Choice Of New Enlarger And Lens

dogville · 6th September 2004

hi
I want to change my hansa prima enlarger and lens for new ones. Would you please advise me what are the best options?. The enlarger is a little less important than the lens. I want this last one to be good for making better photos than with my old hansa prima. It's for 35mm.
Please specify concrete brands and models of enlargers, and brands and models of lens
thanks so much indeed
jose

hongsien · 6th September 2004

Hi Jose,

You are right that the enlarger is not as important as the lens: I have used for over 20 years a Chech made enlarger: Opemus 5, now replaced by the Opemus 6. It accepts 35mm (and smaller) to 6x6cm formats. It is very well built and strong. You can rotate the head to print againt the wall if you want to print really large. Because it is very simply made it is very strong, one of the good things of this brand.

Another god thing: it is reletively cheap! Maybe you can get it used, even more lower! I am still using mine............

As for the lens. You can get pretty good ones cheaply off eBay (do not buy used in Singapore! They kill you in the prices!), everyone is selling off their enlarger lenses on eBay and prices have dropped tremendously:

Schneider: Componon-S (get the 'S' one, better)
Rodenstock: Rodagon
Durst: Neonon (probably a Rodenstock)
Nikon: Nikkor
Fuji: Fujinon

If ther are other questions let us know.
Hong Sien

student · 6th September 2004

I am not sure if I got you guys right.

But the lens is part of the enlarger! The whole package comes together! While the lens is unquestionably very important, it is but one component of the whole. To illustrate, the type of light source that is used in the enlarger. A condensor light source can be very sharp, but shows up all the defects and you require a thinner negative. A cold or diffuse light requires a more dense negative, but may be better for some prints.

The quality of the construction is also very important. Not just how "solid" it feels, or the facilities it has, such as projecting onto the floor or wall ( I am not sure with a 35 mm negative if you really want to make huge enlargements. With a medium format size negative it might be different ), but also precision and alignment of the enlarger.

I cannot really advise you on the type of enlarger you may want to buy, but I suggest you give a thought to the type of enlarger also especially when it is meant to last a long time. Ease of use is terribly important. A built-in variable contrast head makes everthing so much more pleasurable (instead of slotting filters), as are built in "dry-down" compensation etc (may not be available for smaller formats like 35 mm)

You did not specify cost. But one great enlarger for 35 mm is the Leitz Focomat with its own Leitz lens (I think it is 40 mm)

kex · 6th September 2004

i'm pretty happy with my schneider 50mm F2.8 componar S which is very cheap in used market..i paid $120 for a minty one..
like hongsien,i too use a cheapo opemus 4 dat only do up to 6x6.
good lens really makes a diff for darkroom printing..

dogville · 8th September 2004

Originally Posted by hongsien

Hi Jose,

You are right that the enlarger is not as important as the lens: I have used for over 20 years a Chech made enlarger: Opemus 5, now replaced by the Opemus 6. It accepts 35mm (and smaller) to 6x6cm formats. It is very well built and strong. You can rotate the head to print againt the wall if you want to print really large. Because it is very simply made it is very strong, one of the good things of this brand.

Another god thing: it is reletively cheap! Maybe you can get it used, even more lower! I am still using mine............

As for the lens. You can get pretty good ones cheaply off eBay (do not buy used in Singapore! They kill you in the prices!), everyone is selling off their enlarger lenses on eBay and prices have dropped tremendously:

Schneider: Componon-S (get the 'S' one, better)
Rodenstock: Rodagon
Durst: Neonon (probably a Rodenstock)
Nikon: Nikkor
Fuji: Fujinon

If ther are other questions let us know.
Hong Sien

Thanks very much indeed Hongsien

insomia · 8th September 2004

Why not let us know what you can get locally for enlargers ? Since this is a bulk item you do not want to buy this from Ebay. Shipped undismantled is a sure fire way to get a damaged unit.

Would suggest looking around where you are - there are many people selling off their enlargers to move to digital.

Also diffiuclt to say what you should go for since you have declines to advise on the format you shoot most with and the formats you plan to work with and the sizes you want to print to.

For example if u shoot 4x5 then you cannot use many of the suggestion here.
Or even 6x9.

Enlarger may not be as important as the lens but not to neglect that it does play a role in the final print.

6th September 2004	#1
dogville New Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2	Choice Of New Enlarger And Lens hi I want to change my hansa prima enlarger and lens for new ones. Would you please advise me what are the best options?. The enlarger is a little less important than the lens. I want this last one to be good for making better photos than with my old hansa prima. It's for 35mm. Please specify concrete brands and models of enlargers, and brands and models of lens thanks so much indeed jose

6th September 2004	#2
hongsien Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 2,905	enlarger Hi Jose, You are right that the enlarger is not as important as the lens: I have used for over 20 years a Chech made enlarger: Opemus 5, now replaced by the Opemus 6. It accepts 35mm (and smaller) to 6x6cm formats. It is very well built and strong. You can rotate the head to print againt the wall if you want to print really large. Because it is very simply made it is very strong, one of the good things of this brand. Another god thing: it is reletively cheap! Maybe you can get it used, even more lower! I am still using mine............ As for the lens. You can get pretty good ones cheaply off eBay (do not buy used in Singapore! They kill you in the prices!), everyone is selling off their enlarger lenses on eBay and prices have dropped tremendously: Schneider: Componon-S (get the 'S' one, better) Rodenstock: Rodagon Durst: Neonon (probably a Rodenstock) Nikon: Nikkor Fuji: Fujinon If ther are other questions let us know. Hong Sien

6th September 2004	#3
student Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,091	I am not sure if I got you guys right. But the lens is part of the enlarger! The whole package comes together! While the lens is unquestionably very important, it is but one component of the whole. To illustrate, the type of light source that is used in the enlarger. A condensor light source can be very sharp, but shows up all the defects and you require a thinner negative. A cold or diffuse light requires a more dense negative, but may be better for some prints. The quality of the construction is also very important. Not just how "solid" it feels, or the facilities it has, such as projecting onto the floor or wall ( I am not sure with a 35 mm negative if you really want to make huge enlargements. With a medium format size negative it might be different ), but also precision and alignment of the enlarger. I cannot really advise you on the type of enlarger you may want to buy, but I suggest you give a thought to the type of enlarger also especially when it is meant to last a long time. Ease of use is terribly important. A built-in variable contrast head makes everthing so much more pleasurable (instead of slotting filters), as are built in "dry-down" compensation etc (may not be available for smaller formats like 35 mm) You did not specify cost. But one great enlarger for 35 mm is the Leitz Focomat with its own Leitz lens (I think it is 40 mm)

6th September 2004	#4
kex Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: beebox Posts: 2,101	i'm pretty happy with my schneider 50mm F2.8 componar S which is very cheap in used market..i paid $120 for a minty one.. like hongsien,i too use a cheapo opemus 4 dat only do up to 6x6. good lens really makes a diff for darkroom printing..

8th September 2004	#6
insomia Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 102	Why not let us know what you can get locally for enlargers ? Since this is a bulk item you do not want to buy this from Ebay. Shipped undismantled is a sure fire way to get a damaged unit. Would suggest looking around where you are - there are many people selling off their enlargers to move to digital. Also diffiuclt to say what you should go for since you have declines to advise on the format you shoot most with and the formats you plan to work with and the sizes you want to print to. For example if u shoot 4x5 then you cannot use many of the suggestion here. Or even 6x9. Enlarger may not be as important as the lens but not to neglect that it does play a role in the final print.