Help me choose enlarger

L

lemos

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Hey there,

I'm a total noob when it comes to printing, so I've decided to give it a shot.

While looking at my local auction website, I've found two sets, and although I might not buy either, I'd like to know what are the pros/cons of each other, so I can get a better grasp as to what to look for when searching for one.

The choices are:
  • "DUNCO" with a lens "MEOPTA BELLAR" 4,5/22
  • Krokus 69cColor with 3 lenses (105mm,80mm,50mm) (this one with loads of accessories)
The first one would go for 270€ and the second one for 350€.

I'm interested in hearing at are the pros/cons, and if I can print 135, as well as 120.

This is a photo of the Krokus:
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5319/dsc0095zp4.jpg


Thanks a lot :D
 
Great enlarger lenses are available for petty cash these days and this should be the last item you try to save on. Get a 6-element lens, such as Rodenstock Rodagon, Schneider Componon(-S) or El-Nikkor, in the focal lengths you need. I bought three of these enlarger lenses last year for about $40 per lens from *bay.

Without knowing what lenses are included in the Krokus package, it's hard to tell whether it's good value or not. If you get brand lenses, a timer and other accessories (trays, paper etc), it sounds like a good deal. The Krokus will let you print 135 as well as 120 up to 6x9cm. From what I can find on the web, many enlargers from Eastern Europe (such as Meopta and Krokus) had a slightly different design to their lens mounts than had their Western counterparts, resulting in very deeplý recessed lens boards. Sometimes, this causes problems with Western lenses as they either can't get close enough or are very hard to adjust when mounted.
 
300+ € is a price for which you nowadays would expect to pay only for the best of the best, like focomats or 4x5 enlargers. Especially east european enlargers don´t sell for over 100 Euros (except for Meopta Magnifax maybe). Check some real auctions on the bay without preset prices to get a feel for the current price level.
 
I understand you can get great deals on eBay, but none of them post their products due to their size/weight, which is understandable, that's why I was looking at these two that I could locally pick up.

The Krokus comes with:
  • 200W lamp
  • original plastic cover
  • 3 unnamed lenses (105/80/50 mm) (I've just asked the seller what brand they had)
  • analogic timer compatible with the enlarger
  • red light
  • thing to do margins 18x34
  • tank + spiral for 2 rolls
  • 1 measuring beaker
  • 2 tweezers for photographic paper
I'm sorry if I haven't translated correctly some of the items, but I think it's enough to know what it is :rolleyes:

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4295/dsc0094xg0.jpg
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7062/dsc0098as6.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5319/dsc0095zp4.jpg
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4176/dsc0097ws2.jpg


thanks once again
 
Buying new these days is insane, IMO.

I overpaid for my used Durst F-30 and EL-Nikkor ($179.00 together), but they were both in pristine condition and I didn't feel like trolling the 'bay. I could have spent a third as much.

Most of the rest of my gear was either cheap used (enlarging timer, easels) or so cheap new that it didn't matter (trays, process timer, safelight, etc.). I have less than US$300.00 into darkroom gear, and the only thing I could improve that would make a real difference in my prints is my skill.
 
From the photo of the lenses, it's impossible for me to tell because I don't recognize the brand names of the three in the foreground. The one in the background looks to be Janpol, which isn't of very high quality, if I remember correctly.

If you are interested in the Krokus, tell him you don't care for the lenses at all. You can buy very good lenses very cheaply on eBay, even in Europe. They are small and easily shipped.

I did a Google on Dunco enlargers, and the results weren't very positive. Also, the lens included with the Dunco looks to have a focal length of 22mm, which is only good for 110 negatives. How much 110 do you shoot? ;)

I would keep looking. If you can get a Meopta enlarger, they are pretty well made, particularly the Opemus line. And the better Meopta lenses are not bad. Since Meopta is (was?) a Czech company, they are fairly common in Europe.

I would keep looking. For example ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/DURST-805-darkr...ryZ29985QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
Hi! For darkroom equipment, be patient, and buy used. With digital photography practically killing film, people are almost giving this stuff away. Check your newspaper classified ads for used gear. You should easily get a complete setup of quality gear for $100 or 75E. Just be patient.
 
this IS used, despite being all inside the box still.

the used film market is not very big here in Portugal. It is very difficult to come buy anything enlargement wise.
 
Try putting a "want to buy" ad in the newspaper of a nearby big city. Buy privately, not from a shop. Personally, I think that the deals offered to you so far are very over-priced, given today's market for darkroom gear.
 
I agree with the others as far as price.

I assume this is for B&W, not color? A 200W bulb (lamp) doesn't sound right at all. I think my enlarger uses about 25W. Maybe 40W.
 
Help me choose enlarger

I agree that enlargers today are -- or should be -- very inexpensive...As long as you're looking locally because they are all heavy, I would be patient and wait for a Leica Focomat with a FOCOTAR enlarger lens or one of the German lenses with the standard Leica 39mm screw thread...They might cost around $100usd to $175usd but you could get lucky and get it for much less...I would avoid East European enlargers like the MEOPTA...

Look here:

http://www.edbuziak.workzsites.com/darkroom_enlarger_Focomat_p1.html
 
Last edited:
HI
If you are living in (or near) the Lisbon area send me a PM. I saw a couple of used enlargers for sale last week in a used photo equipment shop in central Lisbon (I don´t know about their price or their condition, - and I have no ties to the seller).
Cumprimentos
João
 
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