Enlarger recommendation

Emilro · May 5, 2020

Hi everyone,
I'm about to buy an enlarger, and I wanted to ask you for a little help to decide.
I have worked for a long time with a meopta axomat student and now I want to take a little step further.
the options that i have here are an omega c700 or a durst graduate (the entry level version).
Best regards.

RalphLambrecht · May 5, 2020

go for the Omega.

Mick Fagan · May 5, 2020

I agree 100% with Ralph.

The better of the two choices would have to be the Omega C700, this will allow you to enlarge any negative from 35mm up to 6x7cm providing you have the cameras.

Check to see which enlarging lens comes with the enlarger, for 35mm enlargements a 50mm is standard, but could also be a 43mm or 45mm wider angle lens. All of these will work very well with 35mm.

If the enlarger comes with a 75mm or 80mm lens these are the lens designed for 6x6cm film. But can also enlarge 35mm film.

If the enlarger comes with a 90mm lens, this is the lens for 6x7cm film. But can also enlarge 35mm film.

If the enlarger has a lens between 75mm and 90mm, or even as big as 100-105mm you can use them to enlarge 35mm negatives. You will not be able to make really big prints with the longer focal length lenses.

Mick.

Tom Kershaw · May 6, 2020

To add to what Mick has said, a standard 80mm enlarger lens is designed for 6x6, and will probably exhibit soft edges with a 6x7 neagtive, for which I use a 100mm.

miha · May 6, 2020

The El-Nikkor 80mm enlarging lens was designed for up to 6x7 cm neg format.

Tom Kershaw · May 6, 2020

miha said:
The El-Nikkor 80mm enlarging lens was designed for up to 6x7 cm neg format.

I have a Schneider Componon-S 80mm f/4 that is definately a 6x6 lens and not anything more ambitious than that.

miha · May 6, 2020

Tom Kershaw said:
I have a Schneider Componon-S 80mm f/4 that is definately a 6x6 lens and not anything more ambitious than that.

I'm not arguing with that.

Emilro · May 6, 2020

My apologies, i have an 50 2.8 non apo rodagon lens that I used to use in my old meopta axomat student but this one broke so I decided to buy a new one.

there is a lot of difference in a condenser enlarger vs a diffusion enlarger?, i never use diffusion enlarger before.

MattKing · May 6, 2020

Emilro said:
here is a lot of difference in a condenser enlarger vs a diffusion enlarger?, i never use diffusion enlarger before.

Contrast will be a bit lower - about one contrast grade. You may decide to increase your film development times accordingly, or you may simply decide to print at a grade higher contrast.
As the light is more diffused, edge contrast (acutance) will appear slightly reduced - excellent for portraits!
And most pleasing of all, dust and marks on negatives are much less obvious on your prints.

mgb74 · May 6, 2020

Often, the decision between a Durst and an Omega boils down to location. It's somewhat difficult to find Durst accessories in the US and (I assume) Omega accessories in Europe.

So the question is whether either is significantly more prevalent in Chile.

Emilro · May 7, 2020

it is almost impossible to find any accessory for enlargers here in chile.
if you want something, you have to import it.

Mick Fagan · May 7, 2020

I would suggest that if you get the diffuser enlarger, you will be very pleased with it. The Meopta range of enlargers are very well made, I have owned two of them, the last one with a colour head. It made very nice prints, really nice, but when I switched to a diffuse light source in an enlarger, I never wished to use a condenser enlarger again.

As Matt explained, you may need to adjust your developing times slightly for very nice and easy to print negatives. All of your old negatives will work just as well, so don't worry.

You should notice that the spread of light is more even with a diffuser enlarger, it may not be much of a difference, but the corners of your prints if using the full frame should be more evenly exposed.

Mick.

Emilro · May 7, 2020

thanks for all your feedback, i think the durst enlarger was sold so i will go for the omega.

thanks to everyone

Enlarger recommendation

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