enlarger recommendation

[Sirius Glass]

If one starts APUG shooting 35mm they often moves up to MF. If they start with MF they often move up to 4"x5". I started APUG shooting 35mm, now a rarely shoot 35mm instead shooting MF and 4"x5". I also started sending out all my film for processing and now I have a color and black & white processing and printing. It may not happen to you, but it probably will. Jes' sayin'.

In other words. Welcome to the dark side, resistance is futile, you will be assimilated..... MUUAHAHAHAHAAAAaaaaa.
Well the same pretty much happened to me though MF pretty much seems to be the Goldilocks format. 4x5" and 13x18cm just doesn't see the action I expected.

Before APUG I was happy. Now I am so screwed.

 

[voceumana]

Aristo, the main US manufacturer of Cold Cathode light sources, was acquired by another company and ceased production of new heads. They still offer some replacement tubes, but they tend to be pricey. Most modern enlargers with diffuse light sources now use halogen bulbs with dichroic filtration for color or variable contrast.

I've owned Durst 35mm, LPL 4x5 and 5x7, and Beseler enlargers. They are all fine pieces of equipment. I also own a Zone VI 5x7 Version 2 enlarger with variable contrast cold light head.

1. I don't recommend the Zone VI for formats smaller than 4x5--you are wasting too much of the light illuminating the negative carrier and not the negative. For 35mm the light is dim and hard to compose the photo. For 4x5 it is oversized, in my opinion. For 5x7 it is one of the few moderately price systems, but available used only.

2. I like Durst equipment, but it depends on whether you can get the necessary accessories & parts.

3. LPL enlarger work very smoothly and they are very well crafted. They are my first choice for an enlarger with a diffuse light source.

4. The Beseler was a 6x7 version with the 23C support, no longer offered in that version. It was an excellent piece of equipment, but it was diffuse light source with color dichroic filters.

If you are looking for new equipment, it depends upon your local pricing. Be sure to price the negative carriers and lensboards.

As to a choice between diffusion light sources and condenser, it's your opinion that counts. Early on I used condensers, but now use diffusion and would prefer diffusion. Great prints can be made with either.

 

[Ron789]

Look at common availability in the UK on websites offering used equipment. I'm sure you can find many very good Devere, Durst or Leitz enlargers for medium format. Don't spend much extra on cold light sources: a 4000K LED bulb in a traditional condensor enlarger will do perfectly fine. My favourite: Leitz Focomat 2c. The condition of the enlarger you can find is more important than the brand or type. Make sure you get good lenses, like Schneider Componon-S, Rodenstock Rodagon, Leitz Focotar or the better (6 element) EL-Nikkors etc. I'm not very familiar with prices in the UK but I paid 50 - 200 Euros each for my enlargers, with lenses: Durst M805, Laborator 138s, Leitz valoy 2 and Focomat 1c, all with good lenses and in good and complete condition. Exception was my Leitz Focomat 2c for which I paid some 400 Euros but it's worth every Euro.