Buy an enlarger these days...

[Jessestr]

Hi guys

I currently have an old Axomat II enlarger.. but I want to do some serious printing soon (only 135).
Is it still worth buying a new enlarger or should I get a 2nd hand one?

I have this deal for €300:
- Leica Focomat IC
- Grain focuser
- Philips darkroom timer
- Ilford Multigrade Filters
- Tons of trays in all sizes, measuring cups, ..

Should I get that or a new enlarger? The kaisers are a little bit too expensive as most of my work gets scanned.

Many thanks

Jesse

 

[snapguy]

pond

Over here, across the pond, you can find fabulous deals on used enlargers. Some people give them away. Uncle Fritz went south and nobody in the family knows what the darn thing does or wants it around. But you have to make sure the thing works and has not been knocked out of alignment.

 

[Hilo]

Jesse, you can't get any better than the Focomat 1C, but you need to understand which version you are being offered and if it is complete. €300 euros is a little steep, unless this 1C has the filterdrawer in the head, the right lens (Focotar 50mm f4.5), the anti-newton glass slipped onto the condensor, the negative holder.

Then, it also makes a difference if it is a black or a grey version; if the column is 120cm or 80cm; if the condition is very good . . .

There are really good grain focussers (Peak) that are worth something, and many that do not have much value . .

Having said all that, the Focomat is the far better enlarger . . . if you ever come to NL, you can come have a look

Michael

 

[Bill Burk]

Some use that enlarger, seems a good one, though the V35 gets more mention.

If there is a personal connection between you and seller, then you could go for it.

The price is fair to the seller, and if that's not a lot of money to you, the premium you are paying could be justified as a gesture of respect for the seller's lifetime investment, which it seems comes all included.

Here is a thread where people talk of what they use...


Which enlarger do you print with
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Jessestr]

It's this one


It has the focotar 50 / f4.5

 

[paul_c5x4]

For €300, you can get something a lot more modern than that. I'd be looking at a Durst or LPL that would handle up to 6x6 or even 6x7 - Gives you the option to try a larger format in the future if you get the bug.

 

[pdeeh]

€300 will buy a lot of film and paper ... and people really do give enlargers away

I have ended up with 4 enlargers, a very nice Kaiser 6002 with colour head which cost nothing and which I use all the time, plus a nice Meopta and another colour Kaiser which cost £35 for both (I needed a PSU for my main Kaiser), and an old Gnome which cost nothing. The other three will do nicely if the 6002 breaks again.

If there is the equivalent of "Freecycle" in Belgium, try placing an ad. - that's where I got mine

 

[Jessestr]

Yeah there is a Freecycle. So you all say.. not a good deal? Will try searching for a durst enlarger. Only need black & white. And probably only 135... but it would be nice if I could print 120 for friends.
Any suggestions?

 

[pdeeh]

One's interests and needs change and develop.
I thought I'd never use the 6x6 capability I'd got with the Kaiser; but now I almost regret I didn't take the 5x4 devere I was offered. I often want to print 6x7 now.
So, while I'm not experienced enough to recommend anything in particular, I would say don't limit yourself to 135.

 

[Jessestr]

Had a few medium format camera's. Mostly ditched them because I can't scan the files myself.. Maybe I'll get one if I can enlarge them. I just find the 135 format so perfect (for me).

One's interests and needs change and develop.
I thought I'd never use the 6x6 capability I'd got with the Kaiser; but now I almost regret I didn't take the 5x4 devere I was offered. I often want to print 6x7 now.
So, while I'm not experienced enough to recommend anything in particular, I would say don't limit yourself to 135.

 

[paul_c5x4]

Will try searching for a durst enlarger. Only need black & white.

One point to remember - A colour head can be used with variable contrast B&W papers, so don't discount them "just because" you only do B&W printing.

 

[John Koehrer]

For 35mm there isn't a better enlarger than the lC..
I've used the V35 & lC and preferred the older machine. It uses standard 211 or 212 bulbs, not halogen. Don't worry about alignment with it either. Parts are expensive so make sure it's got the AN glass & negative holder(mask) with it.
At 300 it's at the top end of price so the owner may be very flexible. Especially after he's tried to sell it for a while. In the Chicago area it seems around $200 when they show up. Sometimes less.
I was able to get a llC complete for that $200 mark it did need a bunch of cleaning though.

 

[summicron1]

For €300, you can get something a lot more modern than that. I'd be looking at a Durst or LPL that would handle up to 6x6 or even 6x7 - Gives you the option to try a larger format in the future if you get the bug.

more modern but not better -- a focomat ic does one thing nothing (much) else does: it autofocuses.

I have one, would not use anything else. Found one for a friend, he never ceases to thank me. Use it once, you will think you died and went to heaven.

Having said that, 300 euros is a tad steep, but not excessively so. Bargain him down to 250 and run for the exit with it.

No filter drawer is not a problem if this one lacks that -- just take the top off and lay the filter (I use square durst filters) right over the top of the condenser. A bit of cardboard taped to the back mount of the condenser keeps the filter in place when you tilt the head back to place negatives.

Or buy a set of kodak filters with that nifty little tray that mounts to the lens. No biggie, problem solved.

 

[AgX]

more modern but not better -- a focomat ic does one thing nothing (much) else does: it autofocuses.

Agfa, Kaiser, Kienzle, Durst come to my mind.

 

[Ian Grant]

If you're spending 300 euros better to find a good MF Durst M6101, M670 onwards wilth a colour head. There's plenty about and that would give you the option of moving up to 645 or 6x6.

First get a better 50mm lens for the Meopta the Axomats are capable of excellent results,

Ian

 

[Jessestr]

If you're spending 300 euros better to find a good MF Durst M6101, M670 onwards wilth a colour head. There's plenty about and that would give you the option of moving up to 645 or 6x6.

First get a better 50mm lens for the Meopta the Axomats are capable of excellent results,

Ian

Got the Axomat for free. Should I just use that one with a better lens? What do you recommend?

Just saying but the focotar 50/f4.5 is included with the enlarger and such... is €300 really that much? Because I can't really find durst enlargers like the M670 for sale

 

[Hilo]

You were on the right path thinking Focomat 1C. Simply because it is a fine enlarger. Why?

Because the negative holding systems is "glassless". In other words you do not constantly have to clean four sides of glass.
Because of the autofocus. Although one always checks the focus with each print, changing size is quick and easy
Because of the overall image quality. This is subjective, sure. However, the combination of lens, condensor and "glassless" give a beautiful contrast, that is both strong and smooth.
Because of the nice black borders the 1C negative holder gives

The 1C in your photo is the simple version with the round head. The oval shaped heads has the filter drawer. The filter drawer does make a difference when one prints a lot. As said here before, it is possible to lay the filters on top of the condensor. I much prefer the drawer, as taking off the enlargerhead all the time is not ideal.

The extra length of the 1,20cm column is not needed when printing up to 40X50cm and in case you would want to go larger, you can simply swing around the enlarger and print on a lower surface . . .

Everything is about the condition. A seller should help you take out the lens (to check it), and also the condensor. Both need to be undamaged. The allignment of the 1C is almost never a problem. In the darkroom you must center the lightbulb and and move it up and down to get even illumination. It uses 150 watt opal bulbs. They can be bought still.

If you want I can help you find the version with the filterdrawer, should be no more than €200. I am in NL and you can send me a pm.

From the other posts here, it is obvious there are also other good enlargers. There are. But it is an illusion to think more modern is better. People have a point to get one enlarger that does 135 and 120 film. On the other hand the enlargers come so cheap today, if you have the space you just get another enlarger if you need it.

 

[Jessestr]

Thanks Hilo. I have send you a private message.
The Focomat 1C is sold ... So need another one or another store to buy it from.

What about this one? €50 and it's mine.
http://www.2dehands.be/foto-camera/...urce=reply_to_bid&utm_term=0&utm_medium=email

 

[MattKing]

Thanks Hilo. I have send you a private message.
The Focomat 1C is sold ... So need another one or another store to buy it from.

What about this one? €50 and it's mine.
http://www.2dehands.be/foto-camera/...urce=reply_to_bid&utm_term=0&utm_medium=email

Assuming good condition, that is most likely a good choice for 35mm work.

The 50mm Componon is a good lens.

You need to be sure that it has all its parts.

It takes a 12V 100W halogen bulb. That may or may not be readily obtained.

Here is a link to a manual: http://www.davidutrilla.com/cajon/durst_M_370.pdf

EDIT: One web resource I've seen says that this EFP bulb will work: http://www.lampline.com/efp-philips-712-p

 

[Ian Grant]

Thanks Hilo. I have send you a private message.
The Focomat 1C is sold ... So need another one or another store to buy it from.

What about this one? €50 and it's mine.
http://www.2dehands.be/foto-camera/...urce=reply_to_bid&utm_term=0&utm_medium=email

Well done a good buy and you saved €250 Durst enlargers are excellent only De Vere are better - and they never made a 35mm enlarger though. Also the Componon lens is probably the best you could buy.

Ian

 

[Jessestr]

I'll grab that one then! Thanks man

 

[eng1er]

This thread reminds me of how I came to own my V35.

Back in 1999, I was the production director of an alt-weekly paper. The local daily, as an additional revenue stream and a means of keeping the press guys busy for the 21 hours a day they weren't printing their own publications, also did web press for hire. In a somewhat ironic business arrangement, we paid the daily to print the alt-weekly. Anyway, one afternoon I was over at the daily doing a press check after hours due to some or other delay. That meant that I had to enter the building via the loading dock. I noticed a pallet sitting on the dock with a number of enlargers on it. The daily had recently replaced their darkroom with a daylight mini lab and a Nikon Coolscan 5000. I asked the guy on the dock what was happening with them. He said he'd been charged with their disposal. I knew exactly what they were worth and I had used these very machines before during fill-in stints at the paper. I asked if they might be interested in selling one. He told me I could take the pallet for $250. I told him I'd be back in ten minutes. I ran to the nearest cash machine and returned to load my bounty into the back of my truck: Two Leitz Focomat V35s (with multigrade heads), one Leitz Focomat 1c, and an Omega D2. While I sometimes wish I'd kept all of them, I didn't need them all and I was still hunting for a deal on a 45MXT (which wouldn't come until years later after bottom fell out of the market for film gear). I sold one V35 for $1200 and the 1c for $1300. I kept a V35 and the D2. They still share the bench with my 45MXT (An Omega B with condenser and dichro heads, a Durst M600, and oddball econo-enlargers collect dust in the corner). As they say, it pays to be in the right place at the right time.

 

[kobaltus]

Philips timers are very durable, focomat 1c is the best enlarger for BW work, if newton rings are not appearing in prints. Axomat 1 is also very good enlarger,very similar to focomat 1c. Later versions of axomats have larger condenser , sadly not as good as focomat 1 or axomat 1.
With antinewton glass insert under condenser you remove rings, but also lose some sharpness.
Perfect enlarger does not exist.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Well done a good buy and you saved €250 Durst enlargers are excellent only De Vere are better - and they never made a 35mm enlarger though. Also the Componon lens is probably the best you could buy.

Ian

From my recollection of Durst enlargers they have a rather different build quality to the De Vere enlargers I use, which seem very robust but perhaps not as finessed in design.

Tom

 

[baachitraka]

I have paid €25 for Focomat Ic with Focotar lens. You may get Focomat V35 for less than half the price.

I personally recommend to get an enlarger that is capable to print 6x7 negatives or better 6x9 negatives.