What enlarger?

[Noah B]

What enlargers do you all use for your work? I like to use a color enlarger for my b&w prints. I find I'm more in control of the shadow details and I can make my prints very soft.

[Scott Walker]

Beseler 45VXL with 8x10 conversion and Beseler branded cold light head, Beseler 45MXT with Arista cold light, Durst184 10x10 with Arista cold light.
I only use multigrade paper for doing contact prints and I find the cold light source is superior for graded paper, at least for my own workflow.....and I work in B&W only

[jeroldharter]

Beseler 45VXL with 45S dichroic head for 4x5, 45MXT with 8x10 conversion and Aristo 810 VC cold light for 8x10, and a 45 MXT with 45S dichroic head for medium format.

[MIke Sherck]

Beseler 45 with the condenser light source. I tried an Omega cold light and didn't care for it.

Mike

[Fred L]

Leitz V35 for 35mm and Devere 504 for 35 panoramic, mf and 4x5. strictly black and white

[Oren Grad]

LPL 4500II with dichroic color head for variable contrast B&W printing.

[ROL]

Zone VI cold light. But I do believe color diffusion enlargers are just as good or better (stronger light source, and cheaper) in producing fine prints, at least by my workflow of mostly graded papers.

[Jon Shiu]

I use a 1940's to 1950 era Omega DII with condenser head that had belonged to my father. Still works good!

Jon

[jp]

Beseler CB7 (4x5) with dichroic head (for VC printing),
Omega Chromega-B with dichroic head for medium format and contact printing.

I used condensor enlargers in school and they are fine. I haven't used cold lights yet, as I use mostly VC paper.

[Leigh]

Beseler 45MXT with an Ilford Multigrade 500H variable-contrast head.

This head has two 300-watt halogen lamps, one for blue and one for green, that provide very accurate contrast control.

- Leigh

[pergorm]

Hi!!

I use a Durst L1200 enlarger. Very sturdy and easy to work with. I have the VLS-501 head and the condensor head. Having worked with both in the past, i now only use the condensor haed. Working only in 4x5.

Regards
Per Jorgensen

[Rick A]

I use an Omega D-6 Pro Lab with variable condensor head for 4x5, and choose between Kodak and Ilford MG filters(there is a slight difference).

[Jim Jones]

4x5 DeJur Versatile Professional with an El Nikkor f/5.6 135mm lens to replace the original DeJur (which was satisfactory for my needs). Good Sturdy enlargers were available 65 years ago! A chimney improvised from a recessed lighting fixture correctly positions a negative carrier made of Masonite when used for 35mm.

[akfreak]

I use a De Vere 504 floor model with auto focus table and an ESCO pro 45 color head. Very nice as it will analize with a probe and adjust filters for color also works nice for b&w if you take control of the filters in manual mode. By far the best enlarger I have ever used.

[Vaughn]

Usually none -- contact printing using UV light sources.

But when I was enlarging we had Omega D5-XL's (condenser) and 135mm/5.6 lens.

Vaughn

[banjo]

Beseler 45mx Point lite sources.

[Paul Bujak]

LPL 4500II with dichroic color head for variable contrast B&W printing.
+1

[Pawlowski6132]

CB7 with dichroic head and Elwood 8x10 with aristo cold light.

[ic-racer]

I use the electronic Omega D5500 enlargers for 4x5 but I recommend the all mechanical Omega D5 with Chromega II head, only because I'm familiar with that one and can help my friends set it up.

I use Durst for 8x10 but only because it was local. If I had found a Fotar, Omega, DeVere or other 8x10 I would be using that.

[Erik Larsen]

Up to 4x5 I use an omega d5xl pro lab and for 8x10 I use a fotar with a super chromega dichro ii. I am happy with them both as well as a nuarc for alt stuff.
Regards
Erik

[jk0592]

A Beseler 45MXT with a Zone VI cold light and Zone VI stabilizer. It all works OK.

[Wade D]

I use an older Beseler 45MCRX. Reconditioned with new bellows and a good lube job for all the moving parts. Standard condenser light source.

[bob carnie]

I use 3- Omega 4x5 Condensor,1- Durst 8x10 2000w head,1- 11x14 Deveere Stand Up.

[evan clarke]

3 LPL, 670 vcce, 4x5 vcce and a 4x5 dichroic
504 DeVere with an Ilford 500 head
5108 DeVere with a Difcon head
Zone VI Type II with Zone VI head
Omega D2 with both condenser and Aristo cold light
Omega D5 with dichroic head
Elwood 5x7 with incandescent reflector

All of them make nice prints

[SamReeves]

Omega D5-XL for printing, and an Omega B66-XL for flashing.

[Arne Croell]

Zone VI type 2 with a Zone VI/Calumet LED head.

[tgtaylor]

Beseler 45MXT with 45S color head and Beseler C-II XL with condensor head.

[evan clarke]

Zone VI type 2 with a Zone VI/Calumet LED head.


Good for you, the LED..I never got to see one, how is it?

[John Jarosz]

Omega D2 with Aristo cold light head.

But these days I only use it as a light source to contact print 8x20 silver prints

[Arne Croell]

Good for you, the LED..I never got to see one, how is it?
Very nice to work with, 100% repeatability - after working out the initial glitches (the original fan in my unit vibrated, and I had to send it back for repair which took them a while).
I wonder how many they made or sold before Calumet ditched the whole Zone VI brand...

There is another LED head available commercially, made by Heiland in Germany for a variety of enlargers (6x9 -8x10 sizes), despite the fact they call it a cold light, it uses LED's: http://www.heilandelectronic.de/html/deutsch/produkte/kaltlicht_main.htm

[ic-racer]

V
There is another LED head available commercially, made by Heiland in Germany for a variety of enlargers (6x9 -8x10 sizes), despite the fact they call it a cold light, it uses LED's: http://www.heilandelectronic.de/html/deutsch/produkte/kaltlicht_main.htm

I thought I was up to date on everything, thanks for posting that. Here is a closer link: http://www.heilandelectronic.de/download/led_kaltlicht.pdf

I wonder if anyone here has that 200w 8x10 LED head. I'd be interested in comparing printing times to a 2000W incandescent head.

[Arne Croell]

I thought I was up to date on everything, thanks for posting that. Here is a closer link: http://www.heilandelectronic.de/download/led_kaltlicht.pdf

I wonder if anyone here has that 200w 8x10 LED head. I'd be interested in comparing printing times to a 2000W incandescent head.

It is quite bright - they added the option to cut down the light output in half or down to a quarter about two years ago (this is not mentioned in their writeups), because exposure times with the full light were quite short. The concept is quite different to the Calumet head where the blue and green LED's are individually dimmed to achieve a certain grade, the Heiland uses their split printing principle and initially only had one brightness setting.

[John Kasaian]

Right now I'm down to only four working enlargers:
8x10 Elwood
4x5 Omega D-II
Opemus 44
Lietz Valoy 2
and an Opemus 66 missing it's baseboard

[Tony R]

G'Day guys - gees some of you have some amazing gear!

Durst 1000, Condensor and Durst cold light
Beseler MXT, Ilford MG 400 (great gear), Beseler condensor head (hardly used)
LPL7700 with MG head
Black and white only

Cheers!
Tony

[Paul Ewins]

I've got a Beseler 45 for 4x5 and a Durst L1200 for smaller formats. They are both equipped with Ilford MG500 heads. If it wasn't for the fact that the lamp position is different for 4x5 and is time consuming to change I would probably just use the L1200. I figured it was better to use the L1200 for the smaller formats since they need more magnification and thus greater stability.

[ChrisN]

Another Durst L1200 with CLS450 head here, also a LPL VCCE 7700 which hasn't had much use since I found a 35mm mixing box for the L1200.

[chassis]

Beseler 45V-XL for 4x5, with condenser light source and three lens turret. Got this one in near new condition via craiglist.

Beseler 23CII-XL for 6x7 and 35mm. This was my workhorse for a while. Don't use it now that I have the 45.

Paterson 35mm enlarger, the one with the chrome column and cylindrical lamp house. This was my starter enlarger many moons ago. Did a lot of printing with this enlarger. Sold it when I got the 23C. I have looked for this on *bay and craiglist but they don't seem to be around.

Lenses: Schneider Componon-S in three focal lengths: 50mm, 80mm and 150mm.

[patrickjames]

Saunders/LPL 4550XL with a dicroic head. At first I didn't think I would get along with it, being used to the 670 VCCE, but it works just fine. I split print with it unless I am doing contact sheets or the simple proof prints. The only two enlargers that I haven't used in my life (I have used a lot of enlargers) that I would like to get my hands on are the Durst 1200 and the Leitz V35. One of these days. I don't think the Durst could be much of an improvement over the Saunders. I have only heard great things about the V35 though.

[rjmeyer314]

Elwood 8x10 and 5x7 enlargers

Beseler 45M with Dichro 45S, Beseler-Minolta 45A, condenser, cold light, and Point source heads.

I use the Beseler with the 45A head the most.

[neil poulsen]

I have two enlargers. I have a Zone VI Type II with both 5x7 and 8x10 VC heads.

I also have a Type I with a Beseler 45S head that I like a lot. I installed an extra sensor I had in the 45s and use it with the Zone VI compensating enlarging timer. I had to by-pass the head's internal circuitry, because after starting the timer, it introduced an unpredictable delay before turning on the enlarger light. (Anywhere from a split second to several seconds.) I keep a D2V condenser head that I can also use with the Type I. But, I rarely if ever use this combination.

[moltogordo]

I use an Omega 4x5 with a dichroic head, 150mm Schneider lens. Use it for everything, from 35mm to 4x5.

[Dave Langendonk]

I have four of the LPL 4550 XLG enlargers. Two with VCCE heads and two with colorheads. I have one each set up for 4x5 and one each set up for smaller formats. The 4550 is a great enlarger but it leaks a lot of light around various cracks and seams so I have them taped up. Changing heads and mixing chambers would require untaping and retaping these all the time.

For 8x10 I have a Durst 2501 horizontal enlarger.

[Ken Lumbis]

I've got a Beseler 67C and CB7, both with condenser heads. Mostly use the CB7 now that I'm into 4x5. I really enjoy the coarse and fine focus controls that come built into the base of the CB7. It's really handy when you are doing large prints. The CB7 also came with a built in Beseler timer and a Resistrol unit. This unit allows you to adjust the amperage to the lamp so that if the half and full stops of your lens are not enough light control you can further adjust the light accordingly by using the Resistrol. I haven't used it yet and I doubt if I ever will become so technically proficient that I'm in need of that fine a control of exposure.

[mark e mark]

De Vere 507 diffuser enlarger. Blumfield Master Printer 5x4 condenser enlarger.

[cjbecker]

I just got a omega D-II with a super chromega D Dichroic II head.