Valloy II query

rommelgc · 05-10-2012

I've stepped up in the past months. I'm now doing prints. I've rented a darkroom on several occasions (3 7-hour sessions since mid-April on a Lucky 90M-D) and I calculate that if I rent a darkroom this often might as well have an enlarger. Rental darkrooms are not cheap too but it beats my cramped bathroom. I can do my 35mm enlargements at home ... rent out a darkroom when I need to use the MF negatives.

I have my eyes set upon a Valloy II ...

Most information I've read shows that this is a sturdy and simple enlarger that can do 11"x14" tops on the baseboard (well I can swivel the head and expose on the floor, if needed). It's not decked out with things that might break or get out of alignment. Only consumable seems to be the lamp.

... but I haven't seen one in person :-) I might in the following weeks, since I've found a shop who refurbishes these enlargers.

To RFFers that have this enlarger ... how heavy is it? Less than 10 kilos probably? Does the Valoy have any quirks in particular?

ddutchison · 05-11-2012

The one I had was pretty wavy when the head was at the top of the column, but other than that, it was fine.

One quirk with these (and Focomats) is that the bottom surface of the condenser is in contact with the neg, so they can easily get dirty and dusty. Pretty common to find cleaning marks or scratches on the condenser - bring a good pocket flashlight to carefully inspect the condenser when you buy, and don't buy sight-unseen.

This condenser arrangement also means the Valloys are prone to producing Newtons rings. If the enlarger you are considering has what appears to be a press-on frosted glass filter covering the bottom of the condenser - then it has the Leitz anti-newton-ring glass (worth at least 3~4 times as much as the Valloy), and you don't have to worry about this (It's unlikely that a shop specializing in Valloys would let one of these slip by unnoticed)

I believe some 50mm enlarging lenses need a 1cm extension to work with the Valloy (or is that only a factor with the Focomat?).

However, I don't understand why you wouldn't want an MF enlarger, an Omega B-22 or a Durst; both of which are close to your size/weight requirements, built like tanks, and would also allow you to enlarge M.F. negs as well.

Lflex · 05-12-2012

I had the IIa model as my first enlarger. As far as I know it is almost identical to the II. It was fine but it is a pain if you want to use mutigrade filters as it has no filter drawer. I would personally go for something more contemporary. As David notes, Durst has some fine relatively compact high quality models.

mdarnton · 05-12-2012

The Durst M301 was sort of a rip-off of the Valoy design, and has a filter drawer. It's quite sturdy,and because of the design, if all the parts are there, there's not too much to go wrong. On the baseboard it will just do 10x15", and it doesn't wobble.

I think I paid $25 on Ebay for mine, WITH a 50mm Componon lens. You just have to wait a while until one shows up in auction--the people selling as buy-it-now are living in a fantasy world where things no one wants sell used for 3X what they cost new.

Erik van Straten · 05-12-2012

The Valoy II is a great enlarger. Check if it has the anti-newton condenser. Later types (red shield) have this installed as standard. In that case it does not need the Leitz anti-newton adapter. Check also if it has a correct 24 x 36mm negative carrier. These are hard to find.
When using multigrade filters these can be put on top of the condensor in the lamp house. Simply lift off the upper half of the lamp house and lay the filter on top of the condenser. Works perfect.
You can use any enlarging lens on it, but I recommend the EL Nikkor 50mm f/2.8. As the enlarger has to be focused manually, this fast lens is useful.

Erik.

rommelgc · 05-12-2012

thanks all for the insights ...

i was able to see the valoy first hand yesterday and it is a beauty. the shop who overhauls and cleans everything (cleans the screws, adds a coat to the baseboard as protection during the wet weather here in Japan, replaces cables, etc).

the specific valoy i looked at is a late model. grey head, red badge, anti-newton condenser, a full frame negative carrier. the condenser has a small, shallow scratch which was fortunately out of the image area. weighs < 10 kilos :-)

the main reason i'm going with the Valoy is that i rarely do MF nowadays (the film has been in the camera for around 6 months!) but shoot an average of 10 rolls a month. i want a simple enlarger which i could not misalign. small and light weight are the main priorities because Japanese rooms are really small. and i mean really small. it is also difficult to find other used enlargers here. i see the Leitz, Lucky, LPL, some old Fujis and that's it difficult to find Omegas and Dursts. so in a way, i have limited choices.

again thank you all for the invaluable insights.

- Rommel

rommelgc · 05-18-2012

So instead of getting another camera I bought a Valoy II. Picked it up late this afternoon. Had to carry it in 2 bags. One bag contained the head, the second bag contained the base board and post. Setup at home was a cinch.

I took the cooking area, since I don't cook at home. It's near the bathroom where the wet side is setup. Put it though its paces and printed 5 8x10s and several contact prints. Good thing I had a 2.8/50mm EL-Nikkor as focusing is difficult because it is too dim. Loving the simplicity of the Valoy. Loving the negative carrier since it automatically gives me black borders if I position the negative correctly. I should remember though that the big release handle doesn't make the head go up! (as opposed to other contemporary enlargers) :-)