Color/B&W Enlarger with $500 budget

coweyeboy · Dec 23, 2015

I know I'm going to get crap for posting another enlarger question about which one to buy so I apologize in advance.

I'm looking to do Color and B&W Printing at home and can't seem to find a good enlarger. I have a $500 budget and would like to do both types of prints in one enlarger. If I'm buying a color enlarger based off suggestions, what am I looking for when buying one? I've seen some with the analyzers, some without, some with multiple rotating lenses, stuff like that.

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR SUGGESTIONS!

mgb74 · Dec 23, 2015

More info would help.

Are you in US, Europe, elsewhere?
Are you actually planning to do color or just use for variable contrast paper?
Max negative size you plan to enlarge?

Paul Howell · Dec 23, 2015

If in the US check out Shopgoodwill.com Sort by enlarger, some stores do not ship, other do. Right now a couple of MF enlargers with color heads, check to see if any will ship. I bought a Omega B22 with a color head, with shipping and handseling cost me $21.00. If in the US look at C list, just when I thought all the good buys were gone another member got a Bessler 4X5 with a color head for under $50.

coweyeboy · Dec 23, 2015

US
Planning to do both Color and B&W, small space, so something that can do both very well would be nice.
Max size 6x6 and small 35mm

coweyeboy · Dec 23, 2015

bookmarked, THANKS!

alanbradford · Dec 23, 2015

Durst M805 colour would suit you I think. I have a few in perfect condition if you are intersted but from Europe

shoot6x7 · Dec 23, 2015

Keep an eye out on Craig's List, you'll find a whole bunch and at give away prices. I picked up a Durst M605 Colour for $100. An M605 B&W for $80.

Alan9940 · Dec 23, 2015

A Beseler 23C II or 67 with the dichroic color head would do nicely for both color & VC B&W printing. Personally, I'd opt for the 23C over the latter.

Good luck!

John51 · Dec 23, 2015

Make sure that it has negative carriers for the formats you want to use. At the very least, get one with a 6x6 carrier, you can always mask down to 35mm. Neg carriers can be impossible to find with some enlargers.

Also, make sure it has whatever else is needed to do both formats.

Paul Howell · Dec 23, 2015

I just checked Shopgoodwill.com no color heads on the site, but they do come and go. BTW, even though I have a Omega B22 with a color head I printed color for decades with color printing filters, I have a couple hundred 4X5 color negatives I intend to print over the summer and will just use color filters in my D3. A color head is convenient but not necessary. In term of space, there is a Federal Stowaway, diffusion model, comes in carrying case that is used as the baseboard, will need a modern lens.

Neal · Dec 23, 2015

Dear coweyeboy,

First, don't forget ebay. I have purchased dozens of items over the years without issue. Two items needed to be returned but there were no issues. If you only need to go to 6x7 you can find an Omega or Beseler with a color head for a quarter of your budget. Personally, I would hold out for a 4x5 capable enlarger. I have an Omega D4XL with an older Chromega head and a 3 lens turret. No problems printing to 20x24.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

mgb74 · Dec 23, 2015

I'd avoid Durst - good equipment but not so common in US. But if you find a great deal with all the neg and lens carriers you need, and replacement bulbs are available, go for it.

Beseler 23c would be my first choice, then Beseler 67 followed by Omega c760 & c700. All have available color heads. As a rule I like twin column enlargers.

Sirius Glass · Dec 23, 2015

Welcome to APUG
For future growth and flexibility I would recommend that you get a 4"x5" enlarger with a color head.

Once you have an enlarger you can find lenses in the APUG classified.
Enlarger parts and negative holders can be found in the APUG classified, http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/forumdisplay.php?27-For-Sale-Wanted, Darkroom Doctor [http://darkroomdoctor.com/Home_Page.php], KHB Photografix [http://www.khbphotografix.com/], and FreeStyle [http://www.freestylephoto.biz/]

I have a Chromega Dichoric II 5D/XL which handles 4"x5" and can enlarge to 20"x24". When I started at APUG I only shot 35mm, now I shoot MF and 4"x5", and I develop both black & white and color film and prints.

destroya · Dec 23, 2015

if you are truly going to stay 6x6 and under, than I agree with the beseler 23ii/iii with color head. Check Craigslist. I've seen many for $100 or less with carriers. that gives you more money for lenses.

summicron1 · Dec 24, 2015

Put a note up on the bulletin board at church, in the grocery story, that you want to buy someone's old darkroom. You should be able to find something fairly quickly and cheaply. $500 is way more than enough.

trythis · Dec 24, 2015

$500 is a lot of money in dark room stuff. I bought a photography school for $400. 6 enlargers and all the stuff that goes with! What part of the USA are you in. Rural will take longer just due to density but should certainly make it cheaper.

Sent with typotalk

John51 · Dec 24, 2015

Unless you have a '4x5 itch' that will need to be scratched some day, then imo a 6x7 enlarger is fine. I was lusting after a 6x9 enlarger as I have two 6x9 cameras but managed to talk myself out of it. 6x7 might not be 'Ideal Format' but it was an ideal time for making cameras and enlargers.

If you can collect, the price can get very low, keep checking ebay with the 'distance, nearest first' option.

bvy · Dec 24, 2015

I'll second eBay. Got my C760 enlarger with lots of trimmings (lens, carriers, darkroom timer, easel, print drums, motor base, etc.) for a song -- i.e. around $150.

To SG's point, I wish now that I had invested in a 4x5. Contact prints are nice, but bigger would be better.

pbromaghin · Dec 24, 2015

You don't say what part of the country you're in, but here's one in in Denver for $100, along with lenses for 35mm, MF and LF. I don't think it has the dichroic head, so you would have to learn how to use color filters. This is the kind of deal you should be able to find in any US metropolitan area, just have the patience to keep watching, and then JUMP when it pops up.

http://denver.craigslist.org/phd/5371646131.html

Old-N-Feeble · Dec 24, 2015

coweyeboy said:
I know I'm going to get crap for posting another enlarger question about which one to buy so I apologize in advance.

I'm looking to do Color and B&W Printing at home and can't seem to find a good enlarger. I have a $500 budget and would like to do both types of prints in one enlarger. If I'm buying a color enlarger based off suggestions, what am I looking for when buying one? I've seen some with the analyzers, some without, some with multiple rotating lenses, stuff like that.

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR SUGGESTIONS!

What city are you nearest to? If others here are in the same area then they might be able to point you to something specific.

Sirius Glass · Dec 24, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Welcome to APUG
For future growth and flexibility I would recommend that you get a 4"x5" enlarger with a color head

John51 said:
Unless you have a '4x5 itch' that will need to be scratched some day, then imo a 6x7 enlarger is fine. I was lusting after a 6x9 enlarger as I have two 6x9 cameras but managed to talk myself out of it. 6x7 might not be 'Ideal Format' but it was an ideal time for making cameras and enlargers.

If you can collect, the price can get very low, keep checking ebay with the 'distance, nearest first' option.

See if you had followed my advice you would have bought the enlarger that would are growing into. If you stay at APUG you will go to larger formats.

I got my enlarger on Craig's List and did not have to pay for shipping.

coweyeboy · Dec 24, 2015

I LIVE IN VEGAS BUT HAVE CONNECTIONS IN HAWAII ALSO

I LIVE IN VEGAS BUT HAVE CONNECTIONS IN HAWAII ALSO

Sirius Glass · Dec 24, 2015

Now that is a long stretch.

Old-N-Feeble · Dec 24, 2015

Maybe there are APUG members in or near Las Vegas who know of something available near you.

Color/B&W Enlarger with $500 budget

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