Oh, enlarging discussion! I have used a bunch of different enlargers over the years - ranging from a Salzman 11x14 (now you are talking REALLT large - 12 foot column and a table you could throw dance parties on!) down to Minox! My standard enlarger though was always either the Focomat 1c or the IIc. What sets them apart from the rest is simply german over-engineerig. They are built to stay in line and to withstand heavy use (particularly the IIc which was standard fare in most newspapers in the 60's and 70's).
When I used to shoot industrial stuff (120/4x5) I used a D6 Omega for color and a Beseler CB 7 for black/white. The CB7 had the first version of the Aristo VC cold light head on it. It works well, but the main problem is the light out put. Exposures could be very long (45-60 sec). The later versions evidently has adressed this and the output is better.
If you are shooting multiple formats, go for the D5/D6. yes, it is big but even at 4x5 setting the light is even across the easel. You do need to brace it though - the angled column is a bit prone to shake, particularly if it is in top position!
If your shooting is mainly 35/120 - the later version of the Focomat IIc is the ultimate, particularly with the later Focotar lenses (60/100mm). Beware of IIc's with "lens upgrades" as that usually screws up the auto focus. They are matched lenses/enlarger. Ideal one is a late grey IIC Color which has the filterdrawer for Multigrade filters (though you can lift the "head" off and stick 4"x4' inch filters on the condensor if it is a non Color version). Prices seems to go all over the places, from "freebies" from Institutions/Newspapers to over priced ones from private sellers. Always check that it comes with the 35/6x6/6x9 masks too (these are $100 + these days). Also check condition of condensor (you dont even want to know what a replacement costs!). Once you have set up a IIc's auto focus - thats it. It will stay in focus for the rest of yours or its life span!
The Focomat Ic is similar, except that it will only do 24x36 or smaller. My current one is a late grey with filter drawer and I have had that one for about 10 years. Occasionally (about every 3-4 years I check the auto focus - mostly to make the enlarger feel appriciated - and so far it has stayed put!). I use the Focotar-2 50/4.5 on it - I bought the lens in 1975 and had ELcan (Ernst Leitz Canada) realign it and optimize it for 11x14 size prints. So far I have never found a better lens! I have several Focotar-2's as well as a couple of 63mm/f2.8 and f4 El Nikkors (these are again among the best lenses you can buy for 35, particularly the f4!). These are used on a Ultra High Resolution ELCAN 121 Point Source Enlarger (supposedly 6 times the resolution that can be achieved by a condensor system). Of course, it has an electronic shutter which at the moment has decided to not work and one of my projects is now to build a LED light source instead!
The cheapest alternative for a Focomat style enlarger is actually a Valoy II. This is the non auto focussing version of the Focomat - same condensor and same even light out put - and it can use the Focotar lenses as well as other brands. A late, grey version with the tall upright (4 ft) is not a bad deal. Eugeen Smith printed most of his stuff with one of these and so did Larry Clark.
I did have a couple of V35's, but I never got along with it. The 40f2.8 lens is not even close to what a Focotar-2 can do, and the whole contraption looks like some kind of kitchen utensil. It is also getting difficult to get parts and negative carriers for them. Lots of plastic parts on them too that will snap! Many of these were bought by Auto Trader publishers and used heavily (to put it mildly) before they went digital.
The clamp down easels for the Focomat's are a bonus as they will REALLY stay in place. The later version (white baseboard) took away this feature though. Leica also made some rather fancy easels, the early 2 blade wooden ones and the piece de resistance, the 8x10 diecast 4 bladed 8x10 easel ( I think in the 1983 price list it was listed at $750!).
Interestingly enough, Leica was considering a Focotar -3 50/4.5 for the V35, but the added height required for a 11x14 introduced vibration when the "arm" was fully up and the fact the the V35 also was geared to the color printer, it was found too slow. They made a couple of prototypes of it and I picked one up at an auction last year. It works fine on my Ic and it is possible that it is better than my Focotar-2 but the margin is so small that I cant see the difference. Once the LED source is finished I will put it in the Point Source enlarger and try it out.
For those who are looking for the ultimate in sharpness, point source is the way to go (both Beseler and Omega made these light sources), but beware - it will show EVERY flaw in the film and never,ever use it for portraits -nobody looks that good!
