rsosa
Established
I may have access to a Durst Laborator 1200 for $ 600
It comes with 3 mixing boxes and lenses 50, 80, 105 and 150 and maybe a 135. It has a CLS 450 head on it.
I already have a Focomat Ic but it is only for 35 mm as you may know and having a bessa II and a hassy 500 if I want to enlarge 6x6 or 6x9 I would need something bigger like the Durst.
I was checking ebay prices, not sure if I have a real clue, (and need to add Im not in the US but in Uruguay, the enlarger is in Argentina though, but not that far for a weekend trip)
I know this investment is life long lasting but, will paper last that much? what do you think? In addition, do you think its worth having a larger enlarger? it really makes a difference from 35mm? If I sale them locally would not get back the money, so its a one way trip, I mean it will be with me for ever i think
In the end, it makes sense having two enlargers?
Maybe too many questions.
It comes with 3 mixing boxes and lenses 50, 80, 105 and 150 and maybe a 135. It has a CLS 450 head on it.
I already have a Focomat Ic but it is only for 35 mm as you may know and having a bessa II and a hassy 500 if I want to enlarge 6x6 or 6x9 I would need something bigger like the Durst.
I was checking ebay prices, not sure if I have a real clue, (and need to add Im not in the US but in Uruguay, the enlarger is in Argentina though, but not that far for a weekend trip)
I know this investment is life long lasting but, will paper last that much? what do you think? In addition, do you think its worth having a larger enlarger? it really makes a difference from 35mm? If I sale them locally would not get back the money, so its a one way trip, I mean it will be with me for ever i think
In the end, it makes sense having two enlargers?
Maybe too many questions.
ChrisN
Striving
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Brilliant enlarger - really solid and rigid, beautiful to use. I was incredibly lucky to get mine cheap when a darkroom closed down, but I'd happily pay $600 now if I had to.
Brilliant enlarger - really solid and rigid, beautiful to use. I was incredibly lucky to get mine cheap when a darkroom closed down, but I'd happily pay $600 now if I had to.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
It is simply the best enlarger that can still be fit on a desk (provided you have a strong desk, that is).
rsosa
Established
I guess I have little to no option then...
The seller has a CLS 500 fitted in another enlarger, an Omega.
Not sure if he will allow the swap to the L1200, but if the CLS 500 is not modified, do you think it is worth trying to ask for swapping heads?
The CLS 500 has ND filter integrated, do you think is a great advantage over CLS 450?
The seller has a CLS 500 fitted in another enlarger, an Omega.
Not sure if he will allow the swap to the L1200, but if the CLS 500 is not modified, do you think it is worth trying to ask for swapping heads?
The CLS 500 has ND filter integrated, do you think is a great advantage over CLS 450?
ChrisN
Striving
I have the CLS450, which seems to work fine for my needs (print B&W only).
For my printing workflow I prefer to use Ilford multigrade filters under the lens, so I'm not concerned about the colour filtration in the head. If you have the correct mixing boxes you should have no difficulty getting suitable exposure times (so I wouldn't be concerned about lack of ND filter).
Whichever head you get, make sure you get the correct power supply with the enlarger as this is critical and difficult/expensive to replace. Get some spare bulbs too if he has them. And check that you have the correct negative holder and masks for 35mm, medium format (645, 6x6 and 6x9) and 4x5 as well (even if you don't shoot all these formats these parts are expensive to replace later and tremendously increase the value of the enlarger). And try to get spare FEMOGLAS (clear glass for the bottom and ANR glass for the top too if he has them. Good luck! Again - great enlarger!
For my printing workflow I prefer to use Ilford multigrade filters under the lens, so I'm not concerned about the colour filtration in the head. If you have the correct mixing boxes you should have no difficulty getting suitable exposure times (so I wouldn't be concerned about lack of ND filter).
Whichever head you get, make sure you get the correct power supply with the enlarger as this is critical and difficult/expensive to replace. Get some spare bulbs too if he has them. And check that you have the correct negative holder and masks for 35mm, medium format (645, 6x6 and 6x9) and 4x5 as well (even if you don't shoot all these formats these parts are expensive to replace later and tremendously increase the value of the enlarger). And try to get spare FEMOGLAS (clear glass for the bottom and ANR glass for the top too if he has them. Good luck! Again - great enlarger!
rsosa
Established
Thank you Chris and sevo, I have contacted him and all is set for Saturday. Hoping a happy ending 
dap
Established
Nice find on the Durst. They are built like tanks. Assuming everything is working OK on it $600 is a fair price.
As far as paper is concerned - I wouldn't worry about it. As long as people still use/buy it somebody will still produce it. The choices may dwindle, but you'll be able to buy at least one brand or another in the not too distant future. Even if factory made printing paper goes away I suspect you'll always be able to buy some type of liquid emulsion and coat your own paper (I don't see it coming to this though).
As far as paper is concerned - I wouldn't worry about it. As long as people still use/buy it somebody will still produce it. The choices may dwindle, but you'll be able to buy at least one brand or another in the not too distant future. Even if factory made printing paper goes away I suspect you'll always be able to buy some type of liquid emulsion and coat your own paper (I don't see it coming to this though).
rsosa
Established
Soo... i made the trip, just came home a few hours ago. It was tricky, from all points of view.
Didn't wanted to use my car because if the guy at customs decided i was breaking the law he would confiscate my car, no way. Yes, customs here are based on day humor, person, climate, planets alignment, etc etc.
That left me with ferry+car rental and disassembling the monster and packing in bags, yes, its doable, its a pain though (weight)
When arrived at Buenos Aires, no gps from the car rental company, I reserved one though. My GF was my gps then, thank god she went with me. Best woman ever!
The place was not in Bs. As but in its province: Moron. Its far away from downtown.
After 1:30 hs driving through crazy traffic (saturday madness?) came to the place of transaction
Well, it was not that pristine as the seller described it, as I see it, 2 major flaws.
BTW I hate when this stuff happens, the thing was used, I expected some paint fading but what I found later...
That left me with little time to think about what to do. I decided to take it, hoping that I could source spare parts (shipping a counter weight spring is not shipping the column!!!) or fabricate them and the fact im thousands miles away from second hand -going out of business darkroom laborators
1- Counter balance spring has a missing part/piece/chip on one side (needs soon replacement im afraid) and seems to have made a bent in the cover housing (ouch!! how do you do that? this last thing is "makeup-able" ).
When locking the head, if you apply "some" force, the head moves... bad sign of defective locking mechanism?
2- Seller decided the internal blower could not manage long exposure times for giants enlargements and made a ''DIY'' horrendous adaptation for a tube and external blower. Im planning on fixing that too and installing an internal blower...
ohh boy, really, how could you do that? come on!!! it was not a clean work, will need to do some metal sheet work here.
3- Bright side: I have it, a 1st class enlarger that needs some care though (maybe it was not worth the $ 600 if I was in the US, but this is South America)
Can someone take a pic from its CLS 450 internal blower? maybe a brand/model plate?
Does anybody sourced a custom built flat spring for its laborator, Im thinking its doable, really, think about the counter balance for drills
thanks in advance
rodrigo
You don't need to keep reading from here
Before traveling back home I ended with 3 main packages if you were wondering how I did it:
1- travel bag with TRA 450, CLS 450, mixing boxes, neg carriers (have 2), neg masks and Rodenstocks in 50, 80, 105 and 150.
2- column (didn't dare to disassemble it more than what durst shipped when new)
3- base (this was expendable, i mean it was not mandatory to bring it, but after looking it, its so stiff and heavy I decided I could not get a decent replacement here)
Checked in the bag and base. That left me with the column inside a tripod bag with the big head support coming out in bubble wrap. Immediatly an argentinean customs asked, whats that? You cant carry that
First explanation, this is an enlarger, its stripped in 3 packages... blah blah
showed the "receipt" seller provided, a very old yellowish paper, from the times he had his darkroom. Ok you can go (first victory)
Came to security checkpoint (Argentinean navy guys with x rays machines)
Whats that? same explanation, added: i have a "go" from the customs guy... ok you can go on (second victory)
At this point everybody was looking strange at me, what's that? this man is crazy...
After arriving to Montevideo, long wait for passenger queue at customs. X-rays...same question, what the hell is that? Same explanation. wait wait wait, boss gave the ok, free to go.
In the end, it could have been a bigger headache (navy, customs, more customs, crashing the rented car) all I need now is to give the L1200 some care and use
It was quite an adventure,
Didn't wanted to use my car because if the guy at customs decided i was breaking the law he would confiscate my car, no way. Yes, customs here are based on day humor, person, climate, planets alignment, etc etc.
That left me with ferry+car rental and disassembling the monster and packing in bags, yes, its doable, its a pain though (weight)
When arrived at Buenos Aires, no gps from the car rental company, I reserved one though. My GF was my gps then, thank god she went with me. Best woman ever!
The place was not in Bs. As but in its province: Moron. Its far away from downtown.
After 1:30 hs driving through crazy traffic (saturday madness?) came to the place of transaction
Well, it was not that pristine as the seller described it, as I see it, 2 major flaws.
BTW I hate when this stuff happens, the thing was used, I expected some paint fading but what I found later...
That left me with little time to think about what to do. I decided to take it, hoping that I could source spare parts (shipping a counter weight spring is not shipping the column!!!) or fabricate them and the fact im thousands miles away from second hand -going out of business darkroom laborators
1- Counter balance spring has a missing part/piece/chip on one side (needs soon replacement im afraid) and seems to have made a bent in the cover housing (ouch!! how do you do that? this last thing is "makeup-able" ).
When locking the head, if you apply "some" force, the head moves... bad sign of defective locking mechanism?
2- Seller decided the internal blower could not manage long exposure times for giants enlargements and made a ''DIY'' horrendous adaptation for a tube and external blower. Im planning on fixing that too and installing an internal blower...
ohh boy, really, how could you do that? come on!!! it was not a clean work, will need to do some metal sheet work here.
3- Bright side: I have it, a 1st class enlarger that needs some care though (maybe it was not worth the $ 600 if I was in the US, but this is South America)
Can someone take a pic from its CLS 450 internal blower? maybe a brand/model plate?
Does anybody sourced a custom built flat spring for its laborator, Im thinking its doable, really, think about the counter balance for drills
thanks in advance
rodrigo
You don't need to keep reading from here
Before traveling back home I ended with 3 main packages if you were wondering how I did it:
1- travel bag with TRA 450, CLS 450, mixing boxes, neg carriers (have 2), neg masks and Rodenstocks in 50, 80, 105 and 150.
2- column (didn't dare to disassemble it more than what durst shipped when new)
3- base (this was expendable, i mean it was not mandatory to bring it, but after looking it, its so stiff and heavy I decided I could not get a decent replacement here)
Checked in the bag and base. That left me with the column inside a tripod bag with the big head support coming out in bubble wrap. Immediatly an argentinean customs asked, whats that? You cant carry that
First explanation, this is an enlarger, its stripped in 3 packages... blah blah
showed the "receipt" seller provided, a very old yellowish paper, from the times he had his darkroom. Ok you can go (first victory)
Came to security checkpoint (Argentinean navy guys with x rays machines)
Whats that? same explanation, added: i have a "go" from the customs guy... ok you can go on (second victory)
At this point everybody was looking strange at me, what's that? this man is crazy...
After arriving to Montevideo, long wait for passenger queue at customs. X-rays...same question, what the hell is that? Same explanation. wait wait wait, boss gave the ok, free to go.
In the end, it could have been a bigger headache (navy, customs, more customs, crashing the rented car) all I need now is to give the L1200 some care and use
It was quite an adventure,
rsosa
Established
What you see is not always what you get.
Because I traveled far from home, crossed the border and additional money was spent I decided to take it back home:
Here is seller picture
Here is what you get:
Seller made a NASTY mod to the back of the CLS 450 housing. Really nasty and it upsets me when people do not respect aesthetics of stuff. Call me crazy if you want, but if you mod it, please do it well.
Picture from the nasty hole
Internal blower was missing (bought one from durst pro)
The spring was cracked at some points and I have the replacement in my hands ready for installation but will wait for Durst pro instructions with bundled pictures for the how to.
The head came with a non original switch for the filter wheel illumination.
Ordered one from durst pro but was for a batch of different CLS 450 head?
It didn't fit, internal dimensions needed some filing. Sending back the switch and waiting for a new one meant shipping back to the US and possible customs clearances ($$$). I adapted to my head by filing about 2 mm of the internal hole and one side of the switch.
Now it sits seamlessly in the head and looks original with no light leaks.
I also cleaned all internal surfaces of dust from ages and changed bulb socket and did a proper wire installation of it. (not twisting wires but soldering, in the future planning for a quick connector for it)
Baseboard had a nasty grey instead of the pure white of it. CIF cream made the magic and now its almost as new. Nice product for gentle polishing (disan, alcohol and other did not worked)
Yesterday fired it up. It works and focus beautifully. I really like how smooth the focus is.
Because I traveled far from home, crossed the border and additional money was spent I decided to take it back home:
Here is seller picture
Here is what you get:
Seller made a NASTY mod to the back of the CLS 450 housing. Really nasty and it upsets me when people do not respect aesthetics of stuff. Call me crazy if you want, but if you mod it, please do it well.
Picture from the nasty hole
Internal blower was missing (bought one from durst pro)
The spring was cracked at some points and I have the replacement in my hands ready for installation but will wait for Durst pro instructions with bundled pictures for the how to.
The head came with a non original switch for the filter wheel illumination.
Ordered one from durst pro but was for a batch of different CLS 450 head?
It didn't fit, internal dimensions needed some filing. Sending back the switch and waiting for a new one meant shipping back to the US and possible customs clearances ($$$). I adapted to my head by filing about 2 mm of the internal hole and one side of the switch.
Now it sits seamlessly in the head and looks original with no light leaks.
I also cleaned all internal surfaces of dust from ages and changed bulb socket and did a proper wire installation of it. (not twisting wires but soldering, in the future planning for a quick connector for it)
Baseboard had a nasty grey instead of the pure white of it. CIF cream made the magic and now its almost as new. Nice product for gentle polishing (disan, alcohol and other did not worked)
Yesterday fired it up. It works and focus beautifully. I really like how smooth the focus is.