Renato Tonelli
Allowing Ads
Congratulations - it looks well-made.
I find it interesting that the option of condensor mixing boxes is available for the most common formats. A condensor fed by the diffuse light of the first stage styrofoam box. I wonder what you think about that! Will it behave the same as any other condensor enlarger?
The only condenser systems not fed by a diffuse source are point-source systems. If one projects colors onto the diffuser it creates a high-efficiency color-condenser system.
Yes - and it tends to get forgotten that the whole reason Durst used those monster bulbs in the 138/ 184 condenser heads etc was because they were the best way of getting a reasonably high output diffuse source of sufficient size to illuminate the condensers evenly in the 40s/50s.
I'm glad I found this thread. I've had my eye on a C252 8x10 enlarger with the LED head for quite some time. It's affordable even considering many used 8x10 enlargers.
Here is a link to the various product line up PDFs they have: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1n8ejucxlcahliu/AAD1QuewC7y2X0p6Qaw6znCCa?dl=0
I found their communication a bit difficult when I reached out to them however. I tried to get my current VC head converted to Splitgrade and they said they would do it, but when I asked for more info they simply stopped returning my emails. I just needed instructions on how to send it in...
interesting story;let me remind you of the ELNikkor150mm f/5.6 as n option for 4x5 enlargements.It has la lit dial and is of excellent optical quality.Act 2 - Pick up.
I made the appointment for 10am. My phone tells me it's a three hour drive. The route is prone to delays. The A8 Munich-Stuttgart can be very busy and Stuttgart (Mercedes-Benz) can be an outright nightmare, even when only driving past on the Autobahn. At Stuttgart turn south and after a short while get off the Autobahn and into the hills of the northern Schwarzwald (Black Forrest). It's a beautiful area. Worth bringing a camera. But not today, I want to get that thing home, ASAP.
Unlike on the planned Monday, this Saturday morning had very light traffic and I made it in 2h30m. A bit early, but the lights were on in the workshop and the business hours on the sign listed Saturday mornings.
I rang the bell and met a very friendly Mr. Kienzle, who asked me to wait for a minute in a sitting corner of the office. Issues of Photo Klassik magazine were on the table.
We started a pleasant chat and eventually proceeded into the workshop, where my enlarger was waiting. The column was mounted on a service base, not mine. Mr. Kienzle showed me the mechanical operating elements, the break release for moving the head up and down, focusing, how to mount the lens cones, etc. We took a look into the top of the head with the lamp and filters. He told me a few things to be careful about, regarding operator and device safety. Most of them are covered by notice stickers.
The whole experience was a bit like picking up a new car from the factory: Take a tour of the production line and then get introduced to your car. I haven't done that myself but it is offered by some brands. I saw the tours when was a student and worked over the summer at the Audi plant.
In this case the tour came after the introduction to my new 'car'. We didn't tour the work shop as such but we walked around to look at some of the other products. My enlarger was the smallest I saw that day. Mr. Kienzle pointed at an 8x10 model, saying this is the small one (C-Series, like mine). It was a floor unit on rollers with a height adjustable table. Very smooth moving.
Other enlargers heads were still unpainted, just blank metal. An unusual sight. This is not a factory with an assembly line like a car factory. These devices are pretty much hand assembled from what I could see.
One of their automatic easels was on the table of the above standalone enlarger. Four blades, each fixed on each side. Unlike my Saunders V the blades don't move parallel by themselves, instead they are pretty loose moving and there is a precise mm-Scale on each side and both ends of the blade are placed at the desired distance on the scale and locked in place by tightening the knobs. A simple design, but this cannot go out of adjustment.
The easel is an automatic one because pins will drive up, against which you can place the paper. There are pins for different paper sizes. As you close the easel the pins recess and eventually the blades will hold it in place.
I mentioned that digitising film with cameras is becoming very popular. I made some suggestions what I would like to see. And when I mentioned that mechanically driving a film strip through the hold would be nice he led me to the company dark room where there should be and old filmholder with that function. Indeed there was one for 35mm film. Quite a solid piece. But a simpler, cheaper to produce one should be possible. I mentioned that there is a very expensive 3D printed product coming from SF. Perhaps they could make a competetivly priced alternative from metal. Their cost base in the Black Forrest will be a lot lower than in San Fransisco.
Then he had another older film holder in his hands for 4x5 film. It grabs the film on two sides and stretches it flat. Nice. I didn't ask if they made these or if they are third party.
They have a nice looking grain focuser. On first sight it reminded me of a sextant. I have a copied brochure for it, and I only noticed at home that the used loupe/optics looks similar to the 10x Adox loupe, which I have. And I've seen that one elsewhere. I guess it is an OEM offering. But thats a good idea. A precision crafted device with quality optics off the shelf. The mirror is covered by a protective metal flap when not in use. In my price list it is a bit more than €300, I believe. Plus tax.
I also saw their acrylic paper washers with individual chambers. And a small version for 8x10 sheet film using a siphon to periodically fill and drain the washer.
The paper washers use aeration for agitation. The air is provided by a water asperator. I didn't see it running, but I assume it is working in a manner similar to the Jobo cascade. I have the cascade to run aerated water through my film tanks. Both Jobo and Paterson tanks. Very convenient.
Thanks. I would like a De Vere but the issue is shipping to australia. I’m going to make some enquires in the UK and see. The focus system I think Devere is great because it’s located at the baseboard. I may actually opt for a smaller Kienzle c67 and look at also a used Devere but need to see about shipping which may end up being as much as the enlarger…..@Joakes I've attached the leaflet Kienzle sent a few years ago when I asked for more details about the C120 - it can be had with a longer column (up to 1500mm if the C252 spec is the same), bigger baseboard and deeper optical axis - along with wall/ freestanding options, depending on how much you want to spend. I ended up going with De Vere because I very strongly prefer the ergonomics & know it to be an extremely stable/ precise design, but the Kienzle is a very modular/ customisable system, which has strong benefits if you have height/ space limits.
Did you get a new or refurb De Vere?I ended up going with De Vere because I very strongly prefer the ergonomics & know it to be an extremely stable/ precise design
Fantastic very much appreciated. I’m looking at getting one myself, prob the same one. I’m in australia and would need to have it shipped. Looks like it can be broken down and assembled fairly easily. I’d like the print fairly large and it looks like column can be customised? How big can it print?
Act 2 - Pick up.
I made the appointment for 10am. My phone tells me it's a three hour drive. The route is prone to delays. The A8 Munich-Stuttgart can be very busy and Stuttgart (Mercedes-Benz) can be an outright nightmare, even when only driving past on the Autobahn. At Stuttgart turn south and after a short while get off the Autobahn and into the hills of the northern Schwarzwald (Black Forrest). It's a beautiful area. Worth bringing a camera. But not today, I want to get that thing home, ASAP.
Unlike on the planned Monday, this Saturday morning had very light traffic and I made it in 2h30m. A bit early, but the lights were on in the workshop and the business hours on the sign listed Saturday mornings.
I rang the bell and met a very friendly Mr. Kienzle, who asked me to wait for a minute in a sitting corner of the office. Issues of Photo Klassik magazine were on the table.
We started a pleasant chat and eventually proceeded into the workshop, where my enlarger was waiting. The column was mounted on a service base, not mine. Mr. Kienzle showed me the mechanical operating elements, the break release for moving the head up and down, focusing, how to mount the lens cones, etc. We took a look into the top of the head with the lamp and filters. He told me a few things to be careful about, regarding operator and device safety. Most of them are covered by notice stickers.
The whole experience was a bit like picking up a new car from the factory: Take a tour of the production line and then get introduced to your car. I haven't done that myself but it is offered by some brands. I saw the tours when was a student and worked over the summer at the Audi plant.
In this case the tour came after the introduction to my new 'car'. We didn't tour the work shop as such but we walked around to look at some of the other products. My enlarger was the smallest I saw that day. Mr. Kienzle pointed at an 8x10 model, saying this is the small one (C-Series, like mine). It was a floor unit on rollers with a height adjustable table. Very smooth moving.
Other enlargers heads were still unpainted, just blank metal. An unusual sight. This is not a factory with an assembly line like a car factory. These devices are pretty much hand assembled from what I could see.
One of their automatic easels was on the table of the above standalone enlarger. Four blades, each fixed on each side. Unlike my Saunders V the blades don't move parallel by themselves, instead they are pretty loose moving and there is a precise mm-Scale on each side and both ends of the blade are placed at the desired distance on the scale and locked in place by tightening the knobs. A simple design, but this cannot go out of adjustment.
The easel is an automatic one because pins will drive up, against which you can place the paper. There are pins for different paper sizes. As you close the easel the pins recess and eventually the blades will hold it in place.
I mentioned that digitising film with cameras is becoming very popular. I made some suggestions what I would like to see. And when I mentioned that mechanically driving a film strip through the hold would be nice he led me to the company dark room where there should be and old filmholder with that function. Indeed there was one for 35mm film. Quite a solid piece. But a simpler, cheaper to produce one should be possible. I mentioned that there is a very expensive 3D printed product coming from SF. Perhaps they could make a competetivly priced alternative from metal. Their cost base in the Black Forrest will be a lot lower than in San Fransisco.
Then he had another older film holder in his hands for 4x5 film. It grabs the film on two sides and stretches it flat. Nice. I didn't ask if they made these or if they are third party.
They have a nice looking grain focuser. On first sight it reminded me of a sextant. I have a copied brochure for it, and I only noticed at home that the used loupe/optics looks similar to the 10x Adox loupe, which I have. And I've seen that one elsewhere. I guess it is an OEM offering. But thats a good idea. A precision crafted device with quality optics off the shelf. The mirror is covered by a protective metal flap when not in use. In my price list it is a bit more than €300, I believe. Plus tax.
I also saw their acrylic paper washers with individual chambers. And a small version for 8x10 sheet film using a siphon to periodically fill and drain the washer.
The paper washers use aeration for agitation. The air is provided by a water asperator. I didn't see it running, but I assume it is working in a manner similar to the Jobo cascade. I have the cascade to run aerated water through my film tanks. Both Jobo and Paterson tanks. Very convenient.
Yes I sent them a message this morning. Yes they look fairly compact and easier to ship. Shipping from the USA is often over the top expensive but Europe and UK ok. The wall mounted does sound like a really good option. Actually I’ve just designed a baseboard which has cap screws you can take in and out for paper placement with laser cut aluminium frames for border. So I actually may not even purchase the baseboard.
Did you get a new or refurb De Vere?
That was fortunate, and especially with local availability, although I picked up my fairly 'as new' 504 about an hours drive away. There seem to be very few De Vere or other enlargers on the market compared to a few years ago.Then, by great good fortune, the exact model of De Vere I was after turned up locally with all the parts, pin-reg, stabiliser etc - and I already had the other components needed to set it up as I wanted.
Do you know what the lead time is on the Kienzle enlarger?I could get a DeVere if I wait long enough but to outfit it with the Heiland set up I want it might be more than what a new C252 costs.
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