Choosing our best enlarger

Hi all,

We've currently got 6 enlargers and all we do is B&W enlargement so I was hoping we could economise. However, I don't really know anything about the enlargers we've got - I want to get rid of all but one of them but I still want to be able to provide 35mm, 6x7, and possibly colour (although I really doubt we'll be doing that any time soon).

The enlargers that we have are;

• Durst C35
• LPL C7700 PRO
• LPL C7700
• Durst M601
• Durst M670 BW
• Philips PCS 130

Which of these would be able to take both 35mm and medium format film? Would I need a different diffusers for each or could I just use the medium format one for 35mm as well? (I've got a bunch of spare diffusers but only two of them are labelled 'Durst Sivocon 50' and 'Durst Sivocon 80' - the other three are unlabelled).

Finally, we've got a bunch of lenses too - I know that I need ~50mm for 35mm and ~90mm for 120 film but which of these should I keep?

• El-Nikkor 50mm f2.8
• Durst Neotaron f2.8 50mm
• Durst Neonon 80mm f.5.6
• Schneider-Kreuznach Componar-C 3,5/50
• Schneider-Kreuznach Componar-C 2.8/50
• Schneider-Kreuznach Componar-S 4.5/80

We use multigrade paper and so keeping a colour enlarger around might be good so we can do contrast alterations but to be honest if the two colour ones are crap it might just be easier to use gelatine filters..

Thanks!!

The 80mm Durst Neonon is the best lens you have-world-class.

You should probably choose a color enlarger even if you are going to BW. It might be easier to dial in the contrast values rather than fumbling with filters.

The Sivocon 50 and 80 are made to fit the M601. Durst and Phillips enlargers are nice, I have a pair of M601's but both companies are no longer in the enlarger business. LPL still is in the business. You need a 50mm for 35mm and a 80mm for 6x6/6x7. Componars are lower end. Try the two 50mm's to see which you like best. The Neonon will be fine for medium format.

If you want colour the LPL or the Philips (I think) are colour enlargers.

The M601 (Which uses the Sivocon condensers) can do up to 6x6 whereas the M670 (Which require Siriocon condensers) can do up to 6x7. I think the Philips can do 6x7 too (again not 100% sure). The C35 is as it's name implies just for 35mm.

But ultimately it depends on which ones work and which parts you have for them.

The most complete working system would be the best (and I'd keep at least one other around as a backup). Also bear in mind what kind of bulb they use and how easy it is to get replacements.

My personal preference is for the M670BW. I prefer condensers and find that changing grade with the colour heads to be far more fiddly than swapping filters. I have both the B&W and Colour heads for the M670 and tried both and prefer the BW for image quality and operationally.

The C35 was Durst's entry enlarger of that period. Together with its B&W twin model B35, which also got a more simple bellows.
The C35 can be modified to 6x6. But you do not have such kit and though well built, it remains an entry level model.

Does at least one of the LPL enlargers have a colour head on it? Is there any chance that one of them has the very desirable multigrade head on it?

If they are in good shape, and they have negative carriers and all necessary parts, they would be my recommendations.

Same for the Durst lenses (probably), as long as they have 39mm threads.

If there is any chance you have the room, it can be really handy to have two enlargers, especially if they give you a choice of light sources.

Here is KHB's resource on those currently available LPL enlargers: http://www.khbphotografix.com/LPL/LPL7700series.htm

The EL-Nikkor is the best of the 50s listed.

Do you have any way to setup and try the enlargers and see which works best for both 35mm and 6x7? Some of those on the list won't do 6x7.

chip j said:

The 80mm Durst Neonon is the best lens you have-world-class.

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I agree with this. I have an 80mm Neonon that I use on my Durst D659 (1960's). It's one of the best lenses I've ever had. I print my wife's zone plate images which are sort of fuzzy, but we use a very high grained film and depend upon the sharpness of the neonon to produce an effect quite similar to that of a mezzotint. It is absolutely uniform out to the corners of a 6x6. I think it's one of the finest enlarging lenses out there, and I've used a lot of them. Keep it.

We had M670's in the darkroom at the college where I last taught. They were entirely adequate. I also agree with the poster down the way who recommended using filters rather than trying to insist on a color unit. I spent a large part of my life chained to a hot chromega, but in my own darkroom, where I printed everything, even for clients, with an Omega D3v without a color head, I used filters. It worked just fine. In my opinion it's best to use simpler equipment and know what you are doing. That's not the way everyone sees it. The 670 is a solid piece. Not like my 659 (built like a milling machine) but has what you need.

MattKing said:

Does at least one of the LPL enlargers have a colour head on it? Is there any chance that one of them has the very desirable multigrade head on it?

Same for the Durst lenses (probably), as long as they have 39mm threads.

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They both have colour heads on them but I don't think either has the multigrade head.

You say that the Durst ones have 39mm threads - aren't all enlarger lenses the same thread size?

clingfilm said:

- aren't all enlarger lenses the same thread size?

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No. 39mm is very common, but not universal.

clingfilm said:

aren't all enlarger lenses the same thread size?

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As David said - there are lots of different thread sizes out there.
If you check that link to KHB's page I included in my earlier post, you will see a listing for three different lens mounts - each for a different thread size.
You might check as well which lens mounts you have for the LPLs.

Choose a color one so that you can do color or black & white.