Saunders vs Leitz (Leica) easels

[clauss]

Hello there. I have the opportunity to buy either a Saunders 11x14 or a Leitz easel, both four-bladed, for the same price. Any reason to buy one over the other? Or will I be happy with any of them?

Here are some pictures of the easels:

 

[voceumana]

I believe Leitz easels were at a fixed height for use with their autofocus enlargers, so if you have an autofocus Leitz enlarger that would be important. From the photo, the Leitz looks like a very well made easel.

Saunders easels have an excellent reputation--I have one of the V-track design (11x14) and am very happy with it--the design is similar to the Leitz you show. The Saunders design in your photo is a more expensive design than my V-track, but is a fine easel. I think that the Saunders will work as a fixed size 11x14 easel with 1/4 inch borders if the blades are removed--I don't think the Leitz will permit that

I don't think you would be unhappy with either.

 

[AgX]

I believe Leitz easels were at a fixed height for use with their autofocus enlargers, so if you have an autofocus Leitz enlarger that would be important.

Top my understanding all Leitz autofocus enlargers can be adjusted continuously on any easel height.

 

[bdial]

The Leitz looks like it might do better at staying square, though it's not a particular issue for Saunders easels. Either one would likely work well. If I were choosing between them, I'd likely go with whichever seemed the most robust. I have an 11x14 and a 16x20 Saunders, they work fine.

 

[logan2z]

Top my understanding all Leitz autofocus enlargers can be adjusted continuously on any easel height.

That's correct.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I don't know about that particular model of Leitz easel, but some of them have slots in the bottom for a clamp that the Leitz Focomat 1c has for example. Once you get the easel where you want it, it stays there. Of course if you don't have a Focomat or whatever, then that is irrelevant.

The Leitz easel is probably worth more money, but I'd rather use the Saunders.

Hope that helps you.

 

[guangong]

I have a Saunders for use with my Beseler 45 and a Leitz for use with my Focomat. Apparently my Leitz easel is an earliest version. From the pictures I would say that if you are not using a Focomat, go with the Saunders.

 

[mshchem]

I've never used Leitz easels. I have several Saunders easels, top notch. The V series are outstanding. The one you have pictured was made up to 20x24. That's a nice easel. I've never seen anything Leitz make that wasn't superb.
Saunders easels were made in Rochester NY for decades, in US darkrooms Saunders was the top of the line.

 

[larfe]

get both of them. setting them up is a nightmare

 

[AgX]

What do you mean by "setting them up"? Adjusting the blades for perpendicularity?

 

[mrosenlof]

I have a Saunders V-track easel that I'm happy with. The geared model you show should be good also. Not familiar with the Leica, but would expect it to be high quality also.

 

[miha]

What do you mean by "setting them up"? Adjusting the blades for perpendicularity?

I don't know about "larfe" but to me it is always tedious to set the blades on a 4-blade easel when changing either paper size or border width. I take a sheet of white paper and a pen, draw the lines along the blades, remove the paper to see where I am and adjust accordingly.

 

[MattKing]

I have placed small felt pen markings on the guide scales of my Saunders 4 blade easels to indicate my favourite border settings.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I don't know about "larfe" but to me it is always tedious to set the blades on a 4-blade easel when changing either paper size or border width. I take a sheet of white paper and a pen, draw the lines along the blades, remove the paper to see where I am and adjust accordingly.

Both my Saunders 4-blade easels (16x20 and 20x24) have accurate scales on them. Setting the dimensions is a snap. I like a half-inch border on my prints, so for, say, 11x14 paper, I just set the dimensions at 10x13. If I want a different aspect ratio (which is 99% of the time), then I'll adjust one or the other of the dimensions so that I have a larger border top/bottom or right/left, leaving the original half-inch border on the other sides. EZPZ with my easels.

Best,

Doremus

 

[John Koehrer]

Umm, how much are they?

 

[Hilo]

The most important: the blades must lay flat on the surface. Leitz or Saunders, both will be fine. But blades that come up a little bit from the surfaces are impossible to correct. (at least they are with the Leitz and RRB easels).

I use the wooden Leitz easels 24x30cm and 30x40cm with the slot; the later white formica Leitz 30x40cm easel without the slot and the 50x60 RRB easel. I am used to these two bladed easels and like them a lot. But that's just me, I am sure the four bladed are fine too.

To find any of these easels in 100% perfect condition is a challenge. It took me years. Probably I am more careful with them than I am with the enlargers.

 

[AgX]

The most important: the blades must lay flat on the surface. Leitz or Saunders, both will be fine. But blades that come up a little bit from the surfaces are impossible to correct. (at least they are with the Leitz and RRB easels).

One should be able to rebend them into a straight line, and then give them a fine curvature to make them lie flat at their center too.

 

[darkosaric]

get both of them.

This is the correct answer.

 

[Hilo]

One should be able to rebend them into a straight line, and then give them a fine curvature to make them lie flat at their center too.

That's what I thought too. But I never got it right, and I really tried. In the end I took the easel to a machining company and asked for help. They tried too but soon told me these Leitz blades were impossible to do that with. It was about the metal and how it was fabricated. After that I talked about it with a friend who repaired for Leitz nearly all his life. He told me the same and simply said: "we just ordered spare blades".