Recommendations for an enlarger on a budget in the UK

[ishanm]

I recently picked up a used Paterson 35 colour enlarger to practice printing at home. Unfortunately, unlike the seller's description, it cannot print 6x6, nor can the height be adjusted because of a missing part. I'm stuck printing 5x7 crops of a fixed 11x14 enlargement of 35mm frames.

Shame on me, but for my £65, I did learn that my room for printing is sufficiently light tight, and that caffenol makes some nice prints.

But now, I need a new enlarger. I'll be looking to make prints from 35mm, XPan and 6x6. What enlargers would you recommend for someone on a budget? Would a Durst M600 fit these requirements?

 

[Snapper_uk]

Meopta enlargers are very good value and can be found easily s/h in the UK. The Opemus 6 would do 35mm to 6x6 - for example, there's one at http://www.secondhanddarkroom.co.uk going for £185.

 

[ZeissFan]

If you want to enlarge XPan negatives, I would consider a 4x5 enlarger, simply because of the width of an XPan negative.

At the least, you'll want an enlarger than can handle a 6x9, as the XPan negative is 65mm wide. Some of the Dursts should be able to handle 6x9. I had one with a glass negative carrier with sliding negative masks.

By the way, remember than anything with "35" in its name probably means it is limited to 35mm.

 

[leicapixie]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138368

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138368

I prefer the Durst range.
Beseler,Omega are really good also.
The Durst range look nicer than the Opemus..
Easy to store, with M600 can do 6x6.
Allows a black border around your 35mm negs.
Here in Canada and the States may get one free!
Nobody wants to do wet darkroom.
Good for you.
Good luck in your search..

 

[john neal]

I have aeopta with 35mm and 6x6 inserts - the base carrier will go almost to 9x9.

I would consider selling it if you are interested as I'm about to go digital - drop me a PM

 

[Soeren]

Meopta enlargers are very good value and can be found easily s/h in the UK. The Opemus 6 would do 35mm to 6x6 - for example, there's one at http://www.secondhanddarkroom.co.uk going for £185.

I have had a couple of Opemuses over time and can vouch for that. Look for the 4-6 series. Im not intirely sure the 3 series will be compatible with the negcarriers and lenscones of the later models. If youre lucky you might even get on for free. The only enlarger I had to pay for is my Omega D3.
Best regards.

 

[ishanm]

Wow. Thanks for all the quick feedback. I hadn't realised that it was a 35 until I started looking online for what might be causing me trouble. The way I managed to identify it was by a scan of an ad that I found for it. The same ad got me to realise that a part of the enlarger was missing.

There's no way I can move up to a 4x5 enlarger right now. I am printing in our utility room, where there is no space for one. Nor do I have the budget for it at the moment.

The Dursts do look very nice, and the packability is a big factor. One of the things I miss most about living in the US is the weekly giveaway on craigslist of enlargers. I haven't seen that over here at all.

 

[red snapper]

Please, please PM me. I have a Besler multi format condenser enlarger does 35mm to 6x9cm, 50mm/2.8 Rodenstock and 80mm/4 Schneider lenses, quality easels, timers, everything. Cost me a fortune when I bought it new in 1991.
Also have a small Durst diffuser enlarger, not sure which one with 50mm Nikon lens. Again with all the bits and pieces. Been trying to find a loving home for it for years, so please help me. Naturally not giving them away but any reasonable offers considered. Just don't have the space or inclination to set up a darkroom again, really don't miss those smelly semi toxic chemicals that would stink the whole flat and my clothes out! These days I just use a changing bag and scanner. Oh and Ill throw in a Jobo colour processor with it. Really have to get rid of this, its taking up far too much space in small flat. The deal is that you have to collect it from Hoxton, central London. 🙂

 

[varchs]

There are plenty of enlargers in the "bay"...
I am looking for one for my self either...
unfortunately, all of them are available only for pickup, and I am living in Greece... :-(
Good luck!

 

[MarinB]

There were a few Fujimoto 450M-C units with a whole slew of parts and accessories for sale all over the UK this year, some were fantastic bargains. I have this enlarger and it's an absolute beast. Does full 4x5"; has active cooling and is built like a tank. Lens boards are easily available new and moddable to M50 and M72 and negative carriers aren't difficult to get and attach AN/regular glass to.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Another vote for Meopta. I have two Magnifaxes.

Cheers,

R.

 

[wakarimasen]

Any comments on the Meopta Opemus 6 Super? I have seen an example of this enlarger for sale at a good price, with two lenses and a colour 3 head. Would this be ok for B&W work?

I'm interested in buying an enlarger and taking a day course for printing (just to get me started) at a place I found in Birmingham. I would principally be developing 35mm and - at the moment - up to 6x6. After another frustrating evening trying to scan Delta 400 (grain, grain and more grain) I want to print!

Best regards
RoyM

 

[wakarimasen]

I hope it's a good model - I just bought it. 🙂

 

[rumbliegeos]

You sound like you are at a nomadic stage of life. I sold my first enlarger last fall, and it would have been perfect for you. It was a Durst F60, which would cover 35mm up to 6X6. Small, good construction, could not go out of alignment because of its design, the main limitation was the height of the column which would not allow really big prints. But you could reverse the column and print off the edge of a table if you really wanted a print larger than 11X14.

If you get a Durst 6X6 unit, be sure that it comes with the needed negative carriers and condensers for all of the formats you will want to print. They all have names like "FESIXNEG", etc.

 

[wakarimasen]

Hi Gerry
I spend a lot of time during my normal working day with computers, so the whole digital workflow thing does not really appeal to me.

The one thing that has put me off printing, is really not wanting to start from scratch without any idea. Now that I've found a place that will run a course, I'm in!

Best regards,
RoyM