[Leica] Recommendations for an enlarger

[drodgers at casefarms.com (David Rodgers)]

Adam,

I'd look for a D2/D3 chassis and find an Aristo VCL 4500 head. Hard to
find a used Aristo VCL, though. I think that says a lot about how good
they are.  

As far as lenses, the 63mm El-Nikkor for 35mm is excellent. I like
El-Nikkors. I've owned Componons and Rodagons, but I sold them except
for an 80 APO Rodagon which is exceptional. I have 50, 80, 135 and 150
el-Nikkors  

I have a D2 with a standards Aristo. I also have a Focomat 1c. The
Focomat is an amazing enlarger. It's the last piece of darkroom
equipment I'd ever part with. Its only drawback is that it has a built
in 8x10 easel, so making larger prints is a pita.  

The Focomat is a gorgeous piece of machinery.  I've thought about
retiring it from the darkroom and putting in my office for decoration. 
 
One of the best things I ever bought for my darkroom was a Zig align
tool.  It made a huge difference on my D2, especially when printing big.


I have a bw darkroom in my house, but I'll be moving soon. I plan to
have a darkroom in my new house. I may just use a small closet space for
the enlarger and develop in normal light using a rotary processor.

I love making silver prints. The only problem is the time it takes. If I
could get everything right the first pass without having to make test
strips and prints I'd prefer silver to digital printing. I'm sure
there's a way I could scan a negative, open it in PS, get the look I
want, and then based on the densitometer and adjustments figure out the
exact time and filtration for a WYSIWYG silver print. It may not even be
possible, but at some point I may give it a shot. 

I like digital, but I could be quite content to only shoot bw film. What
a relief to stop wasting time wondering about the next big thing in
digital, and just make photographs. Alas, it's easier said than done.   

DaveR

-----Original Message-----
From: Adam Bridge [mailto:abridge@gmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2006 9:53 PM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: [Leica] Recommendations for an enlarger

I'm seriously thinking it's time to have an in-house darkroom and I
think I have the place.

I'd like a recommendation for an enlarger for black and white printing
ONLY, probably a color-head since I often do split-contrast prints,
suitable for at least 11 x 17 prints - what's the point in doing only
8 x 10.

Also a discussion of lenses would be good.

I need enough information so I can buy a used unit, assuming I can find
one.

I find the darkroom informs the lightroom just as film informs digital
(and vice versa for both).

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Adam