How many enlargers do you have?

rjmeyer314 · Feb 24, 2020

8x10 Elwood
5x7 Elwood
Beseler 45MX with 4x5 Dichroic head
Beseler 45MX with Beseler/Minolta 45A color head plus Beseler point source head
In storage Omega D2V with additional Omega space head dichroic head, cold light head, point source head
In storage Bogen 35mm enlarger with attachment for 16mm
In storage Chromega F head I was going to modify to use on 8x10 Elwood, but never did.

The D2V can be yours cheap (Rochester NY).

Nokton48 · Feb 24, 2020

Latest Darkroom Renovation 3 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Presently I have three; two venerable Omega DII's (the middle one setup for 4x5, the right one set up for 35mm and 120/70mm), and a 5x7 Automega E3, with the Saucer-like diffusion head. Having three similar enlargers is real luxury!

VC Contact Printing Source by Nokton48, on Flickr

For contact printing I made this light source, which holds 6x6" Multigrade filters. I am just starting to split print B&Ws.

BMbikerider · Feb 25, 2020

I by default have 3. 2 x LPL colour and one a condenser Meopta which is used purely for B&W. The 2nd LPL, a 6600 was originally mine and then gave it to my son when I bought a LPL7700, but now he is moving to Europe to work has passed it back. I am starting to feel a little bit overstocked.

Bob Carnie · Feb 25, 2020

I have gone from 7 enlargers to 2 very mint operational Devere Enlargers , one 5 x 7 and one 11x14 ... sign of the times.

Luis-F-S · Mar 4, 2020

Bob Carnie said:
I have gone from 7 enlargers to 2 very mint operational Devere Enlargers , one 5 x 7 and one 11x14 ... sign of the times.

What else could anyone want or need? L

Dave Ludwig · Mar 5, 2020

1.Beseler VXL 45 computerized with working Module
2.HK 677 10x10 with MR2000 head (Vertical)
In Storage:
3.Laborator 184 modified horizontal with HK MR2000 head
4.CLS301 head rigged to mount on Laborator 184

mshchem · Mar 5, 2020

I have 5 setup.

The best response to this question is. Not enough!

Ernst-Jan · Mar 1, 2022

Durst M670 with 6x7 mixing box and 35mm condensor and masks for 35mm and 67
Kaiser (don't know exact type, it's in part waiting to be used in my darkroom I'll built later this year) with multigrade head, 6x6 condensor. Masks for 35mm, 645 66
Meopta Magnifax 2 for 6x9

Nora Sourouzian · Mar 1, 2022

I have 3:

My first one is a really no name for 35mm Negatives. I wasn't sure if I would like developing and do all the process. Two years later I still very much enjoy doing it!

So one day I bought at the market a medium format Kiev 60 and realized that i needed a bigger enlarger so I bought Meopta 6. Impossible for me to come back to the 35mm. Even though the Meopta 6 is also able to do 35mm.

So few months ago, my dad give me as a present a Moskva 5 it is a 6x9 camera. And surprise surprise, my enlarger was not doing 6x9. Since I am totally convinced of the Meopta's quality I went for Magnifax 3a. again an excellent choice. with this one it is possible to not only do 6x6 and 6x9 but also with the right condenser (nb3) one can also do 35 mm.

I am still not touching culour but the meopta has also the module for it

Richard Jepsen · Mar 1, 2022

Since the pandemic I sold a Leitz 1c and a Saunders 670 Dichro. I’m currently using an excellent Saunders 670XL condenser and have a Leitz, Valoy 2. Both the 670 and Valoy are super enlargers.

NB23 · Mar 3, 2022

I sold a Ic, IIa. But added a second IIc.
I use both IIc reglarly.

Sirius Glass · Mar 3, 2022

Still only one. The only one I ever owned. Chromega Dichroic II 5D-XL [4"x5"]

Joel_L · Mar 3, 2022

I have a Vivitar IV Dichroic ( my first was the Vivitar 356 ) and the Patterson version of the Philips PCS2000. I like them both.

Javier González · Mar 7, 2022

My main enlarger is an old Kaiser with color head and condenser and negative carriers for 35 mm and 6x6. This sytem is an hybrid of condenser and diffuse ilumination. I also own an old condenser enlarger able to 6,5x9, and a self-made 9x12cm (similar to 4x5). The 6,5x9 is in a very poor condition, so I am thinking in getting another one in this format.

M.A.Longmore · Mar 7, 2022

Only one, unfortunately.
An extremely lonely Beseler 45 . . .

Freediver · Mar 7, 2022

I acquired a few over the years with great intentions:

Zone VI type 2 w/ 8x10 kit
LPL 4x5
Beseler 23c

still waiting until I have enough room to set any of them up but the beseler

Jay Schrotenboer · Mar 7, 2022

M.A.Longmore said:
Only one, unfortunately.
An extremely lonely Beseler 45 . . .

I know your pain. Some day… some day
LOL

albada · Mar 7, 2022

M.A.Longmore said:
Only one, unfortunately.
An extremely lonely Beseler 45 . . .

The pandemic eliminates many photos of people, but you can still photograph interesting olde things in parks, such as statues, locomotives, steam engines, and such. Not to mention nature.
Your Beseler won't be lonely when you print all that.

If anyone cares, I have a Beseler 45 MCX which a co-worker gave me. His wife just had a second baby, and they realized that she won't have time for darkroom work any more.

Mark Overton

darkroom · Mar 8, 2022

2 bessler 4x5

Joel_L · Mar 25, 2022

I recently picked up two more enlargers, I now have 4, PCS2000, Vivitar VI, Omega D5500 with CLS head ( undergoing repair ), and most recent an Omega D5 with Pro-Lab head ( also have a dichro head for the D5 ).

Dennis S · Mar 25, 2022

At one time I had 5 scattered in different darkrooms but that eventually ended and gave 3 away and sold the best one so now I am at home with my one. Beseler 45 MXR with enough lenses a neg carriers so that I can do anything from 4x5 down to 35 mm. That one doesn't get used that often anymore unless I do a Lith print or someone needs a framed print.

gone · Mar 26, 2022

I'm still puttering along w/ the Lentar 35mm enlarger that was bought 2 years ago. It can make nice 11x14 prints if the head's turned around backwards and the enlarger is put on some boards. I replaced the lens w/ a 6 element Beseler 50 2.8 lens, which is easily as good as the Nikkors, maybe better.

I miss my old Federal enlargers. They were a PITA to use, but could do 6x9, and had glass neg carriers. Probably the cheapest 6x9 enlargers you can find, and they made them in both condenser and diffusion models. I recommend these for people that are new to the darkroom.

Their designs are simple and straight forward, and $100 will usually get you one, even w/ shipping. In the course of taking one apart and cleaning it, you get an inside look at how these things work. That hands-on understanding of the enlarger's optics is valuable, and should lead to better prints.

Dusty Negative · Mar 26, 2022

This is an 18-year old thread. Is that a record?

(Oh, and, I only have one. Omega B8).

choiliefan · Mar 26, 2022

It's more like a support group...

albada · Mar 26, 2022

Reading about folks with four or more enlargers, I must ask, "Where do you put them?" My Beseler MCX (yes, MCX) alone consumes half a table. But 4+ enlargers?! Of course, collecting classic cars eats even more space.

How many enlargers do you have?

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