Dongrappo
Hello everyone,
I’ve got a question for those of you who know your way around Durst enlargers.
Whilst setting up my darkroom, I’ve been very lucky to meet some lovely people. As I can invest little or no money, all of this has naturally been absolutely brilliant and a huge help to me.
Now I’ve managed to get hold of three Durst machines here in Bremen. Great, as there was always something missing with my current equipment, or something wasn’t quite right.
I should be jumping for joy, which I am, obviously! Yeah.
But a few essential parts are still missing, and the three machines are barely compatible with each other. Which means there’s still something missing after all. And unfortunately, with Durst, it’s all rather confusing when it comes to compatibility and names, and it’s usually very expensive too. (For my budget)
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gmhrcilt735fgmp/AAAD-YJkKcd1pPbMMU24mnc5a?dl=0
So, down to business, darling.
1- Durst M605 with colour head. The gear had a slight knock; one tooth was worn down, but I managed to fix it so that it runs smoothly without ‘jerking’. I was also able to adjust the mechanics properly. Otherwise, a great machine in my opinion.
2- Durst M670 with colour head. Looks brand new, with a 1-metre-high column. Only the base plate appears to be an older model, as it shows clear signs of wear.
3- Durst M370 colour head, without base plate and column. So just the unit head.
So, for now, all the units are working perfectly.
The M506 is so precisely aligned and the image (test image) on the base plate is so crisp right into the corners (despite the mixed-light box) – truly impressive – so I’ll be doing some enlargements today. (Yay)
Right, now to the whole set – what’s there and what’s still missing:
- I have 1 transformer/power supply ‘TRA305/N’, which, however, fits all the units and works a treat.
- A viewing stage, Unineg fitted with Sivoma35 and Sixma35. And that’s it. (I mean, that’s actually really great, please don’t get me wrong)!
So I still need the inserts for 6x6, 6x4.5 and, ideally, optionally for 6x7 just in case.
Then a film stage with belts would be great, along with glass inserts. I particularly like working with AN glass at the top and a mask at the bottom. As I’d like to enlarge some roll films that, unfortunately, live up to their name. For example, Rollei Retro, which really is impossible to flatten. Even years of ‘re-rolling’, re-soaking and storing under heavy books for months on end didn’t help.
For the M670, I only have the mixed-light box for 35mm. The one for 6x6, or better still 6x7, would of course be absolutely brilliant. Otherwise, I’m considering possibly selling the unit, although it really is a fine piece of kit and completely as good as new, and the image stage lens holders would be perfectly interchangeable with the 605. The instruction manual was included too.
I also received two lens holders – one flat and one deep – for 35mm. An additional set for the second camera body would be quite nice.
Oh yes, a 50mm lens was included, but it’s just a simple three-element lens; I’m already well equipped with a Nikon and a Schneider Componon-S. However, there was also an 80mm Rogonar-S included. :-) I’d previously only had two Trinars and preferred to use my Anaret 105mm, which I think is really great. And that’s despite the longer extension. I can’t manage very large formats like 6x4.5 and 6x6 with it.
The M370 is missing the base plate and column; the head still looks very good and appears to have been used very little, and works perfectly so far. The 35mm image stage is included. Well, it’s of little use to me as it doesn’t fit the other cameras. It’s also only equipped with the 35mm mixing shaft. One could convert it, though. By the way, all the cameras require different columns.
It certainly sounds like a luxury problem, but as a truly poor person who wants to indulge in this expensive hobby again, I’d prefer to settle on 2–3 units but can invest almost no money. For me, that means the internal pressure to choose the ‘right’ one is very high – something many people would probably find hard to understand. Because I simply want to have 2–3 complete sets of equipment that I enjoy working with and that allow me to do everything I need to.
Multiple sets, simply to have spares and because I’d also like to work in the lab together with friends and my nephew. This will expand my microfilm and microplate collection.
My old Kaiser VC60 and VLC35 don’t have proper viewing stages and the column is rather modest. But somehow they aren’t really bad either; they’re solid and everything runs smoothly and cleanly.
With the Krokus 69s (I have two), I’d still need to invest in AN glass, possibly glassless inserts for black-and-white, and either a colour head or the large Ilford Multigrade filters (filter size 12x12cm), which are rare and expensive even second-hand. Otherwise, the Krokus, as a pure condenser, is simple but very solid and well-built, runs very smoothly and well, seems totally stable and durable, and can handle up to 6x9. I still have a few very old and newer negatives, but unfortunately no good medium-format camera left. Apart from a Kodak Twin and an Ensign Box from around 1925
Oh dear, so many words, even though I’ve already tried to abstract my many, many thoughts.
Perhaps one of you is familiar with the subject, has tips and ideas regarding Durst equipment/accessories, or perhaps has something to spare – though it really must cost as little as possible.
Of course, I could scrape together the postage costs and perhaps a few euros as well, or swap something.
Right then! Many thanks for your attention, and wishing you all good light always,
Werner
