durst m70 negative holder

kal800 · Jan 13, 2016

I have found mint condition Durst Modular 70 with Vario head, but unfortunately, this device is suited for 135 format, while I'm mostly doing 6x6 format photos. Vario head can be switched over between small and medium format, but negative holder needs another masking plates for 6x6 called sivopar 66 containing sixma and sivoma. Those are hard to buy at ebay, but it is not a rocket science to produce it - there are many places when they could laser cut identical plates for me. Here is my question:

Does anybody posess such thing and could give me exact dimensions or drawing, so I could bring them to manufacturer and place an order?

Any comments much apreciated

Kal800

RobC · Jan 13, 2016

email or phone

http://www.northernphoto.co.uk/

they should be able to provide original part (at a price)

shoot6x7 · Jan 13, 2016

IMHO it'll easier/cheaper/better to buy glass inserts from FocalPoint. Get one AN and one plain, about 20 bucks each.

kal800 · Jan 13, 2016

You mean get rid of metal plates and put two pieces of glass instead?

What's FocalPoint?

kal800 · Jan 13, 2016

No luck - no such thing at NorthernPhoto...

RobC · Jan 13, 2016

kal800 said:
No luck - no such thing at NorthernPhoto...

Yes it exists and their telephone number works and takes messages. Its in the UK so opening times are approx 9:00 - 16:00 GMT Monday - Thursday

and dialling from outside UK will be +44 1132 799 533

or you can email enquiries@northernphoto.co.uk

kal800 · Jan 13, 2016

Already did - guy responded, that they do not have it - neither new nor used (

Sirius Glass · Jan 13, 2016

Welcome to APUG

A few places to explore:
http://store.khbphotografix.com/_search.php?page=1&q=durst+negative+holders&x=0&y=0

http://www.songofsnow.com/Darkroom-equipment-s/74.htm

http://igorcamera.com/darkroom.htm

http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/catalog/ak11.htm

RobC · Jan 13, 2016

kal800 said:
Already did - guy responded, that they do not have it - neither new nor used (

Oh. Did you ask if they have the glass or a 35mm mask which you could get machined out to 6x6.

kal800 · Jan 13, 2016

Now I need some explanation on the way how it is constructed.

As I saw on the picture, negative is between two metal masks - they are not identical, according to the description, that is glassless drawer. As I understood - I can have either dedicated 6x6 metal mask, or glass plates in place of metal masks, am I right?

If so, what are the pros and cons of both solutions?

RobC · Jan 13, 2016

glass only means there is just more stray light flying about but the neg carrier has adjustable blades which should cut most of that out.

Top glass needs to be anti newton glass. Glass has bevelled edges to fit neg carrier in same way as metal inserts do. Metal masks and glass inserts are all same external size.

So if you already have 35mm metal masks then have dimensions and profiling at your finger tips already.

center of 6x6 should be at same position as center of 135 mask.

Note, 6x6 is actually 56mm X 56mm so mask should be cut a bit smaller to be sure you are not printing edge of frame unless you want full from printing. Measure a negative to see what your camera neg frame size is.

kal800 · Jan 13, 2016

I have them, but do not want to get rid of them, as I shoot 35mm as well, and have 50 mm lens too. The thing is that AFAIK the frame size is not the same for upper and lower plate in case of 6x6, that's why I asked for dimensions...

RobC · Jan 13, 2016

kal800 said:
I have them, but do not want to get rid of them, as I shoot 35mm as well, and have 50 mm lens too. The thing is that AFAIK the frame size is not the same for upper and lower plate in case of 6x6, that's why I asked for dimensions...

Yes but if you take the 135 format masks to a machinist they can take the sizing and profiling from them and make some completely new 6x6 ones without touching the 135 masks.

kal800 · Jan 13, 2016

Got it - 55x55 - sixma; 57x57 - sivoma

kal800 · Jan 15, 2016

By the way, Do you recommend this enlarger anyways? Condition is very good, price as well and seller is in the same town, so it looks good. But having second thoughts whether should I try to find professional grade unit. Provided that I'm doing only 6x6 and 35 mm enlargements up to 50x60 cm in B&W only for myself, would I have any added value from Laborator or AC805 unit? Also, I wanted desperately to have Ilford 500 system but again - would it really make my photos better or bring me any added comfort or effectiveness in the process? Maybe simple filter gauge on the Vario head is the only thing I need?

RobC · Jan 15, 2016

I have one and think its an excellent enlarger for 35mm upto 6x7. I also have an L1200 which IMO is too big for 35mm but it works. You really don't need anything bigger than the mod70 which is quite light compared to some of the bigger units.

kal800 · Jan 15, 2016

RobC said:
I have one and think its an excellent enlarger for 35mm upto 6x7. I also have an L1200 which IMO is too big for 35mm but it works. You really don't need anything bigger than the mod70 which is quite light compared to some of the bigger units.

Point! Right now I cannot setup fixed darkroom, so I will have to adapt one of our bathrooms to that purpose, meaning that I will have to dismantle it from time to time. 40k+ laborator would be rather cumbersome to move back and forth.

I'm taking M70!

Sirius Glass · Jan 15, 2016

kal800 said:
By the way, Do you recommend this enlarger anyways? Condition is very good, price as well and seller is in the same town, so it looks good. But having second thoughts whether should I try to find professional grade unit. Provided that I'm doing only 6x6 and 35 mm enlargements up to 50x60 cm in B&W only for myself, would I have any added value from Laborator or AC805 unit? Also, I wanted desperately to have Ilford 500 system but again - would it really make my photos better or bring me any added comfort or effectiveness in the process? Maybe simple filter gauge on the Vario head is the only thing I need?

If you get a 4"x5" enlarger, it will meet your needs today and allow you to move to larger formats: 6x9 or 4"x5" for example, if you later choose to use a larger format.

RobC · Jan 16, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
If you get a 4"x5" enlarger, it will meet your needs today and allow you to move to larger formats: 6x9 or 4"x5" for example, if you later choose to use a larger format.

A durst L1200 is not a unit you can move about at will. It is very big and very heavy. Setting it up and taking it down in a bathroom every time you want to use it is non starter.

kal800 · Jan 17, 2016

Robc : it seems that "my" M70 has standard base - not pro version. Do you know what are differences of both versions - any significant pros on "pro" side?

RobC · Jan 17, 2016

pro has counter balanced head whereas standard uses a crank handle.

baseboard for start is 54cm X 50cm
baseboard for Pro is 65cm X 60cm

lens axis to column for start is 250mm (9.8in)
lens axis to column for Pro is 275mm (10.8in)

lens axis to column distance is limiting factor for max print size on baseboard but bear in mind that an easel will use 1 to 3 inches of that distance depending on the easel. So in reality you will be able to use max paper size of 20x16 on the pro unless you tape paper directly to baseboard without an easel.

Those are the significant diffferences.

you can get a manual with specs etc from following. You may need to be logged in to their website before you can get it, not sure.

http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1728&d=1365233972

kal800 · Jan 17, 2016

that's not a problem - the head can be reversed and I can print on the floor...

the only thing is that head mechanism, looks more solid that crank based...

RobC · Jan 17, 2016

with the pro version (the one I have) you just rotate the handle which unlocks it and then it slides up or down with the weight supported on counter balance spring.

The Start version is just cranked up and down by winding the handle. I still think it should be a decent enlarger, just not quite as convenient as the pro version. And it'll be a bit lighter to move around.

kal800 · Mar 31, 2016

RobC said:
pro has counter balanced head whereas standard uses a crank handle.

lens axis to column for start is 250mm (9.8in)
lens axis to column for Pro is 275mm (10.8in)

lens axis to column distance is limiting factor for max print size on baseboard but bear in mind that an easel will use 1 to 3 inches of that distance depending on the easel. So in reality you will be able to use max paper size of 20x16 on the pro unless you tape paper directly to baseboard without an easel.

Hi again. I'm planning to acquire equipment for larger formats - currently my maximum is 24x30 (10x16) (easel and trays size), and my goal is to have another set of easel/trays allowing me to use maximum possible size provided that I'm projecting negative onto the baseboard. Now, I managed to order Pro Column, so, I'm having offset of 275 mm. My goal is to have enlargements of 50x50 (20x20) using full frame of 6x6 negative. From my measurements on current easel it seems that using Pro Column it would be possible to achieve. If I assume, that easel upper border takes 2 inches, my maximum size is about 46x46, which is kind of close to the 50x50 goal. The question - how much good easels take - I measured it based on my old 30x40 easel, but perhaps Beards or Duncos take even more, so there is no point to search for huge easel, which is hard to find and pretty expensive...

RobC · Mar 31, 2016

my large beard easel which takes 20x24 paper but only prints to 20x16 image size has at least 3 inches at top and ideally would require 3 1/2 t0 4 inches for a tiny bit of wiggle room when you open it. Beard made an even bigger easel but I think the space at the top is the same for all their easels.

A couple of points.
Firstly what size paper do you think you are going to buy? Check its actaully available becasue I think for Ilford max size is 20x24 unless you buy large rolls of paper.

secondly when you say 20x20 do you mean paper size of actual image area? With 20x24 paper and a 16x16 image area you would need 11 inches from lens axis to column. For an actaul 20x20 image area you would need 13 inch lens axis to column at minimum.

thirdly, there was a wall mount available for the modular 70, same one as M805 used I believe. I have one. Its the AC 800 Wallmount.
By mounting enlarger on this, a little above bench height, its possible to slide top of easel below the bottom of column thereby increasing your maximum available print size. i.e. you can easily print 24x24 or bigger if you have thought out height of column base above workbenh and the extra distance from wall that wall mount gives you etc etc.

durst m70 negative holder

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