Which enlarger do you print with

Augied

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Sep 8, 2009
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Massachusett
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I am currently in my final semester at Hampshire College, where I use a Beseler 45m with an Aristo VCL4500 head and a Metrolux II timer.

Back home, I have an Omega B22 and a Beseler 23CII. Neither is set up at the moment, as I don't actually have my own darkroom. My plan is to eventually acquire a 45m for myself and build an led head for it. For the little Beseler, I will probably buy a garden variety cold light.
 

fretlessdavis

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Dec 28, 2013
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312
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Southern AZ
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Medium Format
Durst F30 for 35mm, and an LPL 670DXL for 645, as well as portraits, or anything else that looks better slightly less sharp, for 35mm.
 

Jiminee

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Aug 8, 2013
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Format
35mm
I use the Besler 23C II dual Dichro 23dga

Just upgraded from an old Omega C-700 to the Besler 23CII. I was fortunate enough to score that and a bunch of accessories to boot.
:munch:
 

Joel_L

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Mar 12, 2011
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Colorado
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My first enlarger was a Vivitar 356 when it was new, it was all plastic but worked well for me. Much later I picked up a Vivitar VI which worked the same but was built a little more solid. Used what they called a light pipe and adjustable condenser. In the Vivitar VI time frame, I added a Patterson PCS. I ended up setting the PCS up for 35mm and the Vivitar for 6x6/6x7. Both now are sadly collecting dust in hopes that I can build a darkroom again.
 

Curt

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Sep 22, 2005
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I have an Omega B600 with an Aristo (Fred Picker) head, 75mm El Nikkor. A Beseler 45M***** enlarger with a computer head and a 45 Aristo cold light, all carriers from 35 to 4x5 including 35&120 Negatranses + the wonderful Negaflat
and all format lenses. I have a Durst 138 with a custom diffusion head built by master engineer. I have a glass carrier that is new, it also takes 5" wide roll film. Beautifully machined speciality carrier. It is very heavy and built to last many lifetimes. There is a three lens turret and I have a Zipper glassless 5x7 negative carrier also. It is so rare that I have only seem one other. I bought that one too. I have lenses to fit it in any format needed. I have two Saunder easels: an 11x14 and a 16x20 plus speed easels and three way. I have a Peak and a Micromega focusers. I use the Micromega. I finished aligning the Beseler today with the aligning tool made for it, thank you Gerald! I also aligned, or should I say checked the alignment of the Durst with a laser align. It was right on. Timers, dusters, dodging and burning tools, and the rest of the essentials. Thomas safelight. GFI dedicated outlets on a Sola CVA transformer. And finally I sent my K375 Intellifaucet in to Hass manufacturing for a rebuild, evaluation, repair, and a new power supply.

I'm going to need two focussing extensions, one for each enlarger. Any suggestions will be welcomed. Ready made or DIY. It's not a lot of work, it's a damn obsession!

When this is all set up I'm returning to Carbon Transfer printing. The only other decision is a coffee maker or espresso machine. Or in Vaughn's case hot water for the tea! Any others out there around 62 years old? What the hell happened?
 

gelatine

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Feb 5, 2014
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I have a Omega D5, but I prefer LPL. Thinking to get a Chromega F or Devere 8x10
 

Luis-F-S

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Sep 19, 2013
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774
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Madisonville
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8x10 Format
Time for an update and to move this old thread. Have the Durst SM-183 stored, along with the LPL 4550XLG and Leitz Valloy II stored. Presently using one LPL 4500-II with the VCCE head, and my main enlarger is a DeVere 5108 which I use for all sizes.

 

wyofilm

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Nov 12, 2017
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Wyoming
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Well, I guess I'll keep the thread rebirth going ...

I am using a Saundrs/LPL 4550 XLG with a VCCE head for 35 to 4x5. It is great.
 

wyofilm

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jnanian said:
i forgot to mention i use the sun too,
im not sure of the wattage though.
Click to expand...

Wait a minute. Ok, I get your joke about the sun/wattage. But you aren't also saying you rigged an Enlarger with the sun ... are you? That I would have to see!
 

removed account4

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wyofilm said:
Wait a minute. Ok, I get your joke about the sun/wattage. But you aren't also saying you rigged an Enlarger with the sun ... are you? That I would have to see!
Click to expand...
i would love to have a solar enlarger ( they used to make them in the 1800s i think? ). i think someone posted plans for one
a while back ( or an ad? ). i just leave my paper and film in the sun much simpler
 

SasquatchQB

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Oct 19, 2016
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Connecticut, USA
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Multi Format
I'm just about to start up with an Omega D2, and a few lenses to try out and see what works best. I also have a Beseler 45M on the side that needs some electrical and bellows work when I have the time for it.
 

etn

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Jan 8, 2015
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1,117
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Munich, Germany
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Medium Format
Durst 805 with black&white (condenser) head. It's a beast going up to 6x9. I use 2 lenses, a Schneider Componon 50mm for 24x36 and an Apo-Rodagon 90mm for 6x6 and 24x65mm (Xpan negative).
 

sepiareverb

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Feb 17, 2007
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St J Vermont
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I use an LPL4500 VC and a Zone VI with a Keinzle 810 VC head. I had to hack it to an upright column so it would fit in my space, but as I only print up to 20x24” it has been fine. Wish I had room for the whole Keinzle setup, but alas no.
 

Paul Howell

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Dec 23, 2004
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Scottsdale Az
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I use a D3 and Opemus 5, the D3 for 6X9 and 4X5 and the Opemus for 35mm and 6X6 up to 11X14, I also have a couple of Federals in storage, one converted to point source the other a diffusion model.
In terms of Solar enlargers AA first 8X10 was a solar model, in the 90s I knew a guy who had made a solar enlarger, don't recall size either 5X7 or 8X10, built a darkroom in his garage and cut a window in the north facing wall, 2 pains of translucent glass and a tunnel connected to a converted view camera. He was retired so had lots of time to print, only printed in a narrow time window, used a enlarging meter so he could just the light as it changed.
 

Patrick Robert James

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Jul 31, 2012
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3,380
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35mm RF
I have an LPL 4550xl VCCE for 120/4x5 and a Focomat for 35mm. The LPL is better for 35mm, but the Focomat is more convenient. I wouldn't mind getting a VC head for the Focomat but they are pricey so I just use blue/green glass filters. I have a bunch of lenses and I tend to just use whatever. Right now my favorite for the Focomat is a Fujinon EX. I'm pretty happy these days with what I have. I don't really have the desire to change anything.
 
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