Sinar P as LF enlarger?

[Fr. Mark]

Anyone out there adapted a Sinar P to enlarging?
I'm starting to accumulate 5x7 negatives and sooner or later I'm going to want to enlarge them. Any tips?
am thinking that if I do this I'd use an LED screen/light box as a diffused light source and use mainly taking lenses for enlarging at least initially to save money.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I'm sure you can, but a Sinar P makes a very expensive enlarger. Just sell you Sinar, buy a LF enlarger and pocket the difference.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I do use the front standard of a Sinar P at the lensboard end of one of my big enlargers. Everything behind that is 100% custom, including the
bellows. It's convenient for minor correction tweaks and well scaled to a massive machine like mine.

 

[ic-racer]

Any tips?

I'd look for an inexpensive enlarger.

When I was in the search mode I used "Search Tempest" (Craigs List search) and looked in a 3 to 5 hour driving-distance radius for a few months. I used search terms like "enlarger" "Durst" "Darkroom" "8x10" "De Vere"

Just for fun I punched in the search "Durst 8x10" and got this hit in a second:

$900 De Vere 5108

 

[DannL.]

There's no reason you shouldn't be able to use your camera as an enlarger. When you're not using it to enlarge, you can return it to it's normal configuration. I do this with my 5x7. Though not a heavy monorail, my 5x7 can be placed on a tripod and pointed down with no trouble. I use a wooden tilt platform that allows me to put weight on the back to counterbalance the camera. Remove the camera back and put it in a safe place. A negative carrier made from mat board, a diffuser material, and a simple lamphouse set on the carrier does the job. If you use a bulb, it should be some distance from the negative to minimize heat. The lamphouse I use is made from mat board, 15" tall, with a small aluminum shop-lamp inside. A normal 60w-75w bulb can do the job. Some modern view camera lenses will not function well for enlarging. But testing different lenses will take care of that. I've used a rapid rectilinear with fine results.


Here's an enlarging camera that probably resembles your camera, if used in a horizontal configuration.
http://piercevaubel.com/cam/ekc/daylightenlarging.htm

 

[Fr. Mark]

Thanks all! I think I will keep the Sinar P, indeed I might even get 8x10 equipment for it someday. But, I don't see space for another dedicated enlarger and I expect one of my kids to inherit the leitz 35mm I received as a gift.

Six months ago I tried using a lightbulb (LED), tracing paper for a diffuser along with the ground glass on my 100 years old 1/2 plate camera with a rapid rectilinear lens and a 4x5 negative gaff taped inside. I know view cameras can be used as projectors/enlargers. It was really cool to that 4x5 as a 10x12.5!

I am looking for specifics on how it has been done. If it has been done.

Maybe Sinars are so high class no one else has ever even proposed such a preposterous use for one! You almost never see a Ferrari delivering pizza or towing a trailer...(Sarcasm).

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I love my 8x10 sinar P. It's a true work of engineering and art. I lusted after one for over a decade. Bought one on ebay a few years back for $700. Heavy as hell. A joy to use.