[net.rec.photo] Enlarger Query

neiman (01/26/83)

I am interested in buying an enlarger.  I would like it to have a 
dichroic color head and be able to handle at least 11X14 enlargements
and preferably 16X20.  The problem is that very few camera stores
carry a large selection of enlargers or can answer questions about 
them.  Has anyone out there recently bought an enlarger?

I'd be interested in hearing about what models to look at in terms 
of quality and cost.

In particular, I'm interested in the Beseler and Vivitar enlargers.


                                           Thanks in advance,

                                              Dan Neiman
                                              decvax!ittvax!neiman

imm (01/27/83)

#R:ittvax:-59100:harpo:10900004:000:1173
harpo!imm    Jan 26 17:15:00 1983



I have a Bessler 23XL and I am pleased with it.  I
have been printing color prints both slides & negatives.
I have been using filters rather than a color head.  I
bought a color head about a year ago, but I have not
bothered to install it.  I have found that once
you get the correct filter pack for the paper you
have, it is good for most negatives.  I wish
the focus had a vernier adjusment.  But I am not
aware that I have had problems with focus.  I have printed
up to 11 by 14 with both slides and negatives from 35mm.
I believe with a 16 by 20 grain would become a definite
problem with 35 mm.  I prefer working with negatives
because of tweo step processing rather than three with slides.
Buy as large as a pack of paper you can afford and keep it
in the freezer.  For chemicals I have used the Bessler
chemicals.  Once mixed, the life of the developer is a month or so.
You mix up a liter at a time and the powders take a while to dissolve.
Recently I try Parcolor.  The advantage is it is all liquid and
you mix only what you need.  However, the developer once mixed
has only a life of several days.  The life of opened unmixed
chemicals I am told is one year.