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ENLARGERS & ACCESSORIES

8X10 DURST ENLARGERS, accessories

8X10 DURST ENLARGER with COLOR HEAD

DURST L184 ENLARGER CHASSIS Comes with Durst GRAHALON pin registered carrier frame and Durst GRANE 205 pin registered carrier. The pin registered carrier is the best carrier that Durst made. You are not obligated to use the registration pins. Included are a lensboard, a manual crank with a metal helical knob gear, and with Durst 25X33" vacuum baseboard with punch. The punch punches holes for all sizes of paper for the baseboard and for the GRANE 205 carrier. The enlarger has lens stage tilt, a rotating head (for perspective control or horizontal projection), a CLS 300 Dichroic colorhead--as listed below, locking wheels for tracking to and from wall, bulbs, reflective coating worn off of Dichroic reflectors, bellows have pinholes but are servicable, illuminated dials, automatic temperature-controlled blower controls, also with an external exhaust fan that assists and will extend the life of the built-in blowers. New bellows are included with the enlarger, but are not installed. I think it best to install the new bellows after you have the enlarger set up in your darkroom. Also included are the EST 300 power supply, a contactor (that takes the brunt of the current in order to extend the lives of the other electricals), a timer, 2 extra bulbs, 2 extra dichroic reflectors. Ex+, $6400. Options are available. You may buy the enlarger with the NEGA 205 carrier instead of the GRANE 205 pin registered carreier if you wish. You may buy the enlarger without the vacuum baseboard and punch if you wish and subtract the value of those items. The enlarger head is about 2' below maximum height in the photo in order to keep it compact and get it in the photo. 2nd photo is of the helical metal knob gear at the end of the raising and lowering crank shaft (complete with grease because I removed it from the enlarger for the photo and then immediately replaced it). Whether you buy your 8X10 enlarger from me or someone else, make sure you get an enlarger with a helical knob gear and check it out to determine the condition. Moving the L184 is not as daounting as it looks. It comes apart. I got a really good deal on an L184. The owner had purchased it at auction and had riggers deliver it to his basement at great expense. I bought the enlarger, then disassembled the enlarger and carried it up the stairs a piece at a time. It is the best commercially made enlarger available. It is not so scarce that you cannot find parts and accessories for it. You see many of those parts and accessories here.

VIDEO of 8X10 Durst enlarger in operation

8X10 DURST HAND CRANK with HELICAL GEAR

8X10 Durst hand crank with helical knob gear. Durst made these gears in steel and in injected molded Nylon. The steel gears held up better than the Nylon, but the Nylon gears did not cause any wear on the mating gear. Over the years customers sold me their Nylon gears which I sold to other customers. Recently an excellent customer needed a gear, but I was sold out, so I made a few gears. These gears are made of West System Epoxy, with added mill fibers to add toughness and added Graphite powder to add lubricity--as recommended by a West System Epoxy technician. Initially I made the first gear out of Epoxy. The gears that I am now offering are made of Epoxy molded around a metal armature. There is a lot of force being exerted upon these helical gears. As you crank the enlarger head up and down, forces want to cause the gear to revolve about the shaft to which they are pinned. The metal armature adds a great deal of strength to both the pin hole and the gears themselves. Even so, I suggest that my customers (and those with Nylon gears) push up on the head as they crank up to counteract gravity and make their gears last longer. Also, put some heavy grease on the helical gear and on the mating helical gear in the enlarger column. There are 2 red-painted holes on the crank shaft; those should be lubricated with oil once a year. Those red-painted holes should face up. To access the red-painted hole nearest the helical gear, you will need to remove the crank shaft from the enlarger. Take that opportunity to inspect and regrease your helical gear. The heavy grease tends to get pushed aside with use. The Graphite in my gear will not get pushed aside. The Nylon gear illustrated is the last used gear I sold; you can see that it is worn, but still did the job. I have a handwheel only available for $90. The locking bolt and nut $OLD. I do not have a crank shaft available. The GLENNVIEW made gear is $500. It can be difficult to remove and replace the helical gear. You are welcome to send your crank shaft to me. I built a jig that facilitates removal of the old gear. I charge $200 to remove your old gear and replace it with a GLENNVIEW gear + the cost of the gear. Only one Helical Gear left in stock. The LAMOT 110 motor is relatively new to my inventory. I had to remove the hand crank on my L184 in order to install and test the LAMOT 110 motor under power. I had been using a GLENNVIEW helical gear on the L184 for about 6 months--driving the head up and down for dozens of times. The GLENNVIEW helical gear showed no wear.

LAMOT 110 MOTOR DRIVE for L184 8X10 DURST or for SM183 5X7 DURST (5X7 head mounted on the L184 bottom half chassis)

LAMOT 110 VOLT motor for use on US current with STEEL HELICAL GEAR. The seller did not know if the motor worked or not, so I bought this for the steel helical gear. As it turned out, it just needed repair and maintenance. It is really well made, but it does need occasional maintenance. I mounted it upon my L184 and tested it for about 3 dozen trips up and down the chassis. It worked flawlessly. There are switches at the ends of that long vertical bar that shut the motor off at the top and bottom of its travel. It is fused. It has an on/off switch. It has push button switches for up and down movement. It is really convenient. $1000

8X10 DURST COLOR HEAD

CLS 300 Dichroic colorhead, 2000W, 220/240V (220V is a US standard. Most everybody has 220V available to them. 220V is 2 110V lines combined in one circuit.), 10X10" mixing box, stabilized power supply, all original Durst filters, reflective coating on Dichroic reflectors typically deteriorated, infrared filters keep heat out of mixing box and away from your negative, auxiliary filter drawer, thermostatically controlled built-in blowers keep air flowing over lamps + the hoses and external blower as illustrated in above photo of the head mounted on the Durst chassis, corner of mixing box diffusion outlet sheet is broken outside of image area--see photo below. 2 extra bulbs and 2 extra reflectors are included. This head is included with the L184 enlarger chassis, but is available separately. This is a very reliable light source. The design is like the CLS 301, but it uses brighter bulbs. For photos of the complete head see the listing for the enlarger and the LAMOT 110 motor drive above. The complete head includes everything above the negative carrier including the blower hoses and the external exhaust fan. The power supply is included. The contactor and the timer are included. Ex+, $3500

SUPER BRIGHT MURAL PROJECTION HEAD

5X7/8X10 1500W DURST MURAL PROJECTION LIGHT SOURCE: Macbeth Pulsed Xenon super bright Light Source, power supply with built-in timer, lamp in diffusion housing designed to be mounted in your 5X7/8X10 Durst condenser head in place of ordinary bulb socket (maintaining XYZ adjustment), blower and hose. This is the brightest light source ever made for the Durst. This comes with a used bulb and a new bulb. New bulbs are still available and cost $85. A customer who uses such a unit daily says bulbs last about 5 years. PS is large and heavy and will probably have to be trucked. Price includes S&H to anywhere in the lower 48 US. Ex, $1800

8X10 DURST ENLARGER ACCESSORIES

Durst VACUUM BASEBOARD with PUNCH+. Cast Aluminum construction makes for a very flat baseboard that will not warp or delaminate. A multiposition punch is attached to the left hand side of the baseboard. A readily removed guide to its use is at the left front. 4 post registration pins are included. Without vacuum pump or motor. It is designed to bolt directly to the supporting arm. You can expect perfect alignment if all else is right with your enlarger. Durst registration punches are RARE. This multiposition punch works with all sizes of paper designed to fit on this baseboard. The 4 3/4" spacing holes work with the Durst GRANE 205 pin registered negative carrier. I punched a piece of paper and put it on the registration pins in a GRANE 205 pin registered negative carrier. This is included with the enlarger, but is also available (separate from the enlarger) with the Durst GRAHALON pin registered carrier frame and Durst GRANE 205 pin registered carrier for $2000.

NEW Durst L184 bellows. Made by the best bellows manufacturer I have ever worked with. In one image you see the new bellows sitting atop the old bellows. Durst bellows are held onto the enlarger with metal strips with holes in them. Screws go through the metal strips, the bellows, and into threaded holes in the enlarger. The holes have not been punched in these new bellows. I think it best to indicate the location of the holes as you install the bellows. I punch the holes with a leather punch, although a simple punch will do the job as well. I have a bellows in stock, but it is being held in reserve for the purchaser of the L184 enlarger. No extra bellows in stock; I can order them. $500 for the new bellows only.

Durst L184 bellows. Because these original Durst bellows came off of a Durst L184, you can be sure that they will fit your Durst L184 perfectly. Durst bellows are held onto the enlarger with metal strips with holes in them. Screws go through the metal strips, the bellows, and into threaded holes in the enlarger. They have some pinholes in the corners. More pinholes will develop over time. These are serviceable despite the pinholes. $200 as is.

Durst L184 bellows. These original Durst L184 bellows are not usable, but you may buy them for $80 to send to your bellows manufacturer to have the bellows copied.

DURST NEGA 205 NEGATIVE CARRIER

Durst NEGA 205 double glass 10X10" negative carrier. This is the standard double glass negative carrier. It is spring loaded. All springs are intact. Newly arrived. It is the cleanest NEGA 205 that I have had in stock. All cloth bearing strips present and in good condition. Glass spring clips in great condition. Some rust on some spring steel parts as visible in photos. Note the focusing aid. The focusing aid is adjusted by the concentric knurled handles at the corner of the carrier. Glass priced separately. $400

Durst NEGLA 205 GLASSES, 10X10". This glass fits the NEGA 205, but not the GRANE 205. This glass is of the correct thickness. The edges and corners are ground so it is safe to handle. Durst glass is very precisely cut; it fits neatly within the 8 glass retainers with little play.

DURST MAVET 138 INSERT ADAPTER for NEGA 205 NEGATIVE CARRIER

DURST MAVET 138 is 10X10" outside dimensions. It fits into the NEGA 205 negative carrier. The DURST MAVET accepts DURST LAPFE glassless negative carrier inserts designed for the 5X7 DURST enlargers. It is the best way to print smaller formats on the 8X10 DURST. It is illustrated with a DURST LAPFE 450 4X5" glassless carrier, which is priced separately and listed along with 5X7 carriers below on this page. $250

8X10 DURST PIN REGISTERED NEGATIVE CARRIERS

Durst GRAHALON pin registered carrier frame and Durst GRANE 205 pin registered carrier for Durst 8X10 enlargers, glass not included. The 1st image shows the carrier partially inserted into the carrier frame. The 2 clamps on the sides clamp onto the negative stage as illustrated in the 2nd image. DURST GRALO pin-registratiuon punch is the appropriate (stand alone) punch for use with this carrier. The punch attached to the vacuum baseboard also punches appropriate holes for the GRANE carrier. Now available because I have a NEGA 205 coming in. $600. Buy it together with the vacuum baseboard and punch listed above as a package for $2000

CUSTOM GLASSLESS STRETCHING TYPE NEGATIVE CARRIERS FOR DURST

Negative carriers can make or break an enlarger. Few negative carriers are well designed. Cheap glassless negative carriers like Omega and Beseler allow the film to buckle under heat, crop too much of the image and reflect light off the inside edges of the carrier opening making even more of the perimeter of the image unuseable. Expensive glassless negative carriers like some Durst carriers have beveled interior edges, but still crop into the image and allow buckling. Glass carriers prevent the film from buckling, but still oftentimes cut off some of the image. Of course, with glass carriers you have 4 extra surfaces to keep clean and may encounter Newtonrings. I have developed a glassless stretching type negative carrier that holds the film taught without glass and yet still allows printing of the full image--even the full negative. I have built 2 such carriers for use with an 8X10 Durst. I can build carriers for other enlargers and other formats. I may be able to build an insert to fit inside your carrier. I should be able to build a carrier to fit most sheet film enlargers. The design will not work with rollfilm. The cost will vary with the effort required. Here are the listings for the 8X10 Durst carriers:

CUSTOM GLASSLESS STRETCHING TYPE NEGATIVE CARRIER FOR 8X10 DURST, film is held taught without glass, allows printing of entire negative, requires use of Condit 8X10 diagonal punch, or some other small hole punch to punch holes in corners of negative as the negative is held in the carrier with small springs that must go through small holes in the negative corners, made of oak with velvet bearing strips around the perimeter of the top and bottom to protect your enlarger negative stage, negative may be oriented vertically or horizontally, carrier may be inverted, with handle, may be made for other formats and other enlargers as well, NEW, a GLENNVIEW product, $500 without a film punch. Handheld ticket punches are serviceable and economical.

NOTES ABOUT THE ABOVE AND BELOW CUSTOM GLASSLESS STRETCHING TYPE NEGATIVE CARRIER FOR 8X10 DURST. It has been a long time since I have seen an 8X10 Diagonal film punch. Condit is out of business and no more film punches are being manufactured. The below carrier is one I made using a Durst carrier with 4 registration pins optimally located for conversion to a glassless stretching type carrier. It is very special. Were I to make another, it would be a lot more work and I would have to charge more for it. I would not make it on speculation, so there would be a delay in getting it to you........and I still do not have another 8X10 diagonal film punch.

CUSTOM GLASSLESS STRETCHING TYPE NEGATIVE CARRIER FOR 8X10 DURST, made from DURST GRANE 205 PIN REGISTERED CARRIER and DURST GRAHALON PIN REGISTERED CARRIER FRAME, film is held taught without glass, allows printing of entire negative, with 8X10 DIAGONAL PUNCH, negative is held in the carrier with small springs that must go through small holes in the negative corners, the springs are on adjustable mounts for ease of loading, negative may be oriented horizontally only, a custom GLENNVIEW product, without an 8X10 diagonal punch. Handheld ticket punches are serviceable and economical.Here is an image that was printed with the carrier. Image made with 90mm Hypergon. This particular carrier has been sold. I can make another one for you. I am out of stock of DURST GRANE 205 PIN REGISTERED CARRIERS and DURST GRAHALON PIN REGISTERED CARRIER FRAMES. If you want one, I can alter yours at a cost of $1000.

DURST LARKA. The LARKA is designed to convert the 8X10 Durst into a copy camera. Durst made a special film holder to work with the LARKA. It worked like this: you projected light through a reticle ground glass in the LARKA onto the copy. When in focus and covering the area you want it to cover, you turn off the enlarging lamp, insert the film holder, turn on copy camera lights and expose the film. I do not have the special Durst film holder. I do not have the reticle GG. A standard ANSI 8X10 film holder does fit into the LARKA. A GG RETICLE could be made up. The LARKA could also be used as a negative carrier. 2 sheets of glass will convert it into a negative carrier. The LARKA has good condition felt top and bottom. There are 2 guide pins on the bottom side; I am pointing to one of the pins with an awl in the last photo. These pins are inserted into the grooves in the negative stage to guide the LARKA into the center position. $350

Negative carriers can make or break an enlarger. Few negative carriers are well designed. Cheap glassless negative carriers like Omega and Beseler allow the film to buckle under heat, crop too much of the image and reflect light off the inside edges of the carrier opening making even more of the perimeter of the image unuseable. Expensive glassless negative carriers like some Durst carriers have beveled interior edges, but still crop into the image and allow buckling. Glass carriers prevent the film from buckling, but still oftentimes cut off some of the image. Of course, with glass carriers you have 4 extra surfaces to keep clean and may encounter Newtonrings. I have developed a glassless stretching type negative carrier that holds the film taught without glass and yet still allows printing of the full image--even the full negative. I have built 2 such carriers for use with an 8X10 Durst. I can build carriers for other enlargers and other formats. I may be able to build an insert to fit inside your carrier. I should be able to build a carrier to fit most sheet film enlargers. The design will not work with rollfilm. The cost will vary with the effort required. Here are the listings for the 8X10 Durst carriers:

8X10 DURST CONDENSERS

Durst condenser cases for any number of condensers made of high quality Birch plywood with virtually unbreakable clear polycarbonate sliding dust cover. A GLENNVIEW product. None made up presently. Will manufacture cases for whatever # of condensers you wish. $350 for a 5 (or fewer) condenser case. Add $40 per condenser above 5. Durst's case was made of painted chipboard for 5 condensers and had an open top. My case is superior to Durst's. Very similar to the case for Durst 5X7 condensers illustrated below--but without the handles because you will not be able to lift it with the condensers in it anyway. Add $100 for a set of casters added to the bottom. Without the casters you will want to leave it put in one location after being loaded.

Durst auxiliary filter holder for use with Lazuco, Mint-, $60

Durst STAFOBOX 69, 6x9cm upper mixing box for CLS 2000 colorhead, new-in-box, $200

LASDAP & VADAP, adds perspective control tilting easel capability to G139 and SM183, or most any Durst mounted on 8X10 lower chassis, with enlarger purchase, Mint-, $350, Ex+, $300, or $100 extra each purchased separately

8X10 Durst lenses and lensboards

360MM F5.6 COMPONON, coated, perfect glass. The number of a complementary piece of equipment is lightly inscribed in barrel. With special flange that has built-in 3-point alignment adjustment system. $800 mounted on an 8X10 Durst lensboard. In Spring of 2001 I delivered an 8X10 Durst enlarger to lower Manhatten. On the way, I stopped to ask directions where a security guard told me "You cannot stop here. This is the World Trade Center." and then proceeded to give me directions. I set up the enlarger in the lab of a professional photographer whose lab manager put a Zig Align on the enlarger and showed me that the enlarger was slightly out of alignment. I offered to sell them the LASDAP and VADAP (tilting table accessories), which would have allowed them to align the enlarger (you will find them listed on my Durst Enlargers web page). Still, there is no provision for aligning the lens stage with the negative stage. Given the precision of the Durst enlarger, that is not a significant source of misalignment, but it is not likely to be perfect either. Most, myself included, prefer not to use the tiltling table accessories on the 8X10 Durst because the fixed table is more solid and provides more enlargement capability. You shoot 8X10 because you are looking for the ulitmate quality. You do not want to work with a misaligned enlarger any more than the New York professional could afford to provide any but the highest quality product. If you test an enlarger inferior to an 8X10 Durst, you are likely to be shocked at how far out of alignment it is. This special mount will allow you to align all but the worst misaligned enlargers. I can transfer it to another lensboard for you if necessary--for a fee. I also have a 360mm Durst Componon in shutter listed on my View Camera Lenses web page.

300MM F5.6 RODAGON, coated, illuminated F-stop scale, mounted on 8X10 Durst VAPLA lensboard (about 8" O.D.), separation around perimeter of both front and rear elements, lens still performs exceptionally well, otherwise Ex+, $450

300mm f9 Apo Nikkor, coated, barrel, filter slot, filter slot adjusting post missing (it can be adjusted with most any small pointed object such as a toothpick), some slight cleaning scratches will in no way affect the lens' performance, some dust inside, $200. Also available with Durst lensboard; see Durst Enlargers web page.

300mm F9 Apo Tessar, coated, barrel, filter slot, mounted on small Durst lensboard to fit Durst TRIPLA turret or Durst VAPLA or UNIPLA lensboards (listed below), many very slight cleaning scratches front element will affect the lens' performance slightly, but it started out as such a great lens that it will still outperform most others, otherwise Ex, $275. Also available with ordinary flange; see Other Enlargers and Enlarging Lenses web page.

300MM F5.6 DURST COMPARON, coated, mounted on threaded 8X10 Durst lensboard + you get the lens flange for use elsewhere. Designed for small enlargements in the 2X to 6X range, outperforms other enlarging lenses in this range. Mint-, $550. Lensboard available for $250. Also available with ordinary flange; see Other Enlargers and Enlarging Lenses web page.

Large flat lensboard to fit 8X10 Durst and any lens with 90mm by 1mmp threads such as the 300mm F5.6 Rodagon G lens illustrated. Lensboard is also illustrated with a 300mm Componon lens. Lensboard will also accept a 300mm F5.6 Rodagon and several other lenses. This is probably the most commonly needed lensboard for an 8X10 Durst. Lenses not included, but available separately. Mint lensboard, $250. Add $600 for the Mint- Rodagon G lens. Add $300 for the Ex Componon lens.

Large flat lensboard to fit 8X10 Durst and any lens with 58mm by 0.75mmp threads such as the 240mm F11 Rodenstock Apo Graphigon lens. Mint lensboard, $250. On the right see that same lens mounted on a small Durst lensboard to fit the turret; this smaller lensboard is $125. In the case of this lens on the turret, you must mount the front element on the lensboard, then screw the rear element into the rear of the barrel from above. It is a hassle, but it is the only way to use this lens mounted on a turret. Lens was sold. Both lensboards were also sold, but I can make more for you.

Large flat lensboard to fit 8X10 Durst and any lens with 55mm by 0.75mmp threads such as the 150mm F4 Schneider Apo Componon HM lens. Lens belongs to a customer, so lens not included and not available separately. Mint lensboard, $250

The above lenses are mounted and ready to go. I can mount most any lens for use on an 8X10 Durst.

Durst Tripla. Fits 8X10 Durst and late 5X7 Dursts. Accepts smaller Durst lensboards of about 77mm diameter, $350.

Durst Unipla. Fits 8X10 Durst and late 5X7 Dursts. Accepts smaller Durst lensboards of about 77mm diameter, $OLD.

Large flat lensboard to fit 8X10 Durst and any lens with 39mm by 1mmp threads (Leica screw mount) such as the 50mm F2.8 El Nikkor lens illustrated. Lens not included, but available separately. Lensboard, $250. Add $80 for the Mint- lens.

Blank Large flat lensboard to fit 8X10 Durst. This lensboard is in stock and is available as is for $150. I can machine it to your specifications for a fee. I can have it black anodized.

5X7 DURST CHASSIS converted to 8X10 B&W ENLARGER

A lot of my customers looking for 8X10 enlargers do not have room for the usual 8' or taller 8X10 enlarger. I have built several smaller 8X10 enlargers for such customers. This is the best alternative. The 5X7 Durst is of such a user friendly size for the average person and it is plenty big enough and stable enough for 8X10. With the baseboard that may be lowered almost to the floor, you may easily make large prints. In order to convert a 5X7 Durst to 8X10, I mill out the negative stage, replace the bellows, make a negative carrier, and add an adapter plate to fit the head you choose to use. The photos below illustrate such a converted enlarger designed to be used with an Aristo 12X12" variable contrast cold light head. I had Aristo ship to me the bezel ring or head retaining ring, a 12X12" black painted ring that you see sitting atop the adapter plate. The Aristo head was shipped directly to the end user. In this case the photographer wisely had me make a glassless stretching type negative carrier. The last image was sent to me by the buyer of this enlarger. In the foreground is the Durst G139 5X7 enlarger converted to 8X10 sitting next to a Durst L138 5X7 enlarger in my customer's darkroom. The bellows assemblies on these 2 enlargers started out the same; only the bottom half of these 2 5X7 models differ. The quality of this customer's analog photo is testament to his professionalism. When you are making big enlargements and may be working with the easel a long way from the focusing knob, the crank up table of the G139 comes in handy; you fine tune the focus by cranking the baseboard up/down while looking into your grain magnifier. The price of a similar enlarger built for you (not including the light source) is $3000-3500.

Another 5X7 Durst converted to 8X10. This time I made an adapter for an 8X10 Omega color head. The 8X10 Omega color head actually weighs less than a 5X7 condenser head so the enlarger is not being overloaded. That is a 27" wide image being projected onto the easel in this double exposure. The baseboard is not as low as it will go and the head is not as high as it will go. A 36" wide image may be printed on this enlarger with a 240mm lens. This time I made a double glass carrier for the enlarger. Note the velvet bearing and light trap on the top of the carrier. The bottom of the carrier wraps around the front and sides of the enlarger.

8X10 DURST Literature

Durst Laboarator 184 instruction manual, earlier than and more detailed than the below listed manual, copy, $35

"Durst Laborator 184 + Durst Color Laborator 184" operating manual, does not go into detail on the color head--you will want a separate manual for the head itself, copy, $35

Durst Laboarator 184 sales brochure, almost as useful as the instruction manual, even lists and illustrates accessories not listed in instruction book, copy, $25

Durst Laboarator 184 sales brochure, almost as useful as the instruction manual, smaller than the above, copy, $20, I have an extra, so, original, $40

Durst Industrial/scientific price list, 1973, covers V-184, S-45, ROP450, D-184, L138S, copy, $15

Durst price list, 1975, covers L-1800, V-184, S-45, ROP-450, DC-184, L-138S, copy, $15

Durst Graphic Arts--Industrial Enlarger price list, 1970, covers G-184, EPOI Color Repro Control, V-184, G-184, G-139, Spec-Micro II, Laborator 3000 12X18" process Color Enlarger, copy, $15

Durst Industrial/scientific Equipment Dealers List, 1975. This would be useful for finding new-old-stock equipment at low prices. Invaluable! Copy, $50

Durst 301 color mixing head operating manual, copy, $20

Durst Laborator 1840 operating manual, copy, $35

5X7 DURST CHASSIS CONVERTED TO 8X10 ENLARGER

See descrption with photos above under 8X10 Durst enlargers.

5X7 DURST ENLARGERS

Why choose a 5X7 Durst? Simply because it is the best enlarger available in the format. It has the precision, adaptability, and features lacking in other enlargers. Completely, easily alignable. Allows printing of all formats from 35mm to 5X7" and 6X17cm panoramic, and even 8X10" with one of my conversion kits. Virtually any head may be adapted to the enlarger. Any head you might want has been produced for the enlarger. The design allows large prints to be made on the baseboard and huge prints to be projected onto the wall. It has copy camera capability that surpasses that of most dedicated copy cameras because of the adjustable head and easel. It weighs only about 150#, and is easily disassembled. 7' tall, the column is in 2 parts. The head comes off the negative stage. The negative stage comes off the upper column. The easel and the base come off the lower column. The enlarger easily fits into a compact car. The enlarger is UPSable.

There are 5 vintages of the 5X7 Durst, + some specialized models. the current model is not a floormodel. Most all you will find will be floormodels. Most may be wallmounted. Most have 360 degree revolving negative stages, tilting lensstages, tilting easels, 3-lens turrets, adjustable height heads and easels, complete alignment capability, 4-blade masks, micrometer scales on column, counterbalanced heads. Most floormodel 5X7 Dursts are on grooved wheels which may be put on tracks; with the head turned 90 degrees, the enlarger may easily be moved to and from a wall mounted easel. The easel on the earliest vintage model is raised and lowered manually and is locked with a simple column clamp. The easel on the midvintage model and later models is counterbalanced with a footpedal release-and-lock mechanism that leaves both hands free for adjusting the easel. Most models have coarse and fine head raising and lowering. Later vintage models have an additional lever on the head that disengages the friction drive (that all models have) and allows gross height adjustment. Later vintage models also have a removable lens turret and fold-out-crank focusing knob. I have available instruction book copies of most models @ $35 each. I also have a copy of dealer servicing instructions for most models for $35.

How to buy a 5X7 Durst. If you buy from me, you may be sure that I sell you what you need. My goal is to satisfy your needs. I'm in business for the long run. I want repeat customers. If you buy from someone less familiar with Durst or someone who just wants to sell the Durst enlarger that they no longer want, you had best become familiar with Durst enlargers. Do that by buying a copy of the instruction manual and studying this web page. Specific things to look for: (1) The negative carrier is all important. Read my description of negative carriers for things to look for. (2) What formats will you be printing? You'll need recessed lensboards for smaller formats. You may want glassless inserts. These items are difficult to come by. (3) What type of light source do you want? Color heads are rare. You need specific condensers for specific lens focal lengths. I have many of these rare items. Make sure what you want is available before purchase.

TODAY'S ULTIMATE 5X7 DURST COLOR ENLARGER

L138S Latest vintage floormodel enlarger chassis with extra heavy duty counterbalance and top-of-enlarger-to-wall-stabilizing-bracket as called for with this heavy head. With current CLS 1000 color head, your choice of my best NEGA 138 carrier or TRINEG carrier, TRIPLA removable turret, UNIPLA flat lensboard and wide recessed lensboard available, but not included--choose what you need--see below for descriptions. Mint-, $6,000.

YESTERDAY'S ULTIMATE 5X7 DURST COLOR ENLARGER

Mid-vintage floormodel. With Durst CLS 301 colorhead, 5X7 and 6X9 mixing boxes, stabilized power supply, blower, hose, instructions for enlarger and colorhead, Durst Nega 138 negative carrier with new glass, built-in infrared and ultraviolet filters, auxiliary filter drawer, 600W, 110V or 220V or 240V operation. See below for description of color head and negative carrier. $5000

5X7 DURST WITH CONDENSER HEAD

2 240MM, 200MM, 130MM AND 85MM CONDENSERS FOR 35MM TO 5X7 FILM. NEGA 138 negative carrier with all 8 fingernails present and in good condition. Foot switch allows for quick release of table lock....making table height adjustment easy. Both table and head are counterbalanced......making it easy to adjust. Lens turret. Comes with height adjustable feet instead of wheels and stable because of it. Extra wide table for printing panoramic images; smaller tables available. Original Atlas 200W 110mm diameter bulb included. 120V. No power supply needed. Just plug it into a 200W capacity timer. $2500

5X7 DURST WITH GLENNVIEW VARIABLE CONTRAST HEAD

NEW BUILT-IN DICHROIC FILTERS. DIFFUSION LIGHT SOURCE. 600W. FAST. EASY TO USE. NEGA 138 negative carrier with all 8 fingernails present and in good condition. Foot switch allows for quick release of table lock....making table height adjustment easy. Both table and head are counterbalanced......making it easy to adjust. Lens turret. Comes with height adjustable feet instead of wheels and stable because of it. Extra wide table for printing panoramic images; smaller tables available. 120V. No power supply needed. Just plug it into a 600W capacity timer. Uses commonly available ELH bulbs. For a more complete description of the variable contrast head see the listing for the head (just a little ways below), which is also available separately. $3000.

5X7 DURST HEADS

Durst CLS 1000 5X7 DICHROIC COLOR HEAD, current model, 1000W, 220/240V, dial-in variable density, stabilized power supply, 4X5 and 5X7 mixing boxes, shutter, white light lever, infrared and ultraviolet filters, auxiliary filter drawer, built-in blower. 5X7, 6X17, 6X9, 6X6 and 35mm mixing boxes available. Comes with 750W bulb, 1000W bulbs available new for about $32. Dichroic bulb reflector in great shape. Mint-, available only with L138S chassis as listed above under "The Ultimate 5X7 Durst."

Durst CLS 301 5X7 DICHROIC COLOR HEAD, 600W, 110, 220 or 240V, stabilized power supply, 5X7, 4X5 and 6X9 mixing boxes, blower, hose, for use with 5X7 Durst chassis (may be used on 8X10 with the right adaptor). The stabilized power supply was optional; this is the 1st I've found with the stabilized power supply. Illuminated dials, automatic temperature-controlled blower controls, instructions. Uses common ELH quartz halogen bulbs. Mint-, $4000

CUSTOM DICHROIC 5X7 COLORHEAD FOR 5X7 DURST: A GLENNVIEW product. Built inside a 5X7 Durst condenserhead shell. With NEW dichroic filters, 600W light output, and 1000 unit calibration system that is far more accurate and repeatable than virtually any colorhead on the market. Color coded lights illuminate the calibration scales. Runs on 110V. No power supply needed. Remote exhaust blower included. Voltage stabilizers available separately. Will work as a variable contrast head too. Complete with remote fan and hose that connect to a flange at top of head to keep it cool. Uses the same bulbs as the Durst CLS 301, but is more than twice as fast as the CLS 301. These bulbs have built-in reflectors; change the bulbs and you change the reflectors. This head has been sold. I can build another. Note: I have changed the design of this head. I no longer install the color coded lights. Instead, I line even the upper part of the mixing chamber with styrofoam to provide even more light output. I also changed the design of the filter controls. I now use the design like you see on the panoramic head listed below. $2000

6X18.5cm PANORAMIC DICHROIC COLOR HEAD for 6X17cm images produced by the Fuji or the Linhof panoramic cameras or for 6X18.5cm images produced by my custom built GLENNVIEW panoramic cameras. With NEW dichroic filters, NEW bulbs, NEW custom Nylon bellows. 600W, 120V. No power supply needed. Voltage stabilizers available separately. 6X18.5cm glassless carrier, 6X17cm glassless carrier, 6X12cm glassless carrier, 190mm long glassless carrier for 35mm film (5 frames), multicoated glass carrier and 1 anti-Newtonring glass, remote exhaust fan with hose, 1/4-20TPI mounts front and rear, for vertical or horizontal use, 1000 units of color filtration provide no more color than another enlarger--just far greater precision and repeatability, produces prints 15" wide by up to 4' long from 120 film and produces prints 7" wide by up to 4' long from 35mm film from the included 150mm F5.6 El Nikkor lens. Will work as a variable contrast head too. By channeling all the light into the panoramic format, this head provides 3 stops more light output than a Durst 5X7 CLS 301 color head. Uses the same bulbs as the Durst CLS 301. These bulbs have built-in reflectors; change the bulbs and you change the reflectors. Head only, Mint, $3500. For shaft to fit this head and the 5X7 Durst chassis, add $250. For head mounted on Polaroid MP3XL 5' tall column mounted on Mahogany 28" deep by 4' wide baseboard, add $350. Also available is a quality steel base cabinet 25" deep, 28" wide, 32" high with several adjustable shelves to which the easel locks via 4 quick release clamps, Ex+, $150. When mounted on this cabinet, the easel is 33.5" above floor and the head is 97.5" above floor when fully raised. The cabinet sits on a removable 4" high stainless steel base. The enlarger on the easel is 65.5" at maximum height. The enlarger only requires 58" of height to the top of the column, with the head at less than full height. For 120mm F5.6 Rodagon-WA lens instead of the 150mm El Nikkor, add $150. This lens will allow you to make a larger print.

5X7/8X10 1500W DURST MURAL PROJECTION LIGHT SOURCE: Macbeth Pulsed Xenon super bright Light Source, power supply with built-in timer, lamp in diffusion housing designed to be mounted in your 5X7/8X10 Durst condenser head in place of ordinary bulb socket (maintaining XYZ adjustment), blower and hose. This is the brightest light source ever made for the Durst. This comes with a used bulb and a new bulb. New bulbs are still available and cost $85. A customer who uses such a unit daily says bulbs last about 5 years. PS is large and heavy and will probably have to be trucked. Price includes S&H to anywhere in the lower 48 US. Ex, $1800

COPY CAMERA MOUNTING ARM: Solid aluminum shaft with formica covered camera plate and reversible 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 camera mounting stud, mounts on 5X7 Durst upper column rail rider in place of head, accepts camera of your choice. The 5X7 Durst chassis makes a great copy camera because you may adjust both the camera height and the copyboard height, plus you have lots of distance between the camera and copyboard. $250

CUSTOM VARIABLE CONTRAST HEAD: with Dichroic filters, built similar to the above mentioned Glennview Dichroic colorhead, but without the precision filtration adjustment capability because it is not needed and because this system is faster to adjust, plus, you get a special high contrast filter (in place of the cyan color filter) in addition to yellow and majenta filters. Includes condenserhead shell. The condenserhead shell is an older one--chosen for its unique properties which allow the use of larger filters. The larger filters provide more light output. This head provides an exposure value (as measured by a Pentax 1 degree digital spotmeter) of 18 2/3 EV. The Durst CLS 301 color head provides 15 2/3 EV. The Ilford 500H variable contrast head provides 14 2/3 EV. So this head is 3 full stops brighter than the CLS 301 and 4 stops brighter than the Ilford 500H. The output is absolutely even due to the variable density diffusion sheet and the lined mixing box.The filtered light reflects off the included Durst front surface mirror which sits at 45 degrees in front of the lamphouse. This mirror is part of the reason the output is so bright. $2000

5X7 DURST CONDENSERHEAD, 2 condensers (your choice of any 2 uncoated condensers from my list of condensers), Mint-, $800. If needed, add $200 for 2 new light bulbs, a Durst right angle socket and a heat absorbing glass. See additional information about Durst light bulbs below near the listing for 5X7 Durst condensers.

5X7 DURST CONDENSERHEAD, 130, 200mm, & 240mm condensers, Mint-, $950. If needed, add $200 for 2 new light bulbs, a Durst right angle socket and a heat absorbing glass. See additional information about Durst light bulbs below near the listing for 5X7 Durst condensers.

5X7 DURST CONDENSERHEAD, 130mm, 180mm, 2-240mm condensers, Mint-, $1250. If needed, add $200 for 2 new light bulbs, a Durst right angle socket and a heat absorbing glass. See additional information about Durst light bulbs below near the listing for 5X7 Durst condensers.

5X7 DURST CONDENSERHEAD, 85mm, 130mm, 200mm, 2-240mm condensers in wood case, Mint-, $1650. If needed, add $200 for 2 new light bulbs, a Durst right angle socket and a heat absorbing glass. See additional information about Durst light bulbs below near the listing for 5X7 Durst condensers.

FIXED MIRROR THAT MOUNTS ON THE 45 DEGREE FRONT OF CONDENSER HEAD: Mounted in Durst frame with handling knob. 216mm X 217mm in size. Perfect condition. $100

5X7 DURST DIFFUSION HEAD KIT, a GLENNVIEW product, composed of a variable density diffusion outlet sheet to provide even illumination, condenser drawer covers, styrofoam mixing box and styrofoam reflector to replace mirror, for use with your condenser head shell, no modification of your condenser head shell necessary. Note that the styrofoam lining and the condenser drawer cover plates are all designed to be a friction fit. This can be done because Durst's quality control is very good. Note that grooves in the triangular pieces of styrofoam acommodate the ribs in the condenserhead, helping to hold the styrofoam in place. With this diffusion head kit, you may use just about any light bulb in the Durst condenser head. You do not need one of the rare original Durst bulbs. You do not even need a photo enlarging bulb. A household incandescent bulb will work. If you are using a bulb that puts out too much heat, you will need a heat absorbing filter. $450 Note: This has been sold, but another can be built upon demand.

BLOWER for 8X10 or 5X7 DURST CONDENSER HEADS