Smaller enlarger

tkamiya · Nov 17, 2009

I currently own a very nice Omega D-II with variable condenser that I restored myself. I like the sturdiness and stability of the whole construction but this thing is large and heavy. A bit overkill for my 35mm film and 8*10 printing size.

While viewing some of the setup in "Darkroom Portrait" thread, I noticed there are some very compact enlargers that didn't look Omega or Beseler. What are they?

I see myself getting involved in medium format film at some future date and 11*14 paper but not any larger. I do not want a "hobby type" enlarger that I will not be happy with quality of the constructions.

What are my options? Since I don't recognize the make or the model, I cannot even search for the types of enlargers I saw in the aforementioned thread.

MattKing · Nov 17, 2009

If you can tell us what the post number in that thread is for the enlarger(s) you are interested in, it may be easier for us to help you.

In case you hadn't noticed it earlier, the post number is at the top right corner of each post.

You will also see a "permalink" indicator there. If you click on that, and then copy the resulting URL, you can post that into a post, allowing anyone to click on the link and be taken directly to that post.

Matt

sdivot · Nov 17, 2009

A Beseler 23C II is pretty small. I don't know that you can go any smaller if you're going to do MF. I currently have several of these, if you're interested in buying one. I got them when my local school district went all digital. They're in good shape.
This is not spam. I am a long time member of APUG.
Let me know if interested.
Steve
www.scdowellphoto.com

tkamiya · Nov 17, 2009

That would make sense, wouldn't it...

The one that caught my eye was on post #37, far left picture. The unit has a red round mark on the light housing, and it appears to have some kind of cam type mechanism for height adjustment, instead of the usual post and slider type. (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I saw more but I'm not able to find them at the moment.

Thank you!

MattKing · Nov 17, 2009

tkamiya said:
That would make sense, wouldn't it...

The one that caught my eye was on post #37, far left picture. The unit has a red round mark on the light housing, and it appears to have some kind of cam type mechanism for height adjustment, instead of the usual post and slider type. (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I saw more but I'm not able to find them at the moment.

Thank you!

That is a Leitz Focomat - you have good taste .

Best to hear from those who own one.

Matt

PS: here is a link:

http://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/v35.htm

photomem · Nov 17, 2009

That is a Leica V35 Focomat Enlarger. We have one in the alt process lab at school, but I have yet to actually use it.

tkamiya · Nov 18, 2009

I'm guessing these aren't inexpensive models then... I'm known for having a champagne taste.... but I'm also known for having a beer budget!

I bought my Omega D-II for $40... more less a beer keg price.

SchwinnParamount · Nov 18, 2009

I don't think it's manly to want a smaller enlarger.
You want a BIGGER negative and a smaller enlarger.

Rick A · Nov 18, 2009

Omega C-700 is a good quality machine. It will handle up tp 6x7cm negs easily. I have three of them, as well as an omega Pro45 in my darkroom, and they are less than half the size of the Pro. I do have a C-700 listed in the classifieds to trade, but for the right price will sell outright. It has never been set up and is NIB.

Rick

Ronald Moravec · Nov 18, 2009

It is a Leica V35. The baseboard is not small. I could measure mine, but suspect 20 " wide. 24 deep.

The foot print is bigger than my D2. The small size is from the WA 40 mm enlarger lens which allows a 16x20 from the same height a 50mm will project 11x14.

It is 35 mm only and quite possibly the best 35mm enlarger ever made. With careful technique, the D2 will make prints indistinguishable however. The big advantage of the V 35 is the extremely sturdy construction, single side glass neg carrier, and you get perfectly sharp prints corner to corner from the flat neg at f5.6
It is robust high illumination machine. The D2 is a shakey old piece of junk in comparison. It auto focus from 4x to 16x and manual focus to 17+x.

If you are interested, I have a Leitz Valoy 2 I would consider selling. it is sturdy as a rock with a small footprint.
maybe a 11x14 baseboard. It will come with my remaining stock of short neck bulbs, 6 or 8 of them. Manual focus to 8x10 + . 35 mm only

Ronald Moravec · Nov 18, 2009

Kaiser make very nice medium, small, format enlargers. You can still get them new.

You will get into the least trouble with a simple plain no frill enlarger that takes common PH111 bulbs.

The D2 if not varriable condenser, NEEDS the proper condensers and lens cones to work properly with all formats. Illunination is not perfect without them and not having the proper cones for the lens at hand will limit the the print size at either small or large end. If you find all the right stuff, with carefull technique as I said above, it make wonderful prints.

When you clean the condensers, drop them in place with two loops of string so as not to let them hit and chip. Chip marks will show on every print.

Christopher Walrath · Nov 18, 2009

I have a 'hobby type' enlarger that is putting out great work. I suppose it may be limited but I have not reached the limit yet. It is a Fujimoto Lucky 60M. B&W enlarger that has 35mm and 6x6 carriers. You can print 645 in the 6x6, just compose/crop.

photomem · Nov 18, 2009

I had an Omega C700 until this weekend. A mysterious APUG member from here in town emailed me an offered me an Omega D3 Auto Focus if I would just come and get it. Spent yesterday ripping a couple shelves out of the darkroom so I could make room for the monster. It is bigger than my daughter!

ic-racer · Nov 18, 2009

photomem said:
I had an Omega C700 until this weekend. A mysterious APUG member from here in town emailed me an offered me an Omega D3 Auto Focus if I would just come and get it. Spent yesterday ripping a couple shelves out of the darkroom so I could make room for the monster. It is bigger than my daughter!

Let me know if you have any questions about setting up the D3. I just helped a friend set up a free one. I collected a bunch of info on cones and focus tracks etc. that I'd be glad to pass on. (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

David Brown · Nov 19, 2009

I would look into an Omega B22. A mini "D" and neg carriers and lens boards are readily available. (as are the enlargers)

thisismyname09 · Nov 19, 2009

David Brown said:
I would look into an Omega B22. A mini "D" and neg carriers and lens boards are readily available. (as are the enlargers)

I'll second that. I've got one and it works great. Unfortunately, I'm in need of a D2 because I'm getting into large format. Want to trade?

sdivot · Nov 19, 2009

I also have one of those little holga enlargers as well. Let me know if interested.
Steve
www.scdowellphoto.com

tkamiya · Nov 20, 2009

Thank you everybody! Back to the drawing board.....

Mark Fisher · Nov 20, 2009

I have a ridiculous number of enlargers and my experience may help. I started with a d2V which is wonderful, but a bit of a beast. I found a Leitz V35 with color head and was seriously in love. It is the finest enlarger I've ever used. It will actually do a better job than the D2, but only because of the glass carrier. Now that I see the difference using a glass carrier for 35mm, I couldn't use anything else. Then, I started shooting more and more 6x6 and I was getting pretty spoiled by not needing to use filters. My search continued for a dedicated medium format enlarger. I ended up with the Saunders/LPL 6770 VCCE (variable contrast head) with a universal glass carrier. It is almost as wonderful to use as the Leitz. Bottom line.....I'd get a Saunders 6770 VCCE if you are planning on only B&W or the color head version if you want to do color, want to do medium format and get rid of the D2V. If you are keeping the D2, you could simply get the Leitz and use the D2 for medium format....but that is the slippery slope I went down. Either one can be had for around $250-300 if you are patient. I figure I have less invested in the best enlargers around than a cheap digital body would cost...why not have it all....

tkamiya · Nov 20, 2009

Mark Fisher said:
why not have it all....

Thank you VERY MUCH for greasing my slippery slope! I've already started down that road and I am guessing I'll be going down much quicker now.

tkamiya · Dec 5, 2009

I found one!

I was at a local used camera store and spotted a Beseler Printmaker35. The owner said if I wanted it, I could have it for $10, so I grabbed it. The baseboard needs to be replaced ($10 at HomeDepot?) and the lens is shot but I'm pretty sure I can find 50mm lens some place inexpensively.

Compared to my D2VC it's puny but it's light and I can move it around quite easily.

Yay!

MattKing · Dec 6, 2009

Congratulations!

Here is a useful link for you from the Beseler website:

http://www.beselerphoto.com/enlargers.html#cadet2

If you have trouble accessing anything on that site, it helps to know that it uses "Frames" and that it helps to view it a frame at a time.

IIRC, the focus knob is designed to permit moving it from side to side, for left or right handed people.

Matt

largeformat pat · Dec 6, 2009

have a look for a LPL (jobo) 770 enlarger. Should do the trick

Smaller enlarger

tkamiya

MattKing

Moderator

sdivot

tkamiya

MattKing

Moderator

photomem

tkamiya

SchwinnParamount

Rick A

Ronald Moravec

Ronald Moravec

Christopher Walrath

photomem

ic-racer

David Brown

thisismyname09

sdivot

tkamiya

Mark Fisher

tkamiya

tkamiya

MattKing

Moderator

largeformat pat

Smaller enlarger

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency