[Leica] Recommendations for an enlarger

[firkin at ncable.net.au (Alastair Firkin)]

Well, compared with the V35 it is cumbersome. No Autofocus, the 
negative holder is OK, but if the neg has a curl at all, its very hard 
to put it in position (6x6 negs especially). I don't mind the focus 
mechanism and the height adjustments are fine, the light boxes I have 
seem good, though the light to illuminate the colour dials is caput. I 
have an Ilford 500 head for b/w and changing it for the colour is a bit 
of a fiddle, quite apart from it being soooo heavy. The transformers 
are large, the colour head has its own timer, but I'd prefer to be able 
to use my Jobo 7000 to set it off. The Ilford head produces enough heat 
to melt the poles (not Devere's fault I realize). Changing neg size 
involves changing the carrier plates, and if you are not careful, you 
"lose" the top plate when pulling it out (mine is now glass, so I've 
taped the hole to stop me doing this again) Changing neg sizes requires 
using differing light boxes - no big deal, but you have to have 
somewhere to store them.

In reality, I enjoy using it and the results are fine, but its not a 
fast easy solution, and I would not use it for 35mm often.

My only comparison was a Durst  6x6 enlarger, which was less "fussy".

On 06/02/2006, at 20:29, Nick Roberts wrote:

> Alastair, in what way(s) do you find the De Vere "far
> from perfect"?
>
> Nick
>
> --- Alastair Firkin <firkin@ncable.net.au> wrote:
>
>>   If you are doing only 35 you simply cannot go past
>> the V35: fast a
>> pleasure to use and the lens is wonderful. I use a
>> Devere for the
>> bigger stuff, but its far from perfect
>
>
>
>       
>       
>               
> ___________________________________________________________
> Yahoo! Messenger - NEW crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with 
> voicemail http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>
Alastair