Good enlarger that holds 35 and 6x7 ?

[karlori]

Hi,

I'm on the market for a good enlarger that holds 35 and 120 film. I have looked at some APUG threads and read some local listings but still can't find anything that is working locally.
So I guess i'm gonna have to eat huge shipping costs to start printing at home as I think that the enlargers in our local photo club are mostly not working correctly and in really bad shape. (head sliding white retained, focus slipping etc etc...)
What enlarger and enlarging lenses would you suggest for a home solution, I have the possibility to convert a whole room to a darkroom so the space concern is not really a problem at this time.
Could you be so kind to maybe link to some reading materials or ebay/keh listings for enlargers that you think are worth getting?

Thank you in advance !

[back alley]

i used a beseler 23c with fuji enlarging lenses for many years...built like a rock (cliche but true) and the fuji lenses were superb.

[Vickko]

A Focomat IIc would do both formats. :-)

I think the basic Omega B22 does both. And Saunders LPL or Durst were other classical enlargers that did multiple formats.

These days, well, if it was North America, you could find enlargers for free. It is more expensive to ship one than to buy one.

Vick

[Rom]

Ahel 67 could be also a solution but i don't know the availabilty in your country. If you find one it should be cheap. I bought one locally for 30 euros.

[karlori]

I'm not concerned if the enlarger is in the USA or EU, I can't find anything locally so all your suggestions are more than welcomed. Oh I'd like get something that could have spare parts available in the next couple of years.

[mdarnton]

The small Omega enlargers are generally pretty shaky, and aren't that great, short of their 4x5 models. The 22 doesn't take 6x7, anyway.

As noted, the gold standard in this category is a Beseler 23C, and they are incredibly cheap these days. Parts, carriers, etc are abundant. Durst and LPL are both good midrange choices, but make sure you have all the parts, because they won't be easy to find if you don't. Likewise for other obscure brands, which may or may not be good, themselves, but are difficult or impossible to fix or expand if you're missing a neg carrier or lens board.

Yes, the Focomat IIc is the best, if you are independently wealthy. It's basically the quality of a Leica camera, far and above any other enlarger, and costs appropriately.

[Roger Hicks]

Look out for a (Czech) Meopta Magnifax. I use two of them... Quite a lot of parts still available too.

Beselers are good but calling them 'the gold standard' may raise your expectations unrealistically. They're good, but not THAT good, and availability outside the USA is modest.

Oh: and the last IIc I heard of was GIVEN away.

Cheers,

R.

[karlori]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Look out for a Meopta Magnifax. I use two of them...

Oh: and the last IIc I heard of was GIVEN away.

Cheers,

R.

I've found 4 available locally, which model would you recommend ? Magnifax 4 or 6 ?
Both available at around 50$ but no lenses...

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by karlori

I've found 4 available locally, which model would you recommend ? Magnifax 4 or 6 ?
Both available at around 50$ but no lenses...

Mine are both 4s: I've never used a 6. For parts, try FotoSkoda in Prague or RK in the UK, http://www.thedarkroom.co.uk/

What sort of head are you after? They're interchangeable: condenser, Multigrade, colour...

Cheers,

R.

[Vickko]

I was at a camera show in Montreal last weekend. There was a black Focomat IIa there, complete, asking $500. And he would include a free Durst Laborator with the IIa.

My friend bought the Laborator for $100. When we finished packing away the Laborator and finished up making rounds of the show, the IIa was still there.

....Vick

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

...Oh: and the last IIc I heard of was GIVEN away.

...

[BobYIL]

Originally Posted by karlori

I'm not concerned if the enlarger is in the USA or EU, I can't find anything locally so all your suggestions are more than welcomed. Oh I'd like get something that could have spare parts available in the next couple of years.

Since you are in Croatia and can not locate one there, I'd suggest you to watch the ebay-Deutschland auctions; sometimes they ship almost anywhere in Europe.

The best one is the Focomat IIc, heavy, huge and still expensive (over €500).

For Europe, Durst and Jobo enlargers are of good quality, comperatively lighter, more compact and these days they go for low prices as most people are trying to get rid of them. Pay attention to the lens/lenses they are delivered with as fine quality enlarger lenses like Componons or El-Nikkors are still sought-after items for close up photography. BTW, I think there should be a lot of Meopta's in your region as they were so popular in the 70's. (Edit: Sorry I haven't seen you found the Meoptas.. Look for the Magnifax models, only they are up to 6X9cm..)


Regarding spare parts: Enlargers do not get broken easily, most of them last decades with no spares need. Rather buy one in excellent condition as most of the models you'd find are discontinued ones, probably having no service anymore.

[karlori]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Mine are both 4s: I've never used a 6. For parts, try FotoSkoda in Prague or RK in the UK, http://www.thedarkroom.co.uk/

What sort of head are you after? They're interchangeable: condenser, Multigrade, colour...

Cheers,

R.

Didn't know they had interchangeable heads, I wanted something to buy, setup and print just like on the Iskras and whatnot in the photo club.

I'm looking to print only B&W and mostly in 6x6 and 6x7 format sometimes the 35mm, i don't really have a choice of heads both sellers state only heads for B&W no other details :/ .

Thanks for your time !

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by karlori

Didn't know they had interchangeable heads, I wanted something to buy, setup and print just like on the Iskras and whatnot in the photo club.

I'm looking to print only B&W and mostly in 6x6 and 6x7 format sometimes the 35mm, i don't really have a choice of heads both sellers state only heads for B&W no other details :/ .

Go for it! Make sure the carrier is there. 4s use a glass 'universal' carrier, with either masks (fitted to the carrier), or, if you take the glass out, clip-in inserts for other formats (probably still available) Make sure too that you get at least one lens holder. These are dished plates about 45 mm in diameter with the threaded hole in the middle for the lens (39mm x 26 tpi). They are secured to the head with a little knurled screw.

Check the condensers too. These are interchangeable. You can print 35mm with 6x9 condensers but not 6x9 with 35m condensers. Again, new may still be available.

Lenses are dead easy.

Cheers,

R.

[Fotohuis]

Meopta Magnifax 4A was the latest version.
Still in production:
Kienzle and Dunco II 67 from Germany. Sometimes on German E-bay or on the local German Forum.

A Durst L1200 is nice but increadible heavy and almost impossible to ship.

[mdarnton]

Well, by "gold standard" I meant that just about every production darkroom I've ever been in has had at least one. Perhaps I would have called it the Nikon F of enlargers, but I think the Omega D2 should have that title (I was surprised to find only two of those at Ebay right now). The reason you find so many is if you're not doing 4x5, it's a very fast enlarger to use, and tough. I just went to Ebay, and stopped counting at 22 Beseler 23cs for sale, as opposed to, uh, zero Meopta 4s.

[buzzardkid]

Karlori,

see these in the Netherlands:

http://link.marktplaats.nl/550331593

http://link.marktplaats.nl/548358403

http://link.marktplaats.nl/542478362

http://link.marktplaats.nl/550362457 (complete dark room with Durst 606, listed as cheap!)


Put the links through Google Translate if you like to get the jumbled-up English version.

Most of these you can have for under EUR 100 I suppose, there's a lot of them listed since NL is so digital-minded nowadays.

Link to the whole shebang on darkroom gear is here, happy browsing!


I can act as a go-between to help you acquire gear if you like.

[Tadhgo]

I think this will do up to 6x7

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Complete-Zwar...ht_1154wt_1185

[Soeren]

Ill second Roger Hicks suggestion on the Magnifax enlargers especially if one is readily available. The Magnifax is Meoptas largest enlarger, The Opemus goes to 6X6 and the Axomat is 24X36 only.
Best regards

[Soeren]

Originally Posted by buzzardkid

Karlori,

see these in the Netherlands:

http://link.marktplaats.nl/550331593

http://link.marktplaats.nl/548358403

http://link.marktplaats.nl/542478362

http://link.marktplaats.nl/550362457 (complete dark room with Durst 606, listed as cheap!)


Put the links through Google Translate if you like to get the jumbled-up English version.

Most of these you can have for under EUR 100 I suppose, there's a lot of them listed since NL is so digital-minded nowadays.

Link to the whole shebang on darkroom gear is here, happy browsing!


I can act as a go-between to help you acquire gear if you like.

Sorry, none of those will do 6X7 negs
Best regards

[rlouzan]

The most bang for your buck ... the Saunders LPL (the most trouble free I've used) + some used Nikon or Schneider enlarger lenses.

[x-ray]

Originally Posted by back alley

i used a beseler 23c with fuji enlarging lenses for many years...built like a rock (cliche but true) and the fuji lenses were superb.

You just can't go wrong with the 23C. Solid and precise, perfect for even hard use. You can even put an Aristo cold light in it.

I agree Fuji lenese are at the top. I use. 135mm EX and have never used anything comparable. Schneider, Rodenstock and Nikkor are all fine.

[135format]

Do you want cheap second hand or new?

Kaiser still make new enlargers and have a full range available. Something like the VPM 7005

http://www.kaiser-fototechnik.de/en/...ge.asp?nr=4471

but if you want used then a Durst Modular 70 is an excellent enlarger. There were 3 different heads for it. The B+W head which has an above the lens filter drawer and is a condenser type, the "vario" head for B+W which is the easiest in use and is a diffusion head and the colour head which is diffusion. Any of those 3 heads are good for B+W. I have the colour head and the B+W head and both work fine.

The durst M670 is also a decent B+W enlarger or if you can find one the Durst M805 which does upto 6x9.

I tried an LPL for a short while and thought it was a pile of junk.
I have used Meopta enlargers too. They are what can be described as agricultural but they work OK.
Also tried DeVere 4x5 enlarger but it was knackered so no comment there.
Of all of them the Dursts have the best negative holders which is very important and the modular 70 has a locking knob which locks the head onto the column so it won't shift. Focus could in theory shift but that is true for most enlargers if the friction pad isn't adjusted properly. I find that I can take the neg holder out and then replace it and focus is still spot on with my Modular 70. I also have durst L1200 which is great for bigger negs but bigger than you need and really a bit too big for 35mm. But if one crops up its worth considering if its in good condition.

take a look at the following which shows the last of the durst enlargers before they stopped production. It'll give you a clue of what to look for.

http://darkroom.ru/info/manuals/durst_catalog_eng.pdf

[cary]

Can't go wrong with an Omega D2 series, great build quality, strong, a lot were made and parts are easy to find.

[buzzardkid]

Originally Posted by Soeren

Sorry, none of those will do 6X7 negs
Best regards

Durst masks are highly interchangeable IIRC. Finding the correct mask should not be the biggest challenge, and shipping won't kill the deal either.

Here is a deal (EUR 175) for a Durst M670BW with the 6x7 mask included: http://link.marktplaats.nl/542305248

This kit (complete, EUR 200) currently is 35mm only, but it is fitted with a color head: http://link.marktplaats.nl/548186701

[Soeren]

Originally Posted by buzzardkid

Durst masks are highly interchangeable IIRC. Finding the correct mask should not be the biggest challenge, and shipping won't kill the deal either.

Are you sure? I didn't know that.

Originally Posted by buzzardkid

Here is a deal (EUR 175) for a Durst M670BW with the 6x7 mask included: http://link.marktplaats.nl/542305248

This kit (complete, EUR 200) currently is 35mm only, but it is fitted with a color head: http://link.marktplaats.nl/548186701

I have a Durst AC707 and I must say that atleast her in Denmark parts are more scarce than Meopta parts though they can be found. So be avare of availability in your region.

And to our friends across the pond. Though Omegas and Bessellers may be great ( I have an Omega D3) they are quite rare in europe as are parts
(cant find the lenscones for 135 and 150mm lenses here)
Best regards