Durst 609?

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Jack917

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Hi Everyone,

So after recently developing my own film for the first time ever, nerve racking but highly enjoyable and rewarding, I was going to scan it using my old flatbed scanner - only it seems to have conked out on me. So I started looking around for a replacement. After poking around a bit and looking into all the scanner threads I got to thinking, if I was able to figure out how to develop film (read a few threads here - thanks!, along with a book by Roger Hicks), I can probably also figure out how to wet print.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I came across a Durst enlarger for what seems to be a decent price, $45. It's a Durst 609, comes with an easel, the negative carriers for 35mm and I think 6x9 120 film, and a Schneider-Kreuznach 105 lens.

So my questions, is this a reasonable price? I'm guessing I'll need a grain focuser, and a timer, is there anything else I would need in terms of using the enlarger?

Any thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Jack
 
Greetings - I have that same enlarger.

A quick heads up with regards to 35mm - the Durst 609 is most likely set up for medium format using a 75m to 105mm lens. To do enlargements with 35mm negs, it will need a SEZUCO condenser lens, which mounts on top of the bottom condenser lens, which was called a SECON in the Durst catalog.

The SECON condenser lenses are comprised of two identical rectangular glass magnifiers. The flat sides face of the two SECON condensers each other for medium format work.

The SEZUCO is circular condenser lens in a rectangular frame.

You may also need to use a recessed lens board with the 50mm lens. I don't remember the Durst code name for the lens board.

The Durst 609 has to be one of the most compact 6x9 enlargers in existence - but it is older than dirt and the aboved mentioned accessories are very difficult to come by.

I like the enlarger - due to the guerillero nature of my darkroom - which is a bathroom by day.

I've posted the original manual for the Durst 609 - HERE
 
If this is the small beige one with the tall, rectangular head, it's no problem to use the MF condenser for 35mm. You're not going to get super-collimated light through there, but with the high magnification from a 35mm negative and the usual dust and scratches, you might not want it anyway. On the recessed board, if I recall, this one takes the same circular boards the modern enlargers do - I think it's a Sixtub when it's recessed for 50mm.
 
I have a durst 601, and I use the medium format condensers with that to print 35mm. No problems to report. What effect to the different condensers have anyway? I guess it has to do with uniformity of light?
 
dfoo said:
What effect to the different condensers have anyway? I guess it has to do with uniformity of light?
Click to expand...

I have a M601 as well. The 35mm condenser does increase the intensity of light through the 35mm frame by focusing the available light into a tighter illumination circle.

Keep in mind that the aperture number is function of focal length. A f/4.5 opening for a 50mm lens is smaller than a f/4.5 opening for a 105mm lens.

On both the Durst M601 and the 609, you can add more light to the equation by using a higher wattage bulb.

I would guess that the light passing through the medium format condensers is properly collimated for the smaller negative. The issue is what percentage of the available light is wasted.

Someone correct me, if I am wrong.
 
It sounds then like the difference is the exposure time. Given that for 35mm my exposure times are pretty short already, I wouldn't even want the different condensers then. For a 5x7 I'm printing at 5-6s, for 8x10 around 8-10s and 11x14 12-16s for a well exposure negative printed at grade 2.
 
That sounds about right. I get those times using a 35mm condenser with the aperture set to f/11 ish for 5x7 and f/8 ish for 8x10. It's been over a year since I've set up my 11 x 14 trays.
 
Solinar, thanks for the link to the manual!

Dante, yes it's a tall rectangular head, more grayish than beige. But it is the one in the manual posted by Andrew. When I get it, I'll give the 35mm a shot with the MF condenser. Uh, what's a "Sixtub when it's recessed for a 50mm"?

Does it matter for 35mm development if I use the 105mm lens or will I need a 50mm lens? Recommendations for a 50mm lens if I do need one? Is there a specific size? How will know it will be compatible with the enlarger?

Sorry if this is all newbie-ish
 
I just gave it a try. The 2839 looks identical to the board on my 601. I don't know what that board is since it has no markings. I put the lens in the 2839 and mounted it and it appears to work just fine.
 
If all else fails, you can print 35mm with a 75mm focal length lens. I've done it. As mentioned above, you just have to raise the enlarger head higher than normal.

Maybe you'll get the bug for a 6x9 medium format camera once you have the Durst.
 
zumbido said:
The 105 mm lens will require you to use more height for a given enlargement size. The manual for the 600 has tables that show you maximum possible enlargements (both full frame and crop&magnify) for various focal lengths; the one for the 609 may have the same.

Also, I would absolutely not purchase it if the included lens board mounts M25/25mm/Schneider-mount lenses. Your lens options in that mount are very limited, as new ones are currently AFAIK only still produced by Schneider-Krueznach, and only in the $400-ish and up range.
Click to expand...

I remembered it effected the enlargement size, but couldn't remember for sure which way. Thanks. I haven't done darkroom printing in many years, but plan to shortly. Have to collect a couple more goodies and make some room.
 
Inneresting! Is the board diameter closer to 68 or 78mm? I hear that's the sticking point in which boards will fit which enlargers from which time period... (Only if you have a ruler handy, don't knock yourself out.)
Click to expand...

The diameter is 78mm.

Here are some durst parts online.

http://www.leoscamera.com/clearance/

http://www.cambridgeworld.com/

Search for "durst" in cambridgeworld and they have a bunch of parts. None of these two places are cheap though!
 
El-Nikkors are wonderful enlarger lenses. I can strongly recommend the 50/2.8, very bright and easy to focus. I'm not sure if you get a bright 50 if you will need a condenser. While I have a condenser for my 4x5 enlarger I never used it even when printing 35mm negatives. I found condensers need to be VERY clean to not induce spots. Now if you print longer you need to make sure the enlarger is very stable (no vibrations) to insure your images are sharp. Get a grain magnifier to help with focusing, a good place to spend money as good ones are great and bad ones SUCK.

135mm lenses are more for 4x5, 70 for MF and 50 for 35mm frames. Which lens is best depends upon how much of the frame you want to enlarge to what size.

I was never impressed with Durst enlarger though they did have a Kick A55 color head.

B2 (;->
 
It should be noted that the additional 3rd condenser element that is generally considered as "being for 35mm" isn't directly associated with the negative size.

You need this condenser for even illumination when using the shorter 50mm enlarging lens. When using a longer 75-105mm lens you omit this third element regardless of the negative size being printed.
 
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