What enlarger to buy?

[pedro.m.reis]

Hi.
Since im moving to a new home that has room for a darkroom, i need an enlarger.
The problem is, i dont know what i need, what to look for.....
All i know is i want o start printing my own photos, and my budget for the enlarger goes up to €200...
Need some advice on brands, types of lamps, etc. Or a good website(link) that i can go

Thanks

 

[terrafirmanada]

Are you going to be doing colour or just black and white? My focomat 1C is great, but I only print black and white. It is simple, built like a tank, is fun to use and was only $100 usd.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Color? I think not... dunno
Is anyone making color prints at home??

 

[ruben]

Even more than with a camera, or at least as with a camera, the issue is not the enlarger but the lens you put in.

Cheers,
Ruiben

 

[venchka]

I have owned and used two: Omega D2 condenser (any format up to 4x5) and a Beseler 23CII (up to 2 1/4x3 1/4 format). Both did a very good job with graded papers.

YES! The lens is everything.

There are diffusion light source enlargers out there too. I have no experience with them. Nor do I have any experience with variable contrast paper. Either of those variables might affect your choice of enlarger.

Good luck!

 

[Pablito]

The lens is not everything. There is a big difference between a difussion and condenser system, you should read about this. Condenser or diffusion is a matter of personal choice but they will produce different looking prints. For the price you cite you'll probably be looking at condenser enlargers, but consider the Saunders, a diffusion enlarger which you can get with a variable contrast head. I preer the Schneider enlarging lenses. Good luck!

 

[markinlondon]

Leitz, Meopta, Durst, you name it. Lenses to choose from are EL-Nikkor, Rodenstock Rodagon, Schneider, Meopta Meogon. Avoid the slower lenses, they tend to have four elements and are soft in the corners., go for f2.8 versions (except longer lenses designed for MF negatives). Fortunately, the lens that cost ¢300 new two years ago now costs ¢30 from eBay or any real photographic dealer.
On the whole go for a enlarger that is sturdily built and can be aligned accurately. A condenser head will need a set of multigrade filters while a "colour" enlarger can be used with multigrade papers by dialing in the magenta and yellow filters.
I have a Meopta Opemus 6 with a multigrade head. It cost about 1/5 of its list price used.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

do all the enlarger lens fits on all enlargers? There is only 1 mount?

 

[mikeh]

Just watch out for missing neg carriers.....tough to replace on a lot of models.

 

[drewbarb]

Pablito is right- the condensor vs. diffusion enlarger issue is a big difference- read up on it. I know this will start a fight which I'm not interested in getting into, but most of the best printers in the world prefer cold-light or other diffusion heads over condensors. I'm firmly in this camp. But by far the most important point is to get one which is in good physical shape. The most important point is that the film plane, the lens plane, and the paper/easel surface are all perfectly parallel. You'll almost never get good prints with any enlarger no matter how good or bad if it's out of alignment.

Other than that, yes, spend money on good lenses- this doesn't have to be expensive. The best lens made for 35mm printing costs less than $400 new, which is a lot less than many shooting lenses. Kerry Thalman of View Camera Magazine has done a lot of testing over the years in regards to enlarging lenses, and his advice is to look for the classic 6 element/4 group lenses which have been most popular over the last 50 years or so. They are plentiful and cheap.

The last thing I would suggest is to get the largest enlarger you can. This will allow you to move up in formats later if you like, and also make large prints. You can still make small 5x7 and 8x10's from 35mm, no problem. Size and mass also contribute to stability, and this will help, too. Good luck getting wet!

 

[markinlondon]

do all the enlarger lens fits on all enlargers? There is only 1 mount?

By and large, yes! Most enlarger lenses are 39mm screw mount except some very old ones. Meopta do an adapter for older 23mm enlarger lenses, but really they're not worth the effort.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

dammm, why didnt they do the same with cameras

By and large, yes! Most enlarger lenses are 39mm screw mount except some very old ones. Meopta do an adapter for older 23mm enlarger lenses, but really they're not worth the effort.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Another (stupid) question: why do we need diferent focal distante lenses on an enlarger?
Diferent enlargements need diferent lenses? is not only push up and down the thing?
:angel::angel:

 

[Fred]

Color? I think not... dunno
Is anyone making color prints at home??

Err...., yes I do but not that ofen these days. A well printed home colour enlargement takes some beating. It just costs. It's cheaper these days to scan, and print via PC.

 

[Fred]

Another (stupid) question: why do we need diferent focal distante lenses on an enlarger?
Diferent enlargements need diferent lenses? is not only push up and down the thing?
:angel::angel:

Different focal lengths are usually for different film formats, i.e 50mm for 35mm, 80mm for medium format 6 x 6. Hope this helps. This does not reflect on the enlargment size paper wise.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

haaaaaaaaa!
So if i only need print 35mm film, i only need a 50mm lens!
Whats the 3/5 best 50mm enlarger lens made?

Different focal lengths are usually for different film formats, i.e 50mm for 35mm, 80mm for medium format 6 x 6. Hope this helps. This does not reflect on the enlargment size paper wise.

 

[drewbarb]

haaaaaaaaa!
So if i only need print 35mm film, i only need a 50mm lens!
Whats the 3/5 best 50mm enlarger lens made?

Nominally, the best enlarging lens made for 35mm is the 50mm Rodenstock APO Rodagon. It has the highest resolving power available. But the Schneider competitor for this lens is probably just as good.

You might want a different focal length to print from a given format to different sizes, though. I frequently use my 105 lens (normally for meduim format enlarging) to make small 4x7 work prints, for instance, since I can't get that small with the 50mm lens.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Condensor enlargers are fine for most home darkrooms.
Buy a model that you can still find parts and accessories for.
Don't skimp on the lens(es) - buy the best you can afford.

Chris

 

[ruben]

The lens is not everything................. I preer the Schneider enlarging lenses. Good luck!

If the choice is between a good lens such as a Nikkor and a very good lens, better than the Nikkor, then and only then "the lens is not everything".

But if you happen to purchase a lens below the Nikkor quality, such as the "Schneider Kreusznach Componar S 4.5/80" (Schneider manufactures lenses of different types, some are among the worst and some are among the best - so if it is a Schneider, new from the store, price may tell) - then you will waist years and years of mis-educating your eye at the darkroom, with all the expense attached. Specially consider paper expense.

Sorry, no compromise here. Within the above clarified parameters, a decvent lens is the first issue to consider. When enlarging you are E N L A R G I N G the image. If your lens is unsharp and lacks minimum contrast, then you will be multiplicating unsharpness and softness.

Pedro, I dont know your budget, nor the surrounding possibilities you will have to use it. Given that you are not poor, and a decent lens is granted within your budget, then you can deal with a decent enlarger too, and the Saunders color one, with its fine focusing arm, is a pleasure I enjoy.

On the other hand, if you happen to be streched budget like I was when I started, these days and for several years already, people are selling darkroom used gear at very low prices, and on some occasions giving it for free. If you are within a stretched budget, the lens is the issue.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Thanks everyone for the nice advices.
In a few weeks i'll start looking for the anlarger and lens, just after i've light sealed the corner in the garage .

Thanks