enlarger advice required

mlcolbert · Jul 15, 2009

Hi everyone,

I am looking for an enlarger which can handle 120 / 5x4 film (colour, B&W as well as IR) / 10 x 8 film and plate. Currently I have some 9.5" glass I am experimenting with. Is there an enlarger available to handle each of those formats? Thanks for your time,

michael

Ian Grant · Jul 15, 2009

Welcome to APUG

I'd suggest a De Vere 5108, with a Colour head, they are superb, the company (Odessey Sales) still makes & refurbishes them, so parts are available, and you can find them with all the neg carriers, lenses etc for around £600 $1000 second hand, in great condition. Mine will do 35mm to 10x8. They are LARGE.

Ian

darkosaric · Jul 15, 2009

Ian Grant said:
I'd suggest a De Vere 5108
They are LARGE.

Ian

I just saw one on ebay - definitely stuff for big boys
My meopta looks like a toy after seeing this

mlcolbert · Jul 15, 2009

Ian Hi!
first thanks for the welcome, even though I've lurked for a while it's only now that the studio is being set up, hence the questions.

I have checked out the Odessey website and you're right, the DeVere is Large. I'm glad I have a concrete floor! It does seem to be the answer to my needs although the current price for a refurbished one is around the 2500 mark. I will first check to see if there is one on the second hand market in Australia otherwise it's sea freight time! Thanks for the advice! Regards

michael

mlcolbert · Jul 15, 2009

Darko Hi!

which eBay? I checked the UK,US ones but only manuals and parts there.

Thanks for the heads up,

michael

darkosaric · Jul 15, 2009

mlcolbert said:
Darko Hi!

which eBay? I checked the UK,US ones but only manuals and parts there.

Thanks for the heads up,

michael

link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...2&Category=297&_trkparms=algo=LVI&its=I&otn=2

Now I see it is De Vere Devere 480, not 5108. my fault, sorry.

Ian Grant · Jul 15, 2009

Check the UK one if you're in the UK, you need to hire a large van to collect, they do split but you need to know how as it's a messy job getiing the gear chains back in place if you do it wrong.

You also need to keep checking every few days, when I bought mine 4 years ago there were usually 20+ De Vere enlargers on Ebay UK at any one time, but ebay's not to good now for small sellers, it's worth asking around the pro-labs, many just get scrapped.

Ian

Rick A · Jul 15, 2009

mlcolbert said:
Hi everyone,

I am looking for an enlarger which can handle 120 / 5x4 film (colour, B&W as well as IR) / 10 x 8 film and plate. Currently I have some 9.5" glass I am experimenting with. Is there an enlarger available to handle each of those formats? Thanks for your time,

michael

If you can afford to, you might get an enlarger that handles up to 5x4, and another for 10x8. you will spend less time seting up,as well as less chance of damaging pieces during swap outs of lenses and such. Smaller enlargers are dirt cheap,and that can get you going until you have a machine to handle the L.F. Of course, if you have the budget, get what you desire all at once.
Rick

mlcolbert · Jul 15, 2009

Darko Hi!

no problem, I'll keep the search going!

Thanks

michael

mlcolbert · Jul 15, 2009

Rick Hi
thanks for the suggestion, it certainly would be cheaper and faster to get one of the 'smaller' units but thinking about the convenience of an all in one enlarger in one place is pretty strong at the moment. I have already checked my local eBay and there is one on the other side of the country which I sent an enquiry about so more to find out tomorrow. I think that it would work out to be about 25% of the price of the 5108. As I say, more calls to be made tomorrow. Great suggestions guys, it is much appreciated.

michael

paul_c5x4 · Jul 15, 2009

mlcolbert said:
I have checked out the Odessey website and you're right, the DeVere is Large. I'm glad I have a concrete floor! It does seem to be the answer to my needs although the current price for a refurbished one is around the 2500 mark. I will first check to see if there is one on the second hand market in Australia otherwise it's sea freight time!

Check out this thread on (there was a url link here which no longer exists). It might save you a bunch on shipping..

mlcolbert · Jul 15, 2009

Paul Hi and thanks, I was going to talk to the guys at Vanbar Sydney this morning so we will see what they have. I do know they have a 504 of some description on their site but few details.

michael

ic-racer · Jul 15, 2009

I don't think any company ever manufactured a 'bad' 8x10 enlarger. The only 'bad' 8x10 enlarger would come across would be one that is incomplete (missing carriers, lens boards, power supplies, mixing boxes, condensers or other little parts).

enlarger advice required

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