Need manual for Durst A600 enlarger

freecitizen · Jan 21, 2017

My camera club has been donated a Durst A600 enlarger in really good condition. We are all excited to have such a fine piece of equipment to use, and it allows us go up to 6x9cm negatives now.

I have pretty much worked out how to use it, but would like to have the manual for the students and other darkroom workers to consult.

A search of the internet has not been fruitful for me. Is anyone able to point me to where I can find a copy of the manual please ?

AgX · Jan 21, 2017

Is there still anything special you want to know?

rthollenbeck · Jan 21, 2017

I had one sometime ago. Never did find a manual for it, but I cant say I really needed one either. At that time there was a guy Terry Seamans (SP?) and he had a Durst junkyard of sorts. He desolved all that. I know Glennview bought or received some stuff from Terry. Glenn is mostly interested in the 138 & 184 but he does keep litature as well. You can check with Glenn. Contact him though his website. The chance is very remote that he has a600 stuff however.

freecitizen · Jan 21, 2017

Thanks for the replies....

AgX ........ I can operate the enlarger using manual focus by turning the helicoid ( using a 105mm lens for 6x9 negs ). It is supposed to be an autofocus enlarger and I cannot work this out. The body containing the helicoid is spring loaded. It seems likely I do not have the correct cam; if this is so .... I have no idea what the cam looks like, or how it is supposed to work.

rthollenbeck ...... Thanks for the suggestion re Terry and Glennview ..... I will follow this up.

We can use it manually which will do everything we need, but I would like to know more and solve my autofocus puzzle. It would be nice to have the manual for reference and for newcomers to our Group.

rthollenbeck · Jan 21, 2017

I agree, it's cammed for a different lens. Look on the condenser cover. The cam/cams are usually stamped there.
You can get a lens of the correct focal length...it probably won't match exactly but it should be close and you can test it out that way.
If it has several cam, assuming I rember corectly. There are studs to attach that strap under the right side as you face it.... I think they are color coded or number stamped.

AgX · Jan 21, 2017

-) there are three doublecondensors, for 105, 80 and 50mm focal length respectively.

-) In original state the enlarger was cammed only for one of these focal lengths, the serial number of the respective lens is stamped on the enlarger

-) the same for the negative stage

-) exchanging the cam is not intended

-) manual focusing is done by twisting the wide, serrated ring around the lens.

-) to achieve autofocus again that ring has to be twisted again into a position where it locks

-) at the back of the column is a knob by which the referential plane for the autofocus can be reset, as when using an easel

Ian Grant · Jan 21, 2017

I'd look at a few similar Durst enlargers OCR the text and cut/[aste and make your own basic instructions, I have a Durst A600. I was given it about 3 years ago but have never used it, but it's just like other Durst enlargers except for the Autofocus cam. I will use mine but only for 6x7 and 6x9 negatives because my big De Vere 5108 is thirsty on bulbs so best not used below 5x4.

Ian

freecitizen · Jan 22, 2017

A very kind member of this forum has PM'd me with these links .........

http://foto.aaweb.cz/pdf/others/durst_a600_de.pdf

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/50453789/durst a600.pdf

I will be able to work it out from the diagrams and once I manage to translate the German one ........

Thankyou for that. What a terrific forum this is.

AgX · Jan 22, 2017

You won't find anything new in that manual...

brian.moorhead · Jan 29, 2017

If you still need a copy of the english manual let me know I have one.

Ian Grant · Jan 29, 2017

brian.moorhead said:
If you still need a copy of the english manual let me know I have one.

If you could scan the manual I'm sure a few of us would be interested.

Ian

freecitizen · Jan 29, 2017

Thankyou brian.moorhead

If you are able to send me one, or post a link here ...... A copy in English would be very useful to me.

Many Thanks and Best Regards ............. Greg

Luis-F-S · Jan 30, 2017

Ian Grant said:
I will use mine but only for 6x7 and 6x9 negatives because my big De Vere 5108 is thirsty on bulbs so best not used below 5x4.

Ian

Strange Ian I've never blown a bulb on my 5108 but it's also 120 v not 220. I've also got mine bulbed at 1000 watts instead of 1250 so it runs a bit cooler.

Ian Grant · Jan 30, 2017

Luis-F-S said:
Strange Ian I've never blown a bulb on my 5108 but it's also 120 v not 220. I've also got mine bulbed at 1000 watts instead of 1250 so it runs a bit cooler.

The 240v colour heads on the 5108 use 120v 300w bulbs two pairs wired in series. It may well be that 120v 250w bulbs have a longer life.

Ian

Need manual for Durst A600 enlarger

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