Mayb a bit of an odd question: left handed enlargers???

[aca]

Hello,

This might be an odd question: does a left-handed enlarger exists or do you know of any hack which makes a regular enlarger more suitable for a left-handed person?

I am asking this for a friend/film lover whose right side is paralyzed. Finding grain does work but it would be so much easier if the enlarger had a focusing knob on the left side as well. The enlarger is the Durst m601

 

[Inayat Noor]

My Saunders 4 x 5 LPL has focusing knobs on the left side. Not sure if that qualifies.

 

[Alan9940]

My Beseler 45MX has a focus knob from either side, as well. Sorry, no direct help to you. The only Durst enlarger I ever owned was an F60 way, way back in the day.

 

[flavio81]

Hello,

This might be an odd question: does a left-handed enlarger exists or do you know of any hack which makes a regular enlarger more suitable for a left-handed person?

I am asking this for a friend/film lover whose right side is paralyzed. Finding grain does work but it would be so much easier if the enlarger had a focusing knob on the left side as well. The enlarger is the Durst m601

If he positions the enlarger with its back towards him, the focusing knob will be at the left. And depending on the column, if the column is narrow then it won't be too bothersome to operate the enlarger.

I own a Durst M670 Color and it has a huge, wide focusing knob. I think a left handed person could use it easily too. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a way to disassemble it and relocate the focusing knob to the left.

 

[aca]

My Saunders 4 x 5 LPL has focusing knobs on the left side. Not sure if that qualifies.

Thank you, good to know enlarger with a left focusing knob exist ........

 

[aca]

My Beseler 45MX has a focus knob from either side, as well. Sorry, no direct help to you. The only Durst enlarger I ever owned was an F60 way, way back in the day.

I had to look up the Beseler 45mx but that's in my book a "beast" .....45 is for 4x5 inches??? So really good for LF negatives, I guess

Stay safe, stay healthy and keep it analog

 

[aca]

If he positions the enlarger with its back towards him, the focusing knob will be at the left. And depending on the column, if the column is narrow then it won't be too bothersome to operate the enlarger.

I own a Durst M670 Color and it has a huge, wide focusing knob. I think a left handed person could use it easily too. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a way to disassemble it and relocate the focusing knob to the left.

Hi Flavio,

Thank you. I like the way you think.

Just for fun, I will check it out myself first. But the column is not really narrow and it will look strange.

I haven't check if I can just reattach the knob on the left side ................

Thanks everyone

 

[MattKing]

I am extremely left handed - I have very limited strength and dexterity in my right hand - so I have lots of direct experience with this.
My Beseler 67C was good, in that it had focus knobs on both sides. IIRC the Beseler 23C series has the same.
It also had the lift control for inserting and removing the negative carrier on the left. Unfortunately, the control for raising and lowering the head was on the right.
Until recently I had an Omega D6, which had the the lift control for inserting and removing the negative carrier on the left, but only one focus control on the right. I set it up on a cart, which permitted operation from both the front and the right side.
I now have two LPL 7700 (Saunders 670 DXL in the USA). They have focus controls on both sides, and the lift control for inserting and removing the negative carrier is on the left. The control for raising and lowering the head can be switched from one side to the other by the user - I have it on the left as well. They are the easiest to use left handed that I have encountered.
I've worked in amateur darkrooms, club darkrooms, professional darkrooms and darkrooms that are barely darkrooms. Some equipment out there is extremely difficult to use left handed, but thankfully there are choices that are quite suitable for left handed and one handed darkroom workers.

 

[Pieter12]

KHB sells an accessory focusing cable for Omega and Beseler enlargers, about 30" long, that could be used with the left hand. Maybe something like that could be adapted to the Durst? http://store.khbphotografix.com/Flexible-Focus-Extension-Kit-for-Omega-D5-and-E-Enlargers.html

 

[MattiS]

The Durst M805 also has the focusing knob on the left side. M305, M605 and Laborator 1000 have the focusing knob on the right side.

 

[Alan9940]

I had to look up the Beseler 45mx but that's in my book a "beast" .....45 is for 4x5 inches??? So really good for LF negatives, I guess

Stay safe, stay healthy and keep it analog

Yes, it's a 4x5 enlarger, but I print everything from 35mm up to 4x5 for enlargements and 8x10 contact prints.

 

[Hilo]

If your friend has a lot of 135mm negatives you could suggest to get a Leitz Valoy II next to the Durst. This small enlarger has a large round helical lens mount sitting in the middle of the enlarger. I am right handed but use it with my left hand. This enlarger does up to 30x40cm easily and it costs less than euro 100.

Of course there are the Leitz Focomat Ic and IIc with automatic focus. That really does work!

Both the Valoy II and the Focomat Ic have a condensor that presses down onto the negative. In other words you don't use a negative carrier, but simply lay the negative strip down and drop down the enlarger head on it.

 

[aca]

I am extremely left handed - I have very limited strength and dexterity in my right hand - so I have lots of direct experience with this.
.......
I've worked in amateur darkrooms, club darkrooms, professional darkrooms and darkrooms that are barely darkrooms. Some equipment out there is extremely difficult to use left-handed, but thankfully there are choices that are quite suitable for left handed and one handed darkroom workers.

Matt, Thank you for your insight on actually using enlargers as a left-handed person.

I will definitely pass all this valuable information to my friend and I will keep my eyes open for enlargers which seem to be easier to work with for left-handed.

 

[awty]

You can turn the enlarger so the right side faces you. Makes it a little easier to use left handed. I have a frozen right shoulder so need to operate the enlarger left handed.