Enlarger conversion

I have a Beseler 23C that I have been using to print from 6X6 negatives.

I would like to try shooting LF 4X5 but am on a limited budget. So I have been wondering if anyone has successfully adapted a 23C to accommodate 4X5 negatives.

Any thoughts?

It would probably cost as much as simply buying a used Beseler 45. The only thing that could possibly be used would be the stand and baseboard. Everything else would require extensive modification or replacement. Start out making contact prints. Jump straight to 8x10 format.

glbeas said:

It would probably cost as much as simply buying a used Beseler 45. The only thing that could possibly be used would be the stand and baseboard. Everything else would require extensive modification or replacement. Start out making contact prints. Jump straight to 8x10 format.

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Amen! - but

With all the darkrooms drying up and going digital, you can get some amazing deals if you can network with local photo labs. - I bought a Omega 6 pro- dichoric complete with lenses for $200. Another victim of the digital revoltion. Now I have a condensor head on it and am very happy with it. i am sure there are better ones but this one still make nice prints from my 4x5s and lower.

shicks5319 said:

I have a Beseler 23C that I have been using to print from 6X6 negatives.

I would like to try shooting LF 4X5 but am on a limited budget. So I have been wondering if anyone has successfully adapted a 23C to accommodate 4X5 negatives.

Any thoughts?

Click to expand...

I would have to agree with what has been said about it being easier, cheaper and faster to buy a used 4x5.

Talk to the other photographers in your area. I recently traded my 23c to a friend for one of his 4x5's. He had moved into a smaller space with a smaller darkroom and wanted to save some space. Now it means I'll have two 4x5 enlargers and 99.9% of what I do is contact printing.

There is something to be said for the earlier post about skipping the 4x5/enlarging phase and going straight to 8x10 contact printing. It can make life very simple.