Color Enlarger recomendation

[gustav[] pEña]

Thits are my questions:

1- I would like know the best used available color enlarger I can get ?

2- Wich one is the best the money can buy?

3- What use has the lens mm in an enlarger?

thanks!
gustav[] pEña

[gustav[] pEña]

ok, How many of you develop your colors negative and enlarge them yoursefl?

gustav[] pEña

[Doug]

Well, I have to problem using the C-41 process to develop color negs or chromogenic film. But I have made color prints in my darkroom years ago and it was very difficult and frustrating to achieve the most pleasing (or even somewhat acceptable!) color balance. I love the B&W darkroom but will reserve color for scanning and "digital darkroom."

Some makers produced wide-field enlarging lenses, like 40mm for 35mm format, and my Nikkor 80mm covers 6x7cm. The wide-field lens makes it easier to produce large prints without raising the enlarger head against the ceiling. :) It's just necessary to make sure of the film format that is covered by the lens you're thinking of getting.

[wdenies]

At least in Europe the best value for money enlarger is the Meopta line.
35 mm enlarger 219 euro, color head 298 euro.
If you want the top of the bill go for DURST or KAISER

[Ralf]

pEña']ok, How many of you develop your colors negative and enlarge them yoursefl?

gustav[] pEña

Not many now I think However I use a colour enlarger for black and white because it's easier to use the colour head as a contrast filter for B&W (by dialing in various intensities of colour). No mucking around with sheet filters for contrast.

So they still have their value.

[bobofish]

Whatever color enlarger you're going to get, you will also need to put aside some money for a good color analyzer, it will save you many headaches trying to dial in the right settings, and you will get better results.

Aside from that, I agree that color heads allow for much more effective B+W, since rather than mucking around with sheet filters, you can dial in a little of this, a little of that.....after a while, you get an intuition of what color does what, and you can acheive very nice results with minimum trouble.

Also, keep in mind that color chemicals are genuinely toxic, so use proper precautions.
Cheers

[Poptart]

Find a college that offers color darkroom practice and try their equipment. Hopefully they'll also have an auto processor and that'll make the developing easy.

[jaapv]

At least in Europe the best value for money enlarger is the Meopta line.
35 mm enlarger 219 euro, color head 298 euro.
If you want the top of the bill go for DURST or KAISER


Leica Focomat?

[Roger Hicks]

Meopta. we have two, with colour and VC heads. Take a look at www.rogerandfrances.com -- 'our darkrooms'.

Durst is out of the market and spares are VERY hard to come by and we weren't all that impressed with Kaiser next to Meopta. Consider De Vere, though: superb quality AND full service back-up.

Cheers,

Roger

[Ralf]

If you are buying second hand, it may pay you to consider a MF enlarger. It gives you flexibility if and when the MF bug catches you. I, like many others, ended up with two enlargers after a relatively short period of time. (That big neg is beutiful!!!).

I have a Durst M601 with a colour head, purchased second hand at a very modest price. I think the volume of enlargers entering the used market now is very high due to the digital thing happening at present.