This Enlarger? Your Thoughts?

Nick Zentena

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Why is the head off to one side? Shouldn't it be centred?

You'll need negative holders.

Ask to have it plugged in.
 

reellis67

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I have a slightly newer version of this enlarger and I like it quite a bit. I've never used any other 4x5 enlarger so I have no comparison, but I do like Beseler enlargers in general. A hundred bucks seems fair - mine was the newer MX, came with a lens (turned out to be fungal), and some miscelaneous darkroom stuff and it ran me around $200. I would ask if there are any lenses included too, you never know.

- Randy
 

reellis67

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Nick,

The head slides along the chrome bars. You just put it where you want it. It will tilt back too, to project on the wall. Good point about the negative carriers - depending on which size you need, they can range from cheap to quite costly.

- Randy
 

reellis67

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Sometimes the motor gets dusty in storage so there may be a little burning smell. Don't let this worry you unless it continues for some time. I would peek in on the condensers to make sure that it wasn't dropped too. The head comes apart in a couple of pieces and if you move it without knowing what to expect, the head can fall off unexpectedly. As long as the condensers are not chipped badly you should be fine. Small chips shouldn't be that big of a deal.

See if it comes with filters too. I believe that this model uses the small filters near the lens rather than up above near the condenser.

- Randy
 

Nick Zentena

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I'm not sure there is much else. Check the various knobs.

If they let you open the head and look at the condensors?
 

reellis67

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One more thing. Check the cord that attaches to the lamp housing. Mine was frayed when I first bought it. It is an easy fix if your handy with electrical work, but it can give you problems if it is not repaired.

- Randy
 

Chan Tran

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It looks fine. Just make sure the condenser lense is intact and the lift motor works well. Other problems are generally easy to fix. The head can be centered easily. It's one of the oldest version of the 45M series.
 

Konical

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Good afternoon, Brian,

Two condensers, with their convex surfaces facing each other.

Konical
 

Nick Zentena

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You should be able to put any Beseler 4x5 head on there. Except maybe the heads from the CB-7s but I doubt you'll find too many of those.
 

Chan Tran

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The simplest color head available for the 45M is the Dichro 45s which is still available. The color computer head which is almost identical to the 45s but with digital readout is discontinued. The Beseler/Minolta 45A which uses strobe light as light source is also discontinued. The newest head available for the 45M is the univeral head which can be used as either a VC head or color head depending which controller you use. This one is primarily designed for the 45VXL but I think it would fit on the 45M.
 

raucousimages

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Now you have an enlarger that will do large format, what camera are you going to get to go with it?
 
OP
OP

mtbbrian

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I bought this enlarger!
I just couldn't pass it up!
It was in great shape and everything was there and worked.
It also has a 50mm lens(unsure what it was, it wasn't a name I was familiar with) and a 35mm negative carrier.

I will mainly do 6x6,(Holga) but will do some 35mm.
But I do a lot of diptychs where I print two adjacent frames, which is why I wanted a 4x5 enlarger.

The only trouble is, I just don't know when I will first use it! I have the space and just need to build the darkroom, and fund it!

Thanks for everyones advice and enthusiasm!

Brian
 

reellis67

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The 6x6 negative carrier is cheap and plentiful, so you should not have a problem finding one - the 6x4.5 is another story all together. Have fun with your new enlarger.

- Randy
 

lee

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everyone of the Beselers I have ever used with the motor assist smelled. No big deal.

lee\c
 

reellis67

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Nick Zentena said:
Ya what's up with that? It's almost the only carrier that didn't come with my enlarger.
Click to expand...

I don't know, but I ended up paying $35 for mine, plus shipping! Outrageous. Perhaps they didn't make many of them, or there just is a big demand for that format. I've got a butt load of sizes, but that was the one that cost me. I stared using the 6x6 with paper masks, but the film didn't stay as flat.

- Randy
 
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