LPL c7700

[Shakey]

I'm just in the process of building my own darkroom, and i'm looking for an enlarger and this is one that i have found

so firstly i'm assuming that the enlarger is the c7700 MX. As the title on ebay says only c770. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330244953883&_trksid=p2759.l1259

But i was wondering what people's experiences are of this enlarger and is it worth buying and also is it easy to find lens to fit it or will 80mm be big enough if i want to print 6x7 neagtives say. I'm just a bit confused as i don't really understand this enlarger stuff as i just use the ones at school for 35mm and don't have to mess around with lens etc.

Thanks for any replies Shakey.

 

[mrtoml]

Hi Shakey. I have a similar C7700 enlarger. It is very sturdy and yes 80mm is OK for MF negatives. I live in Kenilworth and you can have a look at it if you want.

 

[Shakey]

Just had a reply and it turns out it is an LPL C770 PRO but nothing comes up when i search for it ebay.

 

[mrtoml]

The picture looks almost identical to my c7700, apart from the sticker on the top right of the enlarger. Can't help you with the c770 bit. This looks like a bargain.

 

[RH Designs]

Hi Shakey

You'd be OK with this enlarger, I have one myself (C7700 colour) and it's a good solid piece of kit. Looks like the colour head, but that's fine for b+w although it could be brighter. A bargain at the current bid - good luck!

 

[Shakey]

LPL c7700 vs DE VERE 504 VARICON CONDENSER BENCH ENLARGER

Ok just come upon this De Vere 504 and i'm having second thoughts of which one to go for, just wondering what people's views were of the De Vere 504.

Thanks Shakey

 

[Mick Fagan]

Shakey, as it happens I currently have a DeVere 504, which is my main enlarger. I also have a C7700 colour enlarger virtually identical to what you you are thinking about purchasing, sitting in my darkroom as well.

Firstly, the DeVere 504 is an unbelievable enlarger, possibly one of the top three or four ever made, usually the price they command reflects this. In short, it is close to enlarger heaven.

I would suggest the LPL is the better deal for yourself. Firstly it has two lens, which is basically all you require with it. There is a glass universal carrier, plus two of the 5 neg carriers available for it.

However the accessories are fabulous, the Jobo Varioformat easel is a wonderful easel, especially coupled with the Variocopy frame. The Componon S lens is excellent, I have and use the same myself.

In short you are ready to literally place all the stuff in your darkroom then start enlarging, nothing else to purchase, pretty much a perfect purchase.

There appears to be one accessory missing, the fine focus knob isn't fitted, this was possibly the only accessory that should have been fitted from the factory, to make it a near perfect enlarger.

Mick.

 

[Bob F.]

The De Veres were the workhorse of the professional labs and were built accordingly - i.e. very solid and made to last. Being designed to take up to 5x4" negatives they are also large and heavy and are difficult for one person to move on their own... There are a few on ebay.co.uk - but be aware that they typically go for 200-400 quid even these days (but with four on the auction site at the same time, one may turn out to be a bargain - who knows!). The one you mention does not come with 6x7cm or 5x4" negative carriers which may be a problem (or not, depending on what you want it for - spares are available). Also, being a condenser type you will need a set of multigrade filters if using VC paper.

The LPL is a good enlarger too and will arguably be a better bargain if it sells for under 100 beer tokens. The LPL will only go up to 6x7cm but if that is as large as you intend to go then that is fine. Add some dishes, a safelight and chemicals and you are pretty much ready to go.

Good luck, Bob.

 

[Shakey]

Yer i think your right the de vere 504, would take nearly the rest of my budget to get it and then i would have to travel quite a way to actually pick it up.

You mentioned the focus knob isn't fitted, does anyone know where i can find one of these? And is it still fine to use without it? Sorry if i sound so naive i never had to sort out enlargers before just gone in the school darkroom and printed.

Thanks for everyone help, Shakey

 

[RH Designs]

You mentioned the focus knob isn't fitted, does anyone know where i can find one of these? And is it still fine to use without it? Sorry if i sound so naive i never had to sort out enlargers before just gone in the school darkroom and printed.

Thanks for everyone help, Shakey

The fine focus control is a nicety I've been able to live quite happily without, given the cost of a new one! The DeVere is undoubtedly the Rolls-Royce of enlargers, but they're big and heavy and unless you envisage moving to large format in the future I'm sure you'll be well catered for by the LPL. The best feature of the DeVere is the baseboard level focus controls - you need to be a bit of a contortionist making big prints with the LPL unless you get a Paterson "Major" focus finder so you can get your head a bit nearer the focus knob!

 

[Austerby]

I've just bought one of the LPLs and am very pleased with it. This looks like a good deal with all the extras, which I had to buy in addition to mine. It is a surprisingly large and substantial piece of kit and lovely to work with.

 

[Shakey]

Just one more question does the LPL c7700 pro have a tilting head or the ability to move it to make larger prints than the baseboard. Thanks

 

[RH Designs]

Yes, both.

 

[Jon Shiu]

The head can rotate sideways, or you can rotate the column 180 degrees (and weight or clamp the baseboard) and project onto the floor.

Jon

 

[Richard Jepsen]

I use a 7700 with a Rollei nameplate. My 7700 is configuration the same as the current Omega/LPL MXL 670. The best all-rounder of 6 enlargers I used is the 7700 considering it handles medium format. The six enlargers I am familier with are Omega's B-22, 23C, Leica V-35, 1c, 7700, and Omega D2. The 7700 is smaller than the 23II and D2, more refined than all but the Leica products, and will will not buckle MF negs like the B-22. You can swap the dichro head with a condensor to enlarge thin negs; especially useful for graded paper. The negative carriers are much better than the B-22 or 23C. It stays aligned which is a problem with the 23C.

For a 6x7 enlarger it is in the top tier.

 

[Shakey]

Thanks everyone for all your help, with a few nervous moments in the closing seconds i won the enlarger for £100 which i feel is a good price. Thanks again Shakey

 

[S Raff]

Congrats Shakey you beat me to it. Sounds like a good piece of kit.
All the best with it.
Raff

 

[Shakey]

lol, you only cost me another £50!

but am very happy with, also bought a new bulb for thinking it wasn't working only to realise that it just needed the insulating powder rubbing off the metal for it work.

 

[Bob F.]

lol, you only cost me another £50!

but am very happy with, also bought a new bulb for thinking it wasn't working only to realise that it just needed the insulating powder rubbing off the metal for it work.

Congrats - nice kit!

There were two last-minute bids, one at £80 and one at £99.99. It was the £99.99 one that put your win cost to £100 but that only pushed the winning price up by £15 as the £80 snipe would have put your winning price at £85 in any case. I do wish ebay would stop this "Bidder 1", "Bidder2" business - I know it is for security reasons but it makes it impossible to spot shill bidding...

"Insulating powder" sounds odd. Not heard of a lamp base being deliberately coated in an insulating powder - possibly corrosion? Corroded aluminium is aluminium oxide which is white(ish) and insulating so that is what springs to mind. If it has been left lying around in a garage or somesuch that would probably explain that - IDK... [edit: ah - Richard to the rescue below!]

Anyway, enjoy: that's good gear.

Bob.

 

[RH Designs]

also bought a new bulb for thinking it wasn't working only to realise that it just needed the insulating powder rubbing off the metal for it work.

That's quite a common problem with that type of lamp, the pins corrode over time with all the heating and cooling. Make sure the pins are clean because otherwise it can cause flickering and inconsistent exposures. Replacement connectors are available, e.g. Dead Link Removed type VJ11M.

 

[Shakey]

Yes it was the white powder and asked my dad what it was and he said it was insulating!

So should i replace this VJ11M aswell or will it be ok as the light does work?

 

[Shakey]

There were two last-minute bids, one at £80 and one at £99.99

I just assumed it was the same person as the bid was uped a few seconds later! Sorry, so correction £15 lol.

 

[RH Designs]

Yes it was the white powder and asked my dad what it was and he said it was insulating!

So should i replace this VJ11M aswell or will it be ok as the light does work?

It's usually the lamp pins that corrode rather than the socket I think. I had a similar problem with an old Meopta but the new lamp seemed to work fine. With the new lamp in place, you could try gently wobbling the socket a little to see if there's any flicker, but be careful and quick because it will all get very hot pretty quickly!