Which enlarger and lens for 6x6

[1kgcoffee]

Looking for an enlarger and good quality condenser lens to develop some prints... I plan on shooting mainly 6x6 black and white. What do you folks recommend or are they all basically the same?

 

[Paul Howell]

Depending on tall the enlarger column is, 75 to 90mm. On my smaller Meopta I use a 75mm Wallensake, on my Omega D3 a 90mm Kodak Ektar. Stopped down many 4 elements lens are as good a 5 or 6 element lens for prints up to 11X14, if you plan on making 16X20 then you will want a lens designed for larger enlargements. If think you want to print color an APO lens.

 

[Dan0001]

If you never go larger than 6X6 then you are in luck in that many smaller enlargers are available but I would concentrate on brands that you can find parts, like bulbs, negative carriers, condensers, etc. The Omega B-22 is VG and a somewhat larger Beseler23C is VG also. As for lenses there are plenty to choose from. Most people in this forum recommend 6 element lenses like the El-Nikkor 80mm 5.6(for 6X6) but in most cases a four element lens like an El-Nikkor75mm F4 will work for for almost any application except for extreme enlargements. If you are not going to enlarge anything larger than 8X10 even a simple 3 element would work well like a Schneider Companar 75mm. The major brands to stick to are El-Nikkor, Rodenstock and Schneider. Even an older Wollensak may satisfy you if budgets are a concern. Inspect the lenses carefully for haze, fungus or sratches. Note: Thread size is a factor too as older enlargers and older lenses do vary. I know from experience that Omega lensboards with all thread sizes are readily avaiable.
There are many factors to consider so my suggestions may not fit your needs and I am sure you will get even more ideas in this thread.

 

[ruilourosa]

Meopta are not bad but there are better choices. beseler and omega are reasonable but durst dunco kienzle old agfas lpl´s and some are more reliable and sturdy.

I use meoptas and they do their job but i also own laborators 4x5 and 138...

if i had one i would choose durst, m805 perhaps or laborator 900 ...

 

[jeffreyg]

I have an Omega D2 and with a Nikon 75mm enlarging lens I can easily make 16x20 prints from 120 film. The issue could be if you then significantly crop, the height of the enlarger column (and your ceiling) would have to be adequate.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[bsdunek]

Love my Durst 606 with 75mm Schneider lens. Lens boards are a little hard to find. I also have a 50mm Schneider for 35mm. Very even light, can easily make 16 X 20 prints. Head tilts so could use wall for larger prints. Just a well made, easy to use enlarger, IMHO.

 

[jeffreyg]

Slightly off the subject question. If you go up to Banff and the Whyte Museum look up Craig Richards. He is a great photographer and printer. He may hold some workshops that would be worth taking.

 

[MattKing]

In Canada, I would recommend Omega, Beseler or Durst. Durst had more of a presence in Canada than the US.
There are some usable Meopta choices as well. A newer Saunders/LPL is very nice.
Within the brands, there are a number of good choices.
If you were close by, this is a good deal, and I do know the seller: https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/pho/5930360259.html
Our Craigslist (Vancouver) is way better than yours for photo stuff.

 

[ac12]

You can go with a 6x6 enlarger, but I recommend you think real hard on IF you might go to a larger film format later. If so, then you might want to think about a 4x5 enlarger.
A 4x5 enlarger is more bulky than a 6x6 enlarger, but they don't take up that much more counter space. And it would save upgrading later.
But if you do not see yourself going larger than 6x6 or 6x7, stay with the MF size enlarger.

Keep an eye on Craig's List or similar, and just see what pops up near you.
I've seen 4x5 enlargers for $100, the same as a MF 6x7 enlarger, so cost is really not an issue here.

Standard recommendation:
Make sure the kit is as complete as possible. The cost and effort to replace missing parts, can make what was initially a good deal, turn into a BAD deal.

 

[M Carter]

You really have to see what comes up in your region, within driving distance. In the Southern US for example, it's the 23c, they turn up quite often. Then do your research.

23c's and 67c's on eBay often have reasonable shipping (the 67c especially, a very sturdy enlarger for its size and weight) (I'm more familiar with Beseler). Also keep in mind that availability of lens boards, neg carriers, and parts vary regionally and by brand, but can be found on eBay and one or two online specialty vendors. Boards and carriers can be DIY solutions (1/8 plywood, cardboard, etc) if you have to hunt down the actual part though.

Many enlargers share some of these parts between models, so again, research helps. If a seller isn't aware his neg 6x6 carrier can also work on a pro-level 4x5, it can go a little cheaper.

 

[Vaughn]

I agree with ac12...if a great 4x5 does fall in front of you, don't hesitate to grab it. I liked our Omega D5-XLs. I set up the multi-format condensor head for the 135mm lens to print 6x6cm negs up to 15"x15". Kinda nice to be working in the center of the coverage of the lens and light-system. It may have been more pyschological than real, but I thought it helped.

 

[John Koehrer]

I'd suggest not going larger than a Beseler 23C unless, as Vaughn says one falls in your lap.
Lens boards for the 23C & 45's are the same and I suspect most common on the market.
If you can pick up a Durst and it's complete with the lens boards & condensers you need it's very
good but it uses a alpha part # system that doesn't give a clue to the product. Parts in the US
aren't common but in the GWN they may be

 

[Sirius Glass]

75mm to 90mm. I use 80mm.

 

[rthollenbeck]

I'm a fan of the Omega B-22 (although I understand it isn't as ez to align as the Besler 23c) I've used them both quite a bit. If nothing else the b-22 would be great to get started with while you search for a Leitz Focomat IIc or some other piece of enlarger unobtainium. The B-22 is friendly and fun to use. From memory I think the b-22 accommodates 6x6 at the largest (23c can do 6x9). I like the lens boards and negative carriers for the b-22 they are simple (maybe even crude when compared to high end stuff). I'd look for the b-22xl so you can do more enlargement. Keep an eye out for the Negative carriers you need from the very beginning of your shopping experience. I think the b-22 just has one set of condensers for everything. If you buy on an auction site or the like you may want to have it shipped without the baseboard & pick something else up locally to save on shipping but think that through. On some enlargers abandoning the baseboard is a major mistake because they may not just be a board....but I'm pretty sure the b-22 baseboard nothing special.

Look for a lens that's a keeper even if the enlarger is just temporarily visiting.
For printing I'd look for a repeating timer.
Easels were always a source of happiness or extreme displeasure if i ended up with the wrong junk.

Now days, most darkroom equipment is so cheep secondhand, you can just get stuf to use while you look for what you really want. Give the excess away/trade it/hand it off to someone just getting started.