Recommendations for a B&W enlarger

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Stuart M

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I've recently returned to the world of film with the acquisition of a medium format Mamiya RZ67 setup. Having liberated my developing and darkroom kit from the attic, it dawned on me that my existing enlarger (Durst C35) wouldn't be of any use because it only accepts a 35mm negative carrier. That being the case, I'm now in the market for a good second hand B&W enlarger that will take a 6x7 carrier and the Ilford multigrade filter system. I've seen a few possibles on the 'Second Hand Darkroom' website but I'm open to recommendations from you guys.
 
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Well I never really considered a b/w only enlarger, not because I wanted to do colour, I didn't, but it seemed like a bit less of a faff using the colour filters built in to a colour head than separate multigrade filters.
Since then I've started using multigrade filters on my colour enlarger with filtration dialed out.
A colour head with filtration dialed out is a b/w head, and I would imagine much easier to come by than a b/w only head, but I dunno...
 
I use a Durst M805 with a black and white head (up to 6x7) and an LPL 5x4 enlarger, so I can't comment on other enlargers that can handle roll film (apart from my original Photax Paragon which I wouldn't recommend). The Durst is solid, and nicer to handle than the LPL; I've been impressed with Kaiser enlargers which I've seen at Focus/Photography Show.

A colour head means that the light source is diffused; my Durst uses condensers. There are pros and cons - greater sharpness, higher contrast (the reason film manufacturers offer a variation of developing times to adjust the gamma), and a greater ability to show up dust and scratches if you use a condenser enlarger, and the reverse of these qualities with a diffuser. I personally prefer the condensers for black and white, and as long as the enlarger has a filter drawer you have no major problems with multigrade paper. If it doesn't, I assume you can still get below lens filters, with the associated disadvantages.

If you are likely to move on to bigger and better things (and go large format) it might be an idea to consider whether you'd prefer an enlarger that can handle it.
 
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Check out your local Gumtree ads for bargains as they will be pick-up only due to size and they won't have boxes or packaging. Barry Thornton recommended Meopta enlargers which were designed and built to proper Czech engineering standards and are very robust. They made a multigrade head called the Meograde, but that was quite unusual and the colour head is common. The b&w head is a condenser one with a filter drawer if you prefer that? The 120 enlarger is the Opemus 6 and there are a couple on the auction site if you happen to be near them.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o...opemus+6.TRS0&_nkw=meopta+opemus+6&_sacat=625
 
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The last enlarger I owned and used was a besseler, it was amazing compared to various Durst enlargers I used to use. It would handle negs from 16mm to 6x9, it used oversize condensers in a bellows, a scale showed the format. The neg holder held negs perfectly flat, it was very well engineered. It had a filter draw, although I mostly used it with different grades of RC paper, shows how long ago I had it. It had a large double geared column and a crank handle to adjust its hight. With 6x6 negs I could create 20x20" B&W enlargements on the base board, develop and fix in a colour drum and wash in the bath. The head could be flipped horizontal for bigger enlargements. It was a great B&W enlarger, well worth investigating if any come up for sale or disposal.
 
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I use a Durst AC707 for both B&W and colour. It handles negatives up to 6x7 and enlargements around 12"x16" without having to project horizontally. It has a built in timer and colour analyser, both of which work really well.

There's one for sale on the auction site: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Durst-AC-...507833?hash=item33be81c579:g:huIAAOSw6btXTf5q

I paid about £80 for mine including lenses, easel and other bits and bobs.
 
Quick update chaps! After much deliberation and research, I've gone for a LPL 7700 B&W and a Rodenstock Rogonar-S 90mm from the 'Second Hand Darkroom' people. Fingers crossed, eh!
 
Stuart M said:
Quick update chaps! After much deliberation and research, I've gone for a LPL 7700 B&W and a Rodenstock Rogonar-S 90mm from the 'Second Hand Darkroom' people. Fingers crossed, eh!
Click to expand...

I'd like to see a picture of that when it arrives..:)

I'm just gonna have to fling out the old stock reply for traditional complicity, "pics......or it never happened"

I use a 7700 with a colour head, I'd be interested to see a b/w head, the apparatus for attaching ilford filters and if there are any fine focusing features.
Do you get film carriers with it....?
 
always fancied getting one, can any one recommend one that can take up to 4x5 large format negs?
 
My new toy turned up yesterday ... LPL 7700 B&W enlarger. I think I might have miscalculated a bit. I was expecting it to be bigger than my existing Durst C35 but this thing is bloody enormous and it weighs a ton. I've got no chance of getting it onto my kitchen worktops so it'll have to sit on the floor and I reckon I'll have to fix some castors to the baseboard so I can move it around without giving myself a hernia.
 
I've got the lower model (in all senses) LPL 5x4 enlarger; the one higher up the scale wouldn't fit on my work surface without making a hole in the ceiling.
 
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