Enlarger type for night shooter

[eunified61]

I know that there have been lots of "which enlarger"threads just wondering if any night shooters have a favourite type or make

 

[ac12]

OK, do you mind telling me how being a "night shooter" makes a difference in usage/selection of an enlarger.

 

[Roger Cole]

OK, do you mind telling me how being a "night shooter" makes a difference in usage/selection of an enlarger.

I was wondering exactly the same thing.

Yeah, what difference does it make to your enlarger or darkroom what time of day or night you shoot your photos?

 

[Ian Grant]

Night shots, potentially thinner negatives, you are best getting a good diffesuer enlarger keep away from condenser enlargers which tend to show up dust spots etc.

Ian

 

[eunified61]

Night shots, potentially thinner negatives, you are best getting a good diffesuer enlarger keep away from condenser enlargers which tend to show up dust spots etc.

Ian

Thanks Ian sounds like good advise

 

[eunified61]

OK, do you mind telling me how being a "night shooter" makes a difference in usage/selection of an enlarger.

I don't mind telling you that I don't know the answer to your question hence I asked the question, but Ian does have some advise

 

[David Lyga]

You won't have the dust if you are clean enough. That is a trait which requires constant practice. Then it happily becomes habit. - David Lyga

 

[Roger Cole]

Honestly I think the suggestion for diffusion, if you can find one suitable, is good regardless. I print with a condenser head but that's because that's what I have and can find. Diffusion tends to be either color heads (which are great for VC B&W and I'd love to have one but don't) or cold light, which has other issues like stability. There are some LED diffusion heads available as add-ons and I may spring for one later if finances allow.

 

[Ian Grant]

I use both condenser and diffuser enlargers and have both in the darkroom although I prefer printing with the colour heads on the diffuser enlargers because I'm using Multigrade papers, (there's 4 or 5 enlargers in my darkroom).

Regardless of the light source though I've found that with 35mm negatives I prefer glass in the bottom of the carrier and a metal mask in the top that way I have no dust problems, glass in the top is two more surfaces that seem to be prone to dust. For larger formats I use glass-less carriers, sharpness corner to corner has never been an issue.

Ian