That is the question! The Durst comes with an Ilford Multigrade 500, and the Omega comes with a Super Chromega head. Oh, and a dried up lizard.
That is the question! The Durst comes with an Ilford Multigrade 500, and the Omega comes with a Super Chromega head. Oh, and a dried up lizard.
I've worked with both for a goodly number of years and both are fine enlargers. (My Durst has a colour head rather than the Multigrade head though)
These days, I prefer the Durst over the Omega based mostly on the difference in fit and finish. It's a precision machine vs. a perfectly acceptable machine (I'm not getting the difference across here...not quite Chevy, Cadillac).
Either one, based perhaps on pricing, will give you a perfectly usable tool.
The lizard, I can't comment on.
Is the lizard free, or do you have to pay extra for it? Is it a factory original lizard or
aftermarket?
The durst chassis is definitely superior to the Omega. However, I'm not a fan of those cold light heads - terribly uneven across the field and variable light output depending on temp. of tubes. Never could understand why people replace good condenser heads with overpriced, underwhelming cold lights. If you made a print of just the lightbox on both enlargers you'd probably choose the omega dichro.
The Ilford head uses Halogen globes, not cold light. RH Designs makes a replacement for the keypad controller. I bought both an Omega and an L1200 to get the MG heads from them. I kept the Durst and got rid of the Omega, it was no contest.
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