enlarger recommendation

[Alan Pickering]

considering setting up again . Are Devere's still around? Are cold cathodes still available? Only doing monochrome and 6x6

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG

Get a 4"x5". Even if you never go to that size, it allows one to move the 6x6 negative around for convenience.

 

[Alan Pickering]

Welcome to APUG

Get a 4"x5". Even if you never go to that size, it allows one to move the 6x6 negative around for convenience.

thanks, any in particular?

 

[MattKing]

Where are you? Devere is really rare on this side of the world, but much more commonly found in Europe. Same goes for Durst.
In North America, Omega and Beseler are more common.
Beseler and Saunders/LPL and Keinzle (I think) are still in production.

 

[hacked - sepiareverb]

LPL. Easy to get in the US (You in the US?) and solid as can be. The VC heads are wonderful, they stay aligned beautifully, and they are still in production.

Kienzle is another magnificent machine, but they get expensive fast. I have a Kienzle VC head on my 810 enlarger and it oozes German precision.

 

[Alan Pickering]

LPL. Easy to get in the US (You in the US?) and solid as can be. The VC heads are wonderful, they stay aligned beautifully, and they are still in production.

Kienzle is another magnificent machine, but they get expensive fast. I have a Kienzle VC head on my 810 enlarger and it oozes German precision.

I'm in the UK

 

[Alan Pickering]

In uk

 

[hacked - sepiareverb]

Not sure the LPL status in the U.K., but Keinzle will be available.

 

[Alan Pickering]

I'm in the UK

 

[Paul Howell]

Durst 600, extended column, 75mm or 80mm for 6X6, 50mm for 35, other option, Meopta Opemus IV or V, I have one, my favorite midsize enlarger, has a built in rangefinder feature to check focus, good up to 11X14 from baseboard.

 

[Sirius Glass]

thanks, any in particular?

I have a Chromega [Omega with a color head], but Durst, Beseler and Saunders are also good. Look for ones that are stable, do not shake or vibrates and still have parts available.

 

[RauschenOderKorn]

I have an Omega Super Chromega D5 and a Dunco 67 Pro with a Heiland Splitgrade Controller & Filter. I almost never use the Chromega, the Dunco is way too convinient with that set-up.

If you are sure that it will be only 6x6, I'd go with the a Dunco (cheap and parts still made) and an LED light source from Heiland (including the splitgrade controller).

 

[Mark Fisher]

I'm not sure why people recommend a 4x5 enlarger if you only want to print 6x6. I have an LPL6670VCE and it is the most prefect enlarger I've ever used. I have a OmegaD2v in storage just in case I pick up 4x5 again. When I had the D2 up, I also used a Leitz for 35mm. The LPL is every bit the Leitz equal and can do medium format. Durst and DeVere have a great reputation, but are less common in the US. The most important things to consider are the size neg it can take, the column height (and your ceiling height), the general ridigity/condition, and how easy it is to use. Also, try to get one that has a fairly large community out there so when you decide you need that Minox carrier, you have some hope of finding one.

 

[mpirie]

Alan,
There are a couple of big Durst L1000/1200's on the auction website in the UK.

I haven't seen a DeVere 504 for a while and even if you could get a cold cathode head.....would you want one since the tubes have been discontinued for a long time now.

I have two L1200's and an L1000 (just in case) and it's only polite to re-home these beautiful machines......well, that's what i tell my wife

Mike

 

[miha]

No need for a 4x5 beast if you only want to print 6x6. I have a DURST Laborator CE1000, a well made enlarger, that I use for 4x5 and 6x7. For 6x6 I'm using a much smaller KAISER that does the job well. The KAISER operates much faster.

 

[David Lingham]

Alan. In the UK for De vere there is Odyssey. A 203 will handle up to 6x9, with either a cathomag or dichro head. Or larger again there is the 504 .
http://www.odyssey-sales.co.uk

 

[AgX]

Beseler and Saunders/LPL and Kienzle (I think) are still in production.

And Kaiser and Dunco.

 

[removed account4]

alan:

a durst m601 might fit your bill, as long as your MF film is square
ive used one for decades and it has never let me down.
( they are currently on UK ebay )

 

[Ian Grant]

When I bought my De Vere 5108 (10x8) enlarger 12 or 13 years ago there would be 30-40 De Vere 504's for sale on ebay in the UK and the bodd 5108, and they were all reasonably cheap, i paid £600 for mine with 4 or 5 lenses, a large Beard easel etc. Now thetere's relatively few and pricews have risen as a consequence.

There are enlargers out there for less - for free. I've just restored a Johnsons V45 condenser enlarge and a Durst A600 (6x9) condenser. I also acquired from a tip two mint Meopta 6x6 enlargers later donated to an Irish wrkshop group.

Keep you eyes peeled they get offered on these forums and FADU

Ian

 

[Luis-F-S]

I'm in the UK

++1 on DeVere. There's a 504 cold cathode on the auction site on your side of the pond with an RH Analyser for little more than the cost of the Analyser!

 

[Soeren]

Ive got a Durst M70 and an Omega 3D, great enlargers, but started with Meopta Opemus, simple relatively sturdy with reasonable stability, works well, I made some great pics on taht one. The Opemus is 6x6, Magnifax 6x9.

 

[Frank53]

Have a look here:
https://www.secondhanddarkroom.co.u...cart-i_shop_here-s-h_enlargers/?k=27672:3:::0
Regards,
Frank

 

[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'.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

If you have space for it, I second (or third) the 4x5. Bigger enlargers are generally made better than smaller ones since they were considered more professional. That doesn't mean that you can't make perfect prints with a smaller enlarger. There won't be any difference in the print all other things being equal. The difference is in the experience of using a better machine.

One thing to consider as well is it will probably be the last enlarger you ever buy. Might as well get a good one!

 

[Soeren]

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. Wellcome to the dark side, resistance is futile, you will be assimimated..... MUUAHAHAHAHAAAAaaaaa.
Well the same pretty much happened to me though MF pretty much seems to be the goldiloks format. 4x5" and 13x18cm just doesnt see the action I expected.