[rollei_list] Re: OT: Enlargers (revisited)
- From: "Richard Knoppow" <dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2005 16:28:11 -0800
----- Original Message -----
From: "Douglas Nygren" <dnygr@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2005 3:50 PM
Subject: [rollei_list] Re: OT: Enlargers (revisited)
Thor, I'm going to answer part of your email. Others will
answer more, I hope.
I like Durst and Omega enlargers. I use an Omega. I can
enlarge 4x5 and smaller on mine. Bigger I don't need,
though if I shot 8x10 I might want that. However, 8x10 as
a contact print looks great, so maybe I don't.
I use Schneider and Rodonstock lenses. I don't pay much
attention to the rest, though I think you get what you pay
for when it comes to grain focuers. Get a good
one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for easels, you need one that is easily admustable. I
think it needs to have a knob. Others may disagree.
And finally, I want to congratulate you on your good
taste. While your digital camera, if you have one, will be
obsolete in days, your wet darkroom won't. You won't
suffer from eye strain and in 10 years you won't need to
upgrade your enlarger to read your negatives, that is, if
you can find something that would still be compatible.
Digital is nice. Too bad the next generation won't know
how we looked.
Best--Doug Nygren
Only a couple of things to add. Omega is still made and
parts are available. Durst does not support many of its
older models, if you buy one make sure everything is working
and nothing is missing. Durst's best models are industrial
grade and excellent given the caution above.
I don't know what these people mean by sturdy. To me a
Rollei is sturdy. You should pay attention to the rigidity
of the enlarger, especially when its set for maximum
enlargement. Vibration is the enemy of sharpness.
I don't know about having a larger enlarger than you
need. They get big and are more vibration prone as the
format goes up. I have a 4x5 enlarger because I shoot a lot
of 4x5 and use it for that. I also use it for formats from
35mm up to its limit. An enlarger for formats larger than
4x5 becomes unwieldy. A 5x7 is still reasonable for a home
darkroom, an 8x10 is not unless you have lots of room.
I don't know what is available in Europe and don't know
Devere models well enough to comment on them other than the
ones I've seen were definitely industrial strength machines.
I have an Omega D2v, which has an adjustable condenser
system. The Omega D5 is probably the best of the 4x5
Omega's. It has longer bellows draw so it does not need
auxiliary snoots and has a continuously adjustable
condenser.
Color heads are useful for color work, of course, but
also work well for variable contrast paper. If you get an
enlarger with a color head make sure it has dichroic filters
not dye filters. The latter have a very short lifetime and
poor selectivity, they are not satisfactory.
Get the best lenses you can. However, Rodenstock,
Schneider, and Nikon enlarging lenses are very similar in
performance. While the current lenses are a bit better than
older ones even the old chrome barrel Schneider Componon is
an excellent lens and are often cheap.
As with anything used condition is everything.
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
---
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