Durst laborator 900 Yay or Nay?

S

SQUARETIP

Member
Local time
3:37 PM
Joined
Sep 19, 2015
Messages
35
Hi there, I'm currently watching an L900 on eBay. Anyone have experience with using this said enlarger? It appealed to me because it covers the formats that I shoot - 35mm-6x9. Hoping to get for a good price, though don't know much about this model. Any input will be gratefully received.

Alex
 
SQUARETIP said:
Hi there, I'm currently watching an L900 on eBay. Anyone have experience with using this said enlarger? It appealed to me because it covers the formats that I shoot - 35mm-6x9. Hoping to get for a good price, though don't know much about this model. Any input will be gratefully received. Alex
Click to expand...
I use a Laborator 1000 (max format 10x12 cm) with Ilford Multigrade system. I've paid €450 and I'm very satisfied.
 
If you were in the US, I'd say stay away. I sold darkroom equipment for many years, years ago. While Dursts were fine, really excellent enlargers, they were a pain to get parts and accessories in the US. They were German designed and made in Italy if I recall.
 
As Keith said, parts were bad news when these enlargers were new. That wasn't just in the US! Now they're all but impossible. They were made in a German-speaking part of Italy. I'd steer clear if I were you.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
As Keith said, parts were bad news when these enlargers were new. That wasn't just in the US! Now they're all but impossible. They were made in a German-speaking part of Italy. I'd steer clear if I were you.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

Oh dear, that doesn't sound good. I thought it might be worth a shot if I get it at a bargain price. I've been keeping my eyes peeled for De vere 504's on eBay but my budget first quite stretch sadly!

Cheers for all the replies

Alex
 
There are plenty of Durst parts parts on ebay - but mostly from German speaking countries or Israel, and mostly for the M605 and L1200.

The L900 sold in relatively small numbers, as it was much more expensive than the prosumer M60x range, and too close to the 4x5" L1x00. Most pros went for the latter even when they only considered a long term switch to LF. The L900 mostly sold to the institutional and corporate market, where controlling had the last word when it came to spending a extra 20% for 4x5" while you only were granted a medium format camera.
 
sevo said:
There are plenty of Durst parts parts on ebay - but mostly from German speaking countries or Israel, and mostly for the M605 and L1200.

The L900 sold in relatively small numbers, as it was much more expensive than the prosumer M60x range, and too close to the 4x5" L1x00. Most pros went for the latter even when they only considered a long term switch to LF. The L900 mostly sold to the institutional and corporate market, where controlling had the last word when it came to spending a extra 20% for 4x5" while you only were granted a medium format camera.
Click to expand...

So, would you recommend the L900 or should I hold out for a nice De vere? ;)
 
Personally I would not pay any significant money for an enlarger today because they are being trashed in large numbers by people who have inherited them or switched to digital. Try Craigslist.
 
SQUARETIP said:
So, would you recommend the L900 or should I hold out for a nice De vere? ;)
Click to expand...

I do own a L1200, and a L900, and their quality and longevity are outstanding - if you are in the market for one, the L1200 can be picked up for cheap as well, and the parts situation is much better. The only de Vere I've used was a 5x7" - given by that, I'd consider their pro enlargers from the 1970-2000 era as fairly equivalent and similar, but the prosumer/consumer de Veres are doubtlessly worse than a pro Durst.
 
DominikDUK said:
Get the Durst or even better try to find a Laborator 1200. Devere might be more common in the UK but Durst is the better product.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I might try and hold out to see if I can grab the 1200, though I've only seen them come with wall mounts and no baseboards.
 
I liked Durst more than most while darkrooms were still anything other than a curious artefact and still do. If the Laborator 900 you're looking at comes with everything you need (especially neg holders) it is a great enlarger. You're unlikely to wear anything out unless you use it really hard, or break it unless you misuse it, and if you do, and it is cheap now, you can replace it with something else. But don't think you'll easily find accessories you might need if they don't come with it, like those darned 6x9 holders later (unless you're lucky) or, heaven help you, a 25x37 holder to show the edges of a 35 mm frame (hen's teeth).

In the UK http://www.secondhanddarkroom.co.uk is often cheaper than eBay. I found them very reliable, although I haven't used them for years.

Marty
 
Freakscene said:
I liked Durst more than most while darkrooms were still anything other than a curious artefact and still do. If the Laborator 900 you're looking at comes with everything you need (especially neg holders) it is a great enlarger. You're unlikely to wear anything out unless you use it really hard, or break it unless you misuse it, and if you do, and it is cheap now, you can replace it with something else. But don't think you'll easily find accessories you might need if they don't come with it, like those darned 6x9 holders later (unless you're lucky) or, heaven help you, a 25x37 holder to show the edges of a 35 mm frame (hen's teeth).

In the UK http://www.secondhanddarkroom.co.uk is often cheaper than eBay. I found them very reliable, although I haven't used them for years.

Marty
Click to expand...

Hey Marty, you make some good points, so really its a no brainer, if I can get this cheap! I've seen this listed on the second hand darkroom site for £425

Ebay listing with the 6x9 masks :)

http://ebay.eu/1QitPpS
 
Back in Belgium I was lucky to find a L900 with all the bells and whistles. It proved to be an excellent enlarger, very sturdy and easy to use.

As stated before see it has the neg holders, light mixing boxes or condensers for the formats you use. Check if the ventilator works when you turn it on or the lamps will fry the filters.

Originally they came with calibrated lenses for the autofocus system, if they are not included I found I could work with other lenses, mine came with apo- rodagons, despite being autofocus a little additional focussing improved matters.
 
skibeerr said:
Back in Belgium I was lucky to find a L900 with all the bells and whistles. It proved to be an excellent enlarger, very sturdy and easy to use.

As stated before see it has the neg holders, light mixing boxes or condensers for the formats you use. Check if the ventilator works when you turn it on or the lamps will fry the filters.

Originally they came with calibrated lenses for the autofocus system, if they are not included I found I could work with other lenses, mine came with apo- rodagons, despite being autofocus a little additional focussing improved matters.
Click to expand...
Hey,

Thanks for the tips. Judging by the pics on eBay it comes with all the carriers and has a Bimacon 80 condenser which I'm told covers all the formats, is this correct?

Cheers
Alex
 
Bimacon 80 is for 6x7 and 6x9 negs
Bimacon 75 for 6x4.5 and 6x6
Femocon 50 + Bimacon 75 for 35mm.

So yes it does cover the formats but for best possible results use the right condensor for the film Format.
 
DominikDUK said:
Bimacon 80 is for 6x7 and 6x9 negs
Bimacon 75 for 6x4.5 and 6x6
Femocon 50 + Bimacon 75 for 35mm.

So yes it does cover the formats but for best possible results use the right condensor for the film Format.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'd be enlarging 6x4.5-6x9 negs so would need the bimacon 75 which looks to be hard to find and quite expensive.
 
Bimacon 80 will work for 6x4.5 and even 35mm, because the condenser does not concentrate the light your enlarging times will be (a little) longer with the 80 for 6x4.5

I still have a m800 with condenser head in storage who has only the 80.
Looked around for ages to find the 75 and 50 but finally gave up. My L900 had the colour head.

My advise is if it has not got all you need in the foreseeable future don't go ahead with it.
 
skibeerr said:
Bimacon 80 will work for 6x4.5 and even 35mm, because the condenser does not concentrate the light your enlarging times will be (a little) longer with the 80 for 6x4.5

I still have a m800 with condenser head in storage who has only the 80.
Looked around for ages to find the 75 and 50 but finally gave up. My L900 had the colour head.

My advise is if it has not got all you need in the foreseeable future don't go ahead with it.
Click to expand...

Thanks, going to give this a miss. I'm going to make a few calls tomorrow about a De Vere 504, so fingers crossed!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom