HELP: Durst Laborator 1200

[photonsoup]

After moving some stuff to get to the enlarger, HA, its a L1000! So I need help with that instead. Here are some photos



Looks like I need another post for the rest of them.

Anyway, once I sorted through everything, it looks pretty easy to figure out. I don't see anything to actually put the negatives in. Am I correct in assuming the the little sliding brackets with the red handles in the head are just some sort of mask? or do the negative go in that?

There are two lenses, a Vivitar 150mm, and a Wollensak 75mm. Is that all I need for up to 16"x20"?

There are several Condensers (?). 2 Octocon 90, 2 Octocon 180-1, 3 Octocon 180-3, and 1 Octocon 130. Is this all I should need? It appears that you put two based on negative and print size in the head beneath the mirror to get the right light. Is this correct?

There is no light bulb, I believe these are difficult to find. Any suggestions?

Thanks to everyone

Bryan

[photonsoup]

Here are some more pictures



More questions. When looking up to the lens mounting area, there is a red knob which swings a small circle over the lens. Is there supposed to be something in or on it?

The mirror is pretty nasty, can it be replaced with regular mirror glass?

[photonsoup]

What else do I need to know?

[ac12]

I have a L1000.
Let me get my notes and I will get back to you.

[ac12]

I have a L1000.
PM me your email and I will send you the manual.

Drat....I lost everything I typed. Trying again.

In order of your questions:

I suggest going back and searching thru the other boxes at the seller house for the missing parts below.
You really do not want to have to buy them, as they will probably be EXPENSIVE.

NEGATIVE:
Yes it appears that you need a negative carrier.
See if the seller has that stuck away in another box.
Along with the negative carrier is the question of glass or glassless.
If glassless, then you need to get the appropriate glassless inserts.
The carrier and inserts will probably be expensive to replace. This why I said missing parts could be a problem.

LENSES:
I do not know the quality of the Vivitar and Wolensak lenses. Use them and see how you like them.
I would plan to replace those lenses with new lenses; EL-Nikkor, Componon-S or Rodagon.

The lenses you have appears to be mounted on home-made lens panels. That is a neat alternative to the factory panels. Durst calls a lens board a lens panel. The lens panels come in various sizes, but primarily the standard 39mm thread which is called LAPLA 39 (metal) or SIRIOPLA 39 (plastic).
TIP. Unless you have access to a machine shop and a lathe, to make custom lens panels like what you have, buy all your lenses with the standard 39mm Leica mounting thread. Then all you need is one size lens panel, the LAPLA 39 or SIRIOPLA 39. The other size panels are HARD to find and expensive. I have been looking for a LAPLA 50, for a while, VERY hard to find.

If you plan to print 35mm, you will need to use a 50mm lens on a recessed lens panel. The manual specifies a lens panel called TAUPLA. I have not been able to find anything about this lens panel. It appears that an alternate lens panel is either the metal SETOPLA or the plastic SIRIOTUB.

CONDENSERS:
I sent you a PM re condensers.

Yes you insert the specified combination of condenser lenses as shown in the table on the flip up panel.
On the right side of the table is an image with a circle and squares in the circle. That image represents the knobs on both sides of the condenser housing. You rotate BOTH knobs so they look like the image for the lens you are using. The procedure that I would use is:
- Remove the condensers
- Turn BOTH knobs (w/o any condenser lenses inside)
- Then insert the required condensers as specified in the table.

And please do NOT stack the condensers like shown in the photo. You do not want to scratch the condenser lenses. These condensers are VERY VERY hard to find. I have been unsuccessfully looking for a 180-1 condenser.

BULB:
Yes the specified Durst bulb is almost impossible to find. Well, unless you are willing to pay over $100 (even up to over $300) for a single bulb. They are out of production, so you will be competing for an ever dwindling supply of bulbs at ever increasing prices.
- If you will print max 6x9, you can use the standard PH-211 (75w) or PH-212 (150w) enlarging bulbs, which are easy to find.
- If you will print 4x5, there is an alternative, and best of all it is CHEAP. Someone else had the same problem with his BIG Durst, and evaluated alternative lenses. Short story, look for a WHITE G30 bulb in 40,60 or 100 watts (whatever wattage(s) you want/need). This is not a photo bulb, but it is the best alternative we have.

For the G30 bulb, try this place (I plan to order from them).
http://www.buylightfixtures.com/g30-...variation=7073
They have the G30 in all 3 wattages. I plan to order all 3 wattages.

RED KNOB:
I think a below the lens red filter is mounted from that knob. I never used a below the lens red filter, and if you never used one either, you probably will not miss it.

MIRROR:
The mirror on my L1000 appears to be a standard mirror, at least it is not a front silvered mirror. So if you cannot clean it, I see no reason that you can't replace it with a standard mirror.

Other items you did not ask:
Multicontrast filters, for Ilford Multi-Contrast paper. Get the the large 6 inch x 6 inch Ilford MC filters, and cut to fit and lay on top of the top condenser.
You could use the 4-1/2 inch Kodak polycontrast filters, but I don't know how they work with Ilford MC paper.
There is an option for a filter drawer on the right side of the head, but w/o a pix of the right side of the head I can't tell if it is installed. But it is an upright drawer (vs. flat like most other enlargers), and I read people having trouble using it because of that.

If you have any more questions, just ask.

[Woodturner-fran]

For a full set of condensers: 180-1, 180-2, 160-1, 130-1 and 90. Then the lenses, plus lens boards, 50mm, 80mm, 150 should be enough. The lens boards are called lapla and can be unmarked sometimes:




Grab a tauneg film holder - its a glass neg holder, will do anything up to 5x4.



There may be separate film holders for various sizes. A 100W ES bulb does the job nicely - if you can get one of those big ball shaped ones, they have very good even illumination. After that, make sure the head can be cranked up and down freely and stay where its put (cranks on rhs of head), plus the neg holder also shoudl move up and down freely for focussing.

The red knobs are masks, but have a soft edge, so you still will need an easel. Its a really good piece of kit and is the exact enlarge I use. If you need any other info, let me know.


Fran

[Woodturner-fran]

Oh yeah, the other thing, I made a little holder for the contrast filter our of wire that sits on the post under the stage near the lens - so the filter sits under the lens. Works perfectly and you can get the cheaper smaller set of filters....

This is the kind of bulb I use (100w) and commonly called a golf ball bulb here:



Looks like that makes 3 of us with an L1000!!!

[ac12]

Hey Woodturner.
If you have a lead on a LAPLA 50, let me know about it.
I need on for my Componon-S 150.

What wattage do you use in your L1000?
I've used 75w in my M600, and sometimes it is still too bright, exposure is too short (less than 5 sec). That is why I was looking at going down to 40w for the L1000.

[photonsoup]

The red knobs are masks, but have a soft edge, so you still will need an easel. Its a really good piece of kit and is the exact enlarge I use. If you need any other info, let me know.


Fran

Is this the easel? This comes with it, and some trays, tongs and other stuff



Spreken zie deutch?
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Zubehor-otoco...ht_5257wt_1128

[ac12]

Yup, that is an 11x14 2-blade easel.