Durst Labrorator 1000 enlarger

johnnywalker · Nov 9, 2005

I'm thinking of negotiating for this enlarger and accessories. I'd appreciate any thoughts anyone might have on the price and quality. They are asking about $1000 US.

Durst Labrorator 1000 4x5 Enlarger with many extras! This enlarger handles negatives from 35mm to 4x5. An incredible enlarger, Durst is known for exceptional quality. This enlarger comes with an incredible array of accessories.
* Taucoli Cold Light Head
* Negative carriers for: 35mm (Otopfe 35)
2 1/4 Square (Otopfe 66)
2 1/4 x 3 1/4 (Otopfe 69)
3 1/4 x 4 1/4 (Otopfe 314)
4 x 5 (Otopfe 450)
* Anti-Newton Glass (Otoglas AN)
*Condenser Head complete with the following Condenser lenses: Otocon 90T
Otocon 160T
Otocon 180-1T
Otocon 180-2T
* Durst (style) Recessed lens board with rings and adapter for 25mm & 38mm Dia. lenses
* Schneider Kreutznach Componon 50mm f/4 Enlarging Lens
* Schneider Kreutznach Componon 80mm f/5.6 Enlarging Lens
* Schneider Kreutznach Componon-S 150mm f/5.6 Enlarging Lens
Note that all lenses come with Durst Lapla 25 lens boards
* Micromega Critical Focusing Magnifier

Nick Zentena · Nov 9, 2005

$1000? Fall down laughing. Try not to hit your hit.

It's an okay 4x5 enlarger. Then lenses sound like older models. 25mm mounts on all of them? Can't be on the 150mm.

FWIW I bought a 1000 with a colour head. Full waranty. In perfect conditon [nearly mint] from KHB for $300 US. No lenses. Only one lens board and a couple of neg holders. I bought it at the time since I was tired of looking for a colour head to stick on my Beseler. I've now got a colour head for the Beseler so the Durst sits lonely.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/nick_zentena/Durst1000.html

Don't hurt yourself when you fall down.

jovo · Nov 9, 2005

Considering what new 4x5 enlargers cost, $1000 doesn't seem too steep considering all the other stuff being offered. The price of shipping nearly anything as big and bulky as an enlarger would seem to make a deal you can strike locally a good one.

Btw, I'm not sure what Nick is implying...that $1000 is ridiculously high or that that it's an amazingly good price. Perhaps I've hit my head recently and lost all sense of 'between the lines' here.

KenS · Nov 9, 2005

johnnywalker said:
I'm thinking of negotiating for this enlarger and accessories. I'd appreciate any thoughts anyone might have on the price and quality. They are asking about $1000 US.

I honestly think the price might be a little on the high side... even with all the trappings. I have one that has lasted me well for about 30 years and all going well another 30. The difficulty is in finding either a colour head or the 250 watt bulbs... I believe they are no longer available. Before my last spare is gone, I'm afraid I'll have to see if Aristo has a cold light head that will fit.

Ken... (just a few klicks east)

Nick Zentena · Nov 9, 2005

Ken which head do you have? Mine uses common bulbs. EJL??

BTW I think the price is extremely high.

rrankin · Nov 9, 2005

FWIW, in Australia, I bought 2 Durst L1000's, one with Taucoli, one with the condensers head and condensers, for less than that. If I had bought my lenses (same or comparable to those) at the same time, the total still would have been less than $1000 USD.

Cheers, Richard

doughowk · Nov 9, 2005

I've bought two Durst L1000s, each for around $200 & with alot of extras. Unfortunately, both of mine have color light heads, & I'm trying to find a condenser head. A new Aristo cold light head sells for around $650. Durst L1000 is a well-made product; but, being an older model, you may have problems finding spare parts (main reason I bought two).

MattKing · Nov 9, 2005

If this is local to johnnywalker, the price may be a reflection of our market in British Columbia Canada. I may not be looking in the right locations, but around here I just haven't seen that many of the fantastic, near give-away deals on darkroom stuff that others here talk about.

There certainly isn't anything meaningful available (used) from retail sources around here.

Matt

allen curtis · Nov 9, 2005

rrankin said:
FWIW, in Australia, I bought 2 Durst L1000's, one with Taucoli, one with the condensers head and condensers, for less than that. If I had bought my lenses (same or comparable to those) at the same time, the total still would have been less than $1000 USD.

Cheers, Richard

I'd hang hard with your money and bargain hard. Much of the Durst product takes an appeal. And most of it is looking for a choosen few to use. The market is really funny right now, as I am sure you know.

Although a package is nice-problem solved, you have enough pieces to go work, it may be important to look at the pieces for what they are worth.

I assume the unit is clean, alighned and ready to go. I've bought a couple of enlargers in the box and have found I needed to put some effort into them. I haven't had an enlarger yet that I haven't had to go through. I've had at least a few.

I'd offer half, forget the Durst appeal. There aren't too many customers. But if you have the dough and you respect the seller, and it won't hurt the monthly bills, food on the table, etc., go for it. At least you have a package, something to begin to work with. Make sure the lenses are clear, and the condensers aren't mared.

KenS · Nov 9, 2005

Nick Zentena said:
Ken which head do you have? Mine uses common bulbs. EJL??

I have the condenser head... I had the option of an "added" colour head when I bought it, but being somewhat lean of wallet at that time....

As for the bulb.....I'd have to go down and search through a number of boxes that have gone unopened since we moved.. but I do remember that they were Osram (from England)

I did however purchase an extra 35mm carrier that I filed out in order to meet the needs of an "artiste" for whom I used to who custom print and was adamant that all her prints had to have the black border to show the purity of her vision.

I also liked the L1200 with colour head that I had purchased for the lab while I was a "working photographer".... but found I used wratten blue and green filters for split printing rather than the colour head... I found it "more convenient". I thoroughly enjoyed using the department's with point-source 138S for transmission electon micrographs... superb for low power enlarging of photomicrographs of thin tissue sections to film.

Now... If I could just wind the lottery, I could certainly make room for a 10x10 Durst.

Ken

Nick Zentena · Nov 9, 2005

I think Durst split the pain on that enlarger. The colour head uses easy to find bulbs but hard to find carriers. The condensor head uses rare bulbs but more common carriers. I almost bought a second enlarger just to get a negative carrier :rolleyes:

Bob F. · Nov 9, 2005

I'd hold out for an L1200 if I were you, especially at that price. Of course, the availability situation may be very different in Canada given the potential distances involved, but I have bought two L1200s with all the trimmings in the last couple of years and didn't pay more than 300 GBP for either (one is a AC1200) - no lenses, but they sell for 35-50 GBP each.

Good hunting! Bob.

Claire Senft · Nov 10, 2005

Just an observation. I one needs or wants them coated condensers can be very hard to find and dreadfully expensive.

johnnywalker · Nov 10, 2005

I talked on the phone today with the seller, a camera store owner who is into large format himself. The enlarger is on consignment. He agrees the price is high. The enlarger is owned by an artist who used it to enlarge large format pictures of his paintings. He said it looks hardly used, and all of the lenses are in "pristine" shape. Regarding the light source, he says it's a 150 watt "Number 212" bulb that is listed in his catalogues and easily ordered. He says the condenser lenses appear to be coated, but he was a little hesitant on that score. The 150 lens is a componen-S that he says is a taking lens modified to be an enlarging lens - it has a shutter, left wide open.
So, if I can talk my accountant into it, I'll put an offer in on it. My accountant, unfortunately, thinks a second dress is more important than an enlarger. Some peoples' priorities! Thanks for all the help and advice everyone.

Nick Zentena · Nov 11, 2005

johnnywalker said:
Regarding the light source, he says it's a 150 watt "Number 212" bulb that is listed in his catalogues and easily ordered.
The 150 lens is a componen-S that he says is a taking lens modified to be an enlarging lens - it has a shutter, left wide open.

Check the manual I posted. I don't think the 212 is the right bulb. It might be the one in the enlarger but I don't it's the first choice.

The componon is an enlarger lens. Sounds like it might be screwed into a shutter. If the shutter works it might be worth a few bucks.

lee · Nov 11, 2005

I am using the 213 bulb in my Durst 138 for the higher wattage

lee\c

johnnywalker · Nov 13, 2005

I put in an offer on this enlarger today for C$700 (about US$600). Maybe I'll get lucky. I would have gone higher, but as a condition of bidding I had to promise the second dress.

johnnywalker · Nov 16, 2005

Well, it's now mine. Can't wait to get it.

Donald Miller · Nov 16, 2005

johnnywalker said:
Well, it's now mine. Can't wait to get it.

The issue of coated condensors was raised. The only time that coated condensors are used is with a point light source. It takes a special breed of cat to want to print with point light. I would like to try it myself but haven't yet.

Good luck and have fun. I have really appreciated the quality of Durst.

KenS · Jun 4, 2019

Donald Miller said:
The issue of coated condensors was raised. The only time that coated condensors are used is with a point light source. It takes a special breed of cat to want to print with point light. I would like to try it myself but haven't yet.

Good luck and have fun. I have really appreciated the quality of Durst.

The point source illumination was (I believe) was mandatory for enlarging from transmission electron microscope negatives... (and it can also be used for making B?W inter-negatives from photo-microscopy chromes.
...I've made them from XS rat brain chromes... fantastic for both sharpness and fine 'detail

Ken

Paul Howell · Jun 5, 2019

Point source was used for microfilm and other high contrast work. Donald Miller has not been online for several years, if I recall he converted his Durst to point source, used a slide projector lamp and cooling fan. I converted an old Federal 6X9, turned out to way to grainy for my taste. Bessler, Omega and Durst all make point source heads. On the tricks that the light source needs to move up and down and prints are mode with the lens wide open. AA's book the print there is a picture of his Bessler 4X5 with a point source head off the side. Not sure why he had one as he used cold light, maybe for 35mm?

awty · Jun 5, 2019

OMG! Just realised you can tilt the head on these. Ive had mine with condenser head for a couple of years now and couldn't see how the head could tilt, so thought it couldn't. Guess I should of read the instructions. Must see what other amazing things it does, might find out how the condenser lenses operate

.http://vanhuyckphoto.com/DurstL1000Manual.pdf

Hilo · Jun 6, 2019

awty said:
OMG! Just realised you can tilt the head on these. Ive had mine with condenser head for a couple of years now and couldn't see how the head could tilt, so thought it couldn't. Guess I should of read the instructions. Must see what other amazing things it does, might find out how the condenser lenses operate

Paul, the head has two positions, one being about 10cm higher.

The original post dates back almost 15 years ago, things have changed. You find the L1000 in Europe quite easily and never much higher than € 200. It is an underrated enlarger, mostly because when in it's basic configuration it is a limited enlarger. Very small for a 4x5, which is nice when you only want to do smallish prints. It often lacks the vertical positioned filter drawer, a heat glass between lamp house and mirror house. The condensers can have some damage because it is easy to make a mistake with them. The mirror can have problems because when you open up that part this mirror tends to fly out like a frisbee . . . For absolute even illumination you need these very big opal lamps, that is the most critical problem. Some have modified to led lamps. So, all in all, when you don't have time to collect these parts (took me two years), I would say don't get this enlarger. On the other hand, with some patience, you will find everything and at the right prices. Then you have a simple and fantastic 4x5 enlarger.

I got one for free about five years ago. I liked it's modest size and metal built. It took me awhile to learn what I write above, I come from Leitz Focomats and they're very different. I got two more L1000, always at very low prices. So I got all these parts and the best part I got is the wall mount. That changes this enlarger 100 percent. I also managed to get a supply of the large opal bulbs. From all the extra parts I built a second L1000 which I gave away to a group of photography students who are using it to the max.

awty · Jun 6, 2019

Hilo said:
Paul, the head has two positions, one being about 10cm

View attachment 224759

Oh really! Thats awesome, really struggling for height at times.
Broke the mirror when it first arrived, should have warning stickers.
The wall stand looks great, will keep an eye open for one, but any large format enlarger is very rare in these parts. I paid more in postage for mine.

Hilo · Jun 6, 2019

The higher position is indicated on page 7 of that manual: using the holes 15 will raise the head . . . very simple and effective.

Durst Labrorator 1000 enlarger

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