Advice on selecting an enlarger (Page 3): Yep, I used an Omega C760, not C700 as I said above. I dialed in yellow and/or magenta when printing on Ilford Multigrade papers. At least the...

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

TriX wrote:

Very good points (I once had a B-22XL also). Conde... (show quote)

Yep, I used an Omega C760, not C700 as I said above. I dialed in yellow and/or magenta when printing on Ilford Multigrade papers.

At least the B22 forced me to learn film cleaning and dust abatement techniques! I liked it for gritty subject matter, like the race riots at my high school in 1971.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Paul Diamond wrote:

All are rugged professional quality machines. The CB7 was special to me. I traded one to Ansel Adams for the rights to use his 'moonrise over half dome' picture on my Beseler brochure for Ultrafin b/w film chemicals - 1973-4. (I should have also asked for a signed print!)

Wow - that is very cool. You can see the Bessler in one of his books - I was never sure whether it was a 45 of a CB7 until now.

BebuLamar

TriX wrote:

Wow - that is very cool. You can see the Bessler in one of his books - I was never sure whether it was a 45 of a CB7 until now.

It was the 45 but I think it's not one of his. Just the picture.

rbhallock Loc: Western Massachusetts

Suggest a Saunders LPL series. Stable, solid, reliable. Compared to the Bessler's I have used that can handle up to a 4x5 negative, the Saunders LPL was much more rigid and less prone to wiggle. Good luck.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

pj81156 wrote:

I have decided to get start developing and enlarging photos again, but I parted with all my gear years ago. So, step one. An enlarger. I will be doing b&w only, 35mm only. So, I need recommendations for an enlarger. Not an “entry” unit, but a quality unit. Suggestions? I did a WTB on the Hog and got some interesting but not quite right answers. So, I am still looking. Thanks.

Hands down the vary finest 35mm B&W (though it can be used for color) is a Leitz Focomat 1C enlarger. There is not a single enlarger that can compete with the E Leitz Focotar enlarger. This is an absolute auto focus enlarger. it comes with a perfect half dome shaped condenser that is made and ground to the same perfection as all Leica quality optics. Here is the final proof, the top of the enlarger has three adjustable precision screws to position the light source. Why? So that you can point light source printing if you like instead of diffusion light source enlarging (which is what most people do). If you want to do point light source with other enlargers you must get the condensers reground and the condensers optical coated like any good modern lens), and that is vary expensive. The auto focus is no fooling around, it is exact and perfection. The support column has two holes one for standard ease thickness and another hole for the one inch standard easel thickness. This is the Rolls Royce of 35mm enlargers, nothing can compete with this enlarger.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

IMHO - And it's been said here before. The tonal range and "look" of excellent B+W silver hailde prints have a depth and 'life' I have not seen duplicated by modern digital images printed by ink droplets or lasers. Proof is to go to a museum or see a travelling show with B+W prints by Adams, Weston, etc. If you see some originals, you'll know why you want to be in the darkroom and what you can achieve when you are working with film and silver prints.

And, if you have a reason to be near Rochester, NY, go to the Eastman House museum. You'll see lots of images from their extensive archives.

tvhasben Loc: Chattanooga, Tennessee

www.shopgoodwill.com often has Bessler, Omega and Durst enlargers and often they go unsold. I get a lot of my gear from there at great prices.

Photocraig

AndyH wrote:

I would agree with Bigmike that the local thrift s... (show quote)

I couldn't agree more in buying one with the capability to go to 6x6,6x7,6x9. They'll require different neg holders and lenses and a bigger easel besides teh 35mm. But nothing drives a person to medium format faster than watching a 35mm image disintegrate on the easel in the darkroom.

Also, if you can get one that has a head that rotates, to project horizontally, you could avoid the ceiling headroom limit for very large prints.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Photocraig wrote:

I couldn't agree more in buying one with the capability to go to 6x6,6x7,6x9. They'll require different neg holders and lenses and a bigger easel besides teh 35mm. But nothing drives a person to medium format faster than watching a 35mm image disintegrate on the easel in the darkroom.

Also, if you can get one that has a head that rotates, to project horizontally, you could avoid the ceiling headroom limit for very large prints.

Beyond the Beseler 23C you are going to 4x5 enlargers. Big and much more expensive.
The 23C is still reasonable size wise, can be flipped for poster size prints and is incredibly easy to use and get everything you need for them.

koratcat

warrenvon wrote:

My last enlarger was made by Minolta Mod III ...

I have a Minolta Mod III that was my husband's sitting in the corner of my study. Lord only knows how we'd ship it and what it would cost to do so, but if anyone's interested in it, I'd definitely be interested in selling.

JohnK

I have a Durst 606 that you could have if you pay the shipping. I always planned on starting my darkroom back up but never did. Has a Schneider-Kreuznach Componon 5.6/80mm lens, nice lens. Enlarger might need some cleaning up but if you send me contact info I could send some photos by email or messenger. I live in Loveland, Ohio.

LouV Loc: Juno Beach, FL

The Beseler 45m is the finest enlarger I ever owned. Way more than you need but if you’re able to find one used at a reasonable price you won’t regret it

aellman Loc: Boston MA

pj81156 wrote:

I have decided to get start developing and enlarging photos again, but I parted with all my gear years ago. So, step one. An enlarger. I will be doing b&w only, 35mm only. So, I need recommendations for an enlarger. Not an “entry” unit, but a quality unit. Suggestions? I did a WTB on the Hog and got some interesting but not quite right answers. So, I am still looking. Thanks.

Look on ebay! Omega enlargers were always considered top
notch. I had one for many years, and I had great results. >Alan

aellman Loc: Boston MA

aellman wrote:

Look on ebay!

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR7.TRC1.A0.H0.Xphoto+enlargers.TRS0&_nkw=photo+enlargers&_sacat=0

Omega and Beseler enlargers were always considered top
notch. I had an Omega for many years, and had great results. >Alan

MerleP Loc: USA - SW Michigan

I used to have a Phillips PCS enlarger. Had condenser lenses for 35 mm and 6x7. It's a great enlarger, especially for B&W as it has three colored bulbs that are controlled with an electronic panel, so you have an infinite number of settings for B&W paper. You can also project slides to make negatives from them. I just looked on Ebay, and saw one for over a thousand dollars. I gave mine to the local university and they gave it to a student, so it's getting good use.