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Can you recommend a Black and White Enlarger for a beginner?

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Thanks all - I've since done a bit of reading and had a PM or two from a couple of APUG members who have warned me against this purchase. I think, perhaps, I should aim a little higher.

Rob - thanks - if only money was no object but for many of us, it is. I was of the belief that it's the lens that really matters (of which I've sourced an azming one) but I'll take the advice of you and others and try to aim a bit higher

Ted
 
ted_smith said:
Thanks all - I've since done a bit of reading and had a PM or two from a couple of APUG members who have warned me against this purchase. I think, perhaps, I should aim a little higher.

Rob - thanks - if only money was no object but for many of us, it is. I was of the belief that it's the lens that really matters (of which I've sourced an azming one) but I'll take the advice of you and others and try to aim a bit higher

Ted
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I think you will find that if you go back and actually read my earlier post, you will find that the lens will be the least of your potential problems. Do you think that the likes of rodenstock and schneider would have sold 10's of thousands of really useless non APO lenses and stayed in business.
 
My first enlarger was a cheap 35mm Bessler with same brand lens. It's two limitations were lack of stability and short column preventing anything larger than 8x10. My current enlarger is a Saunders 670LPL with El-Nikkor 50mm lens for 35 and 75mm for 6x6. I just recently picked up an Omega D2 to use for 4x5 (although as bought it's configured for 35mm).

The El-Nikkor lenses are not expensive and do a fine job, in my opinion. As for an enlarger, they've gotten very inexpensive, so there's no reason to buy the cheapest one you can find. The Saunders is quite capable, having a nice rigid column and capability to go up to 6x7 with just a small outlay for negative carrier and lens.

As has been said before, there's not much point in buying low quality. You'll likely quickly outgrow it, perhaps in terms of the largest print it can make, but also, as your skill grows, you'll find it's holding you back. For that matter, you may not know, as you first learn, whether problems are due to you or your equipment.
 
This is the machine I use and It does all I could wish for. It is modular and does multigrade with one dial. So easy to use. Kaiser VPM 6005.

prodmainimg627.jpeg
 
My first enlarger was a Durst F-30 and I regret ever parting with it--it handled 35mm & 6x6---a sweet little machine.

I eventually replaced it with a Lietz Valoy II that cost me grand total of $20 with a Lietz enlarging lens. It only handles 35mm though, but I also have a brace of Meoptas and an Omega D-II for larger formats. The price of enlargers has been so cheap I found it more cost effective to buy complete enlargers for each format rather than additional negative carriers, lenses & condensers.
Of course you need to have the space to store it all!
I'd suggest looking for a Lietz Valoy, Durst or Meopta Opemus.
Happy hunting!
 
I'd second the suggestion of checking with camera clubs - I got a Besseler 23C and two boxes of old darkroom equipment absolutely free from someone who was quitting photography. I got a Besseler 45 for only a few dollars from another person who was switching to digital. I got an Omega 67 enlarger from a camera club member who worked at a hospital - the hospital was switching to digital and the member saw them throwing away the enlarger and a lot of other equipment. She had them load it in her car and she brought it to me. You can find very high quality enlargers for very little money if you are patient and keep shopping.
juan
 
i sent you a MP since i have a Durst 605 color head to sell. And if anybody in europe want to get rid off a Durst laorator 1200 with CLS 500 or 501....
please contact me!

marco
 
Just to let you all know, I eventually bought a second hand Ilfospeed 400HS B&W Enlarger for £50. Pentaxuser kindly found it for me on e-Bay and I got subsequent advice from a fellow APUG member called RJ. RJ has been an absolute star providing all sorts of knowledge and insight. As far as we all know, the Ilfospeed is a good enlarger allbeit quite old.

Annoyingly though it does not have the standard 39mm screwthread. I bought a 50mm Rodenstock Apo-Rodagon from RJ prior to getting the enlarger. I was gutted to find it didn't fit so I'm on the hunt for a suitable adapter!

I've not yet tried the enlarger as I'm still getting my darkroom setup. Once I get some prints off it I'll scan them in and let you see the results.

Cheers all

Ted
 
Ted sorry to hear about the 39mm screwthread problem. At £50 I suppose there had to be a snag but it would help if people on e-bay would give more info. I often find myself needing to ask questions about aspects of e-bay sales which ought to be covered by the seller. I hope this can be solved. Let us know how it performs.

pentaxuser
 
My first enlarger was a Gnome Beta, they're great enlargers, if a little simple. Also, i'd agree with John Kasaian, my school's darkroom has one, and it's a nice machine.
 
ted_smith said:
Annoyingly though it does not have the standard 39mm screwthread. I bought a 50mm Rodenstock Apo-Rodagon from RJ prior to getting the enlarger. I was gutted to find it didn't fit so I'm on the hunt for a suitable adapter!
Click to expand...

I just bought an El-Nikkor 135mm on e-bay that came with a retaining ring. I might need it myself though so I can't give it up just yet, but, you might be able to find one on e-bay. Maybe you can find an old Russian LTM copy (I believe enlarger lenses use LTM) cheap and pull off the lens mount and use it a a retaining ring (only half kidding).

I just remembered I have a 50mm lens on an enlarger sitting in my garage. After a quick run outside, it's now sitting next to me. The lens is a Schacht Travegar 50mm f3.5 with a flange - it's an odd size thread - seems to be about 32mm. I don't know if it's any good or even worth the cost of shipping to the UK.

Dan
 
Ted You haven't said what the size of your thread is but I have had a look on the classic camera house site and he seems to have only two other sizes, 31.75mm and 25 mm. These plus 39mm may the full range, I don't know. He has a good range of lenses at reasonable prices and may know of or have an adaptor. He specializes in older equipment and contact with the proprietor might be worthwhile. He is based in Oakworth, West Yorkshire and the tel no. is 01535 642333

pentaxuser
 
Ted. Postscript, I have just had another look and he does have all sorts of lens adaptors. I'd say well worth a look and then contact.

Best of luck

pentaxuser
 
A rough measurement of the screwthread it seems to be about 25mm. I will ring that fellow you mention pentaxuser - that sounds like a potential winner! Thanks a lot!

Thank you, also, Fotoguy, for your consideration. I think it would not fit though, so perhaps not worht shipping over. Besides, I am quite proud of my Rodenstock that RJ sold me, so I'd ideally like to use that if I can.

Ted
 
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(Just typed this and lost it so this is another quick re-type)

Spoke to the man at The Camera House http://www.the-camera-house.co.uk/. Bad news. The threads of his adapters won't work due to male --> female size variances, or something. So although they have 25mm --> 39mm adapters, they won't work with my enlarger.

So I'm going to try and sell the Ilfospeed to try and recoup some of my money if I can and then I'll try and get another enlarger. This time I'll make sure it has a 39mm screwthread!!

I have my eye on this e-bay auction which is a De Vere 504 but the seller has not provided a photo and has stated local pickup only. In addition, he's only got a few feedback points, so I've asked him to e-mail me a photo. Potentially I could get a bargain due to a poor e-Bay advert. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230263902901&fromMakeTrack=true At SecondHandDarkroom, these enlarger sell for £500+

Ted
 
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Why not drill out the hole in the lensboard to be just slightly larger than 39mm and then use a 39mm retaining ring or flange to hold the lens.

Dan
 
Folks

Bob, of the APUG council, suggested I upload a photo of the lens mount. What I didn't realise before Bob sent me his message was that the plate that the lens screws into is detachable. Sorry if I mis-understood when someone mentioned this before. I thought it was a permaneant part of the head. I assume, therefore, that all I would need to do is swap that plate for one that takes a lens with 39mm screwthread?

I have looked on e-Bay and found this one, but it says the screwthread is 38mm - so I assume that won't fit? The plate itself though is the same overall width as mine, 79mm. It's also a Durst.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Durst-38mm-th...ryZ29987QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Then there is this one which I think it exactly what I need - the only problem being I will need to have it professionally threaded. Not sure how you go about having that done? :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Durst-lens-pl...VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

I have taken 4 photos and uploaded them here for you to see. The writing on the plate is partially worn away, but I think you can make out that it's a Durst Laplaxxx XX . What do you think?

http://www.tedsmithphotography.com/temp/TedsIlfospeedEnlargerDilemma.html

Ted
 
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You already own a 39mm lens board. It's a "Lapla 39" :D

Just unscrew the adaptor that's in the centre. It's very clear in your photos, particularly the 3rd.

Ian
 
Ted. Glad about this happy ending, I hope. Yes I know that I simply directed you to a possible enlarger on e-bay and the rest was your responsibility but I began to have a conscience about it in case you had been sold a "duff".

So nice to know problem solved and just as nice to know that the seller has acted entirely honourably.

pentaxuser
 
I suspect that lens board on ebay is also 39mm but as the paint's worn the seller has mistakenly assumed 38mm. Durst enlargers always came with a standard 39mm lens board.

The Lapla 39 was replaced by the plastic version a Siriopla 39. They were only available as 39mm, 42mm & 50mm. To use smaller thread lenses metal or plastic adapters were available.

You might aslo look for a Siriotub 39 (plastic) or the metal equivalent recessed lensboard which is needed for 35m negatives & a 50mm lens.

Ian
 
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What Ian said... :smile:

(Joke is I just PM-ed all that to Ted before I came here and read that Ian had already said it all!).

There are new Siriopla and Siriotub on ebay.co.uk for a tenner each (Dead Link Removed) but as Ian says: it looks like yours has an adaptor fitted to reduce it to 25mm so try that 1st!. And see if you can focus a negative on the baseboard to check if you need a Siriotub (some Durst L1200s for example do but mine doesn't - dunno why).

There is a Lapla 32 I believe but I can't tell from the picture if it could be a "2" rather than a "9" (does look like an "8"!)...

Good luck, Bob.
 
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