dpc
If you try to download the Beseler catalogue, you’ll see the note ‘(only while stocks last)’.
Does that mean FOTOIMPEX no longer imports Beseler products? If so, is there a plan to offer an alternative for anyone looking for enlargers larger than 6x9? This is particularly relevant for Fotoman customers...
MirkoBoeddecker
The former owner of Beseler passed away two years ago.
After that, the company struggled to keep going for another year before it was eventually split up and wound up.
The spare parts and a small part of the production facilities were sold to a new owner.
Overnight, he raised our prices by 30% – whilst simultaneously lowering the prices for his US dealers :unsure:
In an age where anyone can quickly check on B&H to see what a Beseler costs in the US, we are no longer competitive.
We could also only offer devices with the plug cut off due to all these new EU regulations on electrical safety.
All this, combined with the fact that we’ve only sold one unit in two years, has led us to decide to continue only with a spare parts service :(
The second-hand market on eBay is simply too attractive at the moment for selling new equipment.
If the market conditions change again, we’ll start selling Beseler products once more ;)
Mirko
MirkoBoeddecker
And don’t forget: for 6x17, you’ll need a 13x18 enlarger!!
4x5" won’t fit!
Gast
Hello Mirko,
If you’re still thinking of selling professional enlargers, why not consider Kienzle enlargers as an alternative?
These machines are really rock-solid, and Mr Kienzle is also happy to carry out retrofitting and repairs on other makes.
I can highly recommend them from my own experience.
Best regards,
Dierk
MirkoBoeddecker
Yeah, but unfortunately he's 'married' to monochrome... :unsure:
Gast
Hello,
Kienzle enlargers are very good, but also, as you can see from the Monochrom price list, expensive and, as already mentioned, exclusively available from Monochrom.
In 1996, I had to choose a new 4x5" enlarger, as the old one had been completely destroyed during a laboratory move. My shortlist was narrowed down to Kienzle and the Japanese LPL (see Jobo). The result: I have been working with a Jobo 4x5 inch, additionally equipped with Heiland’s Splitgrade, since early 1997. The price difference compared to the Kienzle with the same specifications was more than 1,100 DM at the time! Incidentally, the LPL/Jobo is available in various configurations: Standard SW; Multicontrast; Colour and also Splitgrade!
In practical use, the Jobo/LPL is every bit as good as the Kienzle, and the advantage for anyone wishing to buy from FOTOIMPEX is that FOTOIMPEX stocks both Jobo and LPL – at least, that’s what it looks like according to the catalogue and website!
I can highly recommend the LPL/Jobo for 4x5-inch work, although of course there are one or two minor points that could be improved – but that applies to almost all equipment on the market.
Incidentally, anyone who doesn’t want to buy a new enlarger is guaranteed to find something on the second-hand market – including Beseler, but above all Durst equipment at a ‘bargain price’.
MirkoBoeddecker
We supply the entire LPL range if direct import is cost-effective; otherwise, we source additional stock from Jobo.
Mirko
Gast
Hi zensua,
What were your concerns about the Laborator 1200?
I haven’t found anything yet that needs improving :unsure:
Best regards, Stephan
Gast
Hello Stephan,
I have nothing against the Durst Laborator 1200. However, back in 1996, its availability, price and a few operational details worked against it! The latter, however, is simply down to my personal working method. I don’t want to get into a debate here about “which is the best enlarger?”, because there is no such thing as “the best”! Everything depends on personal use, working methods and preferences.
As for ‘areas for improvement’, I can only say that almost every enlarger emits stray light, uniform illumination often diminishes at the edges, and with almost all enlargers (those I am personally familiar with: DeVere, Dunco, Kaiser, Jobo; and, according to test reports, Durst, Beseler and Ahel as well) there is no 100 per cent parallelism between the negative stage and the objective stage. However, if there are no factory-provided correction options, you can often remedy this shortcoming yourself with a bit of skill and ingenuity. If the enlarger frame is also adjustable (e.g. Salthill frames), you can completely compensate for this shortcoming so that it is practically imperceptible. Incidentally, Salthill used to offer an adjustment kit (I do not know if it is still available today) with which the parallelism of the three planes (negative stage, objective stage and enlargement frame) can be checked precisely. I still use it myself today to adjust these three planes.
Similarly, on quite a few enlargers, the fine adjustment, the accuracy and the mounting of the fine adjustment extension (usually a flexible shaft) leave room for improvement. An equally significant issue is the area of the negative stages or the replacement of faulty lamps, which on some enlargers degenerates into a veritable orgy of dismantling and rebuilding, etc.
But I’m not telling you anything new here. So, see you later, and if anyone can get hold of a second-hand Durst Laborator 1200 at a good price, they should go for it; after all, it’s by no means inferior to other machines.
Best regards
Lo van de Renne
Gast
Hi Lo,
Thank you for your comments. I completely agree with you that there is no such thing as the ultimate enlarger and that it is always a matter of personal preference.
What fascinates me about Kienzle enlargers is that these devices are now in their umpteenth generation of production. And they’re made using traditional metalworking techniques in small batches. This means that plastic is used sparingly and most parts are made from solid, angular metal that has been punched, milled or turned.
Furthermore, Mr Kienzle appears to be the designer, head of marketing and production manager all rolled into one. I think that if you suggest improvements to him, he would at least draw up a quote for a bespoke model or incorporate new ideas into his products (provided it seems worthwhile to him). This level of individuality is rather rare these days.
Incidentally, Kienzle also sells demonstration models ex-works. It is therefore always worth giving them a call. (You usually get the company boss himself on the line – a friendly Swabian.)
However, I don’t want to engage in any surreptitious advertising here. Ultimately, the factors mentioned above have little influence on functionality and cost-benefit considerations.
Regards
Dierk
