Enlarger for large format

Gast · 2005-11-14T20:06:51+00:00

Hallo Leute, nach langem hin und her ist bei mir so langsam der Entschluss gereift, mir eine Großformatkamera zuzulegen ( 13 x 18 cm ). Eine solche Kamera...

Gast

Hi everyone, After much deliberation, I’ve gradually come to the decision to buy a large-format camera (13 x 18 cm). Buying a second-hand camera of this type isn’t really the problem; see eBay. The enlarger, however, is proving tricky. Can anyone give me any tips on where I can buy one (preferably second-hand, of course)? I’ve already had a look at the ‘Kienzle’ website, but haven’t plucked up the courage to ring them and ask for a price yet... According to some forum users, Kienzle seems to be quite exclusive ;) . Best regards, HaPe

hambo

If you have the space and can wait a little while, Homrich VA 180 models are sometimes available on eBay. However, this is a professional model, available either with electric adjustment only or even with an automatic focusing mechanism. You can easily programme this for your own lenses. Simply enter the negative size and image size, and the machine will move into the correct position. The room height should be over 2.5 metres; with floor projection and a 210mm lens, the machine can easily enlarge sections of a 13×18 negative to 50×60. The quality is certainly there. Regards, hambo

Wolf_XL

...even if some people claim the opposite – "size matters"... But with 13x18, you need to be aware that you can’t do without a fixed Duka. The choice of enlargers is also getting smaller and smaller – and above all, they’re really bulky pieces of kit... I myself have a Homrich – though ‘only’ for 4x5-inch. You can find bits like that on eBay from time to time – quite cheap, mind you – but you’ll have to pick them up yourself – ideally with a van – because quite a few estate cars reach their limits with that sort of load.... In the picture you can see my Homrich – the unit to the right of it isn’t a Minox enlarger, but a Dunco 66 II... ;) For 13x18, just imagine everything a size bigger... :o

Urnes

Hi HaPe, Firstly, feel free to ask again in the large-format forum. Secondly, there are still quite a few alternatives for 13x18. You’ll probably find the Durst 138, in various versions, most often on eBay. The problem always arises when something breaks and you need spare parts, for example for the transformer or something similar. Then you either have to make do and improvise yourself, or spend quite a lot of money on new parts. So you should check in advance what other accessories you’ll need and ideally buy a set that includes everything straight away. I’ve bought myself a DeVere 507 wall-mounted unit. And I’m absolutely delighted with it. Solid, simple mechanics, and because it’s wall-mounted, it takes up little space and doesn’t require a very high ceiling. I won’t hide the fact, though, that the faulty transformer cost me quite a bit of frustration, and you actually need the original timer or a jumper to operate it. But enlarging photos is now much more fun, and with the necessary spare parts to hand, I hope this is the last enlarger I’ll ever have to buy. Regards, Sven.

Stagirit

For large format, I use the Durst Laborator 138s with Rodenstock optics, rear lens shutter, etc. And I would also recommend this enlarger if you want all the adjustment options familiar from 35mm film to be available for large format as well. However, you can easily expect a 13x18 print to take a full day’s work; the actual photograph itself isn’t taken much any quicker either. I don’t want to put anyone off large format, but experience unfortunately shows that the equipment tends to end up in the basement sooner rather than later. It probably makes sense, when starting out, to either hire a darkroom (link on the FOTOIMPEX homepage), look out for relevant courses, or make a polite enquiry at one of the art academies or universities. Without professional help, the initial results tend to be rather disappointing, as the margin for error with large format is very narrow. //Edit: P.S. Try Googling ‘enlarger’ and have a look at the adverts.

Gast

Hi HaPe, That sounds like you need a Durst 138. Make sure you get one with the largest condenser set possible, or one with a mixing head. You can get them really cheap on eBay now, though unfortunately you have to collect them yourself. That said, I’m phasing out 13x18 myself. There’s no point in 4x5 or 8x10 in between. I wouldn’t see it as being as narrow as Staigirit either. It’s definitely different from the KB developed by Schlecker. Regards Martin

heinrich

Hi HapE, I use the Durst 138 with the CLS301 colour mixing head myself. It’s great fun for large format (I use 4x5) and roll film. I can’t recommend it highly enough. But do think carefully first about whether you really want 13x18. The cameras get ridiculously big; a Linhof Technika 4x5 or a Sinar F2 fit easily into a rucksack, but that’s no longer guaranteed with 13x18. There’s also more choice for 4x5, both in terms of cameras and enlargers. Regards, Heinrich P.S. The Durst Laborator 138 can be dismantled very easily and will then fit into a Golf.

Stagirit

Graflex cameras are a good alternative to Linhof. They may not be quite as sophisticated, but they are comparatively inexpensive. They use standard film cassettes and lens mounts, but are relatively rare in Germany.

Gast

Hello If you’re thinking of buying a camera now, I’d reconsider the 13x18 format. In my view, you should go for either 4x5" or 8x10", as the range of films available in these formats is much better. Of course, 13x18 is a lovely format, and you can certainly pick up a bargain here and there on second-hand cameras and enlargers. But make sure you find out exactly what films are available, and whether they meet your needs. The choice of colour films is rather limited in 13x18.