New enlarger! Kienzle Primos 69 S

Trond · Nov 1, 2016

Well, not exactly new and I believe this example is from the early 60's. I don't really need it, but the price was right and I just couldn't resist... It's almost complete, just missing a few minor parts, and came with the original lamp house and a colour head.

Not much written about them on the Internet, so I though it might be interesting for some here on APUG.

The enlarger takes negatives up to 6x9, has autofocus and has two lenses on a turret, a 60mm and a 105mm. It's very similar to the Focomat IIc. Although not built as bombproof as that one, it's obviously very high quality and sturdily built. Compared to the Focomat IIc, it has some advantages:

The negative carriers are simpler and easier to use.
It has stepless adjustment for masking frame heights (the Focomat IIc only has two heights, 25 and 30mm)
Much easier to mount more modern lenses. It just needs new helicals for M39 lenses.
The enlarger is still being made, and all part are still available from the manufacturer

I haven't tried out the enlarger in the darkroom, but the autofocus seems to work correctly, although the 60mm cam needs a minor adjustment. When I get the parts I need from Kienzle, I'll try it out and compare it to my Focomat.

Some snaps below.

Trond

Enlarger with original lamp house

With colour head

Colour head

Lenses in helical mounts

Negative carriers

105mm cam

60mm cam

Ian Grant · Nov 1, 2016

It's rather like the 1950s Johnson enlargers, I have a V45.

Ian

chip j · Nov 1, 2016

Lucky You! A 11c is too tall for my darkroom--is this any shorter?

BMbikerider · Nov 1, 2016

Where is it made? I have never heard of them. The onlytime I have head the name Keinzle before is a wrist watch

Trond · Nov 1, 2016

chip j said:
Lucky You! A 11c is too tall for my darkroom--is this any shorter?

The Kienzle goes a little higher unfortunately.

Trond

Trond · Nov 1, 2016

BMbikerider said:
Where is it made? I have never heard of them. The onlytime I have head the name Keinzle before is a wrist watch

It's made in Germany. They have a whole range of enlargers from 35mm to 10x10" with lots of options. A bit messy 90's kind of website here: http://www.kienzle-phototechnik.de/ Not cheap, but high quality.

Trond

NoClewAtol · Nov 1, 2016

It looks to be in very fine shape. Congratulations!

kwm · Nov 1, 2016

Such a wonderfull enlarger. Yours is in wonderfull condition. I have the same one and looking at your photos it seems to be complete.

Trond · Nov 1, 2016

kwm said:
Such a wonderfull enlarger. Yours is in wonderfull condition. I have the same one and looking at your photos it seems to be complete.

Yes, it looks great! Mine is from the early 60's, judging by the serial numbers on the lenses, and everything is nice and tight. The only thing I wonder about are the counterbalance springs, they seem a little weak, only able to keep the head less than halfway up. Is this normal? The springs on my Focomat are able to pull the head almost all the way to the top.

Trond

sepiareverb · Nov 1, 2016

Love the Keinzle enlargers. I have a recent VC head on my hacked Zone VI 810. Incredible workmanship inside and out on that head. Print well!

K-G · Nov 3, 2016

Kienzle also manufactures and sells parts for older enlargers. Check the website.

Karl-Gustaf

Trond · Nov 24, 2016

I have used the enlarger for a couple of sessions now, for both 35mm and 6x6, and everything works well. The autofocus is a little bit off at low magnifications for 35mm, but it's outside the range I normally use so I haven't touched the cam yet.

The Componon 60mm is a little dim at 5.6, but it's pin sharp fully open, so that isn't really a big problem.

The negative carriers are, as expected, very nice in actual use, and a big improvement compared to the Focomat IIC carriers.

All in all, I'm very pleased with my new enlarger. It isn't as common as the Focomat IIc, but if you see one for sale and the price is right, don't hesitate to buy. Missing parts can be replaced with new ones from Kienzle.

Trond

AgX · Nov 24, 2016

Have a look at the Agfa Varioscop too. Superb built quality.

Trond · Nov 24, 2016

AgX said:
Have a look at the Agfa Varioscop too. Superb built quality.

Yes, they look very nice too! I have only seen them on photos unfortunately.

Trond

Hilo · Nov 29, 2016

Nice find Trond !

Is the frame of the 6X9 negative carrier larger than the one of the 2c? Some negatives hardly fit in my 2c carrier, in particular when wanting to include some of the border. I filed one out for that reason . . .

Are both lenses installed? Or one? Can you use other brand lenses?

Michael

Trond · Nov 29, 2016

Hilo said:
Nice find Trond !

Is the frame of the 6X9 negative carrier larger than the one of the 2c? Some negatives hardly fit in my 2c carrier, in particular when wanting to include some of the border. I filed one out for that reason . . .

Are both lenses installed? Or one? Can you use other brand lenses?

Michael

Hi Michael!

Yes, I think it's larger but I'll measure it later today. Both lenses are installed, and switching between them is almost the same as on the 2c. The current and original Componon lenses are permanently mounted in a special helical mount, but it's possible to buy new M39 helical mounts from Kienzle, so there definitively are more lens options with this enlarger than with the 2c.

Trond

Trond · Nov 29, 2016

Hilo said:
Is the frame of the 6X9 negative carrier larger than the one of the 2c?

Just measured. The 2c carrier is 8,8 x 5,7 cm, while the Kienzle is 9,1 x 6,3 cm. On the Kienzle enlarger, the opening is limited by the enlarger itself, so it would be very difficult to enlarge by filing it.

Trond

Hilo · Nov 29, 2016

That is good to know ! The 2c's 5,7 size is what gave me the problem with some Zeiss Ikon 4,5X6 and 6X6 folders. I think the negatives of these cameras are larger than usual. I filed 2 - 3 millimetres off from the long side closest to us when we hold the carrier . . . and that worked. Your Kienzle's 6,3 size is great, you won't ever have any problem.

What are the 3 (?) squarish holes in the lower half of the enlarger head? How do you use multigrade filters?

Trond · Nov 29, 2016

Hilo said:
What are the 3 (?) squarish holes in the lower half of the enlarger head? How do you use multigrade filters?

The holes are for ventilation/cooling. So far I have use the colour head for contrast control, but I'll also use under the lens filters. I have just ordered a filter holder from Kienzle.

Trond

guyver · Dec 14, 2016

Looks pretty solid!

Trond · Dec 14, 2016

guyver said:
Looks pretty solid!

Absolutely! Mechanically in top shape, which is impressive considering its age (approx 55 years).

Trond

chip j · Dec 15, 2016

Trond said:
Absolutely! Mechanically in top shape, which is impressive considering its age (approx 55 years).

Trond

SHOOT! I have a couple of Valoys that the Nazis made.

kwm · Dec 17, 2016

I don`t think, there were so many Nazi-workers at the Leitz-company during the thrird Reich. Ernst Leitz himself and his daughter helped a lot of jews to get out of Germany in these times. https://fstoppers.com/historical/how-leica-freedom-train-saved-hundreds-jews-holocaust-50656

chip j · Dec 17, 2016

Yes, I know about Leitz giving Jews passports & Leicas to convert into cash. I should have said "Nazi-era".

AgX · Dec 18, 2016

An attempt to unveil the truth behind the myth.:
http://www.porezag.de/index.php/9-b...mythos-und-fakten-vorwort-und-einleitung.html

New enlarger! Kienzle Primos 69 S

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