Few enlargers to choose from, which one should i get?

tossik · Jul 22, 2007

Around my city there are few enlargers to on craigslist to pick from. I dont know which one to take, here is the list:

Besler 23CII enlarger $175
Beseler Enlarger - 45mcrx $100
Besler 23C Enlarger - 50mm lens! $25
BW cold light head Omega with several lenses on a turret. Great Deal for $150
Super Chromega D Color heads with several lenses on turrets and Time- power supplies. $100
Ilford Multigrade 500H Enlarger with timer and power supply. Another great deal at $200

i want best from those from list, but if a $25 one does exactly as the $200 then ill get that one, but i just dont know because im new. please help me out.

Thanks

ann · Jul 22, 2007

you need to consider what formats you will be using.

the 23cII is a newer model than the 23c and altho it has a lens it would depend on which lens is involve.

what comes with these enlargers, anything besides what you have mentioned.
I.E. neagative carriers, for instance. ONe would think so, but then it would be a good thing to ask.

It would be helpful to know what the strut is that has the Ilford 500 head .

It would also be helpful to you, if you could see these in person to check out the conditions.

It is difficult to just say, buy these one or that one sight unseen

OPTheory · Jul 22, 2007

All of the Beseler 23C (and II) listings look good. Based on your profile you only seem to be shooting 35mm at the moment. I first started out on a Beseler 23C--I loved it and I'd highly recommend either of those 23C's. Hopefully they're in good condition since there's quite a price gap. That $25 one could very much be a steal if it's in good condition and it comes with a few extras. You recently snagged another deal on craigslist for $50 for a ton of darkroom equipment--included were some Beseler negative holders so that could work out well for you.

Good luck!

bdial · Jul 22, 2007

The 23's are medium format enlargers, the others are 4x5 enlargers, it's unclear on the cold light Omega, but it's likely a 4x5 too.
If don't use 4x5 and never plan to, then you may not want to devote the space to something that big.
Best bang for the buck is probably the 23C with lens, depending on the lens.

The next best depends too much on what your current and future needs are.

If you have the space, the Chromega, assuming it's complete, would be a better choice IMO than the other 100 and up choices (aside from the Ilford), since the color head will make working with variable contrast papers easier.

For me, my first choice would likely be the Ilford, assuming it's complete, but I use 4x5.

Why don't deals like this show up in Craigs list around here?

tossik · Jul 23, 2007

ok well yes i do only shoot 35mm right now, but i want to get prints larger then lets say 16x20 or so later on, and hope to move into the medium format later as well.

the Ilford i called is mounted on a omega arm and no base as it is attached to a table at their house. and i dropped the price for it to 175, but i had no lens and she wants extra 20 for a nikorr 50mm, and 1$ for earch negative carrier. It also comes with the contoller thing (timer or so)

the beseler 23cII on the ad looks like a 23cIII but i can cant tell and emailed him to confim what it is.

im building a darkroom in by crawl space area that has near 7 foot clearance in a 10x10 space so i have room to put something big there. i just need to make room first (level the dirt and concrete it and cover the insulation with sheetrock and build a closing wall)

i dont think ill go color on film (i have a slr digital for that) but want to produce nice hight quality prints in a big scale as well as small prints.

some of the ads had images of the acutual thing, and all look clean and in working order (on their desks)

"For me, my first choice would likely be the Ilford, assuming it's complete, but I use 4x5" -- why does it not allow 4x5? and what do you mean complete?

and is the ilford better the chromega?

tossik · Jul 23, 2007

Oh and here are the ads themselves, so you can see what the stuff comes with:

Beseler Enlarger - 45mcrx - $100
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/pho/379048022.html

*** Besler 23C enlarger + Nikon 35mm lense+more *** - $175
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/pho/379229188.html

B/W and Color Photo Enlargers - $100200 (ilford,chomega)
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/pho/379591973.html

OPTheory · Jul 23, 2007

Oh, one thing I learned about craigslist the hard way is if you see an amazing deal respond to the listing right away even if you're not sure you want it. That way the person selling it knows that someone is at least interested before letting someone else take the deal. I've lost two insane Omega enlarger deals that I should have jumped on earlier rather than waiting for other deals to come through.

Also, I just posted a "Want" ad for darkroom equipment and I got response within 20 minutes. You should try that too. Good luck on your quest!

tossik · Jul 23, 2007

OPTheory, i did exactly what you said about posting a want of equipment, and thats how i got that 50 buck deal last week. but nothing came up with enlargers yet. and i always email everyone with a very cheep offer, then with a different email a slightly higher price and usually i get that price

bdial · Jul 23, 2007

I meant since I use 4x5, my choices would start with the 4x5's, rather than the 23C's, but my choices may not be best for you.

By complete I mean that it comes with negative carriers, mixing boxes, power supply, etc. For the Ilford and the color enlargers, the power supply and control box (in the case of the Ilford) are essential, they don't function without them.

The 23C may not be able to get to 16x20, but getting to that size for the others should be no problem.
Your 7 foot ceiling might be a problem for the 4x5's, depending on how high you build your work surface. The head will extend several inches above the column as you move it up for larger prints. The columns are 3 + feet high.

For variable contrast paper, built-in filtration is easier than swapping filters in and out, so many folks use color enlargers to use combinations of yellow and magenta filtration for the different contrast grades. The Multigrade head makes this easier yet, since the filtration is specifically designed for VC papers. The difference is that with the MG head you just dial in the contrast grade you want. For color heads you must refer to the information sheet with the paper, and adapt the filter values to your particular enlarger.
It's harder to describe than to do it though.
The only difference between the chromega, and the ilford is the head containing the filters, and maybe the mixing boxes. The column, focus mechanism, etc are exactly the same.
$20 for a 50 mm 2.8 El Nikor is a good price.

ann · Jul 23, 2007

the 23C's can be placed in a tilt fashion to expose the paper on a wall, which would allow a 16x20 enlargment.

you are indicating you want to make large prints, i would go for the heavier enlargers for stability. Heavier meaning those that would do 4x5 negatives.

tossik · Jul 23, 2007

so my best choices woul me either the ilford or the chromega?

John Koehrer · Jul 23, 2007

tossik,
In one of the responses it's mentioned the Ilford head REQUIRES the controller & I believe you mentioned the owner wanted extra $$$ for the "timer". It should be considered part of the enlarger.

bdial · Jul 23, 2007

tossik said:
so my best choices woul me either the ilford or the chromega?

Either one should certainly work well for you for a long time. The description of the Beseler 45 indicated some possible problem with the motor that runs the head up and down. The Omega-based units use a crank. Since the Omegas and the Ilford are all from the same seller, it looks like they understand what is what with the units. So I guess it would come down to your bargaining ability.

tossik · Jul 23, 2007

John Koehrer, i dont think i said that the times was extra with the ilford, the lens and the negative carrier was separate and she wants 20 for lens and 1$ per each holder.

and can anyone tell me any big differences betweent the ilford and chromega plz, cuz the price is 50 bucks cheeper for chromega and i was wondering why?

bdial · Jul 23, 2007

The filters in the Ilford head are made specifically for black and white variable contrast papers. The filters in the Chromega head are meant for printing color, but the yellow and magenta filters can be used for B&W variable contrast.
Using a color head for variable contrast B&W is a slight compromise, but it's still easier than swapping removable filters around which is necessary without a color head, or a unit like the Ilford.
The original cost of the Ilford head was likely higher than the chromega which is probably one reason for the cost difference. Another is that the market value is probably higher, since a lot of color is done digitally now.
Maybe someone more familiar with the Ilford head can comment further on it's pros and cons versus using a color head.

Few enlargers to choose from, which one should i get?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency