DIY Enlargers

VirtualAdept

VirtualAdept

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Mads
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This may well be a non starter as a topic but I'm wondering if anyone here has any experience with building your own enlarger.
I came across a sort of howto using a 35mm camera (I'll post a link when I'm back on my pc) that looks quite interesting, but I thought I'd plumb the depth of knowledge here before attempting such a thing.
I was discussing getting a lubitel 166b with my wife when she brought up how we'd get them printed, which prompted my looking into building an enlarger for it since money is tight.

So, wise folk, is it feasible? Worth it? Incredibly dorklike?

Look forward to your responses.
 
TBH for how much enlargers sell these days you might as well buy one off ebay or freecycle!
 
s162216 said:
TBH for how much enlargers sell these days you might as well buy one off ebay or freecycle!
Click to expand...

Agreed - and like a lot of things with film photography, it's the cost of continually needing to purchase consumables like film, developing chemicals and paper developer that is the real cost, not the upfront cost of the camera or enlarger (these days).

Just ask anyone at Eastman Kodak in their golden years about the value of consumables!
 
I'm a little disappointed with the level of enthusiasm... I hoped for a "thats a fantastic idea, lets do it" response... mostly so I could justify buying the parts to my wife :D

I'd found a bit of a guide, but it looks fairly complex and the instructions aren't clear at all, hence my asking on here.
With regards to buying one, most of the ones on ebay seem to be collect only (that are even close to being viable price wise for me), and tend to be located at the other end of the country.
I've asked on freecycle before with no luck.
I guess its just going to have to be saving for a while.
 
I have to say, I was interested in building my own at one stage as well... but now that I shoot 5x4 and would want to enlarge from those frames as well as smaller ones, making one would be about the same cost wise as a good S/H De Vere 504, say. I'm sure if you wanted to build one for 35mm it could be a good bit of fun, but I have to agree... the price of smaller S/H enlargers these days is just so low it's silly not to just buy one. That said, if you want to build one, go right ahead! The satisfaction once built will be right up there!

EDIT: Collect and Deliver courier services might not cost the Earth... Worth looking into?
 
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I remember reading a few books and articles on building your own enlarger when I started photography as a kid, back in the 60s. I never got round to it - a friend's father let us use his - but I think it could be an interesting project. Financially, I doubt if you would save much compared with buying a second hand one though.
 
What would be wrong with using an old overhead projector like the kind we had in school? Not sharp enough optic in the collector head perhaps? Im not even sure what the minimum focus distance would be?
 
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I'd be concerned with the uniformity of the light coming out of it personally. plus the fact that it would be quite difficult to light seal the whole thing well enough so as not to fog the paper.
 
Plus have you every seen the amount of chromatic aberration that those overheads show?
 
My humble apologies for taking so long, lifes been hectic with a newborn and all.

I'll definitely look into the couriers, the thought hadn't even occured to me.
 
Mads

If your still interested in this I've been given a LPL 3301D enlarger head and 35mm neg carrier at work. If you fancy fabricating your own stand for it your welcome to it if you cover postage.
 
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