Enlarger Advice

[igzabeher]

Hello all. Looking for a little advice. I have the opportunity to acquire either a Beseler 23CII or an Omega 4x5 enlarger (see attached for the Omega). Other than negative size, all other things being equal in terms of condition, is there anything I'm giving up by going with the Beseler? I don't shoot 4x5, so that's not imperative to me, but my brother does and would use it if it was available. 6x9, maybe 6x17 if I get my hands on one, is as large as I go. I shoot mostly black and white, but do occasionally shoot color.

I regularly kick myself for missing out on the 23C that was in the free for pickup, but having a baby will do that. I appreciate your combined wisdom. Thank you kindly.

 

[mrosenlof]

a couple of things to note. if you want to enlarge 6x17, a 4x5 enlarger won't cut it. You would need 5x7. 6x12 is the largest of the rollfilm panoramics you could do in a 4x5 enlarger.

I use an LPL 4x5 enlarger, and am very pleased with it for the last 23 years now. I've never used one of those omegas and it's been decades since using a 23C, so the rest of my comments are kind of generalities, not from direct experience.

a 4x5 enlarger tends to have better light evenness on smaller formats than a medium format enlarger. You're farther from the corners of illumination with the bigger enlarger. It's a tendency, not an absolute. Sometimes just by their size a 4x5 is more sturdy. you'll probably pay more for accessories for the 4x5 than the 23C. You'll need lens boards or cones depending on the omega model, neg carriers, so on. The 4x5 will take up more space in your darkroom. The 4x5 probably has higher power lighting, and possibly a little harder to find lamps.

do you want your brother coming around to use your darkroom?

 

[Lachlan Young]

Other than negative size, all other things being equal in terms of condition, is there anything I'm giving up by going with the Beseler?

You'd mainly be giving up a certain amount of solidity of construction. The Beseler isn't bad, but there's only a handful of truly solid 6x9 enlargers out there (De Vere 203, Leitz Focomat IIA/ IIC, and a handful of others) compared to most 4x5 enlargers which are generally solid machines designed for a lifetime of professional use - and they are usually much easier to make more solid (bracing the top of the column to a wall etc) than the medium format machines. That said, the most important thing is how worn they are, because that will have an impact on their alignability.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Since you will be doing darkroom work, you are on Photrio, and you do not do 4"x5" I can guarantee that you will sooner rather than later be shooting 4"x5" or larger. Do not bother to ask how I know.

 

[igzabeher]

Mrosenlof - I'm not overly concerned about 6x17, but that is good to remember.

As for my brother, we both live close enough and far enough apart that he could be here enough to justify the extra real estate, but not so much that he'd overstay his welcome. But you again make a good point. Thank you kindly.

Thanks, Lachlan.

 

[igzabeher]

Since you will be doing darkroom work, you are on Photrio, and you do not do 4"x5" I can guarantee that you will sooner rather than later be shooting 4"x5" or larger. Do not bother to ask how I know.

Hahahaha

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I've always thought the 23c was a pretty mediocre enlarger, and that is being generous. A friend of mine had one and he was always cursing at it. Couldn't wait to get it out the door when he moved on to a Saunders.

Get the Omega. It is solid and you will be able to do more with it. The footprint isn't all that much larger, it is just taller. Plus you can rent it to your bro for beer or whatever.

 

[BradS]

The Omega D2...definitely. Especially if it includes all the lens cones and condenser sets that you'll need for the various negative sizes you use (or will use in the future).

Oh...wait, I looked at the photo in the OP....Omega Pro Lab...is that an Omega D2V type thing? or something else?
Either way, I'd definitely go with the Omega.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I'm on the Omega side as well. I like the Omega D2 so well with the cold light I got with it, that I bought a condenser lamphouse, and then another complete D2 with the color head. Yep, lots of space in the darkroom, but I think I've got room.

 

[bdial]

Unless the Beseler is an XL model, you will be able to make bigger prints on the Omega, as the head goes higher, without rotating the head.
They all have their quirks, i happen to like working with Omegas a bit more than Beselers, but both are good.

 

[Ian C]

By enlarging the photo in post #1, we can see the tapered bellows and, I think, a black-painted flat panel between the column rails. That makes this a D5. The D6 is similar, but has no panel between the rails. The D6 was equipped with the fine-focus unit as standard equipment. I don’t see the fine-focus unit, so this is probably a D5. I can’t see enough of the machine in the photo to determine if it’s the shorter bench-mount model or the more-common D5XL. (XL= extra-long column).

The “Pro Lab 4 X 5” only refers to the condenser unit and lamp house in this case.

Here’s the D5XL with the Pro-Lab lamp house, condenser unit, and optional fine-focus unit (to the right and below the lens board).

http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Enlargers/D5.htm

The following link shows the D6. Note the lack of the stiffening panel between the rails and the counterbalance springs mounted on the top of the column. The fine-focus is standard on this model.

This article in the following link from KHB Photographix states that there were two versions of D6 and describes the differences. The one most often seen is the D6. The second version was labeled “Super D6 Pro Lab” and according to the article, is essentially a D5XL with the fine-focus as standard. Since it is based on the D5XL, I presume, but don’t know for certain, that it has the same rear-mounted counterbalance springs and stiffening panel between the column rails of the D5.

http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Enlargers/D6.htm

Due to the long bellows necessary to accommodate lenses up to 150 mm, it might be difficult of even impossible to use a lens as short as 50 mm for 35 mm enlarging with a D5 or D6. With my D5XL, even with the bellows fully collapsed into a flat stack (undesirable condition), a 50 mm lens is simply too far from the film to attain focus for a print of 8” x 10” or larger. The small-size lens-mount receiver makes the design of a recessed lens board for short focal length lenses impossible. I reserve this machine for lenses of 90 mm and longer for medium formats and 4” x 5” films.

I also have some Beseler 23CII enlargers that I use for 35 mm up to 6 x 9 cm films. Both the Omega D5XL and the Beseler 23CII are good machines. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. You simply have to learn how to get the results you require. This starts by choosing the correct machine for the job at hand.

 

[MattKing]

I have the older version of the D6, and I can use a 50mm lens with it to enlarge 35mm.
But I find it more convenient to use a 60mm lens instead.
In any event, a good condition Omega D2, D5 or D6 is a very good enlarger.
That being said, a good condition Beseler 23C enlarger is also a good enlarger.
Both enlargers are really easy to find accessories for here - I expect the same applies even more so to New York.
So I would make my decision based on condition, included accessories, and whether you foresee using larger formats in the future.
My 6x12 pinhole camera would bias me toward the Omega, but I have all the necessary lenses and carriers and lens mounts to make that happen.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have a D3 which is the auto focus version of the D2, over years the lens that matched with the focusing rails have been replaced so I removed the rails and now have a D2. The D2 is very versatile, Omega made all kinds of add ons or alternatives, masking negative stage, cold light with electric shutter, color head, easy to build out depending on your needs. It takes up the foot print as a 23C, which I have used in the past and found to a solid performer. The one advantage of the 23C, is that uses a doulble bellows, no need to keep a len cone for 135mm to 162 lens. If your staying in the 35mm to 6X9 range not an issue. Keeping a D2 in aliment is rather easy as well. My model dates from the 50s, the plate on front of the the variable concender lists lens in inches.

 

[JWMster]

Ah ... Sirius... non doubt post was accompanied by evil laughter.
I remember my wife telling me "you'll be using one of those cameras... I just know..." and I said, "Nope. That view camera stuff... it's just crazy." But yep... she was right. And here I am beginning to read Enlarger posts.... Yipes!

And so to ask a question: I see a D3 with loads of accessories on Craig's list for $350 and here folks suggest different models (D2). I'm wondering whether the autofocus tends to be less reliable at this age... or what's the difference?

 

[Lachlan Young]

I'm wondering whether the autofocus tends to be less reliable at this age... or what's the difference?

If it's anything like other Omega AF systems, if you don't have a matched (or at least generic) AF cam/ track for the lenses you plan to use, they can be an awkward pain to use/ find parts/ have parts made for. If you have the right focus tracks and lens boards etc, they're quite painless and fast in use.

 

[Chan Tran]

I think the Omega is better. I had the Beseler 23CII before but I only used for 35mm. I later changed to the Beseler 45 and then the CB-7. I found enlarger designed for large negative has more even illumination.

 

[David Reynolds]

I have used both the Omega D2V and D5XL during my career . The D2V for all B&W printing and the D5XL for all color work. Both are well made and very consistent . I never had to replace any parts on them. The D2V was used in my various darkrooms for over 50 years. The D5XL was used for 40 years. While at graduate school I was in charge of maintaining the school's darkroom which had Beseler 23Cs and 45s. They were continually breaking down and needed much maintenance. This might have been the result of inexperienced students using this equipment but I remember being very happy I had Omega Enlargers.

 

[JWMster]

I have used both the Omega D2V... for all B&W printing. ...Well made and very consistent . I never had to replace any parts. The D2V was used in my various darkrooms for over 50 years, and remember being very happy I had Omega Enlargers.

Thanks for the posted response. Interesting to see on the Bay folks refer to Simmon Omega D2 Enlarger Variable Condenser... and wonder if that's the same animal or not?

 

[David Reynolds]

Thanks for the posted response. Interesting to see on the Bay folks refer to Simmon Omega D2 Enlarger Variable Condenser... and wonder if that's the same animal or not?

The Omega D2V is the same . The V refers to the Variable Condenser housed above the lens board. This condenser has three positions and is changed to correspond to the film format and lens used to make an enlargement. (35mm thru 4x5)

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have used both the Omega D2V and D5XL during my career . The D2V for all B&W printing and the D5XL for all color work. Both are well made and very consistent . I never had to replace any parts on them. The D2V was used in my various darkrooms for over 50 years. The D5XL was used for 40 years. While at graduate school I was in charge of maintaining the school's darkroom which had Beseler 23Cs and 45s. They were continually breaking down and needed much maintenance. This might have been the result of inexperienced students using this equipment but I remember being very happy I had Omega Enlargers.

I was introduced to the ChOmega D5XL at Kodak as enlargers which were available to employees after hours. As a result that is what I bought and I have been very happy with it. I never have any problems with vibrations like it did when I was a teenager using a 35mm enlarger.

 

[MattKing]

Thanks for the posted response. Interesting to see on the Bay folks refer to Simmon Omega D2 Enlarger Variable Condenser... and wonder if that's the same animal or not?

I believe the Simmon part of the name is a reference to the US distributor at the time.
I don't know whether you would have seen that on the same enlarger if it was sold in Canada.

 

[JWMster]

Thanks guys. Will add the D2V to the hunt list.

 

[David Reynolds]

I believe the Simmon part of the name is a reference to the US distributor at the time.
I don't know whether you would have seen that on the same enlarger if it was sold in Canada.

I bought my D2V in Toronto (Henrys) around 1974. I have donated it to a Photo Coop in Vermont (so I can't check) but I don't think Simmon was ever mentioned on its signage. I miss that enlarger!

 

[Paul Howell]

If it's anything like other Omega AF systems, if you don't have a matched (or at least generic) AF cam/ track for the lenses you plan to use, they can be an awkward pain to use/ find parts/ have parts made for. If you have the right focus tracks and lens boards etc, they're quite painless and fast in use.

I have a D3 now working as D2, over they years the lens jave been upgraded and no longer matched the rails. I just took the rails off, so pretty much a D2 with D3 cones and lens board. I would look for a LX version, the added height is desirable as you don't have to turn the enlarger 180 degrees and project to the floor for a 16X20.