What enlarger(s) do you own/use?

[mshchem]

I've got an Omega D-3v that my parents the pros bought in the early 1950s. This enlarger received hard use daily for 50 years, and still worked just fine the last time I had it set up (2010). I have a bunch of associated negative carriers (Minox to 4x5), four lenses, the lamphouse diffusers, masking thingy, reduction bellows... plus filters, timers, etc. Alas, I don't shoot enough film to warrant setting it up these days, so I scan my negs.

View attachment 332589

We also had a Durst M600 that I gave to a friend's daughter when she was in art school. Earlier, when we had a larger studio (vs. downsizing into the basement) we had huge 5x7 and 8x10 Elwood enlargers, plus a smaller Federal enlarger, and a medium format "Astrolux" by Luminos. (Luminos was situated nearby and was a regular customer - we printed all their photo paper samples they gave out at trade shows - and this enlarger was rebadged from one of the smaller enlarger manufacturers.)

I just spent the last couple of hours reading your treatise on your parents photo business. Great well written work. I love the portfolio too. I'm about your age, maybe a year younger.

I wish I had a plate burner, had the chance for one, didn't take it.

Enjoyed the trip down memory lane!

 

[David Reynolds]

I have the DeVere 504 and the Omega D5 in both color head and condenser heads running at the moment. I have managed to re-home a few like the Omega C series that I used to have.View attachment 333735

I am looking at your darkroom setup and it is one of the best I have seen. When I was a graduate student (45 years ago) I had just graduated with an undergraduate degree with Photography courses from Ryerson Polytechnic in Toronto and was tasked to design and build new darkrooms for the graduate school (Rutgers University) The most complex detail was how to exhaust the darkroom. I resolved the problem by designing a vent built into to top lip of the stainless steel sink. This was simple as the sinks were being manufactured rather than off the shelf. Fumes were diverted thru the vent before it reached the noses of the student bent over the sink. I look at your venting system and see an excellent system at work. I congratulate you.

 

[Pitotshock]

darkroom setup and it is one of the best I have seen

David, thanks so much. This darkroom is really a sum of all of the things I have found along the way more than a designed to be that way... I've kinda gotten obsessed with buying old pro-level darkroom stuff at pennies on the dollar. The sink must have been a fortune new, but when I took it out of an art school it was almost free to me. The folks at Sebastian Darkroom / California Stainless Mfg have to really take credit for the sink ventilation though.

 

[Loose Gravel]

A very old Kodak 6x9. I only use the stand as a copy stand.

Two Beseler CB7. One is modified for 8x10 to 4x5 use. The other is for roll film. Both have DIY LED lightsources. These replace two Beseler MXT that have moved on. I prefer the CB7 for its tilt/swing lens stage and motorized focus. There have been several others over the years, but two is all I can use and fit.

 

[Thorsten]

I use a Jobo 7451. As far as I understand this machine was sold under the Jobo name in Europe but is known as Saunders/LPL 4500-II in the rest of the world.

It is equipped with a Heiland Splitgrade Controller and a Heiland LED cold light source. Perfect for BW.

 

[Thorsten]

I use a Jobo 7451. As far as I understand this machine was sold under the Jobo name in Europe but is known as Saunders/LPL 4500-II in the rest of the world.

It is equipped with a Heiland Splitgrade Controller and a Heiland LED cold light source. Perfect for BW.

I forgot to mention that I also purchased a controller for the cold light source that should enable it to enlarge color negatives as well, but I actually never tried it.