Need help finding an enlarger...

Hey cats and kitties,
I'm finally going to do it: I'm going to build a darkroom in my basement bathroom. There is a lot of work involved construction-wise first, but I wanted to start researching an enlarger. Here are my requirements:

B&W only
Need to print up to 6x7cm negs
Either condensor or diffusion is fine
Hopefully no vibration of enlarger head at large print sizes
At least 11x14" prints on the baseboard

It's been so long since I've printed (college 13 years ago) that I can't remember anything else I would need. I used a Beseler 23C in college and it definitely did the job although there seemed to be a little bit of light fall off at 6x7cm with a Nikkor 105mm lens (I may be wrong, it's been a while).

I don't have too much room. The bathroom I'm going to convert is about 5'x10', so a 4x5 enlarger is probably not a good idea.

Any recommendations?
Thanks in advance,
Ara

I used to use a Chromega 6x7 enlarger and it was a nice bright enlarger. It wasn't the smallest but it did fit into a small bathroom atop of the sink with its base. You may want to find a WA lens so that you dont have to extend the head too far up the column to get enlargements up to 16x20 comfortably on the base.

The Omega B22 was a nice, small enlarger but it only takes up to 6x6. The Beseler 23C is bigger but handles up to 6x9. I use an 80mm for 6x7 and it is pretty darned even when the condensors are adjusted properly.

Best of luck. It's always good to see another home darkroom sprout up! Kodak,and Ilford... take note.

Just the thing!

Hi there, It happens that I have just the thing for you. I've just made a deal for a bigger enlarger, so I can give you a deal on my current one. It's a Beseler Dichro 67S (that's a 67 head mounted to the sturdier dual column of the 23C). It's in fine shape and I have had no trouble making 11x14 prints from medium format negs. I will include the following with it: 35mm Beslar lens, 50mm Beslar lens, 3 lens boards, 35mm mounted slide carrier, 2 35mm neg carriers (1 excellent, 1 not as good), 6x6 cm carrier, both the 6x7 and the 35mm diffuser boxes, a Beseler audible enlarger timer, the table I developed for B&W VC filtration and a manual on CD. You'll probably want to acquire a good 75mm lens for the MF stuff, as I'll be hanging on to my Nikkor. All of this equipment (except the one 35mm neg carrier) is in fine shape and currently being used, and can be yours for the meager sum of $225 plus actual shipping.

Please PM me if you are interested. I have to go out for a couple of hours, but when I get back I'll attach some pictures.

PS - I'll also throw in a 2-blade adjustable easel.

Hi Ara,

I use an Omega D2 in a much smaller area. The footprint isn't really that much larger than a medium format enlarger.

Neal Wydra

Ara,

I agree with Neal, I have a D 3 and a Durst 6X6 in a smaller area, I would think about a 4X5. If you go with a Omega D 2 or 3 you can get a cold light or color head and a condenser head.

Regards,

Paul

More Stuff

Ara-In the Ct. exchange paper ther is a person selling a Delta 6foot by 27inch Delta Darkroomsink. Comes with a stand. For $25 Seems like a steal to me and the guy is in Old Saybrook-not too far from Rhode Island The phone number 860-399-2549
Good luck with your project
Peter

I would vote for a Beseler 23C because accessories such as negative carriers and lens boards are easy to find and cheap.

Since you're going into the construction business, you could always build your own!

I just finished a 4x5 using an e-bay Beseler Dichro 45 for less than $500 total cost. http://www.geocities.com/diannebest/Enlarger/Enlarger.html

(I now have two Dichros and am thinking about another one. They may be obsolete but I'll have enough parts to last MY lifetime )

Good luck!