RE: Enlargers

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I want to purchase an enlarger and set up a darkroom in my laundry room. My question is which enlarger do I purchase? I attent a junior college and finished my 1st semester of photography and plan on continuing. At school we use Bessler, should I stick with that or is an Omega, Saunder or Der Vere(not sure of spelling, but I was looking in a book at the store and all the photographers that were producing their own work owned one.)?

I have been wanting to purchase one for a long time and I don't want to buy one now and then be sorry about my decision later. I did that with my Minolta camera and now wish I had a Nikon 100.

What type of lens should I be using? I have read a few message boards that seemed to mention light fall off on some types of enlargers, but I can't seem to remember which ones. I would like to eventually own a medium format camera, so do I have to take that into consideration when purchasing and enlarger? Also, can I buy a used one and would it be better if it had a color head? Are there some enlargers that you can tilt to project the image on a wall or standing easel?

Thank you all in advance for you help, your response to my last question was greatly appreciated. Donna DeBacco

-- DONNA DEBACCO (magoo4@uswest.net), January 06, 2001

Answers

As with so many things it depends on how much you have to spend. I think the best enlarger for 35mm is the Leitz V35 which secondhand is between $750 and $1000 dollars. If you have a Leitz 40mm Focotar you probably have the best gearpossible. However I know many people doing top class work with Omega, Durst etc. Buy the best you can afford but spend the most on the lens - it will be usable in any enlarger as they all use a Leica thread. Good luck

-- Anthony Brookes (gdz00@lineone.net), January 06, 2001.

If I were a Photography undergrad going into my 2nd year, I would look at the curriculum that a 2nd year student is going to face. Will you be expected to complete a medium/large format class? Will you be expected to process your own color prints?

If you have to do these things, and you think your interest in Photography is going to continue, then maybe you should think about a 4x5 enlarger. IMHO, it is no accident that Beseler 45's are in almost every school and lab. They are a light industrial grade, and the design is essentially the same since the early 1950's. This makes them tough and simple. You can get parts and support from the factory. You can always get decent money when you sell.

Like you, my first SLR was not the best choice. My first SLR was a Ricoh Singlex. It had a standard Pentax screw mount. It would have been cheaper and better in the long run to get a Nikkormat. I would still be using it.

I went through 2 medium format enlargers. My first was a Spiratone. The second was a Durst. The enlarger lenses were not top grade.Neither enlarger system is worth anything now. If I just bought a Beseler 45 in the first place, I would not have to waste time and money putting together a 3rd system.

It's not easy being a student. Time is plentiful and money is scarce. This changes when you get older. But looking back, I wish I had better equipment when I was younger. Even if it meant having less equipment.

-- joseph wasko (jwasko@erols.com), January 06, 2001.


My suggestions:

Buy any one of the name brands, Beseler, Omega, Saunders, Durst. That way parts and accessories are available. They all have their good and bad points.

Buy at least one format size larger than you are using today. If you are using 35mm, buy at least a 6x6 or 6x7 enlarger. That gives you two things, more even lighting over the smaller format and room to grow.

Buy a color head enlarger. You can use the filtration to set contrast with VC papers easily and without the large "grade" steps. It also allows you to do color later.

Buy a GOOD enlarger lens. Like a camera, the lens is the single most imporant piece. Pretty much stay away from any lens sold by enlarger manufacturers (Leica/Leitz is the exception). For the money the later model 6 element El Nikkors are hard to beat. The 50mm f2.8 and 80mm f5.6 are 6 element designs. Rodenstock and Schneider make wonderful lenses, but their good ones are very expensive, and they do make lines of not so great lenses.

If you buy used, you have the advantage of not beign stuck if you want a different one later. Lots of used darkroom stuff available these days. Start looking and you should be able to set up the entire darkroom for between $100 and $500 dollars. A friend got a pretty nice setup with an Omega C760 Dichro for about $100, I paid more for my setup, but I was buying from a friend and paid too much.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), January 07, 2001.


I too am on a college course, and from my experience so far, you will 'need' to print up to 4x5 negs (dependant on course curriculum). in colour and B&W. So if you have enough cash, buy an enlarger that is one size larger than you need and does colour, however if your course is like mine the only part of it you need print your own colour stuff for would be the colour printing module, the rest can be printed by a pro-lab (though check with your tutors on this point). If you don't need to get a colour head then the next option is to get on that prints in grades as this is far easier that messing with the individual filter sheets. As for actual brands try getting a De Vere, as I have used these and they are the best for large prints, as the focussing controls on the baseboard.

-- David Kirk (david_j_kirk@hotmail.com), January 07, 2001.

RK Equipment

-- erik x (xx@xx.com), January 07, 2001.


Get as large a format enlarger you can afford.you can always use a 4x5 enlarger for 35mm or medium format with the correct accessories but you will never be able to use a 35mm enlarger for anything else but 35mm. You can't go wrong with a second hand Omega or Bessler. Get the best lens you can afford. Nikon, Rodenstock or Schnider. Good luck! R.

-- Robert Orofino (rorofino@iopener.net), January 10, 2001.

I back Anthony Brookes 100% on his choice of enlarger. The Leitz V35 with the 40/2.8 Focotar lens is incredible; however it is only 35mm. If you were to buy one of these you would never want for another 35mm enlarger.

-- matt (mahv@xtra.co.nz), January 13, 2001.

I have a Saunders 4500. It's easy to use and a great value for the dollar.If you can find one used all the better.

-- Wil Hinds (ytb@aol.com), January 14, 2001.

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