How many enlargers do you have?

vpwphoto · Feb 5, 2013

I just grabbed a Leitz Valoy ii, I plan to use for 35m work.
Have a couple MXT's one for parts the other tuned like a fine Violin.
An Elwood I had to have that I have not used or set up...
I used my 8x10 Anthony studio camera as an 8x10 enlarger with a small softbox and White-Lightning strobe as "pulsed" light source and it worked!
I have a couple old cheapo enlargers from the 1950's that are cute but mostly worthless sitting around that people "gave" me.

vpwphoto · Feb 5, 2013

stormpetrel said:
I'm looking forward to buy a 8x10 enlarger (the smallest possible) but they are not very common here in New Zealand

I assume you have an 8x10 camera? Just get a cheap monorail and turn it into an enlarger. I did it "for a day" with my old 8x10 Anthony. I wanted to make a 16x20 from an 8x10 negative. I used gaffers' tape to suspend the negative in the film gate (removed ground glass stage). The old 14" Wollensak lens was stopped down to f11 for some sharpness. For the light source I powered back a monolight attached a small softbox, and pulsed the strobe for the exposure (used model light to focus). It worked nice and made dodge/burn easy. I remember I did something like 20 pulses overall, 3 or 4 for the edges, an extra for the bottom.. IF you keep your dodger close to the lens you don't get a sharp shadow... anyway it was a bridal print that turned out nice.

Luis-F-S · Mar 31, 2014

Four at present; a Durst SM-183 I bought 20 years ago with both Condenser and a CLS301 head and all the goodies for it; two LPL's a 4500II and a 4550 XLG and a Valloy II with the original Leitz lens that I've had as long as the Durst. Have almost every Rodagon lens made from 50 to 240 MM for them, plus a few Apo's and a couple of Componon-S & G-Claron. I hear there may be a 4x5 Durst that needs a good home, so the number could grow. Luis

ToddB · Apr 1, 2014

Beselar and Omega

I have two.. A Beselar 67 Dicro for 35mm and a Omega D5500 for 120 and 4x5

Todd

frank · Apr 1, 2014

Too many.

jerrybro · Apr 1, 2014

3, all Beseler 45 of some type.

Dennis S · Apr 2, 2014

4: 2x Beseler 23C (one @ home), 45 MXR (cold lighthead & condenser), 1 LPL with colour head.

Bob Marvin · Apr 3, 2014

I have three; an Omega B-8, that I actually use, a Leitz Valloy II that I might go back to using, if I decide to shoot 35 mm again, and a Kodak Precision Enlarger that I probably won't use again, but is too good to toss.

one90guy · Apr 4, 2014

Only 1, a Omega B-66. Been going through a major GAS attack, sold 1 Nikon FG trying to thin the herd. In the last week and a half bought a Mamiya C300 and a Bronica EC. Then just bought 2 lens for the Bronica and now looking for a better enlarger Think I will change the pass word on bank account:munch:

ataim · Apr 4, 2014

I have two. A big'ol Durst 184 10"x10" and a little, Beseler 45 that has not even been turned on since I got the Durst last spring.
The smallest film I shoot is 4x5 and the durst can handle them just fine. Actually thing about selling the Beseler.

Bob Carnie · Apr 4, 2014

I use four right now

two condensor 4x5 set up to do from small print to 30 x40

11 x14 Deveere - I use this for 4x5 and 8x10 negs from small print to 30 x40

Durst 2000 set up for horizontal projection up to 48 x60 from small neg to 8x10- currently decomissioned to set up for my new lab in September.

I also have about 6-8 other 4x5 chromega and Omega condensor enlargers for parts and one chromega to set up for my new lab in Sept for my wife to use.

one of the condensor heads is slated to go to Mr G when he moves to Boise.

Roger Cole · Apr 4, 2014

Three really, of which I only use one. I have two Omega D2s, one my regular workhorse, one I got a good deal on and bought for parts, and an old Bogen X-35A 35mm only one that I started with decades ago.

NB23 · Apr 4, 2014

Bob is the King.

I 'only' use two Focomat Ic Color (one Black, one Gray) and one IIc. The IIc sees the most use, from 35mm to Xpan and 6x6.

16:9 · Apr 7, 2014

Well if any of you want to unload anything interesting in my direction, I'm gathering as many specimens as possible for a new group test evaluating their use as taking lenses! Still need Orthoplanar 105, APO EL 105, Fujinon 75. All oddities welcome . . .

Tim Stapp · Apr 25, 2018

Resurrecting an old thread, I apologize in advance. Currently, I have in my home: 3 Beseler 23 CII's, a Beseler CB7, a Beseler 67 dichroic, and an Omega B66. This weekend, I'm picking up another "free" darkroom lot off of Craigslist that includes a Beseler 67SC. Notice a common thread here?

The most that I have spent on an enlarger was $20 for the CB7.

I currently have three set up in my darkroom, one for each format that I shoot (35mm/6x7 and 4x5). I could get along with just the CB7, but I have the room and the enlargers; so why not?

BTW, enlargers are like cats: they seem to follow me home

Also, just to brag: my total darkroom equipment investment including my JOBO is less than $400.

guangong · Apr 25, 2018

From small to larger:Minox, Leif’s Focomat, and Beseler for MF & 4x5.

BobMarvin11225 · Apr 28, 2018

I'm now down to just one, my Omega B-8 [which is the ideal enlarger for my purposes]. I recently gave away my Leitz Valoy 2 and Kodak Precision; the former to someone from this (or a similar) list, the latter to a 16 year old in my Brooklyn neighborhood.

Arklatexian · Apr 28, 2018

BobMarvin11225 said:
I'm now down to just one, my Omega B-8 [which is the ideal enlarger for my purposes]. I recently gave away my Leitz Valoy 2 and Kodak Precision; the former to someone from this (or a similar) list, the latter to a 16 year old in my Brooklyn neighborhood.

I have nothing against Omega B-8s but I might have given it away and kept the Valoy 2 and the Kodak Precision. In my mind, both of those are real "keepers". I don't have a Precision. and don't have room for one but some of the best B&W work in 16 x 20 inch came from MF negatives in a Kodak Precision "A" enlarger. Be sure to tell that 16 year old that, at any price, he may never be able to buy a better 35mm to MF enlarger than that for B&W, especially if it is equipped with the Kodak Enlarging Ektars it was designed to use.......Regards!

pbromaghin · Apr 29, 2018

grahamp · Apr 29, 2018

I am at about four and a half now. The Durst F30 and M605 are packed away, leaving the Beseler 45M and 45MXT on the bench. The 8x10 head for the MXT is about 90% done, just some fine leveling adjustments and a better light source mount to do.

darkroommike · Apr 29, 2018

If my wife asks it's three, the real number is 5, but I am trying to unload a few of those.

mooseontheloose · Apr 29, 2018

Three. But I’m debating whether I should buy a new (used) 4x5 enlarger, or ship the one I have sitting in my parents basement.

alanrockwood · Apr 30, 2018

I have four enlargers, if you count the ones for which I think I have enough parts to assemble but haven't gotten around to assembling.

MattKing · Apr 30, 2018

mooseontheloose said:
Three. But I’m debating whether I should buy a new (used) 4x5 enlarger, or ship the one I have sitting in my parents basement.

I'd be willing to bet that I know how your parents would vote .

John51 · Apr 30, 2018

I picked up No. 6 yesterday, a virtually free Durst M370. I want to use its column for wall mounting my Kodak Precision. It was a better idea before I had it in front of me and saw what would be involved.

How many enlargers do you have?

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