Like this one: https://www.secondhanddarkroom.co.u...lumn_extension_arm/?k=:::6548187:0:2:16409::0 (for Durst)
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Some enlargers are designed for 35mm and others are designed for medium format. but can be made to use other formats. In your case, I don't think I would even consider getting rid of either a Hasselblad or a Rolleiflex in order to keep using your Durst enlarger. Used Medium Format enlargers are much less expensive than either of those cameras. You need to trade enlargers and get one you are not forced to "fight"..........Regards!I'm finding negatives produced by medium format cameras which run the film vertically through their backs (Rolleiflex, Hasselblad, Bronica SQ etc.) very annoying to enlarge. Are they really a PITA, or am I missing something?
Let me explain...
I'm using a Durst M707 colour enlarger, an RR Beard 16x12" easel and usually print on 16x12" paper. All fairly standard equipment and materials. When I insert a strip of negatives from my Mamiya 6 or Pentax 67, everything's fine: I stand in front of the enlarger, work on the image, print 16x12" images (less a tiny margin) and everything's fine with the world. However, when I insert a strip of negatives from my Hasselblad, the image is rotated 90 degrees to the baseboard which makes composition and cropping very awkward. Luckily my enlarger sits on the corner of the bench, so I can move around the left side and at least see the image the right way up. It's not a very comfortable position, as the enlarger column is close to my left arm, which makes things awkward when moving around, but it's workable. Then I run into the main problem: I can no longer make 16x12" landscape prints. When I turn my easel 90 degrees, the left edge hits the enlarger column so the projected image isn't centred on the easel. The best I can do is print around 11x11" square, or around 11x8" if I want to keep the same aspect ratio of the prints.
Yes, I realise I could cut my film into single negatives, and place them the right way around in the carrier. That's certainly an option for a few one-off photos, but isn't something I would relish doing for everything I print. My negative files would be a huge mess.
Are there any other obvious solutions I'm missing, apart from buying a massive large format enlarger (which isn't an option in my tiny darkroom)? Or is this simply a limitation of cameras which run their film vertically?...not something anyone ever mentions when it comes to buying medium format cameras.
Thanks,
J
Just looked the M707 Color enlarger. That enlarger should certainly handle 6x6cm negatives with no problems as it seems to have been designed to handle 6x9. On both of your cameras, try shooting them of vertical subjects. With 6x6, you are not even forced to turn your camera on its side. Just pick a vertical subject and then your negative would be orientated with the long dimension across the base and the short dimension near the column........Regards, Again!Some enlargers are designed for 35mm and others are designed for medium format. but can be made to use other formats. In your case, I don't think I would even consider getting rid of either a Hasselblad or a Rolleiflex in order to keep using your Durst enlarger. Used Medium Format enlargers are much less expensive than either of those cameras. You need to trade enlargers and get one you are not forced to "fight"..........Regards!
Didn't know that existed, interesting. I couldn't quickly find a manual, but it kinda looks like it would make the column taller not put the head/lens further away from the column. Not sure, I would love to know more... Cheers, Gijsbert
Perhaps you can make an easil with smaller borders, perhaps using magnetic strios?
It won’t help your size printing issue (easel hitting the column) but if you like composing with the image the right way up just rotate the whole enlarger and baseboard 90 degrees so that the negatives feed front to back rather than side to side.
And is there a part for your enlarger that extends the distance between the head and the column?
Such as this (which is for a Kaiser enlarger): https://www.thedarkroom.co.uk/4455-extension-arm.html
It won’t help your size printing issue (easel hitting the column) but if you like composing with the image the right way up just rotate the whole enlarger and baseboard 90 degrees so that the negatives feed front to back rather than side to side.
That's not something I want to do regularly as I only have one enlarger and print multiple formats (35mm, Xpan, 6x6 and 6x7). I have other equipment, such as a RH analyser and the transformer packed tightly behind the enlarger, so moving everything around isn't a quick and easy task.
Suggest you go back to 135 then you won't have the "problem".
Just rotating the enlarger is surely not that difficult? I also have the equipment you mention. My darkroom has no running water (prints go in a bucket of water until I take them to the bathroom for washing) and is too small for trays so I use a slot processor.
The issue with composing the image 90 degrees on the baseboard isn't the biggest problem; it's the limit it imposes on the print size that's most annoying.
It's a square negative, how would the orientation of the negative effect things.
Then I run into the main problem: I can no longer make 16x12" landscape prints. When I turn my easel 90 degrees, the left edge hits the enlarger column so the projected image isn't centred on the easel. The best I can do is print around 11x11" square, or around 11x8" if I want to keep the same aspect ratio of the prints.
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