Im looking to start making darkroom prints. Im looking for a simple one I can set up and tear down when needed for a printing session. Located in US
Thanks In advance!
Thanks In advance!
Want to Buy WTB beginner Darkroom Enlarger.
-
A
- Thread starter Candlejack
- Start date
Recent Classifieds
-
For Sale Yashica Lynx 14 and Lynx 14e.
- Started by Chan Tran
-
For Sale 4x5 film holders
- Started by Early Riser
-
Want to Buy Omega D5500 with Dichroic Head, Australia
- Started by andrewherrick
-
For Sale Two Graflex 6x9 film backs for Graflex RB 6x9 (2x3)
- Started by Alex Varas
Forum statistics
I used to use a Bogen 22a Special that works up to 6x6 film, printing up to 11x14 prints and is pretty easy to find ether though Craigslist or eBay.
I would look for a 35 mm/medium format enlarger with a newish 80 mm lens (brand does not matter). LPL makes great enlargers if you can swing one. My first enlarger was an Omega B-22 which served me well for many years.
Where in Louisiana are you? You’re welcome to come see mine.
Any enlarger will work better than no enlarger. I still use a stamped steel Federal 219 from the 1940s for small prints. It’s not exactly the best enlarger made, but it’s sturdy and accepts nearly any lens with a bit of work. I get excellent results after many years of use. Would I search one out? Absolutely not.
If you’re starting from scratch, try to find some version of a Beseler 23. They were the de facto standard in high school darkrooms for decades. Often you can find one with lenses and negative carriers for $100-200, and sometimes much less. They’ll take 35mm to 6x7 easily. 16x20 prints, no problem. Hard to beat them for value.
But like I said, anything will work, and the more accessories you get with it the better.
If you’re starting from scratch, try to find some version of a Beseler 23. They were the de facto standard in high school darkrooms for decades. Often you can find one with lenses and negative carriers for $100-200, and sometimes much less. They’ll take 35mm to 6x7 easily. 16x20 prints, no problem. Hard to beat them for value.
But like I said, anything will work, and the more accessories you get with it the better.
You're a bit far away otherwise I could hook you up with nearly everything needed for a start up darkroom, including a Beseler 23C enlarger.
Im down In abbeville! You?
So far nothing good is popping up. Ill keep looking.
Mind me asking where you are? Would you be willing to ship?
When I first joined APUG Photrio I too was looking to set up a darkroom. I was encouraged to look at local ads such as Craig's List. I got lucky and found a photo lab sell off its enlargers and print dryers on Craig's. I later came across ads here in the Classified. Good luck and do not give up.
While any enlarger will do, some will do more than others, and those old Federals will do more aggravating things than you may wish for. On the one hand they're available and have a glass neg carrier that prints up to 6x9 on nearly all the models. That's good because the negs are flat, but you spend a lot of time w/ dust issues, and focusing those things can be fussy.
A diffuser enlarger would be my suggestion for a first enlarger, and w/ any enlarger you're going to see that negs that were treated poorly will be a problem (I speak from experience here). That's where a diffuser enlarger will come in handy, and the difference in sharpness and contrast between that and a condenser model isn't that much. Ck the enlargers on eBay daily, as well as offerup, CL, and all the other online swap and sell places in your area.
A diffuser enlarger would be my suggestion for a first enlarger, and w/ any enlarger you're going to see that negs that were treated poorly will be a problem (I speak from experience here). That's where a diffuser enlarger will come in handy, and the difference in sharpness and contrast between that and a condenser model isn't that much. Ck the enlargers on eBay daily, as well as offerup, CL, and all the other online swap and sell places in your area.
I'm in Penna. shipping is a killer, it's been looked into several times.
Madisonville, Just South of I-12.
Shipping is always the killer on enlargers. Often costs as much to ship as to purchase a used unit...
Some times the solution is to just take a road trip. Yes the gas costs money, but then the enlarger will not get bounced around as much and in the less time and effort will be spent realigning the enlarger.
Ugh.. the drive from Louisiana to Pennsylvania is about 20 hours. I did that back in 2017? Did not enjoy it lol
Our grand daughter lives in San Antonio, Tx. we gladly pay her air fare to visit so we don't have to drive that.
We had taken the highschool powerlifting team I help coach up to Scranton for Nationals. Driving was the only way to get them there.. we drove to Wisconson the next year :/.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2006
- Messages
- 278
- Format
- Medium Format
A 23C, any version, is an excellent enlarger. But it is huge and heavy. You set it up, then try to never move it again. If you want something portable, it is a worst choice.
Consider an Omega B-22, 35mm to 6x6cm. Or for a bit more $$, A Durst M-601, same format coverage. For 35mm only, there is the Durst M-301 in several versions - very solid and high quality enlarger, but small and designed to be set up for use, then knocked down and put away.
I suggest that, if you only are printing enlargements, from 35mm or smaller, you look at eBay for a Leica/Leitz Valloy II b&w. It very well might need rewiring, a five minute, straight forward job and the baseboard may need replacing but as long as it has its film holder, and a Leica extension tube for mounting a m39 lens, it's condenser, in-scratched or chipped, and hopefully a bronze spacer that tightly fits the bottom of the condenser, which is quite small, it should give beautiful prints and is more than enough to contact print up to 4 x 5 inch negatives.
The helical focusing of these enlargers make them super nice for a small print size range, and allows critical focusing some typical enlargers just can no match.
Otherwise, an Omega B66 is a good second choice.
Both will easily fit into a suit case for a traveling darkroom.
Good luck,
Eli
PS; you should be able to find a complete First M600, a great little enlarger that will do medium format like 6cm x 6cm, 6 cm x 7cm, ect.
It breaks down in a snap and goes back up with ease, just make sure all is squared up.
Do no let the eBay "searches" throw you off, these high prices they show off, are rarely close to what the real working kit costs, so do no give up and accept less quality kit, just to have it done, just look a little longer, as the first enlarger you buy should but be part of a permanent darkroom ability.
Godspeed to you and All.
The helical focusing of these enlargers make them super nice for a small print size range, and allows critical focusing some typical enlargers just can no match.
Otherwise, an Omega B66 is a good second choice.
Both will easily fit into a suit case for a traveling darkroom.
Good luck,
Eli
PS; you should be able to find a complete First M600, a great little enlarger that will do medium format like 6cm x 6cm, 6 cm x 7cm, ect.
It breaks down in a snap and goes back up with ease, just make sure all is squared up.
Do no let the eBay "searches" throw you off, these high prices they show off, are rarely close to what the real working kit costs, so do no give up and accept less quality kit, just to have it done, just look a little longer, as the first enlarger you buy should but be part of a permanent darkroom ability.
Godspeed to you and All.
Last edited:
Any chance you’re nearby Los Angeles?
It is a pity you are in the US. I have two that need a good home. An LPL 6700 colour and a Meopta B&W only. Both work very well. They are taking up storage space and I would gladly give them away to a good home. Shipping costs would cancel that out.
Awww man. I wonder how much shipping would cost for that LPL6700? In the process of building out my home darkroom & need a nice color enlarger & ideally a Fujimoto CP31/32 or 51 (if you know of anyone selling one)
| Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here. |
PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:  |