ann clancy
(K=2014) - Comment Date 7/18/2004
|
you will need to decide what formats you will be using. There are a lot of good enlargers available used. A beseler 23c will do from 35mm negatives up to 6 x 7. a beseler 45 will do up to 4x 5 negatives and it is more stable.
An enlarger will or can last a lifetime or several lifetimes if cared for.
Many unexpensive enlargers can make nice enlargements; making good negatives is key to good printing. Spend as much money as you can on the lens. An outstanding lens on an old Fedal will make brillant prints; if you make good negatives.
There are also a lot of Omega enlargers on the used market. They too are old workhorses and are not expensive.
Another decision, will be ; dial in filtation,if so, this will increase the cost. An old color head can do the trick.
Do a lot of shopping and research.
What part of the world are you? In the UK and other parts of Europe different brands are probably going to be easy to find than those i mentioned. am sure others will chime in and expand your choices.
|
|
|
|
Scott McFadden
(K=5663) - Comment Date 7/19/2004
|
I think you should try and stick with a more common enlarger thats easier to get bulbs for.
And do try to check that the light is evenly spread as the best lens in the world will not fix that problem.
Since the mass hysteria about digital you surely will find a almost complete set from some person thinking that digital will solve all thier problems.
Check out the newspapers first before ebay as your better off if you can meet the people your getting the stuff from as they may have useful advice about how to use it and other things that are perculiar to the system you choose.
I bought mine from somebody upgrading and got twice as much stuff just cos it wasnt used anymore. Also the advice on developer ratios really worked...The bits of scribble on paper at the bottom of the box sometimes are the best bargain of all.
Best of luck.
|
|
|
|
Nicole Long
(K=30) - Comment Date 7/31/2004
|
I am in the US. Thanks, both of you, for the help. More info would still be most welcome.
Nicole
|
|
|
|
dave thursfield
(K=514) - Comment Date 7/31/2004
|
Hi Nicole, Meopta Enlargers traditionally offer great value for money and an excellant range of features. The Opemus 6 will handle negatives up to 6x6 and the Opemus will do up to 6x7. They are available with colour heads to enable multigrade printing in B&W. Give careful thought on your choice of lenses and go for the best you can afford eg. EL NIkkor or Schneider.
Dave.
|
|
|
|
dave thursfield
(K=514) - Comment Date 7/31/2004
|
Hi Nicole, Meopta Enlargers traditionally offer great value for money and an excellant range of features. The Opemus 6 will handle negatives up to 6x6 and the Opemus 7 will do up to 6x7. They are available with colour heads to enable multigrade printing in B&W. Give careful thought on your choice of lenses and go for the best you can afford eg. EL NIkkor or Schneider.
Dave.
|
|
|
|
Nicole Long
(K=30) - Comment Date 1/8/2005
|
Thanks everyone, for helping. I have decided to get a b&w enlarger for starting and upgrade to a color enlarger if need be. I am still wary of e-bay but have been looking at the enlargers on B&H. Right now I just want a good, solid enlarger that will bring me through my beginning years. After looking for a while I came across a fairly good priced enlarger or two. The Beseler Cadet 2. It comes with a developing kit and can enlarge up to 8x10. Beseler Printing kit includes: Film tank with reel, 2 film clips, Safelight bulb, Timer, 3 8"x10" trays, 3 print tongs, 3 32 oz. bottles, Easel, Thermometer, Funnel, Beaker, Squeegee, Stirring rod, Printing guide. Would this be a good choice, or should I keep looking?
Thanks
|
|
|
|
ann clancy
(K=2014) - Comment Date 1/8/2005
|
have you checked the want ads the paper or any local camera stores in your area.
"a good solid enlarger" and the cadet kit don't go together. but this is just one person view
|
|
|
|
Charles Webb
(K=27) - Comment Date 1/28/2005
|
Nicole,
Think before you buy, the enlarger you mentioned
will make up to 8x10 prints, What if you want to print that special negative of yours to 16x20 or 20x24. To buy this kit/enlarger will not allow you to grow. Buy a better enlarger you won't be sorry!
|
|
|
|
Jake Harr
(K=182) - Comment Date 2/16/2005
|
As Ann Clansy has stated, the Beseler 23-C enlargers and the Omega enlargers are both very fine machines. Both fairly easy to use and probably the best you can get for the price. It is key to stick with a common brand and or model when making this choice only because extra parts, various negative carriers, replacements bulbs, lens's and lens boards, are readily available and inexpensive on the used market. As Ann also stated good negatives are very key, if you set up a dark room and don?t have decent negatives to work with you may get frustrated. I am young (18) and started with a VERY old (30's-40's) enlarger that was basically a coffee can with a light in it and a not so hot lens. Even so, this was a great learning experience and I soon upgraded to the Beseler 23-C II enlarger that I am using to this day (I think I paid @ $300-400 for it 7 years ago). The Beseler enlarger has a strong reputation and the 23-C model has been used in many schooling settings for this art form. (Technical Schools) There should be a large number of these available used and it will last a looong time, with much room for future expansion. Please contact me if you have ANY questions, I would love to help you in this matter in any way I can!
|
|
|
|
Matt Giess
(K=15) - Comment Date 2/21/2005
|
I have used both Meopta and LPL enlargers. The Meopta, as mentioned in a previous reply, is well worth a look, being cheap but sturdy. I had an old Axomat that would only take 35mm negatives, and I have seen some used examples for sale for £40 (around US$60) in the UK. The enlargers for medium format use were all three or four times more expensive.
I now use an LPL 7700 pro, which is extremely well built but quite pricey (I struck lucky when a friend cleared his darkroom). To be honest, the results are not drastically better than my old axomat, the most sigificant improvements are the ability to make larger prints and the sharpness of the EL-Nikkor lens. It inspires more confidence due to the positive action of the controls and it's general sturdiness, however the meopta was perfectly capable.
The meopta lenses are surprisingly good, the aranet is dirt cheap but a little crude, however the more expensive meogon is very capable lens. Meopta is a Czech company, and seems to lack the cache of the Western manufacturers, but it is good quality kit that sells cheaply. I have had little trouble finding spares and parts in the UK, and due to its low price it is quite a popular brand with beginners and those on a budget.
|
|
|
|
