Black and white enlarger -- what to buy

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sjgslack

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Hi All,

I have been shooting film and scanning it for ages, but would like to move on to better things.

We have just moved and our house has a cellar (basement to those across the pond!)

We want to build a basic darkroom setup in there, but having never done it before I'm slightly at a loss.

It seems easy to get enlargers for cheap on ebay, but I want to get the right one, and I don't ming spending a little bit more in order to do so (though hopefully not a fortune).

Anyway, does anyone have any thoughts on the subject? Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Silas
 
What formats do you want to work with? Some folks recommend buying one size up from your largest present format (eg get a 4x5 enlarger if you presently shoot medium format). Getting all the right accessories (mixing boxes, neg holders etc) with the enlarger is very important as these can be difficult and expensive to acquire afterwards.

If you can travel to collect, you can certainly find a bargain. If you're in the UK you should also check the FADU forum as enlargers turn up there on a fairly regular basis.

Good luck! Oh, and welcome to RFF!
 
Thanks very much -- I'm a long time reader 🙂
Also thanks for the VERY fast reply!

I work only with 35mm, though I wouldn't totally rule out medium format in the future, so it'd be nice to have the option.

As far as accessories go, I was either going to ebay stuff or get it from First Call (http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/) as i already buy most of my film from them.

Thanks for the tip on the FADU forum. I've never seen that before and will check it out now.

Silas
 
For 35mm the dream enlarger is the Leica V35, but most of us have to settle for something more pedestrian. I used a LPL 7700 for a while (takes 35mm and medium format to 6x7), but eventually found a Durst Laborator 1200, which is several steps better in quality. That's all I use now, for 35mm through 4x5.
 
Aha, always Leica at the top 🙂

I saw a Durst one locally on ebay a little while ago. Unfortunately it's gone now.

Great advice... I think I will keep looking out for them and snap one up when it appears having perhaps checked what people think on here.

Having looked at the prices of those though it doesn't seem too crippling to get quite a good one.

Thanks for your help!

Silas
 
You know, for 35mm, it's hard to get a bad enlarger. Get a good lens, though. That does make a difference. I've used everything from a little Vivitar enlarger to a Beseler 45MCRX with good results.
 
The EL-Nikkor lenses made by Nikon are pretty good, especially the 6-element versions. For 35mm I'd recommend the 50mm f/2.8 lens, preferably the one with the click-stop aperture ring. Check carefully for fungus and haze when buying, because most of these have spent a lot of time in dubious storage conditions.
 
Chris, that's pretty close to what I tell my wife when I forget to pickup something at the store. After decades locked in a darkroom, I've spent my life in dubious storage conditions. 🙂

Yes, the El-Nikkors are good lenses. The 50mm is the best unless you want to make really big prints on the baseboard, where a wider angle might serve better.
 
Chris, let me interject - what enlarger would you suggest for B & W and color? I may want to try color work in the future. I definitely want a better enlarger than the simple omega I have, I am getting tired of fiddling with the filter box.

Silas, thanks for starting the thread, I was poised to ask a similar question.

Randy
 
I am also inclined to recommend you go ahead and get a MF enlarger if it is in your budget. Probably a 6x7, but at least 6x6. The are more likely to be more sturdy, but you have to check them out no matter. A sturdy (and if possible, an adjustable) enlarger is important. Next, as Pickett Wilson said above, lenses are important. But enlarger lenses are much like RF and SLR lenses. Just because it isn't Leica or Nikon, doesn't mean it isn't a good user lens.

Good lenses (assuming they are in good shape) by brand would be Fuji, Nikon, Rodenstock and Schneider. But wait for others to chime in to see if they can give you leads on good lenses that aren't so expensive. They don't have to be expensive to be good.
 
Buy an enlarger? What an archaic concept. I have 3 enlargers and enough equipment to outfit 1 complete and about 90% of a second darkroom. All of this cost me the time & fuel to collect and load up my Volvo wagon.
Not sure what is available to you. FORGET ebay! Only as a last resort. You never know what you will get from ebay. My enlargers all came from members of forums like this or local garage, boot, jumble, etc. type sale sources.
In the US, the best bang for the effort is a Beseler 23C. I purchased one new ages ago. Sold it ages ago. Picked up a second one for free a couple years ago. Handles 35mm to 6x9. Super sturdy. super simple. They work and they work well. Something similar should serve you well.

Wayne
 
I've only had limited experience with different enlargers, but have used a few Omegas (DII, D2, D5) and found an LPL7700 at the dump a few months ago. The biggest advantages I've found is the diffused light on the LPL is easier to get a clean print from, and the variable filters built into the head are a godsend.
 
venchka said:
...In the US, the best bang for the effort is a Beseler 23C. I purchased one new ages ago. Sold it ages ago. Picked up a second one for free a couple years ago. Handles 35mm to 6x9. Super sturdy. super simple. They work and they work well. Something similar should serve you well.

Wayne
Click to expand...
Plus one for the Beseler 23CII and the EL-Nikkors I have the 50mm 2.8 and the 75mm 4.0 (for 6x6). Good, solid stuff!
 
Vics said:
Plus one for the Beseler 23CII and the EL-Nikkors I have the 50mm 2.8 and the 75mm 4.0 (for 6x6). Good, solid stuff!
Click to expand...

Don't think I ever heard anything bad about the Bessler 23CII. But I started out with Omega D2s at the Army Craft Shops, and always felt if I had to use the Besslers, I had been down-graded. ;-) That said, I used my father's old DeJur enlarger a lot and it did well as it was a very sturdy enlarger and had room for CC filters for the Cibachrome I experimented with.

Since I now do 9x12 and 4x5 when I have a chance, I acquired a D5 Chromega off ebay for $50.00, and picked it up from the owner. It is nice. You can take a beating off ebay, but you can get some great bargains as well.
 
D23II is a good choice - and they tend to be fairly modestly priced. They also have a very good multigrade/Color head. Problem is power supply - they need a dedicated supply. Also negative carriers and lensboards. Try to find one that is complete - check it out before buying (which more or less excludes Ebay). Also check alignment - they are prone to be knocked out of "straight" and though they can be adjusted - if it is too bent - it is a problem. I use a piece of mosquito netting between two pieces of glass (from a microscope) and put that in the negative holder. Check that the corners are the same at various apertures and also that the light is even across the easel.
The idea of getting something that can do larger format is OK - except that you have small negative in, usually, a large negative holder (D6/Beseler 45 are the size of table tennis raquets - which can give problem with centering the smaller 35mm negative.
The Leitz V35 is good, though I still think it looks like a kitchen utensil! Problem is with things like light bulbs, power supply, multigrade head or color head. Limited to 35 neg only.
The ultimate 35 enlarger has to be the Focomat 1C - particularly the late version, grey with the tall post and white baseboard - and the filter drawer. Should come with the Focotar-2 50mm f4.5 AND the anti newton glass. They are not cheap - but they are the ultimate.
For more flexibility, if you can find a Focomat IIc with the correct lenses (60 mm and 100 mm) - it covers up to 6x9cm - built like a brick outhouse (40 kg) and will last multiple life-times. Even comes with lubricating points for the auto-focus mechanism and the height adjustment. Again, worth keeping an eye out for - as the shipping cost is high and if you find one locally - go for it. Mainly used by newspapers and universities.
 
In the UK, seriously consider Meopta, and (completely) forget about Omega and Beseler, as they were never widely used in the English-speaking (as distinct from American-speaking) world. Ignore Durst too (no new parts). For larger formats, look at De Vere. Kaiser are good but thin on the ground. Do not ignore Agfa: many new parts still available from Kienzle (who also make superb enlargers).

Cheers,

R.
 
venchka said:
Buy an enlarger? What an archaic concept. I have 3 enlargers and enough equipment to outfit 1 complete and about 90% of a second darkroom. All of this cost me the time & fuel to collect and load up my Volvo wagon.
Not sure what is available to you. FORGET ebay! Only as a last resort. You never know what you will get from ebay. My enlargers all came from members of forums like this or local garage, boot, jumble, etc. type sale sources.
In the US, the best bang for the effort is a Beseler 23C. I purchased one new ages ago. Sold it ages ago. Picked up a second one for free a couple years ago. Handles 35mm to 6x9. Super sturdy. super simple. They work and they work well. Something similar should serve you well.

Wayne
Click to expand...
I recently picked up a Beseler 23c with negative carrier, developing trays, timer, lens, as well as film developing stuff for free. I also got about 20 developing trays and easels, safe light, beakers, and chemical jugs for $40. I am VERY happy with this enlarger and equipment - it is near mint. It works for my 35mm and 6 x 6 work up to about 19 x 19 inches.

i suspect you can probbaly find the same kind of deals if you search around a little. Some people want lots of money for enlargers but if you keep looking, there are great deals to be had!

Good luck!
 
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