Free enlargers! - almost

[speywalker]

I'm considering to build up a darkroom for B&W and maybe color work.
Been trolling the local classified listings in my geography and there seems to be MANY people selling their enlargers as well as other darkroom equipment.

My question is what brand/model of enlarger should I buy? I see Beslers, Omegas, Hansa Primas, Saunders etc etc for sale for little money.
So what is junk and what is quality?
Also my film camera shoots 6cm by 7cm negs so I'm looking for an enlarger with at least an 80mm lense - yes/no?

thanks for any reply

 

[Brian Legge]

Where are you located? Different enlargers were more common in different regions. I'd look towards the most common brand in your area from a parts availability/affordability standpoint.

 

[RobC]

In europe Durst, in US/Canada, Beselers and Omegas. This is purely for ease of obtaining parts in your country.

I'm biased towards Durst because that's what I own and I live in Europe.

For medium format a Durst M805 and then Durst Modular 70, both excellent enlargers. The Modular 70 (I have one) is lighter weight but very good. The M805 is top of the range for medium format and will do upto 6x9. The Modular 70 will print upto 6x7.

 

[fotch]

Hello speywalker and welcome to APUG. Of course, location country is a factor. Also, like asking what grand of car, beer, to buy. Beseler is my preference for a functional, affordable, versatile, good design & build quality, and very popular, readily available in the USA. You will get plenty of advice here. Good Luck.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have a Chomega Dichoric II 5D-XL for both black & white and color printing using the diffusing color head. It will print up to 4"x5" negatives and do enlargements up to 20"x24".

 

[Regular Rod]

I'm considering to build up a darkroom for B&W and maybe color work.
Been trolling the local classified listings in my geography and there seems to be MANY people selling their enlargers as well as other darkroom equipment.

My question is what brand/model of enlarger should I buy? I see Beslers, Omegas, Hansa Primas, Saunders etc etc for sale for little money.
So what is junk and what is quality?
Also my film camera shoots 6cm by 7cm negs so I'm looking for an enlarger with at least an 80mm lense - yes/no?

thanks for any reply

Dangerous to make assumptions but your nickname leads me to believe you may be in Scotland so...

De Vere, especially if you are making larger sized enlargements. The height and focus is controlled by two hand wheels at waist height so using the grain microscope does not involve dislocating your vertebrae to view and focus at the same time...

The build quality is of the highest standard. You don't get problems with them.

RR

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I'm considering to build up a darkroom for B&W and maybe color work.
Been trolling the local classified listings in my geography and there seems to be MANY people selling their enlargers as well as other darkroom equipment.

My question is what brand/model of enlarger should I buy? I see Beslers, Omegas, Hansa Primas, Saunders etc etc for sale for little money.
So what is junk and what is quality?
Also my film camera shoots 6cm by 7cm negs so I'm looking for an enlarger with at least an 80mm lense - yes/no?

thanks for any reply

most brands are workablebut to me a Durst is head and shoulders above the rest;ss far as enlarging lenses;all6-element name-brand lenses are excellent.get one that does atleast 35mm and MF to have some flexibility and allow it to be wall moubted for rigidity.

 

[rthollenbeck]

The Leitz(Leica) 2c or 2a are second to none and do up to 6x9. They will probably be difficult to locate. Additionally I probably wouldn't buy one off of E-bay unless there was good reason to believe it was complete. And its autofocus.
Durst has several first rate enlargers with lots of directions you could go, including autofocus, color, large format. Again getting a compete enlarger is key.
When looking for autofocus enlargers, it is best to be sure the autofocus cam has a matching serial # to the corresponding lens.

There are plenty of good non-autofocus 6x9 enlargers available. You may want to just pick up an Omega or Beseler as they are good general use enlargers and can be had for nearly nothing. That way you can get started then shop for exactly what you want.