Best Quality - Most Compact?

dancqu · Aug 16, 2006

I may be forced to down size and could use
a 6x6 or 6x7 capable enlarger. Likely would shop
eBay. I now use an Omega B8 and have a Meopta
dichro on the shelf. If I could some where find a
condenser head for it that might work.

I think though the Meopta some what more bulky
than some others out there. I could go for a 6x6 as
I've not shot much 6x7. Put another way, what's
the most enlarger for the least size? Dan

jovo · Aug 16, 2006

I think the Omega might be a good choice. The vertical, single column is much less bulky than a Beseler 23 series with its two girders. It would be pound foolish, though, to get one that wouldn't accomodate the largest neg you plan to enlarge. Whatever you choose, it should be able to be aligned, have no light leaks (which, of course, you can modify yourself) and be rock steady when you're using it. After that, it's the quality of the lens that matters the most. Good luck.

Roger Hicks · Aug 16, 2006

Dear Dan,

The smallest Omegas I have seen are still bigger than a Meopta Magnifax, of which we use two. Any further size saving would, I think, be minimal, and I've owned maybe a dozen enlargers over the last 40 years.

Cheers,

Roger

mgb74 · Aug 16, 2006

The smallest 6x6 enlargers I've seen are the old Durst 6xx series. Construcion quality seems high but I can't speak to their light output.

Nick Zentena · Aug 16, 2006

I've got an old Omega B66 bolted to the counter. No baseboard. How small do you want? By small do you mean short? Do you mean the baseboard? I stuck the colour head I got on it so I guess it's now a 6x7 enlarger.

Lee Shively · Aug 16, 2006

The Omega B22/B22XL had a very compact head. The XL model was bulky only in being pretty tall--may not work with low ceilings. I used an XL model for many years and it was well constructed and reliable. It didn't do 6x7 negatives, if I remember correctly--only 6x6.

Paul Howell · Aug 16, 2006

It seems to me that there are 2 dimensions, height and the footprint, including space for the easel. What size prints and how much space will you have, counter space and ceiling height to work with?

Markok765 · Aug 16, 2006

Belelar 67 is very small, almost as small as the 35mm beselar

MattKing · Aug 16, 2006

Markok765 said:
Belelar 67 is very small, almost as small as the 35mm beselar

Hope your holiday is going well, Marko.

You have to be careful which Beseler 67 you are getting. I have one of the Beseler 67C enlargers that I bought in the mid 1970s. It has a single, large (and fairly massive) support girder. The newer models can have either a double support, like the 23CII, or a single, much smaller support, on the more recent models.

Markok765 · Aug 16, 2006

Mine is just the 67. the girder is about 4 cm each side.

dphill · Aug 16, 2006

I have a Omega B66xl and a Beseler 23c.
The Omega gets the use because at this time I don't shoot anything larger than 6x6 (8x10 pinhole doesn't count).
Its easier to move (part-time bathroom/darkroom setup) and its easer to use. It goes up and down, with no rotational movements to worry about(alignment). The VC filters cost less because I don't have to use the 6x6 inch filters.
Until I get a permament darkroom or I start shooting larger than 6x6, the Omega will be my enlarger.

I would reccommend a Omega B22/B66 series to anyone who needed a condenser enlarger for 6x6 and smaller.

Dan

firecracker · Aug 16, 2006

Fujimoto enlargers come pretty compact and light-weight, though there are a lot of plastic parts on them.

dancqu · Aug 17, 2006

[QUOTES=Paul Howell]
"It seems to me that there are 2 dimensions,
height and the footprint, including space for the easel."

I'd add weight as a part of the total bulk.

"What size prints and how much space will you have,
counter space and ceiling height to work with?"

A 11x14 capable enlarger would do although 12x16
from full frame would interest me more.

What about the Bogen 22s from not too many years
ago; the A or the B? Any body know the difference?
Way way back IIRC I got started with an enlarger
which had no condensers. I think it had a bulb
in a large globe shaped head. Maybe a
diffuser glass lower down? Dan

Paul Howell · Aug 17, 2006

Bogen and Vivtair made some good mid range enlargers. For a full frame 11X14 or 12X16 I think any of the 6X6 enlargers mentioned so far will work well. The Durst will project to a wall, and the Omega to the floor for even larger prints, I am unsure of the Bessler. I have a Durst 6X6 with a color head, I have not measured the base boards, but it not much smaller than my Omega D, but the Omega is much taller and heavier. With a a Drust you need both condenser sets, 35mm and 6X6, and if you have the color head both mixing boxes. Mine has an adjustable masking negative carrier.

Which ever enlarger you chose make sure you have good glass.

Claire Senft · Aug 17, 2006

You do not explain why compactness and low weight are important. I can see these two charcteristics as being more important in an enlarger that must be set up and then stowed away. I can see compactness as being important so that the enlarger will be able to be placed in a location...a 8 foot tall column with 7 feet of headroom is a very definite problem. Quality and versatility are also important. You have made no mention of budget. Of course someplace along the line budget catches up with all of us.

My advice: Durst M70. Light, no, compact, not particularly. Cheap, no, but cheaper then ever in the past Quality and versatility, as good as it gets in an enlarger to handle up to 6x9.

dancqu · Aug 19, 2006

Lee Shively said:
The Omega B22/B22XL had a very compact head.

A comment made on a 35mm forum told that the
Omega B22s made good 35mm enlargers. IIRC it
was not intended to be a complement. Dan

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