I have an Omega D3 that I use, and an Omega B600 I'm looking at parting with. I'll try to take and attach photos at a later time.
What enlarger(s) do you own/use?
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Definitely the lens, needs to be dry. That's probably mid 50's through late 60's. The bellows need love and care too.
Beseler 45 MXR. Did a bit of Lith printing tonight and I know it will outlast me.
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Email sent.
For years I worked in a bathroom that I converted to a darkroom when needed. I still have the over-the-tub sink I built. It fits a standard tub and stands on pipe legs with suction cups. I'm still trying to give it away to a good home if you're interested (or anyone else, for that matter).
Doremus
Yeah, I got lucky. I got the Omega auto-focus E chassis and the "flying-saucer" cold light head and transformer along with the Chromega head for $40 years ago. I'm still trying to give the chassis away to a good home...
Doremus
Ha ! There is at least a double amount of trays on the wet side
Lith, regular dev, or toners have their own specific trays.
There was a time you could grab all of this for next to nothing, trays but above all enlargers.
I print or process film almost everyday.
The Philips PCS 130 always fascinated me , how do you like it?
I had a PCS2000 colour enlarger but sold it.
I change my enlargers like my wife changes her shoes!
Working my way up to one!
I hope I will not be disappointed Currently using Beseler 45mxt, Durst M605 and a LPL 670 cxl.
The Beseler has been a huge disappointment.
It suits me very well, I am not even slightly tempted to change. Despite being a budget model, it was really well designed by somebody. The body is robust, and the movements work flawlessly. I dispensed with the baseboard, to make it easier to move the easel around. The column is as rigid as aluminium sections can be, but I found it drooped at high magnifications under the weight of the head, causing poor alignment - I suspect that happens with a lot of enlarger designs, even with steel columns. Since I wanted to standardise on 16x12, I solved the problem by fastening the top of the column to the wall with a threaded stud; and subtly shimming one end of the negative carrier with a thickness of cornflake packet. The head can be rotated if you want to make prints larger than 20x16 on a nearby wall (never done that), or if you need to correct converging verticals (done that only once, worked a treat).
Given a Rodenstock lens, but also subject to my own limitations as a printer, print quality is as good as I could want. Here is last Thursday's effort:
Cannot say I am enthralled with my Beseler 45MXT,, I'm working to purchase an LPL 4500 with VCC head.
meanwhile I will use an LPL c670 and a Durst M605.
If you do lith are you interested in my Kodak Ektalure Xd 40" x 30 '.
I'm in Nanaimo!!
Wow, a lot of boxes of 20x24. This is sad, when I set up my current darkroom in 2000, I can go up to 20x24, but have not done any that big yet due to expense. Are you selling prints for profit to afford all that paper?
Since about 95% of my film shooting is medium format, I acquired an Omega B-8 back in 2006. It is stretching a little on 6x9, but works well for 6x6. I have three EI Nikor lenses (50, 80, & 105mm) and the supplemental condenser lenses so I can also do 35mm on the rare occasion I shoot it.
I also more recently acquired a Mamiya 16 "ENLA" head which is a piece of engineering that mounts in place of an enlarger lens and has a condenser and film holder to do subminiature work. The little gizmo uses the bigger enlarger as a source of light and mechanical support. I don't have the associated 16mm Mamiya camera , but the gizmo shows promise for use with my Minox negatives.
I have a cold light back that can mount on a 4x5 press camera, should I become desperate to do enlarge 4x5. (I have a Burke&James Press, but haven't done much with it in the last couple of decades.)
My 8x10 pinhole camera I limit to contact prints -- an 8x10 enlarger would be bigger than my dark room!
I also more recently acquired a Mamiya 16 "ENLA" head which is a piece of engineering that mounts in place of an enlarger lens and has a condenser and film holder to do subminiature work. The little gizmo uses the bigger enlarger as a source of light and mechanical support. I don't have the associated 16mm Mamiya camera , but the gizmo shows promise for use with my Minox negatives.
I have a cold light back that can mount on a 4x5 press camera, should I become desperate to do enlarge 4x5. (I have a Burke&James Press, but haven't done much with it in the last couple of decades.)
My 8x10 pinhole camera I limit to contact prints -- an 8x10 enlarger would be bigger than my dark room!
These are 11x14 boxes. 20x24 are not in the pic and much less in stock. Paper prices went up big time. I do Lith so I have a lot of old expired papers.
Yes I'm lucky to be represented in gallery. Print sales, books and artist residencies are my income.
Since about 95% of my film shooting is medium format, I acquired an Omega B-8 back in 2006. It is stretching a little on 6x9, but works well for 6x6. I have three EI Nikor lenses (50, 80, & 105mm) and the supplemental condenser lenses so I can also do 35mm on the rare occasion I shoot it.
View attachment 326103
I also more recently acquired a Mamiya 16 "ENLA" head which is a piece of engineering that mounts in place of an enlarger lens and has a condenser and film holder to do subminiature work. The little gizmo uses the bigger enlarger as a source of light and mechanical support. I don't have the associated 16mm Mamiya camera , but the gizmo shows promise for use with my Minox negatives.
View attachment 326104
I have a cold light back that can mount on a 4x5 press camera, should I become desperate to do enlarge 4x5. (I have a Burke&James Press, but haven't done much with it in the last couple of decades.)
My 8x10 pinhole camera I limit to contact prints -- an 8x10 enlarger would be bigger than my dark room!
That adapter is really cool. Minox calling !
What are the negative points of the Beseler ? Overall bad conception ?
Never used one but the 8x10 option is tempting.
I have a Minox B I bought in the 1960s during a moment of excess cash -- or something. I only in the last five or six years got it out again after Blue Moon had some film available. (But I admit at my advanced age it's really awfully tiny to fiddle with!) And somewhere in my gallery here there's a shot of a print made with that gizmo. I had a heck of a time getting a grain focuser to show me anything useful; need to figure that out some day.
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What a pretty enlarger that Omega is!
Also relieved to see someone else has dark walls next the enlarger.
A Focomat 2c and a Meopta Opemus 6 with diffuser head.
Wow, what a beautiful darkroom!
Thanks! But confession time ... That shot was taken at my table-top "studio" not in my darkroom. Currently there is dark paneling on one wall near the enlarger, and if I ever get my act together on making the darkroom more efficient, perhaps the other wall in that corner will darken.
Can you provide a picture of it?
Here's my Beseler 45MCX with DIY LED-head. The thick aluminum plate is overkill for cooling, but I didn't want to figure out how to get/make cooling fins.
I'm hoping that @Melvin J Bramley will respond to the question of why he dislikes the Beseler 45. It seems fine to me.
Mark
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