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Another Enlarger Help Request?

Sceptic

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NYC
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Medium Format
I have seen so many of these, but I figured I may post one stating my needs and stay open to suggestions.

I have never used an enlarger so I have done some reading before hand, I am sure I have much more to go.

I am interested in printing between formats. Anywhere from 35mm, to 6x.45, 6x6, 6x7, 4x5 (being the largest). Most of my work may be done in the MF range.
I believe this means I need to search for a variable enlarger. This also required multiple enlarger lenses dependent on the print, correct?

I would like the versatility of being able to print both color and b&w. From my understanding this means I should search for a Dichroic head. Is this the same as variable condenser/contrast?
I would prefer one with the built in filters vs. having to change them on the outside and worrying about them being clean.

I don't have enough room for more than one enlarger, so I am kind of searching for an all in one I guess. Any suggestions?

Am I jumping in too fast?

I may have the opportunity to pick up a free Omega D II Enlarger but haven't heard back from the individual yet.

Thank you!
 
How about a De Vere with dichroic head?
 
A Beseler 45 or Omega D-5/D-6 would fit your needs. Either one will handle all formats up to and including 4x5. There are some other brands, but these are plentiful and have low cost and repair/replacement parts readily available here in the USA. D-2's are still viable machines, and free makes it very affordable.
 
D II came with a fixed condense head set up for 4X5, you can print small format just a little slow, or a variable condenser head, the condenser is in two half's, the bottom half is fixed the top half is adjustable for different lens, 50mm to 162mm. What D2? If it is the variable condenser head does the unit still both condensers, and are the condensers in good shape?
 
I wish I could answer these questions with confidence, haha. Here is a picture, I am still awaiting a reply!

 
Thats a nice looking startup enlarger , get your feet wet and see if you like printing. Then you can find a good deal on a more significant enlarger.
QUOTE=Sceptic;1953780308]I wish I could answer these questions with confidence, haha. Here is a picture, I am still awaiting a reply!

View attachment 115382[/QUOTE]
 
Second on the vote for a Beseler or Omega with a Dichroic head. The dichro head will let you vary the contrast by adjusting the filter pack (increasing or decreasing Magenta and Yellow) on black-and-white prints, or if you want to print color, you can do that too, all on the same device. You would need different lenses and negative carriers for the different sizes of negative you want to print. 50mm for a 35mm negative, 80mm for a 6x4.5 or 6x6, 90mm for 6x7, 105mm for 6x9, 135-150mm for 4x5. There are a whole range of qualities for enlarging lenses, just as there are for 35mm cameras. Generally speaking if you stick to the major brands you'll do just fine - Nikon, Schneider, Rodenstock. I get lost in all the variations especially within the Schneider and Rodenstock lines as to which are better and therefore deserving of higher price tags, so I've stuck to the El-Nikkor lenses from Nikon. I'm sure there are qualitative differences between the El-Nikkors and the high-end Rodenstock and Schneider lenses, but it's a case of exponential increase in price for minuscule increases in quality.

Working with black-and-white you can use a red or orange safelight. Working with color, you can use a DEEP green safelight but it's so dim as to be nearly worthless so I just print in total darkness and get used to knowing where everything is by feel.
 
Get a 4"x5" enlarger to cover your MF needs plus if you stick around here will get into 4"x5" soon enough.

The Omega 5D and 6D are well built and both parts and seervice are available.
 

No, you just need a 4x5 enlarger as it will print from 4x5 to smaller sizes with different negative carriers. You need a negative carrier for each format. The lens focal length depends on the negative size, NOT the print size. You can initially get by with 2 lenses, a 135 mm lens for 4x5 & 6-9 and an 80mm lens for 35 up to 6x7. That's what I use and I have nearly every focal length Rodagon enlarger lens made from 50 mm to 240 mm. Too much reading will only confuse you.


A Dichroic head has built in filters. You can print both color & B&W with this head. The Omega enlarger photo you posted is a condenser enlarger. It also does not have a baseboard and probably needs to be wall mounted. That means once mounted, you cannot move it. I would not get a condenser enlarger as you will have to use discrete variable contrast or color filters inserted in a filter drawer or under the lens for printing. They're not built into this type of head. A variable contrast head is only for B&W. If you've never printed, do you REALLY think you're going to print color?

Sceptic said:
I don't have enough room for more than one enlarger, so I am kind of searching for an all in one I guess. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

I would personally look for a used LPL 4500-II with a Dichroic head. It's a 4x5 enlarger that will print down to 35 mm. It's what I use for 35 mm to medium format & 4x5. I also have an 8x10 enlarger for 4x5 to 8x10 negatives. You can later add an LPL VCCE (Variable Contrast Constant Exposure) head strickly for B&W printing if you're still doing it. You can look at their website: http://www.khbphotografix.com/LPL/LPL4x5.htm You should be able to find one on Craigslist for around $500 including negative carriers and a couple of lens panels. It may or may not include lenses. I would not pay much more than that. It's probably the best designed 4x5 enlarger out there, it's modular and it's still made, so parts are not an issue. You won't be buying a "project" with this enlarger. You can get Rodenstock Rodagon, or Schneider Componon-S on this list or at auction for cheap.

A DeVere dichroic is also a wonderful enlarger, though much more overbuilt, heavier and more expen$ive. Since it is made in England parts also cpst much more and not as plentiful here in the US as an LPL enlarger. The LPL was imported by both Saunders & Omega. So you might see a "Saunders LPL" or an "Omega LPL". Essentially the same beast.


Sceptic said:
Am I jumping in too fast?
Click to expand...

In a word, Probably
 
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Luis-F-S said:
A Dichroic head has built in filters. You can print both color & B&W with this head. If you've never printed, do you REALLY think you're going to print color?
Click to expand...

Do not limit yourself. You may print color later on, but the dichroic head gives you infinite contrast control for black & white.
 
I agree with Bob, that D2 will be fine for getting your feet wet, the price is certainly right.
If it doesn't have a baseboard, you can make one , or get one made easily. A couple of pieces of 3/4 in. birch ply cut to whatever size you like will work well.
 
Sceptic said:
I wish I could answer these questions with confidence, haha. Here is a picture, I am still awaiting a reply!

View attachment 115382
Click to expand...

This is fixed condenser, the condenser is set up for 4X5, meaning that when printing in smaller formats the condenser project a cone of light large enough to cover a 4X5 so it take more time to print 35mm or MF. If you are printing 6X9 ought not be much of an issue, but could take much longer times to print 35mm.

As mentioned color heads do not use condensers, some enlargers use mixing boxes of different sizes for different formats, although I have D3 I don't recall if the D2 or D3 use different mixing boxes. I had a Durst 606 with a color head that came with 2 boxes, one for 35mm the other for 6X6.

Otherwise the D2 is a very good enlarger, you can print to floor for 16X20, well made, you can still find parts, alignment does not take much time.

BTW, on second glance, it does appear to have a baseboard, you will need to make one or mount to the very sturdy work bench.
 
Are we looking a gift horse in the mouth?

Its free , it will work, it may excite, the OP can then move up.
 
Bob Carnie said:
Are we looking a gift horse in the mouth?

Its free , it will work, it may excite, the OP can then move up.
Click to expand...

Haha,

This is what I am waiting on. I have not heard back from the individual with the enlarger mentioned. If it's still available I'm on my way to pick it up. Nearly 15 hours and no word, I am holding out on it, but considering the options if it does not pan out. Plus, all this information I've been supplied with is helping me learn a little more, and giving me ideas of what to search.
 
If you get a D2, the negative holders should work with later Omega 4x5 enlargers.

Subject to unusual thread sizes, lenses should work with just about any enlarger.

Here is a useful link about Omega enlargers - in fact KHB is a useful link about a whole bunch of different enlargers: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/
 
Yep, you're jumping in too fast, and too far. Start w/ something simple and inexpensive that will do 35mm, 6x4.5 and 6x6 in B&W. An Omega B600 or C700 will do a fine job and cost you peanuts, and I highly recommend starting w/ something like that (I did).

I love those enlargers because of their simplicity, availability and durability. Negative carriers are readily available, and it's child's play to make one yourself from mat board. The bulbs are also inexpensive. You won't have to worry about light fall off w/ different lens board/lens combinations or trying to figure out which combo will give you what size print because there is no lens board per se, you simply screw that Nikkor 50 2.8 right in and start printing. Later, once you get the hang of things, you can easily sell it and get your money back if you wish to work w/ larger format negs. That will require an enlarger that is considerably bigger and more expensive, especially if you want to do colour, and I have learned that if you want to sell one of those big guys later on it's often a money losing proposition because of the high shipping costs involved for your prospective buyer. In plain English, they're difficult to impossible to sell, and you will lose money.

Right now I have a Durst and don't much care for it at all. It's sturdier, but the prints from it and my old C700 look exactly alike, so that's a wash. It also has weird, expensive lens boards that require being matched to the correct lens. Many of their lens boards will not take the common 39mm threads like on the Nikkor lenses. The negative carriers that come w/ Dursts have glass surfaces, so dust is a real headache. I would trade it in a Nu Yawk second for my old C700.
 
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Yep, you're jumping in too fast, and too far. Start w/ something simple and inexpensive that will do 35mm, 6x4.5 and 6x6 in B&W. An Omega B600 or C700 will do a fine job and cost you peanuts, and I highly recommend starting w/ something like that (I did).

Not at all, an Omega C2 or C3 or for that matter a Bessler 4X5 is a very good investment, easy to use with lots of flexibility, not in just in formats, 1/2 frame to 4X5 but also in number of heads it will take, has a small footprint, as small as 6X9 enlarger, even the C2 OP found that has a fixed condenser head can be upgraded for not much money, just wait on flebay for a variable or cold head to show up. Other accessories, masking negative stage, electric shutter, although rare and likely expensive even a point source head, glassless and glass negative carriers. In a pinch a good machine shop can make parts.

The Military used Omega enlargers, all branches, because Omega's were strong, easy to use, could take the abuse of many 18 to 20 years olds slamming equipment around.

If he can get the free enlarger, make a baseboard, he had a working enlarger.
 

+1
 

If an enlarger is aligned and has an even light source, then there won't be much difference between prints made on different machines. Durst has inserts for their negative carriers if you don't want to use glass. The lens boards are cheap compared to other enlargers, and I've bought many used for $15-$25. Their Lapla 39s are for Leica threads, don't know what Nikkor uses, but I've never had an issue mounting a lens on a Lapla board. They'll take everything from a 50 to a 300 mm lens, so not sure what issues you're having. I like their lens boards so much I had a De Vere board adapted to accept the Durst Lapla boards. That way, I can use the lenses on either enlarger.

My Durst is probably 40 years old and looks and work like brand new. Not too many pieces of equipment can say that.

If you read the OP's original post, he wanted an enlarger to do both Color & B&W, from 35 to 4x5 and wanted a head with built in filters. The free enlarger won't do all that........L
 
One of the most common enlargers I see out there is the Besler 67. (I'd be wary of 6x6 enlargers should you fall in love with a pentax or mamiya 6x7 camera).

The Beseler 23c is also very very common, both of these is the "people giving them away for $50" spectrum. Neither will do 4x5, but they'll do a lot and you'll suss out what you want next or if 4x5 is really for you.

I don't know that someone needs to start out with a dichro head - condensers and filters are fine to get rolling. Far more common amongst the common enlargers.
 
Luis-F-S said:
If you read the OP's original post, he wanted an enlarger to do both Color & B&W, from 35 to 4x5 and wanted a head with built in filters. The free enlarger won't do all that........L
Click to expand...

This indeed would be my preference. If I have to start with a free one I'm sure it will be a great learning experience and one where I could pass the enlarger down to a friend.

I understand what I'm asking is probably on the more expensive end. Truth is I mostly shoot 6x6, 6x7 in color.

However, I feel that I will soon find myself wanting to shoot 4x5 and 35mm and will have the urge to try prints for these. Color printing sounds much more difficult for maintain temps with color so I will surely start with b&w, but my first week shooting film I also developed my own b&w,c41, and e6. So I am sure I will want to play around quite a bit, quite quick. It looks like the price for the enlarger I am looking for will be around $400
 
TheFlyingCamera said:
I get lost in all the variations especially within the Schneider and Rodenstock lines as to which are better and therefore deserving of higher price tags, so I've stuck to the El-Nikkor lenses from Nikon.
Click to expand...
Schneider and Rodenstock got the same name-endings relating to the lens design/quality. That makes it easier...
 

Myra! My first film camera was the RZ67 and I fell in love with it. I also love my Rolleiflex. I noticed there may not be a 6x6 and 6x7 enlarger unless I buy a variable(?) version
 
Sceptic said:
I noticed there may not be a 6x6 and 6x7 enlarger unless I buy a variable(?) version
Click to expand...

WTH is a "variable version"? I already explained that if you read my rather detailed, lengthy first post. L
 
Luis-F-S said:
WTH is a "variable version"? I already explained that if you read my rather detailed, lengthy first post. L
Click to expand...

Oops, thank you. So a 4x5 enlarger will meet my needs. Just need the various lenses depending on what I am printing and the carriers. The LPL 4500 II's I saw on eBay were priced over $500. I will keep an eye out!
 
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