I would like to hear from V35 users what easel works best with this enlarger. I'm planning on buying the V35 and will make enlargements up to 12x16. My experience with easels sofar is limited anyway. Any good suggestions are welcome. Thanks,

Harro de Wilde

-- Harro de Wilde (hdewilde@uni-one.nl), August 30, 2001

Answers

Personaly I have found that a four blade easel works best with the V35. This is because the enlarging head moves forward and backwards as it is raised up and down and the 4 blade easel gives you a lot more versatility. A 16 x 20 2 blade I had did not work well with this enlarger. A Saunders 4 blade would be great, particularly the 'V Track' model. I use a Photon Beard 4 blade easel but the height of this easel, being so high (65 mm), has upset my autofocus function because my column is right on the upper limit of adjustment.

-- sam smith (Ruy_Lopez@hotmail.com), August 30, 2001.

I too recommend the Saunders 4 blade easels. They are probably in more pro darkrooms than all others combined..............

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), August 30, 2001.

I use a beard 2 blade cos it is what came with the enlarger when I bought it second hand. It is fine, I tend to print 8x12 these days on 9.5x12 paper which mean I miss the left hand border and right hand border and then trim top and bottom. Why paper is not avaliable with the 24x36 aspect ratio I do not know. Who the ......uses 8x10 without trimming, I will not buy this size as I feel like I am supporting some sort of conspiracy.....

-- Richard (richard@designblue.co.uk), August 30, 2001.

I don't use an easel at all.

I obtained a piece of plain white kitchen worktop about 3/4 cm thick and glued to the underside a thin piece of aerated plastic - the stuff that delicate computer bits are wrapped in. I then carefully marked the white surface with the sizes I use, 5x7, 10x8, 12x16, 16x20 using a permanent black marker pen. Approximately twice a year I spray the surface with 3M spraymount - very lightly. I have used this system for 15 years and it has never failed. Before re-coating I wipe the surface with white spirit to remove the old adhesive. the result is that I can always see the whole of the paper and can print right up to the edge.

-- Tony Brookes (ghdz00@lineone.net), August 31, 2001.

I use the Dunco 90/4 Profi easel. It's perfect for 12x16. Only problem is that it is made for European paper sizes. It costs a bomb but it is worth it. Only thing I've found better are these speed easels from Ganz. I would love to have a speed easel that prints 8x12 on 12x16 paper, but they dont make this....

-- Russell Brooks (russell@ebrooks.org), September 03, 2001.