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  1. #1

    Building an Enlarger

    Ok, so I am thinking about setting up a darkroom for 4x5 and 120 format B&W and the one thing I don't know where to get in Israel is a 4x5 enlarger. But then it hit me, I have a Carl Zeiss Jana 300mm tessar lens that I got years ago for some project that never happened. I was wondering how hard would it be to make that into an enlarger. I was thinking an LED light source and a simple focus mechanism.

    Would this work at all and does anyone have any links that might help me get started?

  2. #2
    Jon Shiu's Avatar
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    Re: Building an Enlarger

    I think 300mm is going to be too long a focal distance to be practical. You could instead use your regular camera lens 4x5 lens like a 150mm or 90mm lens? There was a product called a Graflarger that attached to a 4x5 camera in order to use it as an enlarger.
    my black and white photos of the Mendocino Coast: jonshiu.zenfolio.com

  3. #3
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: Building an Enlarger

    There is an eBay seller in Israel who specializes in darkroom equipment and supplies. Surf and be happy.

    300mm lens is too long for 4x5 or MF unless you wish to make small prints.
    .

  4. #4

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    Re: Building an Enlarger

    Quote Originally Posted by Jac@stafford.net View Post
    There is an eBay seller in Israel who specializes in darkroom equipment and supplies. Surf and be happy.

    300mm lens is too long for 4x5 or MF unless you wish to make small prints.
    .
    Jac's right, there is a seller in Israel with cool stuff, but I can't afford to import the stuff to the USA...

    Seems a lot of military/scientific surplus there with no where to go...

    Keep looking...

    Steve K

  5. #5
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: Building an Enlarger

    Quote Originally Posted by LabRat View Post
    Jac's right, there is a seller in Israel with cool stuff, but I can't afford to import the stuff to the USA...
    The OP is in Israel.

  6. #6
    ic-racer's Avatar
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    Re: Building an Enlarger

    Quote Originally Posted by Jac@stafford.net View Post
    There is an eBay seller in Israel who specializes in darkroom equipment and supplies. Surf and be happy.

    300mm lens is too long for 4x5 or MF unless you wish to make small prints.
    .
    300mm is also too long for small prints on a 4x5 enlarger.

  7. #7
    Pastafarian supremo Rick A's Avatar
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    Re: Building an Enlarger

    Why not buy an old 4x5 camera and convert it by adding a light source, it's plenty easy. Negative holders are easy to fab out of mat board.
    Rick Allen

    Argentum Aevum

    practicing Pastafarian

  8. #8

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    Re: Building an Enlarger

    no. full stop. do not bother to attempt to build an enlarger - there are tons available for free, even where you are. It's a precision device, doing a DIY version will just result in pain and suffering. I will give you a Beseler 23c for free if you covered the shipping, just to prevent you from doing that. (yeah, ok - it doesn't cover 4x5 but parts of it would be better to use for DIY than building from scratch.).

  9. #9

    Re: Building an Enlarger

    Thanks for the feedback guys. Will now avoid some hard core yak shaving

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