Good news, bad news Saunders/LPL Dichroic Photo Enlarger D6700

Paul Howell · Jul 16, 2019

Found a Saunders LPL with color head on an auction site. Paid $34 for it, did not notice that it does not have a column, checked the pictures and just didn't see that it was not all there. But came with a Rodenstock Rogonon 2.8 which I think is a 5 or 6 element lens. Don't know if it will better than my Wollensake 50 4.5 which is 4 elements but will give a try. Now the impossible, find another Saunders 67 with a column.

Luckless · Jul 16, 2019

If finding another one with a column sounds impossible, then maybe the logical choice would be to design and fabricate a replacement?

Are there any aspects about the column and its adjustment that you think could have been improved on?

A photographer's studio I toured back east a few years ago had theirs mounted to a counterweight carriage and running on a track of four heavy wall steel pipes they got from a local building supplier. Photons don't really care if the gear is all OEM or weird homebrew, just as long as it is stable and works.

voceumana · Jul 16, 2019

The carriage and column on the LPL enlargers uses a spring as a counter-force to the weight--no need for a weight counterbalance if you use the LPL column.

Note that there were 2 different column styles--one for the 670 series and one for the 6700 series--they are not interchangeable.
Check the spelling on your Rodenstock lens: the Rogonar is 3 elements; the Rogonar-S is 4 elements; the Rodagon is 6 elements--just a letter or two make a big difference in what lens you have.

Paul Howell · Jul 16, 2019

It's a Radagon, I did check it's the 6 element. I will need to check to see if the head fits a 670 or 6700, don't know if I can have one made, may cost more than the enlarger is worth. Have not had time to find an online image, not sure what it looks like.

voceumana · Jul 16, 2019

I've never heard of a "Radagon" lens, and a search on Google turns up nothing.

See: http://www.khbphotografix.com/LPL/ for info and images of LPL enlargers.

Paul Howell · Jul 16, 2019

Hard time with the keyboard today

Rodenstock Rodagon 2.8/50 (Cat. No. 452-316) 2.8-16 6-4

voceumana · Jul 16, 2019

If the lens is in good condition, it should be an improvement.

Paul Howell · Jul 16, 2019

It's like new, came in the jewel box, cap and retaining ring. Will give it a try in a day or so.

ic-racer · Jul 16, 2019

Spare enlarger parts come up on ebay all the time. I was gifted a Philips enlarger with no power supply a while back and sure enough, a power supply for it showed up on ebay. Same with my Omega D5500. I had a this second Omega D5500 with no baseboard. Sure enough, a D5500 baseboard showed up on ebay. etc.

Paul Howell · Jul 17, 2019

I checked Ebay, a couple of heads no carriages or columns. I have in inquire in for prices for new parts.

MattKing · Jul 17, 2019

Look for a complete condenser head version. Once you have that, you will have an enlarger, two different light sources, and a few extra parts.

Paul Howell · Jul 17, 2019

I have a D3, an Opemus III, and a old Federal Stowaway, the Stowaway is a diffusion 6X9 while the D3 and Opemus have the condenser heads. I bought the 6X7 for the color head. I normally have a 2 enlarger set up so I can work on 2 negatives at the same time, and I have decades of color negatives I wanted to sort through and print, vast majority 35mmr the 6700 would have worked just fine. I like the Opemus for black and white. The Federal has a double lens, not interchangable, creates a soft look, very nice with the right negative. Maybe I'll see if I can run down a color head for the Opemus. Or pull out my color filter kit and print on the D3. Can be done, just a pain the rear getting the filter pack just right.

John51 · Jul 18, 2019

Wall mount the head and have a height adjustable baseboard?

Ozxplorer · Jul 18, 2019

Hi Paul, as luck has it I have a few LPL spares laying around including a 6700/7700 column plus baseboard mounting bracket. You’re welcome to it/them... However, the mail cost may be a little prohibitive! A quick check of the standard Australia - USA postage rate indicates the mailing cost will be in the region of U$70-75 for something of this size/weight - 4-6 days delivery. If this is of interest to you then please let me let me know. I’ll be more definitive about the postage cost and payment options once I hear from you - msg me in Photrio. Take care...

Paul Howell · Jul 21, 2019

Thanks for the offer, a company in Canada has the parts, US around $200, have them order. Tired the Rodenstock Rodagon 2.8/50, my old Wollenaske 50 is just as sharp to 11X14, what the Rodenstock has is 2.8, very nice when focusing, and a lighted Fstop indicator, so I'm going with the Rodenstock will use th Wollensake for 2 enalrger set up.

Good news, bad news Saunders/LPL Dichroic Photo Enlarger D6700

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