Enlarger for a Portable Darkroom?

halfstop · Dec 26, 2008

I'd like to setup a darkroom, but something that I can setup and take down because I don't have the space for a permanent darkroom.

Does anyone know of a good enlarger that is small enough to be easily moved around?

I've looked around but I'm at a loss in terms of what is a good enlarger and what isn't.

bobwysiwyg · Dec 26, 2008

What negative size?

halfstop · Dec 26, 2008

35 mm and 120. Mostly shoot with my rb67 but sometimes 35 when I need to be more agile.

Paul Howell · Dec 26, 2008

Federal and Kodak made several enlargers that came in cases that also servered as the baseboard. I have seen Federal in 35mm and 6X9, Kodak in 35mm, but may have made a MF as well.

David A. Goldfarb · Dec 26, 2008

Most 6x7 enlargers would work. What I've done in that situation is to put my enlarger on a rolling typewriter table (remember typewriters?) that I could roll in and out of the dark/bathroom, and it fit right over the commode. If you look through the very long "darkroom portraits" thread, you can find some photos I've posted of this setup, as well as other solutions for the temporary darkroom space issue.

dancqu · Dec 26, 2008

halfstop said:
I'd like to setup a darkroom, but something that I can setup
and take down because I don't have the space for
a permanent darkroom.

Does anyone know of a good enlarger that is small enough to
be easily moved around?

A washer, dryer, and one sink of a dual sink counter were
removed from my small dual purpose bathroom to make
room for darkroom work. For additional elbow room the
single tray way of processing was adopted. A second
tray is used for post processing hold/soaks. The
two trays together make the alternate tray
wash easy; actually long soaks.

Make room. Keep your enlarger within your darkroom
area. Foot prints run about 16 x 20 and up. Dan

wclavey · Dec 26, 2008

I have a very small darkroom that I set up and take down each time I use it, located in an extra bathroom. I made a small work suface that rests on the sink on one end and on my tripod on the other (with a threaded socket on the bottom that the tripod connects into). Anyway, that surface is just large enough for a Bogen 22A enlarger and 4 8x10 trays, with a dishpan sitting on the floor as a holding tray for final prints. The 22A handles 35mm and MF up to 6x7. I see them on eBay periodically, but you have to make sure it has both negative carriers - - namy only have the 35mm carrier and there appears to be no secondary market in these carriers... It is definitely an entry level enlarger, but with a good enlarger lens, it seems to do the job. All the others I looked into were too large to sit on the work surface I have.

halfstop · Dec 27, 2008

Now that that I've seen how small Goldfarb's darkroom is in Manhattan, my Seattle bathroom is enormous. So I should be able to get any enlarger that is relatively mobile, something I can put in the closet or just stick in the living room when I'm not using it.

I see a lot of Omega and Beseler enlargers pop up on ebay and craigslist. The Omega D2 comes up frequently and the Beseler 23c as well. Are these quality enlargers?

What should I look at when examining an enlarger?
Bellows?
Lens?
Proper neg. carriers?
Light works?

I've never been a situation of setting up a darkroom, just using them, so I feel like I don't know what I don't know.

Maybe some folks could tell me which enlarger they use and why.

BradS · Dec 27, 2008

I have an Omega D-2 that I haul into the hall bathroom from the garage. It is a bit big and heavy to carry around though - so I only do it maybe, five times a year. - not really recommended for a temporary set-up.

I also have a little tiny Durst F-30. It only does 35mm but is so small and wonderfully built...I just love it for 35mm.

I'd recommend the slightly larger Durst unit that is designed for both 35mm and 6x6 / 6x7....I think it is the Durst M-60? there may be several models that would work.

There is also the Omega B series of enlargers...same idea as the D-2 but smaller and only intended for 35mm and medium formats. (the D-2 can do 4x5 as well - thus the large size).

Mark Fisher · Dec 27, 2008

The D2 is not particularly portable, but a good enlarger (get the D2V if you get a D2). The 23C is a good enlarger, but it is not the most portable. If you can make a decent cart that would eliminate carrying it around, it would make your life easier and keep the enlarger from getting out of alignment. Then, size is less of an issue.

ChrisPlatt · Dec 27, 2008

The Omega C700 is a fairly compact condensor enlarger for negatives up to 6x7.
This enlarger plus carriers etc. are not expensive and fairly easy to find on eBay.
I keep mine in my bedroom closet when not in use in my bathroom darkroom.

Chris

eli griggs · Dec 31, 2008

I like to recommend the Durst M600 (and my still new to me Valloy II for 35mm only) for 'suitcase' darkrooms, mostly because they will, fit in a suit case.

If you have space to mount a folding shelf to the wall, you can simply tap it for the mounting bracket and leave the base off for faster/lighter set-up.

In fact, if you wanted, you could build a small narrow, shallow cabinet above a folding shelf, deep enough to leave the enlarger mounted to the base to be held to the lower shelf but with the head rotated to the side when closed.

This might also have enough room for small cubbies to keep grain focus tool, timer, safe light and if built oversized, like a dart-board cabinet for example, paper, trays, etc, with the enlarger to a far side for more spacious use.

Cheers

Link to M600 manual - http://www.darkroompro.com/pdf/enlargers/durst_m600.pdf

Phillip P. Dimor · Dec 31, 2008

I used an Omega B600 for years but that was 35mm only. I did print 645 with it, and it was horrifically painful especially compared to having used an Omega DII extensively.

However, it fit on a small rolling cart with storage drawers and I was able to simply roll it into a bathroom, screw in a safelight and place some trays in the tub. I sat on the toilet and printed like that.
My main problem was uneven illumination, having a drilled out 35mm slide carrier as a 6x6 carrier, dust.. etc.

I was going to recommend a Durst 606 but i'm not sure if they allow 6x7. They look very sturdy and having the negative pressed flat against the condenser glass along with having a built-in masking system.. all nice things to have.

There is the 609 but those seem much tougher to find..

halfstop · Dec 31, 2008

I bought a Durst M670 today for $90. I haven't set it up yet, but it should work out.

Thanks everyone for your advice and tips. Now I just need to buy everything else.

Phillip P. Dimor · Dec 31, 2008

halfstop said:
I bought a Durst M670 today for $90. I haven't set it up yet, but it should work out.

Thanks everyone for your advice and tips. Now I just need to buy everything else.

Ooh nice score, for $90 too.. That looks like a new version of the 606/609.

ChrisPlatt · Dec 31, 2008

Phillip P. Dimor said:
I used an Omega B600 for years but that was 35mm only. I did print 645 with it, and it was horrifically painful...
My main problem was uneven illumination, having a drilled out 35mm slide carrier as a 6x6 carrier, dust.. etc.

The 35mm condensor set will provide uneven illumination with medium format.
However the medium format condensor set can be used for both.

Omega still sells 6x6 and 6x4.5 carriers brand new, so why the self-inflicted pain?

Chris

Phillip P. Dimor · Dec 31, 2008

You know, I never really thought about having a mf condenser lens set for it.

I couldn't justify sinking $40+ into the proper holder when for twice that I could get another enlarger that could handle 4x5. Guess I shouldn't complain so much!

ChrisPlatt said:
The 35mm condensor set will provide uneven illumination with medium format.
However the medium format condensor set can be used for both.

Omega still sells 6x6 and 6x4.5 carriers brand new, so why the self-inflicted pain?

Chris

halfstop · Dec 31, 2008

I'll be sure to post some prints with my new darkroom. I'll have to wait until Friday to get a timer and a paper holder. The total cost should be under $300 for a complete darkroom. Thanks digital.

Enlarger for a Portable Darkroom?

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