Beseler 23c accessories

[P.Marcy]

I picked up this beauty in brand new condition last night for a song to upgrade my small/med format gear. Version 23C II XL if that matters.

Sadly the guy sold off the lens (EL-nikkor 50 f? and lensboard) for $35 separately. Not sure why, I would have gladly paid him that to save me this trouble. I have a 50 & 75mm lens but no board, ideally the board would accept 50 - 105mm or so.

Does anyone have a good source for lens boards that cost, frankly, less than I paid for the entire set-up? I'd like a 120 neg holder too.

I'm in NYC, and B&H / Adorama want about $70 for a steel plate with a threaded hole.

(not exactly LF, but I've found this forum to have better results than elsewhere, and this IS part of a LF darkroom...)

Thanks in advance

[Kevin Crisp]

It took me 15 seconds for find them on ebay for $15 to $20, is that better?

[Kevin Crisp]

You need the board with the 39mm hole, that's pretty standard. I think the "Delta" outfit made reasonably priced ones out of aluminum. I just checked Freestyle and can't see the aftermarket ones, they want $89 for the real ones. Wow.

[Kevin Crisp]

Found it, $17.99

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/15667-REG/Delta_13320_Bes_Board_4x4_Recessed_Lens.html

[Kevin Crisp]

Same price

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/42245-Delta-Bes-Board-39mm-for-Beseler-23C-or-45MXT?cat_id=1602

[P.Marcy]

It took me 15 seconds for find them on ebay for $15 to $20, is that better?

I did a search there, but it's always a last resort, and the only one that turned up is a clearly broken one for $9.99. EDIT: the red plastic pilot light is missing...
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?rt=nc&LH_Auction=1&_nkw=lensboard+23&_trksid=p3286.c0.m301

but sadly I may have to resort to the 'bay and risk wasting money on receiving one that is cross-threaded or something, and fight to recoup the purchase and shipping.

[Kevin Crisp]

Or order from B&H or Freestyle for $17.99 and get a new one. I do wonder how you can break one of these, they are quite substantial.

[P.Marcy]

Right, Thank you Kevin, that solves it. Removing 'beseler' magically reduces the price to 1/3... imagine that.

[Kevin Crisp]

The finish on the beseler ones is less reflective, and they have the lighted post and some other features. But I can live without that to save $40+.

[P.Marcy]

The finish on the beseler ones is less reflective, and they have the lighted post and some other features. But I can live without that to save $40+.

Absolutely, thank you for reminding me that aftermarket is often the way to go for these types of things.

[snay1345]

I was in the exact same situation that you are when I got the same enlarger. I ended up making a lensboard out of black foamcore that held me over until a lensboard I ordered came in. It worked great.

[dsphotog]

39mm Beseler boards are generally not threaded, just a hole with a countersink recess on the back. They require a threaded "jam nut" retaining ring.
Your lens(es) might have one with it.

[joselsgil]

Just be sure to get a lens with 39mm threads. There are a lot of lenses that do not have the 39mm threads. Don't ask me how I know this :rolleyes:

[P.Marcy]

Thanks for all of the replies-- actually tried the foamcore trick today because I was dying to use the new toy. After about 20 minutes I was printing! Will order one of the knock-off boards when I get around to it.

A rock solid enlarger is great, I'm printing 11x14-size enlargements on 8x10 paper that are rivaling 8x10s from the previous enlarger (from the same 35mm neg). Glad to have the extended range for cropping. Not as good as 4x5 contacts, but that's another story.