One enlarger to do all formats, or dedicated units?

Jon Shiu · Jul 24, 2010

Incidentally, it is not hard to flash with one enlarger: leave the neg in and put a piece of white plexi on the below lens filter holder to diffuse the light. Flash for 1/20th of the base exposure as a starting point, depends on the type of diffusion material, of course.

Jon

BradS · Jul 24, 2010

I mainly shoot 35mm and 4x5. I have a Omega D2 and tried to use it for both for a while...I love the big Omega for 4x5 and the occasional 6x7 or 6x9 but it was always a pint to use with 35mm. So, when I came upon a Durst F-30 and started using it for 35mm....I've never tried to do 35mm on the big machine ever again. The little Durst is simply much easier to use for miniature format and takes up no space at all. I would stop printing 35mm if I had to do it on the big Omega.

fotch · Jul 24, 2010

Ian Grant said:
I guess because I've always had 2 enlargers in a darkroom since the mid 70's, and my Durst M601 (in storage) or M670 are great enlargers for 35mm/6x6 both with colour heads.

However my 5x4 enlarger was a cold cathode head so needed below the lens filters for VC papers, in addition the cantilever height adjustment was too finicky for 35mm, it was fine for 6x9 though. so there may well be better 5x4 enlargers allowing practical 35mm use.

Ian

OK, I understand. While I use to use only one Beseler 4x5 with color head, as I am setting up a new darkroom (after a long spell of no darkroom) and with the new era of lower used prices, have acquired additional ones of the same make/model. So, rather than switching heads, one will have the color head, one will have a cold light (never printed with one of these yet), and maybe on with a condenser head. If it works out that I just don't use the extras, well, probably just keep then dust covered for spares.

Yamaotoko · Jul 24, 2010

Thanks for all the insightful comments guys, some very valid 'real world' working examples there. I guess for now, since it wouldn't be worth too much cash anyway, I'm going to hang on to the Meopta, I'll try to tuck it somewhere as out of the way as possible. If I haven't had need to pull it down after a couple years or so, then I'll know it should be safe to get rid of. If it were just a 35mm enlarger, I would probably get rid of it, but being able to handle 6x6 makes it a little different, since 645 is my most common 'smaller' format.

Thanks again everyone, appreciate your trouble.

Yamaotoko · Jul 24, 2010

MattKing said:
Do you have backup bulbs for your D3?

Oh, BTW, yes... I have a box of about two dozen

fschifano · Jul 25, 2010

You know, working with more than one enlarger can get confusing. Each one prints differently. You can use the same set of variable contrast filters on both enlargers. The paper speed will be different from one enlarger to the next. The contrast for a given filter number from the same filter set will be different. The exposure compensation for each VC filter will be different. I know this is true because I've actually measured it. Setting the light intensity at the baseboard to be equal as measured by a meter and contact printing a step wedge for the same time gives me different results under different enlargers.

Adrian Twiss · Jul 25, 2010

I use an L1200 for 5x4 and a modular 70 for the rest. The biggest pain with the L1200 was getting the negative proplerly aligned in such a big carrier, even with the appropriate mask.

Ronald Moravec · Jul 26, 2010

As long a s you have the proper condensers or variable condenser head with the small condenser for 35mm, then the 4x5 is a do everything machine.

Someday if and when you get really fussy, you will want a Focomat for 35mm. But if you get the D3 alligned properly and make a one side glass carrier, the 35mm prints from the D3 will be excellent. You will also need a top class lens which may or may not autofocus perfectly so you may have to do fine adjustments.

No the times are not longer than a dedicated 35mm machine if you have the proper condenser setup . Also there will be edge darkening if you do not have condensers that match the lens. It can go from barely noticeable to quite a bit.

Yamaotoko · Jul 26, 2010

G'day Ronald,

I've got th variable condenser setup with the D3, it works pretty well to cover all of my leses (except my 135m works better with the VC removed completely... interesting..).

I have a few conflicting thoughts, which isn't unusual for me, and makes any decision a whole lot harder than it has to be! One is that, if one day between now and when I retire I may decide 4x5 is a bit too much hassle, being a family man and all, and only shoot 6x6 & below, then I'd kick myself for getting rid of the small enlarger... but, then, if I keep it and at that stage in my life pass on the D3, the day will come when I have all day every day to devote to shooting big negs, and will not be able to find another LF enlarger for less than my right arm... of course, by that stage, film will probably cost a leg a sheet anyway

Uncle Bill · Jul 26, 2010

I ran with a Devere 504 for a few years for both 35mm and 120 and now it just does 120. Someone gifted me a Leitz V35 and printing 35mm with that is addictive.

Sirius Glass · Jul 26, 2010

SteveR said:
One is that, if one day between now and when I retire I may decide 4x5 is a bit too much hassle, being a family man and all, and only shoot 6x6 & below, then I'd kick myself for getting rid of the small enlarger... but, then, if I keep it and at that stage in my life pass on the D3, the day will come when I have all day every day to devote to shooting big negs, and will not be able to find another LF enlarger for less than my right arm... of course, by that stage, film will probably cost a leg a sheet anyway

Does that mean that I have been doing a bad thing by using my 4x5 Chromega 5D-XL for 35mm and 6x6 only? I just started into 4x5 yesterday, will that make up for my sins? :confused: :confused: :confused:

Steve

removed account4 · Jul 26, 2010

if you have the space keep the little one.

Yamaotoko · Jul 27, 2010

Sirius Glass said:
Does that mean that I have been doing a bad thing by using my 4x5 Chromega 5D-XL for 35mm and 6x6 only? I just started into 4x5 yesterday, will that make up for my sins? :confused: :confused: :confused:

Steve

Ha ha! Well, that's sure reassuring to hear

One enlarger to do all formats, or dedicated units?

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