Photo enlarger and lens: which models mostly used in industry.

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I am curious to know which models of enlarger and lens are used by LEICA photographers to get the most possible picture quality of their optics. I mean photo exhibition and very high quality work. Is the Focomat still popular ? Any technical considerations are welcome....Thanks...Jean-Pierre Auger.

-- Jean-Pierre Auger (paphoto@videotron.ca), February 01, 2002

Answers

While the old Leica enlargers are excellent, I'd say any good enlarger with an excellent enlarging lens will do your Leica-created images justice. I use an old (purchased in the '60s) Omega D2-V double-condensor enlarger with Schneider Componon lenses of various focal lengths for different sizes of film (35mm thru 4x5). Schneider also has a newly formulated HM series of enlarger lenses that are optimized for high magnification - good for making large prints from 35mm negs, for example. Rodenstock and Nikon enlarging lenses are also held in high regard.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), February 01, 2002.

Jean-Pierre:

I agree with Mr.Barker's advice. I think most would agree with those lens recommendations. Another readily available enlarger would be the Besseler 23C. A workhorse by any standard. There are still made and I'll bet you can find plenty of good used ones too.

-- jeff (debontekou@yahoo.com), February 01, 2002.


I think the most commonly used enlargers come from IBM and Epson.

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 01, 2002.

IBM- bah! Macintosh.

-- drew (swordfisher@hotmail.com), February 02, 2002.

He did say "most commonly used"--not necessarily best. ; )

For my b&w, wet darkroom stuff, I use an old Beseler 45 MCRX with Beseler HD 50/f2.8 for 35mm stuff. As with cameras, the skill of the person operating it is essential for getting good results. There are plenty of kinds of enlargers and lenses with which you can achieve exhibition-quality work, but there's no brand that will automatically guarantee such results.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), February 02, 2002.



Hello Jean-Pierre.Less and less photographers seem to be getting their fingers wet in the darkroom. However, nothing yet beats a quality black and white exhibition shot produced in the darkroom.If you want to stay with Leica the Focomat 1c enlarger long column(48") model gives extra large enlargements for exhibition without having to swing the head onto the floor. The Focotar 50mm f4.5 lens is very good however, if you prefer a diffusion enlarger with a better lens the Leica V35 with 40mm Focotar gives a very bright focusing image, an enlargement with noticeably more details in the highlights and much shorter exposure times. Regards.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), February 02, 2002.

Although not many wish to spend the money (even used they are expensive), the V35 is great. A lot of newspapers use (used) them because they only needed 35mm capability. I've used Omega, Beseler and LPL Saunders, all with Schnieder lens (including the APO) and I have found, in side by side tests, that the Focomat is very sharp, but especially noticable was its smooth tonal reproduction. I've even had a number of people not believe me, send me negs to print along with a print from their enlargers and all have been convinced that the V35 does give a better print (note that this is in B&W only - I've little experience in color). The downfall of course is that many of us shoot more that the 35mm format, and dedicating a $1500.00 enlarger to 35m only is not an option.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), February 02, 2002.

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