Enlarger Recommendations

marcr1230

marcr1230

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I currently have a Beseler 67C XL (the one with dual columns)
I bought it years ago - it was a condenser enlarger. soon afterwards I converted it to a diffusion enlarger courtesy of an Aristo cold light head. Then I stopped using it...
When I took it out earlier this year, I realized that my prints are coming out very high in contrast. After some research, I realized that the bulb in the head apparently is not made for VC paper and is shifted towards the contrasty side of the VC spectrum, even when using the low contrast filters...

So I have 3 options
1. Buy a new enlarger
2. Buy a replacement bulb (not cheap - maybe $225)
3. test my theory with graded paper


I would love to get a Focomat v35 - however it seems hard to find one that would be reliable out of the box (insert ebay caveats here)

I am only interested in this for B&W, max image size 16x20, and formats 35mm & 6x4.5

what would you do in my shoes ?
 
For one thing - the V35 only does 35mm. For 6x4.5 you would need at Focomat IIc.
In your case I think I would try to find an original condensor hear for the 67XL and simply use VC filters.
The Arista head was good, but a bit too slow for me. used it for 4x5 on a D6. A head or even a complete 67XL should be relatively easy to find. Enlargers are still cheap - though the premium ones (Focomats/DeVere's/Durst 138's etc are creeping back up in value).
 
being a pack rat, I still have the original condenser head

I suppose that is a possibility also - although at the time I convinced myself the condenser enlargers had disadvantages vs diffusion
 
One answer is to try different kinds of paper. Another is to see if you can appropriately filter the light from the source. For the print size you want, another enlarger is also an inexpensive answer.

[edit] You might like to see what the original condenser head does. I wonder why you didn't list this as the fourth option. I never found diffusion enlargers satisfactory, as it happens.
 
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A Focomat IIc is without comparison. Get a good one with a filter drawer, clean lenses and both the 120 and 135 negative carriers without scratches on their glass parts and you are all set for the rest of your life.

Erik.

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