Silberblick
<P class="">After 12 long years without a darkroom, I am now on the lookout for a sturdy black-and-white enlarger for 6x6 to 6x9 formats. I already have a 35mm enlarger. Enlargements larger than 30x40 will be rare; my long-term goal is to convert to split-grade lighting (I already have the controller on my 35mm enlarger).
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<p class="">After a long search online, I keep coming back to the Focomat IIc, Agfa Varioscop 60 and the various Kienzle models. Unfortunately, a new Kienzle is beyond my means.
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<P class="">There are no units nearby to view or even try out, so here is my request for advice:
<P class="">?- are there significant differences in quality between the units mentioned??
<P class="">?- how user-friendly are they in everyday use, for example the negative stages? Is the combination of AN glass at the top and a mask at the bottom possible with all makes?
<P class="">?- Can both the Varioscop and the Focomat IIc accommodate a 6x9 negative with a black border (i.e. is the maximum viewing area of the stage larger than a typical 6x9 negative)?
<p class="">?- How is the optics? For example, does the V-Elmar 4.5/100 fall significantly short of the 95/100mm Focotars?
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<P class="">And one final question: the Durst M800/M805 has been recommended to me elsewhere – are they comparable to the enlargers mentioned above in terms of stability and ergonomics?
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<P class="">I’d be grateful for any advice or tips,
<p class="">so many thanks in advance,
<p class="">Georg.
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Wolf_XL
... I have an Agfa Colormat for sale, which I have converted to split-grade myself. The Colormat is essentially identical in construction to the Variosskop, but has an additive colour mixing head. As its filters are swung into position by an electromagnet, I have replaced the colour filters with Ilford Multigrade 0 and 5 and fitted a switch. If you already have the Splitgrade controller, this combination is almost ideal. You simply need to switch the Splitgrade controller to ‘Manual’ and set the magenta factor to double the time. Then everything is almost as simple as with an original Splitgrade head:
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1) Measure the time as usual
2) Insert the yellow filter – press the “Start” button – once the “Yellow” time has elapsed, the lamp in the enlarger switches off.
3) Insert the magenta filter – press the “Start” button again – done!
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If you’re seriously interested, I can also take a few photos for you...
Silberblick
Thanks, Wolf!
Sounds very interesting; I’ve never heard of the Colormat before. What about the negative stage – what’s the maximum usable area? And what kind of lens is fitted?
Basically, I’d like to get more information about the other devices before making a purchase – but I’d be happy to get back to you about your offer if you’re not in a rush.
Best regards and thanks from the Baltic Sea, Georg.
Wolf_XL
...the set would include three negative stages – a glassless 35mm stage, a glass stage (glass/AN glass) up to 6x9 (59x80 mm) and one for DIY projects. I wanted to use these to ‘carve out’ a glassless 6x6 stage for myself. The set also includes the corresponding Agfa Magnacolare lenses for 35mm and medium format. If you’re reasonably handy with electronics, it would also be straightforward to build your own interface for the Splitgrade controller. I’d asked Mr Heiland about this and he offered to help... Here are a few more pictures:
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Urnes
Hi Georg,
The major drawback with these enlargers is that you can only really use them effectively – i.e. with focus tracking – with the original lenses. This is because the tracking is controlled via a cam.
For 35mm, the Leitz Focotar I, for example, wasn’t good enough for me back then. I eventually swapped it for a more modern Schneider, but at the cost of having to manually adjust the sharpness.
Regards, Sven.
Silberblick
Hi Sven,
Thanks for the tip. I’m familiar with the issue regarding original lenses from my V35 35mm enlarger (I bought it with a third-party lens).
As far as I know, Kienzle offers a service to adapt third-party lenses to enlargers with ‘mechanical AF’. It’s certainly not cheap, but it’s an option.
The Kienzle enlargers without AF are still in the running for me, though unfortunately they’re rather hard to find second-hand.
Thanks and best regards, Georg.
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PS: I’ll have another closer look at your website; I was already impressed at first glance.
Silberblick
Hi Wolf,
Thanks for the photos and information. The size comparison between the Agfa, the Laborator and the dainty V35 is very helpful.
Is that a 6x9 negative in the last picture? With dimensions of 59x80mm, space would be tight on the long side, not the short side, or am I on the wrong track? I definitely don’t mean any harm; I’m just asking because the black border is important to me even with 6x9. The negatives from the old Fuji are about 55.5x82mm in size, those from the Agfa Clack and old folding cameras slightly larger.
Could a combination of AN glass at the top and a 6x9 metal mask at the bottom be carved out of the ‘DIY’ negative holder?
How is the Colormat electrically controlled – in some photos on the web you can see a large box with countless buttons standing next to the enlarger.
How is the Magnacolar’s imaging performance?
Please excuse the follow-up questions and thank you for the information and photos.
Georg
Wolf_XL
...you’re right about that – I don’t see a problem with the short sides either – on the long sides you do get a black border, but not across the full width of the negative. Modifying the “Bastelbühne” wouldn’t be a problem – I’ve even got the right aluminium sheet for it. As for the control system, you’d still have a choice as to how you’d like it... I scrapped the original electronics, as I only wanted to use the device for black-and-white work. The actual ‘electronics’ now consist solely of a power supply and a rotary switch, which allows you to rotate three filter sheets into position. I had originally housed this in my cable duct, as the enlarger was bolted down to the tabletop. I’m currently still in the process of, firstly, attaching a white-coated plywood panel to the base plate and, secondly, fitting the power supply into a suitable housing. You’d now have the choice of where to place the filter selector switch and how it should switch between the filters... Toggle or rotary switch, perhaps... ;-)
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I’ve never actually used the original lenses. For 35mm I always used the Leitz V35, and for medium format I used a Rodagon instead of the Magna-Colar. It was at least twenty years newer and also had an illuminated aperture indicator...? But I’m assuming the original lenses certainly aren’t bad...
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I’m actually only selling the Colormat because, for one thing, I got the Laborator 1000 with all the accessories, the conversion to split-grade was still relatively inexpensive, and because the Laborator also handles 4x5". I actually intended to use it to replace the Leitz V35 as well – but due to the wide negative stage designed for 4x5", the unit is clearly oversized for 35mm and even for 6x6. For 6x6, you need 4-strip negatives – otherwise it’s a fiddly business like no other...
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That aside – the V35 is the ultimate enlarger for 35mm – you simply don’t part with something like that...
Martin_e_palm
Hi Georg,
I have a Focomaten IIA with a split-grade head, a Durst M605 (split-grade) and a Durst M800, which still has condenser lenses.
I did toy with the idea of keeping the Focomaten and buying the lenses from Kienzle, but given the
prices, I decided to invest in the M800 instead. The Durst M800 is an incredibly robust enlarger. It has a modular design
and many parts from the successor model, the M805, also fit the M800. Converting a CLS70 colour mixing head to split-grade is
extremely inexpensive (approx. €160).
So a clear vote for the Durst M800, although the Focomat is a really solid and attractive piece of kit.
Regards
Martin
Urnes
Hi Martin,
Who did you get the head modified by? I’ve been thinking about it for a while now.
Regards, Sven.
Martin_e_palm
Hi Sven,
Kienzle adapted the head. He took a Dunco head and mounted it onto a ring.
You attach this to the enlarger (Focomat IIa or IIc). It’s a fairly simple design.
Kienzle supplied me with the head back then, combined with a Variograde and a colour mixing head.
I’ll be putting it up on eBay or a similar site soon.
Best regards,
Martin
Silberblick
Wolf, your offer is very interesting, but I’m still undecided at the moment as to whether to go for the Varioscop (yours, that is) or one of the other machines mentioned. I hope you don’t mind if I shop around a bit more.
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Martin, thank you very much for the information. I’ve never worked with a higher-end Durst, so I wasn’t able to assess the M800/M805.€
Which of the three enlargers is your favourite in terms of general handling? I’m particularly interested in how the different negative stages work.
Is the M800 also fitted with a ‘BIMANEG’ or a ‘SETONEG’ – and what is the maximum image area?
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Does anyone here have any experience with the Kienzle T models?
Urnes
Hi Martin,
Thanks a lot for the info.
@ Silberblick
If that black border around your photos is really that important to you, then the best solution would be to look for a 4x5" camera with a glass plate; in that category, it hardly matters which manufacturer makes it (Fuji makes some pretty good ones too), and price-wise they’re not really much different from medium format. I also opted for 13x18 back then to develop 55mm Polaroid negatives with a border.
Regards, Sven.
Martin_e_palm
Hello Georg,
The M800 can accommodate up to 6.5 x 9 cm, whilst the M805 can only handle 6 x 9 cm. The M800 is compatible with the Setoneg view stage (original stage) from Autoneg (the view stage used in earlier Autofocus models), as well as the very old Duneg from the 659.
These screens are compatible with the Binema and Aumet masks, as well as the Bimagla glass. Aumet is actually designed for autofocus enlargers, whilst Binema is for the M805. Autoneg and Aumet are pretty much
the most elaborate screens and masks I’ve ever held in my hands.
Best regards,
Martin
Silberblick
Hi Martin,
Thanks very much for the information. I’ve since found the manuals for the M800 and M805 online, but even with those, the Durst system remains rather confusing to me.
So for a split-grade conversion, would an M800 colour head with CLS70 be the right choice??
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Sven, yes, I’ve already thought about a 4x5 enlarger. But I have to set myself a limit somewhere, otherwise I’ll end up with an 8x10 model ;-)
Originally, I had my eye on a Kienzle T69 (which is suitable for 6x9 with borders, according to the very helpful people at Kienzle), but I was too hesitant when bidding.
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Thanks and best regards, Georg.
Wolf_XL
...with a 4x5 enlarger, you unfortunately face the problem that 6x6 negatives are best cut into streaks of four – unless you don’t mind having to remove the entire image stage just to load the middle image of a streak of three. Because of the wide image stage, you can’t actually slide the negative into the exact position you’d like. Unfortunately, negative pockets for 4-strip sets aren’t widely available, and they’re not exactly cheap either...
Martin_e_palm
Hello Georg,
The M800 is generally a condenser unit with an opal light bulb. Various colour-mixing heads were available for this model:
the CLS70 with a 100W bulb and the matching mixing box,
the CLS80 with a 200W lamp and the corresponding mixing box, and
the CLS201 (professional head, very rare) with a mixing box.
It took me quite a while to figure out which parts fit which model.
It’s all explained clearly on the Aphog website:
http://aphog.de/forum/index.php/Thread/5251-Durst-M800/?postID=62829&highlight=travo#post62829
As already described, the conversion of the CLS70 colour mixing head costs 160 euros according to a slightly older Heiland price list.
The conversion of a Kienzle C252P ink head costs 875 euros.
The conversions for the C67/69 cost 205 euros.
Conversion for the Primos series: 487 euros
It’s simply a question of price.
Kienzle is certainly the best choice, but it’s not exactly cheap either.
Regards
Martin
Silberblick
Wolf, yes, that’s a good point in favour of medium-format enlargers. Quite a few 4x5 darkrooms were apparently retrofitted with the Durst BIMANEG stage to improve medium-format negative handling.
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Martin, thank you very much, that’s exactly the information (including the link) I was looking for. I’ll get in touch with the lovely and helpful Mr Heiland tomorrow, and perhaps sort everything out with the seller of an M800 with CLS70 as well. He’s checked the dimensions of the SETONEG stage – 6x9 with borders should fit easily.
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Many thanks for your help and best regards, Georg.
Silberblick
Hello Georg,
The M800 can accommodate up to 6.5 x 9 cm, whilst the M805 can only handle 6 x 9 cm. The M800 is compatible with the Setoneg view stage (original stage) from Autoneg (the view stage used in earlier Autofocus models), as well as the very old Duneg from the 659.
These view stages are compatible with the Binema and Aumet masks, as well as the Bimagla glass. Aumet is actually designed for autofocus enlargers, whilst Binema is for the M805. Autoneg and Aumet are pretty much
the most elaborate view stages and masks I’ve ever handled.
Regards,
Martin
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Martin, just a quick follow-up:
So, for example, can the BIMAGLA AN (for the M805/Bimaneg) be used instead of the AUDA 70 AN (original AN lens for Setoneg)?
And would, for example, the combination of Bimagla AN on top and Binema on the bottom also work in the old Setoneg from the M800?
I’ll be picking up the enlarger next week and will have a look around for small parts.
Many thanks, Georg!
Martin_e_palm
Hi Georg,
It all works perfectly. I have a Bimagla at the top and, depending on what I need, a 6x6 or 6x9 Binema at the bottom.
Enjoy your new enlarger. I’m sending my CLS 70 to Heiland next week
for modification.
Best regards,
Martin
