Buying an Enlarger

WGibsonPhotography · May 23, 2009

MattKing said:
Congratulations from here as well.

Rob (Ebay "roblun") sells a lot of Beseler equipment on eBay and I've bought from him in the past. In all but one case, the transaction was trouble free, and he resolved the one problem I encountered quickly and fairly.

Matt

That's reassuring. I'm still a bit nervous about buying a used enlarger, and your past experiences with him make me feel a bit better. hopefully this transaction will run smoothly. Now I'm a little bummed that Monday is a holiday. That means it's gonna arrive a day later :/ Oh well. Good things are worth waiting for

By the way, what's the largest format negative I can print with the 23C?

WGibsonPhotography · May 23, 2009

dougjgreen said:
The best thing about that setup is, it comes with a Dichro head. I'm jealous. My 23CII just has a condenser head, and I used color filter inserts for both color and polycontrast B&W paper.

I'm not a real big fan of color darkroom printing. I guess because I have only limited experience with it. This will give me a reason to do it more often and get good at it

dougjgreen · May 23, 2009

WGibsonPhotography said:
By the way, what's the largest format negative I can print with the 23C?

6x9 CM. So basically, there's no medium format camera that would force you to something bigger.

Dennis S · May 23, 2009

Congats. I have bought serveral products from that seller. Now comes the FUN part dialing in your colour head for B&W prints. The days seem to drag on until you get it. Now is a good time to read up on the use of it. The saying goes "A peice of equipment is only as good as its operator" Have fun.

WGibsonPhotography · May 23, 2009

dougjgreen said:
6x9 CM. So basically, there's no medium format camera that would force you to something bigger.

Cool. I dont plan on shooting anything bigger than 6x7 any time in the near future. This may be the only enlargar I need unless I decide to go LArge format.

WGibsonPhotography · May 23, 2009

dances_w_clouds said:
Congats. I have bought serveral products from that seller. Now comes the FUN part dialing in your colour head for B&W prints. The days seem to drag on until you get it. Now is a good time to read up on the use of it. The saying goes "A peice of equipment is only as good as its operator" Have fun.

dont you just dial all the color dials to zero? I've never done black and white prints on a color enlarger, but that seemed like the best way to do it. Maybe I'm missing something

dougjgreen · May 23, 2009

Different amounts of the magenta and yellow filters get used for different grades of Polycontrast/Multi-grade papers If you use fixed contrast grade papers, you set the filter dials all to zero. Page 3 of this Kodak data sheet gives some starting trial values for filtration for their Polymax multi-grade paper.

http://tkahler.com/tech_documents/kodak_polymaxfineart_paper..pdf

The rule of thumb is that the more yellow filtration, the lower the contrast grade, and the more magenta filtration, the higher the contrast grade.

WGibsonPhotography · May 23, 2009

dougjgreen said:
Different amounts of the magenta and yellow filters get used for different grades of Polycontrast/Multi-grade papers If you use fixed contrast grade papers, you set the filter dials all to zero. Page 3 of this Kodak data sheet gives some starting trial values for filtration for their Polymax multi-grade paper.

http://tkahler.com/tech_documents/kodak_polymaxfineart_paper..pdf

The rule of thumb is that the more yellow filtration, the lower the contrast grade, and the more magenta filtration, the higher the contrast grade.

I've used contrast filters before when I used the Arista VC paper that my school bookstore sells. I understand how the contrast filters work (to an extent. I never really used them. I did most of my class work in the studio, so I got the contrast perfect or very close to perfect just by using lighting ).

I assumed what was meant by learning how to set the dials right meant I had to set them to a certain setting for the color enlarger to print "properly." I'm Usinf Slavich Unibrom grade 2 papers, so I guess I'm using all dials at 0.

Thanks for the link. I havent looked at it yet, but I will when I get back later tonight. I'm spending the day at a Renaissance Festival in Tennessee. I'm shooting all color (Kodak Ultramax) today. Maybe I'll have some stuff to print when I get back

mwdake · May 23, 2009

I have considered Ebay, but i'm a bit cautious about buying used stuff, especially when it's as expensive as an enlarger, unless the person selling it knows what he's selling.

I too am cautious about spending a lot of money on an aucton site for something unseen, but....
I bought a basicaly unused Omega B600 still in original packing and box for a very expensive $11 and change + $20 or so for shipping.

Eventually I snagged a complete Omega D5 darkroom set up for $100 on craigslist.

So, even if I did have the money for all new stuff I think I would still go used.
I don't think you can be too disappointed when prices are this low.

Good luck with whatever you end up with. I am sure you will have lots of fun to come.

WGibsonPhotography · May 23, 2009

mwdake said:
I too am cautious about spending a lot of money on an aucton site for something unseen, but....
I bought a basicaly unused Omega B600 still in original packing and box for a very expensive $11 and change + $20 or so for shipping.

Eventually I snagged a complete Omega D5 darkroom set up for $100 on craigslist.

So, even if I did have the money for all new stuff I think I would still go used.
I don't think you can be too disappointed when prices are this low.

Good luck with whatever you end up with. I am sure you will have lots of fun to come.

I think the amount of money I saved buying off Ebay will offset any trouble and money spend looking for a spare part or two if something is missing.

Thanks for the good luck wishes. I have a few rolls of color I want to print when I get the chemicals and paper, and I'm going to shoot more today. Hopefully I'll have some black and white to do soon. I'll be sure to use the hell out of this thing and post some of the good ones here

Paul Sorensen · May 23, 2009

I was inspired by this thread and just went out this morning and got basically a whole darkroom setup including a Beseler 45 series enlarger, couple of really nice lenses, and lots of nice miscellaneous stuff for $75. The Konica S2 that was thrown in with the deal does appear to be broken.

Mark Fisher · May 23, 2009

You'll be very happy with the enlarger. A color head it is a great way to do B&W. If you are using graded paper anyway, you'll just keep the dials to zero anyway. Eventually you'll want to use VC paper and you'll be all set. I've used both a Gralab 300 and a digital timer and I much, much prefer a digital timer. If you are going to buy new (hardly crazy for a digital timer), consider the Darkroom Automation timer listed with one of the forum sponsors. Also, spend the money you saved on a high quality lens. That is probably the most important part anyway!

Anscojohn · May 23, 2009

WGibsonPhotography said:
I have considered Ebay, but i'm a bit cautious about buying used stuff, especially when it's as expensive as an enlarger, unless the person selling it knows what he's selling.

I have a few on my watch list on ebay right now. The one I'm most interested in right now is

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-BESELER-23...2|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50

If the stuff I posted in my first post is the stuff I need (I dont have the wrong lens board and the lens fits) I'm happy buying that stuff on ebay. I'm all for saving money

********
Try Craig's list.

John Koehrer · May 23, 2009

Another old standby timer is the Time-O-Lite M-59. It's auto resetting like the digi timers.

WGibsonPhotography · May 24, 2009

Paul Sorensen said:
I was inspired by this thread and just went out this morning and got basically a whole darkroom setup including a Beseler 45 series enlarger, couple of really nice lenses, and lots of nice miscellaneous stuff for $75. The Konica S2 that was thrown in with the deal does appear to be broken.

I think this is the first time I've played a role in inspiring anybody to do anything productive

WGibsonPhotography · May 24, 2009

Mark Fisher said:
You'll be very happy with the enlarger. A color head it is a great way to do B&W. If you are using graded paper anyway, you'll just keep the dials to zero anyway. Eventually you'll want to use VC paper and you'll be all set. I've used both a Gralab 300 and a digital timer and I much, much prefer a digital timer. If you are going to buy new (hardly crazy for a digital timer), consider the Darkroom Automation timer listed with one of the forum sponsors. Also, spend the money you saved on a high quality lens. That is probably the most important part anyway!

I may get a digital timer in the end. I'm still thinking it would be more convenient, but I'm trying to save as much money as possible. I can deal with a little inconvenience if i'm saving $100 or so

Anscojohn · May 24, 2009

The old lab rats with whom I worked all had enlarging timers. Usually they just counted 1, one thousand, two, one thousand.

One of the better investments you can make is a timer for print development. I use a gravity-powered-silicon-displacement-interval timer for timing my print development. An egg timer. Get one with green or blue sand in it--shows up better under the safelights.

Others have extended their good wishes. I will add mine. and also repeat what others have said: "Have Fun!"

WGibsonPhotography · May 24, 2009

Anscojohn said:
The old lab rats with whom I worked all had enlarging timers. Usually they just counted 1, one thousand, two, one thousand.

One of the better investments you can make is a timer for print development. I use a gravity-powered-silicon-displacement-interval timer for timing my print development. An egg timer. Get one with green or blue sand in it--shows up better under the safelights.

Others have extended their good wishes. I will add mine. and also repeat what others have said: "Have Fun!"

I've been using a timer I bought from Target for like $6 for film and print developing. It's one of those little white timers that I found in the kitchen area. It's hard to see in the darkroom, but I dont need to see it. I just need to hear it. When the timer beeps, I know it's time to put the print in the stop bath. When it beeps and I hit the Stop button, it resets back to the time I set it to. I count stop bath in my head and adjust the time for the fix bath. Then I put it in the washer and let the print wash until i'm done printing for the day. While the prints I printed last are washing (along with the other prints in the washer), I grab some lunch or something until I know the last prints are fully washed. Then I hang to dry

dancqu · May 24, 2009

WGibsonPhotography said:
I thought the chassis was the thing the enlarger
went up and down on.

FYI and if not already informed the chassis goes
up and down on the girder or girders. Dan

WGibsonPhotography · May 24, 2009

dancqu said:
FYI and if not already informed the chassis goes
up and down on the girder or girders. Dan

Thanks Dan. When I was told that the chassis was the enlarger, I was wondering what the thing was called that it went up and down on

WGibsonPhotography · May 24, 2009

Will a four-blade easel like this one fit on the baseboard of a 23C?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=250427131281

John Koehrer · May 24, 2009

Ayup, Nice easel too. The only reason you would ever have to upgrade is if you want a llarger easel or somehow crease a blade.(never seen it done).
The thing that goes up & down on the chassis is the head.

WGibsonPhotography · May 24, 2009

John Koehrer said:
Ayup, Nice easel too. The only reason you would ever have to upgrade is if you want a llarger easel or somehow crease a blade.(never seen it done).
The thing that goes up & down on the chassis is the head.

I thought it would. I wanted to make sure before I bought it

yellowcat · May 24, 2009

WGibsonPhotography said:
I have considered Ebay, but i'm a bit cautious about buying used stuff, especially when it's as expensive as an enlarger, unless the person selling it knows what he's selling.

Some times It can be better if the seller does not know what they are selling.

Last year I was helping a friend set up a darkroom for their daughter who was doing A-level photography and picked up a fairly decent Durst M605 for £20 - it was described "as being some sort of camera".

WGibsonPhotography · May 24, 2009

yellowcat said:
Some times It can be better if the seller does not know what they are selling.

Last year I was helping a friend set up a darkroom for their daughter who was doing A-level photography and picked up a fairly decent Durst M605 for £20 - it was described "as being some sort of camera".

That's true, too. I'd rather pay a bit more and know everything I need is included rather than buy one for almost nothing and have to hunt down the little odds and ends I need for it to work. I'm not that patient, and shipping for those little things add up even if you can buy them really cheap. Sometimes you get lucky and buy a fully functional [whatever it is you're buying] for almost nothing. I'm not that lucky, though :/

Buying an Enlarger

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