Is there such a thing as a compact and cheap 4x5 enlarger?

Anupam Basu · Oct 25, 2006

I am desperately looking for a way to enlarge 4x5. The couple of public darkrooms that I know here in Madison seem to only go up to MF. I won't be going beyond 8x10 prints to begin with but really don't want to have to depend on scanning.

But I am pretty broke right now having just gotten into LF and can't afford much for an enlarger. And then there is the additional problem that my "darkroom" is really a bathroom! So are there any really cheap and reasonably compact 4x5 enlargers out there?

Thanks for any help,
-A

Jon Shiu · Oct 25, 2006

The Omega D2V is a relatively compact 4x5 enlarger. (For reference it is about the same size as a Beseler 23CIIXL. A Beseler 45 is about twice the weight/size.)Should be able to pick one up for around $100, and sometimes even free. Check craigslist.org in your area.

Jon

Konical · Oct 25, 2006

Good Afternoon, Anupam,

It's not too hard to find used 4 x 5 enlargers in great shape being sold for very low prices or, occasionally, given away. Compact is a different story. Accomodating a 4 x 5 negative means a bigger negative stage, which means bigger condensers or a bigger diffusion chamber, which means more weight, which means sturdier construction, which means larger components, etc. In addition, most 4 x 5 enlargers are meant for "serious" and intensive use; the designs usually favor durability and stability, not minimal size.

Konical

Alex Hawley · Oct 25, 2006

I think the Beseler and Omega 4x5 enlargers are nearly the same size. Optical geometry rules when it comes to size. The only thing that can be condensed would be the light source, but a compact light source means high tech and high dollar. You won't go wrong with either brand given everything is in working order.

Will S · Oct 25, 2006

I've got an extra one you can borrow for awhile. PM me.

Will

Paul Sorensen · Oct 25, 2006

Beseler 45 series enlargers often seem to go for around $100. Compact, they are not. I think that the Omegas might be a bit more compact because they have a single standard rather than two like the Beseler, but I agree that no 4X5 enlarger is what I would consider compact.

paul ewins · Oct 25, 2006

I've got an Astron enlarger that would qualify for compact in 4x5 terms. It is like a scaled up 35mm enlarger with a single round post attached to a wooden baseboard. There is gearing on the focussing stage but the head just slides up and down the post. It is a condensor enlarger and at one stage I had a second one with a condensor set for medium format.

The lens mount (M39 thread) was not removable which was a pain when I tried upgrading from the original 150mm Astronar lens and accidentally bought a lens with a 42mm thread (same pitch as early adaptalls, not the M42 mount). In any case I eventually got a good deal on a Beseler 45 and haven't used it since.

Umm, I'm not trying to sell it to you. The postage from Australia would likely be more than it was worth.

Actually, now that I think of it the most compact 4x5 enlarger would probably be a crown graphic wth graflarger cold light attachment.

David A. Goldfarb · Oct 25, 2006

The Omega D-II (or D-2 or D-2V) is small enough for me to manage in my dark/bathroom. Try to find one with a smaller baseboard. I keep it on a rolling table, and I added an extra set of rubber feet to the underside of the baseboard so it can sit solidly on the table even with the baseboard hanging over.

Even smaller potentially would be to add a Graflarger back to your camera (if it has a Graflok back), and you could use it on a copy stand or tripod with a lateral arm. I did this for 4x5" before acquiring the D-II.

athanasius80 · Oct 25, 2006

Federal 450 if you patient on ebay?

jolefler · Oct 25, 2006

I'm semi-handy, so built a copy stand ($11), added a florescent ceiling fixture ($29), a neg carrier back for one of my view cameras out of scrap plywood ($0), added a like new 135mm Rogonar (eb*y $29, delivered). It stands 25" high and the baseboard is 12" X 18". It'll yield cropped 8X10's on MG paper using 6" square color printing filters. It comes apart for storage or to use the view camera.

Almost could have bought a D2 for the same money, but WAY more compact.

Just a thought....

Jo

photomc · Oct 25, 2006

While not real common, Graflex made a back for their cameras that would allow you to use one as a enlarger. Check over on graflex.org for more info...I have not used one, but perhaps someone that has will chime in. The others mentioned are all good solid performers, but not really compact.

Good luck.

phfitz · Oct 25, 2006

Anupam,

the smallest and cheapest full featured 4x5 enlarger is a GraphicView I or II camera. With the Graflok back they do take the Graflarger enlarger head, they were advertised and sold as such. That is why they have a second detent on the tilt adjustment arms, set it to the second detent and use front rise to center the lens. Mounting it in a bathroom is up to you, a roll-around cart would work.

Good luck with it.

JBrunner · Oct 25, 2006

If you aren't already thinking along these lines, you can put the enlarger on a food cart or tool cart, with storage for other items underneath, and wheel it in when your bathroom becomes the darkroom and store it somewhere else at other times. Won't gain you workspace, but it does give you back the bathroom without allot of struggle.

vanspaendonck · Oct 26, 2006

If one doesn't want to spend big bucks on a 4x5 enlarger, this may be the way to go:
Get a Polaroid MP-4 copystand (made in thee column heights) with the enlarger accessories (lamp housing, negative carriers, condensor, all Polaroid branded, but made by Fujimoto). MP-4's are dirt cheap, but the enlarger parts may be more difficult to find. I got mine as a complete set for EUR 200, which included a HP Combiplan tank and a Calumet 6x7 roll film holder for 4x5. I subsequently sold those on eBay for more than what I paid for the whole set, so I ended up with a 4x5 enlarger for free.

argentic · Oct 26, 2006

Have you thought about fixing your camera to an enlarger stand, and constructing a lightbox with ecolamps to fit on the back panel of your camera? You would have to manually open and close the shutter. But it sure is cheap, light and compact.

matti · Oct 26, 2006

That's a neat idea! Would it work with the 18x24 cm wooden camera with a 300 mm lens that is on the way from Ukraina for me? Would it work straping it to the window and tape the paper to the wall? Then I might get some use out of them 50x40 cm papers I got in my stash...

/matti

argentic said:
Have you thought about fixing your camera to an enlarger stand, and constructing a lightbox with ecolamps to fit on the back panel of your camera? You would have to manually open and close the shutter. But it sure is cheap, light and compact.

GeorgesGiralt · Oct 26, 2006

Hi !
The old ( 1970 vintage) Durst Laborator 1000 is good for 4x5 and is quite small (and sturdy).
Before having a dedicated darkroom I used it in the bathroom on a custom made table made above the toilet bowl...
The only drawback is that you can't dismantle it to small parts when finished (the colomn and neg carrier support do not dismantle so you can just remove the baseboard, the condensor head with the condensers and neg carrier.
Frankly, it is not so big when compared to a MF enlarger !

johnnywalker · Oct 27, 2006

GeorgesGiralt said:
Hi !
The old ( 1970 vintage) Durst Laborator 1000 is good for 4x5 and is quite small (and sturdy).
Before having a dedicated darkroom I used it in the bathroom on a custom made table made above the toilet bowl...
The only drawback is that you can't dismantle it to small parts when finished (the colomn and neg carrier support do not dismantle so you can just remove the baseboard, the condensor head with the condensers and neg carrier.
Frankly, it is not so big when compared to a MF enlarger !

I have the Durst Laborator 1000 and would never have thought to describe it as "compact"! Mind you it's the only 4X5 enlarger I've ever seen, so have nothing to compare it to. It is very sturdy though, and certainly isn't a lighweight!

GeorgesGiralt · Oct 27, 2006

Hey Johnnywalker !
Look at the L1200 or DeVere 504, they're bigger and heavier !
I had a Meopta Magnifax IV (6x9 size max) it was as tall and quite as heavy, so I stick to my position ;-)
I _do_ love my L1000

argentic · Oct 27, 2006

matti said:
That's a neat idea! Would it work with the 18x24 cm wooden camera with a 300 mm lens that is on the way from Ukraina for me? Would it work straping it to the window and tape the paper to the wall? Then I might get some use out of them 50x40 cm papers I got in my stash...

/matti

Why wouldn't it? As long as you can attatch it to the back of your camera. Better still, attatch your camera to the lightbox which is mounted on a vibration free stand. Take care to keep everything straight.

The kind of ecolamps I was talking about produce cold light, and cannot be switched on and off without color variation in the light. So you would have to use the shutter to expose the paper. Ofcourse you can use traditional halogen or tungsten lamps too when you build in lighttight vents.

matti · Oct 27, 2006

In some way it seems I am destined to do this I don't have a real shutter in my lense but I can always use my bowler hat! I actually didn't think about my enlarger as similar to a camera before. Would the normal lense at 300 mm for my 18x24 cm work as an enlarger lense at, say, 2x enlargements if I could provide the light box?

/matti

argentic said:
Why wouldn't it? As long as you can attatch it to the back of your camera. Better still, attatch your camera to the lightbox which is mounted on a vibration free stand. Take care to keep everything straight.

The kind of ecolamps I was talking about produce cold light, and cannot be switched on and off without color variation in the light. So you would have to use the shutter to expose the paper. Ofcourse you can use traditional halogen or tungsten lamps too when you build in lighttight vents.

Jerevan · Oct 27, 2006

matti said:
IWould the normal lense at 300 mm for my 18x24 cm work as an enlarger lense at, say, 2x enlargements if I could provide the light box?

/matti

Yes, it's quite possible to use the taking lens as a lens for the enlarger. If you do small enlargements and can accept the quality. It was sometimes done this way in the olden days, too. An enlarger or process lens is of course made for the close-up ratios that you're doing when enlarging. But as a starting point, it'll do fine!

argentic · Oct 28, 2006

What kind of 300 mm lens have you bought ? 300 mm Apo Ronar, Apo Gerogon and G-Claron lenses can be had cheaply, and are excellent copy lenses that would do as enlarging lenses too.

Tom Stanworth · Oct 28, 2006

Anupam Basu said:
I am desperately looking for a way to enlarge 4x5. The couple of public darkrooms that I know here in Madison seem to only go up to MF. I won't be going beyond 8x10 prints to begin with but really don't want to have to depend on scanning.

But I am pretty broke right now having just gotten into LF and can't afford much for an enlarger. And then there is the additional problem that my "darkroom" is really a bathroom! So are there any really cheap and reasonably compact 4x5 enlargers out there?

Thanks for any help,
-A

Yes, an AHEL 54 condenser enlarger. not the most stable but good enough. the size of most MF enlargers. Cheap too if you can find one. I own one. V small and moveable. A benchtop job.

matti · Oct 28, 2006

Sorry for hijacking the thread...

The lens is an Industar-37. Anyone knows what it would take to create a light box that wouldn't be too uneven? The best way to line things up might be to standardise on one printing size.

/matti

argentic said:
What kind of 300 mm lens have you bought ? 300 mm Apo Ronar, Apo Gerogon and G-Claron lenses can be had cheaply, and are excellent copy lenses that would do as enlarging lenses too.

Is there such a thing as a compact and cheap 4x5 enlarger?

Anupam Basu

Jon Shiu

Konical

Alex Hawley

Will S

Paul Sorensen

paul ewins

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

athanasius80

jolefler

photomc

phfitz

JBrunner

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vanspaendonck

argentic

matti

GeorgesGiralt

johnnywalker

GeorgesGiralt

argentic

matti

Jerevan

argentic

Tom Stanworth

matti

Is there such a thing as a compact and cheap 4x5 enlarger?

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