Recommend and enlarger for 6x7, 6x6, & 35

jmooney · Feb 3, 2009

Hi All,

I'm getting ready to get my bathroom darkroom rolling and need an enlarger. It has to do 6x7, 6x6, and 35 and not be hernia inducing when moved.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Jim

2F/2F · Feb 3, 2009

Beseler 23, as they are fine quality, fairly small and light, extremely common, and dirt cheap if not free. If you find something better down the road, go for it and ditch the Beseler, but it will certainly get you started quickly and cheaply.

Konical · Feb 3, 2009

Good Evening, Jim,

The Beseler 23 will actually take you to 6 x 9. Carriers and boards are easily available.

Long term, given the extremely low prices of used enlargers these days, going directly to a 4 x 5 enlarger makes even more sense, unless space is an absolutely critical factor. There are lots of previous threads and posts on this topic; it should be easy to get a variety of suggestions and opinions.

Konical

epatsellis · Feb 3, 2009

I'd agree with the 23C suggestion. It's funny, after playing with my Elwood 5x7 and 8x10 enlargers at home, when I print at school, the 23's almost look cute, tiny in fact.

erie

2F/2F · Feb 3, 2009

jmooney said:
Hi All,

I'm getting ready to get my bathroom darkroom rolling and need an enlarger. It has to do 6x7, 6x6, and 35 and not be hernia inducing when moved.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Jim

BTW, I am close to that one advertised here in L.A. in the APUG classifieds. I have already told the seller that I am interested, but if you decide it is worth your while to pay to have it shipped, I will take care of the process for you, since I already have an enlarger, and this would just be for solarization and flashing for me (and I also want the timer, and all the neg. carriers are a big plus). However, I would venture to guess that there will be a similar deal in your neck of the woods without too much waiting.

MattKing · Feb 3, 2009

Beseler 67

I like my Beseler 67.

See my comments in the adjacent thread:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Matt

John Koehrer · Feb 4, 2009

jmooney said:
Hi All,

I'm getting ready to get my bathroom darkroom rolling and need an enlarger. It has to do 6x7, 6x6, and 35 and not be hernia inducing when moved.

Jim

23C isn't really a compact or light enlarger. Many have used it for bathroom setups but the 67C or Omega 760 is more compact.
In either case neither is heavy but if you're manhandling it the 67C or 760 would be less bulky to work through a door or set up on a sink etc.

JRJacobs · Feb 4, 2009

Jim -

If you are interested in a Beseler 23c, I have one in the classifieds here:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I will ship it to you if you are interested. It has negative carriers and a timer.
Send me a PM if you are interested.

Thanks!

ozphoto · Feb 5, 2009

I love my LPL/Saunders 7700MX - I'm even able to print 6x9 with an adapted universal neg mask. Head rotates for extra large printing (not that I've needed to just yet). Colour head, Rodenstock lenses (50mm & 105mm) and it's perfect. Cost me $695 for the enlarger, but I've since since seen them in Australia for as little as $350.

Vilk · Feb 5, 2009

ozphoto said:
...I'm even able to print 6x9 with an adapted universal neg mask.

oz, i won't sleep now, you have to tell me--just how? are you talking about the 6x7 "universal glass carrier"?

jim, yes, LPL 6700 highly recommended (i think they must be called something else in every country they're distributed in). perfect for the setting you describe. colour head very handy for variable contrast paper

ozphoto · Feb 5, 2009

Yes that's exactly what I'm talking about.
I had to buy a 2nd one, but once purchased, removed the blades carefully and it fits my 6x9 negs perfectly!
Now I can print all of my film cameras (until I finally get a lovely 5x4 that is )

Steve Smith · Feb 5, 2009

Vilk said:
LPL 6700 highly recommended (i think they must be called something else in every country they're distributed in).

Highly recommended by me too.

Mine is labelled LPL/Saunders 6700. I just wish it would do 6x9 from my Zeiss folder.

I made my own negative holders for mine and I think I could just about go to 6x8.

Steve.

Vilk · Feb 5, 2009

Oz, thanks a million! Steve, thank you, too.

I knew the 6700 was a great tool--apparently, I had no idea how great.

Hey, Vilk--on to 6x9!

ozphoto · Feb 5, 2009

Hey Steve.
If you can dismantle the 6x7 universal carrier (take off the blades) you've got yourself a 6x9 carrier! That's what I did to print from my Junior 6x9 folder - works a treat!!

Nanette

Recommend and enlarger for 6x7, 6x6, & 35

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