Advice for a Small enlarger for 35mm

[ColdEye]

Any recommendations on a relatively small and compact enlarger for 35mm? I need only need to enlarge them to 5x7 paper. I need to archive quite a bit of 35mm negatives and I am so bored of scanning negatives. Thanks.

Ranie

 

[cliveh]

Durst Graduate.

 

[chimneyfinder]

Meopta Axomat is robust and inexpensive and parts are available - though not sure of US secondhand availability. The Durst M370 or Graduate, as Clive suggested, are quite smooth in operation or a Durst C35 (though I could never like mine when I was a teenager). A Leitz Valoy can be picked up cheaply and could do what you want: there are a fair number of older type enlargers from the 1950's and 60's that can be had for very little. US models might include the Omega C700 and similar, which is light weight and probably more available.
Happy hunting, Mark Walker.

 

[tkamiya]

If you want really small, Beseler PrintMaker 35 is pretty small and light. Its post isn't all that stable, so you'll have to be careful not moving much while the exposure is on.

 

[pbromaghin]

I have a Durst F60. It's small, simple, reliable, portable and very sturdy. Cheap, too. It will handle up to 6x6 negs. Here's what it looks like.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Durst_F60_Enlarger-a-RJP.jpg

 

[Rick A]

If you were closer, I'd offer you my Vivitar E-34 enlarger. It's exactly what you are looking for.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[pstake]

+1 for the Leitz Valoy / Valoy II. My Valoy II is my workhorse.

 

[patrickjames]

I have a Durst Magico I am not using. I will sell it to you cheap. Doesn't get any more compact than that. It was an enlarger for photojournalists for when they were on the road. If you are only going to 5x7 it is perfect. Plus it you can put it back in the box and in the closet in about a minute. I modified it quite a bit and it made really good prints. Can even make you a deal with a better lens etc. I have a bunch of enlarging lenses I don't need. Contrast filters too.

 

[ColdEye]

Thank you all for the offers and replies. That Durst F60 looks nice as I also have a few 6x6 negs. I will read up on the other enlargers mentioned as well.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

There are several Dursts in the same 6x6 category - the "M" series comes to mind: M600, M601, M606 ...

Be sure, whatever enlarger you pick, that it comes with all the lens boards/adapters, condensers and negative carriers.

 

[Roger Cole]

I have a Bogen X-35A. They don't get much smaller or simpler, but if the lens is good the results can be as good as anything else. I kept it (sentimental reasons I suppose as I did a lot with it) even after I got my D2V. Not for sale (sentimental again) but if you see one around...OTOH it won't handle those 6x6 negs.

 

[nworth]

Some people have been finding Leitz Focomats on the used market recently. Those have an excellent reputation for black and white work. I found a Beseler Dichro 35S on ebay a couple of years ago. Beseler made essentially the same enlarger under a number of names. It is a bit bright, but it is an excellent machine for both black and white and color.

 

[baachitraka]

Focomat Ic with a drawer for the filters.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

I recommend a Leitz Valoy II. It is light, small and perfect for making 5x7 prints using a speed easel. This is an exquisitely designed/manufactured enlarger and very portable. I appreciate the helicoil focus. The lens mount works very well with Nikkor 50mm optics.

For readers who want to enlarge to a higher factor the Leitz wood easel is perfect. You can use a Saunders 4 border adjustable easel but that easel bumps into the elevation post resulting in restrictions.

Use of contrast filters is an issue since there is no dedicated holder. I used several methods. If you have the red filter one can remove the filter and use the assembly to support flat contrast filters. For a light source the 211 size bulb is adequate replacement for original shorter neck bulbs. Newton rings can occur on my Valoy. Rings were eliminated by placing a very thin shim (white out tape) on the edge the neg carrier. This lifts the condenser slightly off the neg.

 

[paul ron]

Omega B22

Besseler Print Maker.

 

[BMbikerider]

if it is 'compact' that you need, look for the Russian UPA5 35mm enlarger, complete with lens that folded up inside a box no bigger than a small hard suitcase. Enlarged up to 10x8 which is about the limit of the lens but so very compact it was convenient bit of kit.