Simple enlarger recommendations for 35mm only.

[Rick A]

Too bad the OP is on another continent, I have a nice sturdy Vivitar that fits his criteria, and will also do 6x6. My daughter had been using it but has set it aside for a larger machine.

 

[JerryWo]

I'm not sure I buy into the notion that cheap enlarger lenses work fine when they're stopped down. They certainly work BETTER when they're stopped down, but they likely do not compare well with high quality lenses.

In my past I've had two enlarger lenses that compared miserably to quality lenses. A long time ago I had an inexpensive Spiratione lens and more recently I had a Meopta Belar - both were visibly quite poor compared to more expensive lenses. I'm currently using a little Durst F30, exactly the sort of enlarger you described as wanting - and the lens (superb!) is a Componon-S.

Meopta makes a great enlarger (I have an old Axomat) and I'm told their higher quality lenses are quite good. If you get one, make sure it has a Leica thread lens board. Some of the older ones have a 23mm lens board.

I also agree with the one poster who suggested going with an enlarger that goes up to 6 x 6 (I also have a Durst M600), but the small footprint of my Durst F30 is a blessing in my make-shift darkroom, aka "the hall bathroom".

Jerry W
Warrenton, VA

 

[Leigh B]

I would suggest getting a medium-format enlarger even if you have no intention of using that film size.

MF enlargers are much more solidly built, and rigidity of the machine will yield higher print quality due to less vibration.

- Leigh

 

[darkprints]

Valoys require the short neck bulbs which are near impossible to find, have no anti newton disk, and no good way to place VC filter inside. If you try to go over 8x10, the photo hits the column foot.

The long neck bulbs cause uneven light and there is no up/down bulb adjustment like a IC has to counter it.

My Valloy 2 is heavily modified to overcome all the stated defects. For Sale in USA.

How did you modify your ValoyII?

 

[phelger]

Durst M70 enlarger 35mm available

I just posted on another thread the above for sale
peter