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Enlarger options for 6x9 and 4x5?

Jimi3

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Apr 15, 2023
Messages
124
Location
Salem, MA US
Format
Multi Format
I want to get back into printing in the darkroom, but it’s been decades. I have a Beseler 23cii, which i think will handle 6x9, correct? It has an 80mm lens right now - will I need something longer? I also shoot 4x5, and would love to enlarge to at least 8x10, but I will need a 4x5 enlarger right? How would you go about finding one these days?
 
Look on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist - you will find 4x5 enlargers. Your enlarger will handle 6x9 and you will need a 90 or greater lens (and not all 90s will do it without some vignetting or distortion, so maybe go a bit longer)(a 90 is usually for 6x7, I think). I have a 90mm enlarging Ektar that's great for 6x9 - they're pretty cheap to buy.

For a long time, I used my 150mm to enlarge 6x9, but it really limits the size print you can make.
 
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There are a number of enlarger that work with 4X5, Omega D 2, 3, and 5, Beseler 45XL with motor that raises and lower the negative stage, LP, Sanders (sp?) and Durst. You can also find very old and hard to use Federals and Dejours. I have a D3, going on 40 years, rugged, easy to find parts, the D2 is more common. The D3 has auto focus rails that matched to specific lens. Mine did not have the matched lens when I bought it so I took the rails off. D5 have a two bellows system that eliminated the needs for lens cones for longer lens. You can try ebay, Shopgood.com for any listed at a Goodwill store near you. Goodwill usally does not ship 4X5 enlargers Craigs List has a D2 in the Boston area.
What you may want to do is download the manuals for the various models to see what you will need. The Omega listed below may not come with the cones for 6X9 and 4X5, a 90mm or 135mm enlarging lens. If you have a 23C you might a safelight, timer, ect.

Photography Simmon Omega Type D-2 Variable Condenser Darkroom Enlarger - photo/video - by owner - electronics sale -...

Simmon Omega Type D-2 Variable Condenser Darkroom Enlarger- Black n White.
newyork.craigslist.org
 
I use a 105mm lens for 6x9, which is pretty standard.
Check the listings available in the local resources mentioned, and ask about the choices here.
By the way, it is Saunders LPL or possibly Omega LPL in the US market, and simply LPL most other places.
And a great information resource is the Canadian website KHB - here is the enlarger page:
http://www.khbphotografix.com/NewUsedEquip2.html
 

Yes, your enlarger will handle 6x9.

The lens you have now should cover 6x9 stopped down, but it may not get you down to 8x10 print size with the enlarger lowered all the way. You'll need to check. More commonly, the 100mm focal length is used for 6x9 to make 8x10s. I use a 100mm Componon-S and these are widely available used at reasonable prices.

The Beseler will not handle 4x5. The best deal out there for this format is the venerable old push up Omega D2. They take some fiddling to get aligned but I have used mine to make prints from 4x5 to 20x24 very happily. You can often find people giving these away because they simply are not worth a bunch.

A good modern enlarger for 4x5 is the Saunders LPL 4500 if you can find one in good condition with a good light/filtration system.

If you want a rock solid workhorse and have the funds, a Besler 45 series enlarger is a great choice. They have a good condenser system but can also take a modern LED VC head like the Heiland ($$$$$) and even be upgraded to handle 8x10 negatives.
 

J, it's a case of what you find on the used market. Yes, to enlarge 4x5....you need a 4x5 enlarger. Between Boston & N.Y. you should be able to find one in good condition, with appropriate negative carrier(s) and lenses. Beseler, LPL, Omega.....they all work.
 
If you already have a 4x5 camera check out the Intrepid conversion kit.
It is a light source and negative holders that does anything from 35mm to 4x5".

Darkroom

Intrepid Enlargers make darkroom printing at home or in a small space easy. Print colour or b/w from 35mm to 4x5.
intrepidcamera.co.uk
 
Once someone gets hooked on 4x5, it's doubtful they'll want to remain
constrained to small 8x10 or 11X14 prints. Serious more stable 4x5 enlargers abound, and with patience, can sometimes be found for free.
 
Thanks everyone! A quick search on Craigslist and marketplace isn’t turning up much; that Omega Paul linked to is about 3 hours away, so a possibility but not easy. I found a Polaroid MP-4 setup on Facebook, nearby, but it’s pricy $750, and I’m not quite sure what it is - a camera setup to enlarge negatives perhaps?

I also have limited space; the 23cii sits in a narrow closet in my bathroom, so I’ll have to make some measurements to see what I can fit in there. Would a 4x5 enlarger generally have a larger base than the 23c?
 

I do have a Chamonix field camera, as well as a big Omega 45c monorail. I want to get rid of the Omega but I imagine it wouldn’t work for this purpose.
 
The Beseler 45MC head turns 90 deg so you can pin the photo paper on the wall for really big enlargements. You could use the 23C base for the 45MC and then just use the 90 deg feature if you need a bigger print.
 
beemermark said:
The Beseler 45MC head turns 90 deg so you can pin the photo paper on the wall for really big enlargements. You could use the 23C base for the 45MC and then just use the 90 deg feature if you need a bigger print.
Click to expand...

Not sure the spacing of the 45MC cantilever struts would be the same as rhe 23 baseboard.
 
Jimi3 said:
I found a Polaroid MP-4 setup on Facebook, nearby, but it’s pricy $750, and I’m not quite sure what it is - a camera setup to enlarge negatives perhaps?
Click to expand...

It's a copy camera. It's essentially a 4x5 camera attached to an enlarger-type mast with 2 or 4 lights on arms. It's not worth anything like $750. It's possible to use it as a "normal" 4x5 camera, as long as you keep it attached to its mast (you can turn it 90 degrees). I have one and use it all the time (just used it a few minutes ago) BUT I paid $20 for it. It's not an enlarger and can't really be turned into one. (I'm sure it could be if you were a masochist.)
 

Send me your address. I have a 105mm f/4.5 Componar that I couldn’t find a place for yesterday and I would be happy to give it a new home.
 
You can buy a board at the local HomeDepot or Lowes to fit you space and drill holes to match your enlarger column. Don't make this sound like rocket science.
 
I cant speak for the 23C, but my LP 7600 and Metopa have the same footprint as my Omega D3. I would be more concerned about ceiling height, my Omega D3 is taller than the LP or any of the other enlargers I have, not sure is an XL column would fit.
 
beemermark said:
You can buy a board at the local HomeDepot or Lowes to fit you space and drill holes to match your enlarger column. Don't make this sound like rocket science.
Click to expand...

I was only pointing out that your suggestion to repurpose a 23C baseboard for a 45MC enlarger likely wouldn't work. Obviously, a home made baseboard is easy enough to make.

Beseler also made a free standing metal table designed to have a 45 series enlarger mounted directly on it. That table was made to allow the surface to be repositioned higher- or lower like a movable shelf so permit huge magnification ratios. Although I do not have that enlarger, I do have that table sitting below my wall/shelf mounted D2 above.
 
Bill Burk said:
Send me your address. I have a 105mm f/4.5 Componar that I couldn’t find a place for yesterday and I would be happy to give it a new home.
Click to expand...

That’s great, thank you! I’ll send you a pm.
 
Paul Howell said:
I cant speak for the 23C, but my LP 7600 and Metopa have the same footprint as my Omega D3. I would be more concerned about ceiling height, my Omega D3 is taller than the LP or any of the other enlargers I have, not sure is an XL column would fit.
Click to expand...

Yeah I’ve got a shelf sitting just over the top of the 23cii, but may be able to remove it if necessary. It’s far from an ideal space, but is the only spot with water and without windows…
 
If you can pull up the manuals you will find the dimensions including the height. Not sure if the D2 to D5 standard column is taller than the 23C. The D2 and 3 will swivel on the base board to shoot to the floor for enlargements larger than 16X20.
 

Your best choice is finding a Durst L1200.
 
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