Durst 138S vs. Beseler 45MX

[Dawid]

Hi

There is a Durst 138S for sale from a guy close to me and he includes all the neg carriers etc. At present I am using a Beseler 23CIII XL which is a joy to use -- moving up to large format would there be any benefit in sticking to Beseler( like in the 45 MX ) or is the Durst 138S a better choice.

Thanks for any help

Cheers
Dawid

[Michael Jones]

David:

There is no benefit to sticking with the Beseler. Perhaps the lens boards are the same, but nothing else interchanges between the two models you mention. Truthfully, there is no comparison between the operation of a Beseler and any 5x7 Durst. While both perform the same function, the Durst does it with grace and precision. It is rigid, absolutely capable of repeating and holding a setting and has a line of accessories no one fully understands or knows how to use. It is completely adjustable and allows for projections and perspective control and adjustments. It can be aligned. And those parts and accessories are readily available, with new ones developed on a regular basis. If you later choose, you can adapt a 138 to 8x10 or larger. You will never be disappointed in using or owning a Durst. Buy while it is close by; a Durst is very heavy to transport. You will find you are making an investment, not buying an enlarger. Good luck.

michael

[Hans Berkhout]

is the Durst 138 light source (lamp) available once the current one fails?

[lee\c]

you can use the ph213 lamp in the durst 138s as a subsitute. I have one in mine right now. Works like a champ.

leec

[Robert A. Zeichner]

I own both a Beseler 45MXII and a Durst 138S and I have to concur that there is no comparison. The Durst is the most stable system I've ever used. I purchased mine used and it needed some work which I did myself. It had no light source and because I already owned an Aristo VCL4500, I decided to just buy the dual grid lamp assembly for the Durst and "share" the control box. Aristo was very acommodating and fitted my head with an extra long cable so it would reach the conroller on the other side of the room. It works flawlessly. This is the first enlarger I've ever owned where I focus once and everything from corner to corner is tack sharp and stays that way for as long as I wish to print that negative. As far as transporting the thing, it's really not that bad. It comes apart into four assemblies, the "camera", the top post, the focusing table and bottom post with stand. I was able to get it apart, pack into my Subaru wagon, schlepp it down to the basement and reassemble all by my lonesome. I was able to get missing accessories from Jens Jensen out in Oregon. Al in all, a very worthwhile project that I would do again in a minute.

[terry_5379]

Hi dose anyone have plans for converting durst 138 to 8x10.

[Jacques Chouteau]

Hye,

You can find informations at this adresse : http://manuelsphoto.free.fr

I don't know if it is what you are looking for but I think you will find interinsting informations.

best regards