I am setting up my first personal darkroom and am trying to balance $$$ to performance and quality. It's important for me to do things the right way instead of doing things twice and spending just as much time and money, so your help is greatly appreciated.
Heres' my situation...I have been lucky enough to spend 95% of my time 'til present in a 4 room, 1100sqft., quarter-million dollar darkroom and am going into a 7x10 room in my house. I work with B&W 35 and 120, and generally don't do any prints above 16x20. I have primarily used 4x5 enlargers(can't remember the models for the life of me) with Zone VI CL heads and Saunders easels.
I would be grateful for opinions on the following...
1) I have been eyeing a Besslar 23 CIII-XL enlarger. I would greatly appreciate opinions on this enlarger and also on Condenser vs. Variable contrast. Any other enlarger suggestions would be nice as well.
2) As I mentioned above I have only used Saunders 4-blade easels and am curious if anyone has had experience to compare a Saunders 4-blade to the 4-blade Besslar and Omega Easels. Is it worth the money to go with the Saunders over the others?
3) Ventilation suggestions as well? The 7x10 room has two walls that are to the outside of the house and one to a garage.
4) I get most of my equipment/supplies from B&H or Calumet and would be interested in any other companies you have had positive experiences with.
Thanks for all your help.
Heres' my situation...I have been lucky enough to spend 95% of my time 'til present in a 4 room, 1100sqft., quarter-million dollar darkroom and am going into a 7x10 room in my house. I work with B&W 35 and 120, and generally don't do any prints above 16x20. I have primarily used 4x5 enlargers(can't remember the models for the life of me) with Zone VI CL heads and Saunders easels.
I would be grateful for opinions on the following...
1) I have been eyeing a Besslar 23 CIII-XL enlarger. I would greatly appreciate opinions on this enlarger and also on Condenser vs. Variable contrast. Any other enlarger suggestions would be nice as well.
2) As I mentioned above I have only used Saunders 4-blade easels and am curious if anyone has had experience to compare a Saunders 4-blade to the 4-blade Besslar and Omega Easels. Is it worth the money to go with the Saunders over the others?
3) Ventilation suggestions as well? The 7x10 room has two walls that are to the outside of the house and one to a garage.
4) I get most of my equipment/supplies from B&H or Calumet and would be interested in any other companies you have had positive experiences with.
Thanks for all your help.