set it up and down.

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.

Strange. I'm in opposite. It was no way easy to put it together, but I have no problem to move it alone and fully assembled.. My D5 is XL, btw.
 

MattKing

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Didn't we have darkroom portrait with D5 set for Minox, btw?
I have no problem to print 35 with D5.
I prefer to use a 60mm lens on my D6, but I can print using a 50mm lens, provided I do a couple of things (in particular I need to remove the masking attachment).
Using the 50mm lens is slightly challenging, because it requires tight compression of my fairly stiff bellows.
It may be that my use of lenses on the three lens turrets contributes to the problem. I don't know if the slide in single lens holders might make it easier.
 

ic-racer

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Didn't we have darkroom portrait with D5 set for Minox, btw?
I have no problem to print 35 with D5.
My Minox setup.
minox carrier.jpg
 

ac12

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Matt,
The problem that I have with the 3-lens turret is that a 50mm lens that projects back (like the El Nikkor 50mm f/2.8) interfeers with the turret mechanism, and prevents the turret from rotating.
The 63mm lens does not project back as much and will allow the turret to rotate.
Or use a different brand 50mm lens that does not project back, like the Fujinon-EP. I do not have a Componon-S or Rodagon to test clearance on the turret.

BTW, I think there are TWO turrets, but I do not remember what the difference is.

The single lens board avoids the rear projecting issue of the turret.
And the thinner single lens board in theory would not require the bellows to be compressed as much. I say in theory because I have not actually tested this.
 

MattKing

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BTW, I think there are TWO turrets, but I do not remember what the difference is.
The difference is that one model works with more lenses - many of the lenses that project back.
The turret I have is the later 404-867, which functions with my 50mm El Nikkor.
Here is the KHB memo on the two different turrets: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Enlargers/D6Turretmemo.htm
That being said, the height of my D6 column means I can use a 60mm Focotar instead, and I do.
 

davidmasek

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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!

About the wearing out, it is mostly the connection between the column and the head. One part is made of some softer alloy and that does not help. It still works however. Sorry for a late reply, I have not checked in for a while.
 

davidmasek

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More to add about the Durst L1000. Agree, it is not light, but I can take it apart and store easily, that is what makes a difference to me. Column and head are heaviest, the base not so much, but they still can be managed. I cant compare with other enlargers of the kind from experience, but from what I have seen, L1000 still offers some advantage...maybe. And yes, I would wish to have a stable dark room, but...
I have a condensor setup too, but I adapted an Ilford Multigrade head to it, and that is what I use now. With condensors, I used to put large MG filters above the upper condensor. It worked fine. I used some 150W bulbs. The head was rather hot, too. I thought about ventilation, but never got to do it.
During manipulation, it is crucial to fix the column so that the spring mechanism does not hurt you.
 

Sirius Glass

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Matt,
The problem that I have with the 3-lens turret is that a 50mm lens that projects back (like the El Nikkor 50mm f/2.8) interfeers with the turret mechanism, and prevents the turret from rotating.

I have the same problem. The 50mm lens is on a single lens board for the enlarger. My turret has the 80mm and 135mm lenses and one very lonely lens position.
 

Hilo

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More to add about the Durst L1000. Agree, it is not light, but I can take it apart and store easily, that is what makes a difference to me. Column and head are heaviest, the base not so much, but they still can be managed. I cant compare with other enlargers of the kind from experience, but from what I have seen, L1000 still offers some advantage...maybe. And yes, I would wish to have a stable dark room, but...

Same for me. Before wall mounting the L1000 I moved it around quite bit inside my darkroom. Just fixed the head low on the column, removed condensers and negative holder and I found it easy to lift and move around. No big deal. Nothing like, for instance, a Focomat 2c.

Installing a small fan is also a simple procedure. The hole in the lamp head is already there (meant for a Durst fan) and it's diameter works fine with the small fans you can get these days. What took most time was to construct a small box over the fan that allowed air to be sucked in without any light coming out. I used one of those wooden boxes for chess pieces, made a "light passage" inside and painted it black. No light coming out at all. This fan has its own switch and is turned on with while setting up and after exposures. It can be used during exposures too, but there's no need sofar.
 

fdonadio

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Using the 50mm lens is slightly challenging, because it requires tight compression of my fairly stiff bellows.

Can you use recessed lens boards on your enlarger? I use a Siriotub for my 50mm on my Durst M605, so I don’t need to compress my bellows so much.
 

MattKing

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Can you use recessed lens boards on your enlarger? I use a Siriotub for my 50mm on my Durst M605, so I don’t need to compress my bellows so much.
Not possible because the attachment procedure involves sliding a plate or rotating a turret horizontally.
I have a good 50mm lens that I use some times. The 60mm Focotar is just easier.
 

MattKing

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Such a pity. But if you have a big enough column, you can still print big with the 60mm.
With the 50mm too. It's just a bit finicky to focus!
 

norm123

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The room you need depends more about the size you want to print than the enlarger.
 
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