Price of 8x10 enlargers in 2026

Hello.
im looking around for a 8x10 enlarger. And it seems that the prices are quite hi nowadays. Are these prices realistic?

Durst 138 converted with led head + Chromega-E. 1000 EUR (1100 USD)
Durst 184 with CLS1000 2000 EUR (2200 USD) + 1000 for extra parts

ScandiPhoto said:

Hello.
im looking around for a 8x10 enlarger. And it seems that the prices are quite hi nowadays. Are these prices realistic?

Durst 138 converted with led head + Chromega-E. 1000 EUR (1100 USD)
Durst 184 with CLS1000 2000 EUR (2200 USD) + 1000 for extra parts

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Still a bargain..... the 138 was a 5 or 6000 € enlarger in N America when new. Brilliant and well made enlarger....

There is a 184 for sale in the U.S for $4250 U.S + local pick, so need a box truck to take home.

ScandiPhoto said:

Hello.
im looking around for a 8x10 enlarger. And it seems that the prices are quite hi nowadays. Are these prices realistic?

Durst 138 converted with led head + Chromega-E. 1000 EUR (1100 USD)
Durst 184 with CLS1000 2000 EUR (2200 USD) + 1000 for extra parts

Click to expand...

They're at the bottom end of the range.

All depends on how bad people want the stuff gone. Prices can range a lot.

If the 184 has the lens and carrier set, a spare bulb or two, if within budget it would be the one I would consider.

8x10 and 5x7 c. 2001 Zone VI VC cold lights, with timers, carriers, lens boards 240 Rodagon, 2 small Rodagons trays etc. Some guy went to a Zone VI workshop and went crazy buying everything under the sun from Zone VI. Used it a few times, got bored. He tried selling word of mouth for a couple years. He decided to go start a sawmill
I gave $300 for the whole lot. It's beautiful stuff. The integrating timers are absolutely necessary, these came with a Zone VI and a Metrolux II. I have a Stopclock Vario on these now. I use the 5"x7" for 6x17 (cm) no way to print color, can't afford 5x7 or 8x10 color film.

I have no idea about the European market. But everything depends on the condition and completeness of the machine. I got a fully equipped L184 color unit for free about 12 yrs ago, and spent about a thousand dollars fully refurbishing it. It cost around $22,000 US when new. I've also refurbished a couple of 138 units. Just finding a negative carrier in pristine condition might cost over a thousand dollars (or free, if you're lucky). But these commercial Durst units are wonderful built.

DREW WILEY said:

I have no idea about the European market. But everything depends on the condition and completeness of the machine. I got a fully equipped L184 color unit for free about 12 yrs ago, and spent about a thousand dollars fully refurbishing it. It cost around $22,000 US when new. I've also refurbished a couple of 138 units. Just finding a negative carrier in pristine condition might cost over a thousand dollars (or free, if you're lucky). But these commercial Durst units are wonderful built.

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Durst and kin are built like a tank!

I think it can depend heavily on the local market.

"The market" is shattered into all kinds of unpredictable shards. When most of the industry switched over to digital 20 or so yrs ago, things like big commercial enlargers and process cameras were being outright hauled to the dump. I cannibalized lenses and a huge precision vacuum easel from a massive copy camera on its way to landfill which cost over $200,000 new. I've been outright offered over two dozen actual commercial enlargers for free (only had room for one more). A few of the free ones still left are almost impossible to extricate from the rooms or basements once built around them. In another case, there's a holdout on a horizontal Durst someone still demands $90,000 for - itself almost impossible to extricate intact from a now converted commercial basement space with the freight elevator disabled.

Most of the stuff that appears on auction listings is in pretty bad shape; and the dedicated used and refurbished gear gurus are now nearly all either retired or outright deceased. But heck - all kinds of people refurbish classic old cars and motorcycles, and speedboats, for which parts are now scarce as well. Where there's a will, there's a way, especially if one has some basic shop skills, or knows a good machinist. Electronic components like power supplies can be trickier to repair. I simply bypassed all that, and rewired my units to straight line voltage.

DREW WILEY said:

Most of the stuff that appears on auction listings is in pretty bad shape; and the dedicated used and refurbished gear gurus are now nearly all either retired or outright deceased.

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KHBPhotografix in Welland, Ontario is still in business.

mshchem said:

I'm not selling my Deardorff V8 with full movements I stumbled on for $700. When you've been obsessed with cameras since kindergarten, you're going to end with a 4 bedroom house F7LL of stuff.

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Haha, same here. So far only one room in my house is that full of gear!

The 8x10 market is interesting. One could get lucky, but I think the best strategy is to keep your eyes open across a larger area. I ended up driving 5 hours for my old Elwood. Four months later I missed out on a Super Chromega F unit. In realistic terms, the Super Chromega wouldn't have fit anywhere in my house, so that one was moot.

mshchem said:

8x10 and 5x7 c. 2001 Zone VI VC cold lights, with timers, carriers, lens boards 240 Rodagon, 2 small Rodagons trays etc. Some guy went to a Zone VI workshop and went crazy buying everything under the sun from Zone VI. Used it a few times, got bored. He tried selling word of mouth for a couple years. He decided to go start a sawmill
I gave $300 for the whole lot. It's beautiful stuff. The integrating timers are absolutely necessary, these came with a Zone VI and a Metrolux II. I have a Stopclock Vario on these now. I use the 5"x7" for 6x17 (cm) no way to print color, can't afford 5x7 or 8x10 color film.

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Ive looked at the Stopclock Vario. would be fun to try one..

So far the ones I got offered all are well kept and lots of parts, very nice priv ate sellers. The 184 looks promising. I'll post some photos when I decided on one. I also got offered a L1840 from a broker for twice the money. not sure if it would be worth it thou.