I'm thinking of negotiating for this enlarger and accessories. I'd appreciate any thoughts anyone might have on the price and quality. They are asking about $1000 US.

Durst Labrorator 1000 4x5 Enlarger with many extras! This enlarger handles negatives from 35mm to 4x5. An incredible enlarger, Durst is known for exceptional quality. This enlarger comes with an incredible array of accessories.
* Taucoli Cold Light Head
* Negative carriers for: 35mm (Otopfe 35)
2 1/4 Square (Otopfe 66)
2 1/4 x 3 1/4 (Otopfe 69)
3 1/4 x 4 1/4 (Otopfe 314)
4 x 5 (Otopfe 450)
* Anti-Newton Glass (Otoglas AN)
*Condenser Head complete with the following Condenser lenses: Otocon 90T
Otocon 160T
Otocon 180-1T
Otocon 180-2T
* Durst (style) Recessed lens board with rings and adapter for 25mm & 38mm Dia. lenses
* Schneider Kreutznach Componon 50mm f/4 Enlarging Lens
* Schneider Kreutznach Componon 80mm f/5.6 Enlarging Lens
* Schneider Kreutznach Componon-S 150mm f/5.6 Enlarging Lens
Note that all lenses come with Durst Lapla 25 lens boards
* Micromega Critical Focusing Magnifier

$1000? Fall down laughing. Try not to hit your hit.

It's an okay 4x5 enlarger. Then lenses sound like older models. 25mm mounts on all of them? Can't be on the 150mm.

FWIW I bought a 1000 with a colour head. Full waranty. In perfect conditon [nearly mint] from KHB for $300 US. No lenses. Only one lens board and a couple of neg holders. I bought it at the time since I was tired of looking for a colour head to stick on my Beseler. I've now got a colour head for the Beseler so the Durst sits lonely.


http://www3.sympatico.ca/nick_zentena/Durst1000.html


Don't hurt yourself when you fall down.

Considering what new 4x5 enlargers cost, $1000 doesn't seem too steep considering all the other stuff being offered. The price of shipping nearly anything as big and bulky as an enlarger would seem to make a deal you can strike locally a good one.

Btw, I'm not sure what Nick is implying...that $1000 is ridiculously high or that that it's an amazingly good price. Perhaps I've hit my head recently and lost all sense of 'between the lines' here.

I'm thinking of negotiating for this enlarger and accessories. I'd appreciate any thoughts anyone might have on the price and quality. They are asking about $1000 US.



I honestly think the price might be a little on the high side... even with all the trappings. I have one that has lasted me well for about 30 years and all going well another 30. The difficulty is in finding either a colour head or the 250 watt bulbs... I believe they are no longer available. Before my last spare is gone, I'm afraid I'll have to see if Aristo has a cold light head that will fit.

Ken... (just a few klicks east)

Ken which head do you have? Mine uses common bulbs. EJL??

BTW I think the price is extremely high.

FWIW, in Australia, I bought 2 Durst L1000's, one with Taucoli, one with the condensers head and condensers, for less than that. If I had bought my lenses (same or comparable to those) at the same time, the total still would have been less than $1000 USD.

Cheers, Richard

I've bought two Durst L1000s, each for around $200 & with alot of extras. Unfortunately, both of mine have color light heads, & I'm trying to find a condenser head. A new Aristo cold light head sells for around $650. Durst L1000 is a well-made product; but, being an older model, you may have problems finding spare parts (main reason I bought two).

If this is local to johnnywalker, the price may be a reflection of our market in British Columbia Canada. I may not be looking in the right locations, but around here I just haven't seen that many of the fantastic, near give-away deals on darkroom stuff that others here talk about.

There certainly isn't anything meaningful available (used) from retail sources around here.

Matt

FWIW, in Australia, I bought 2 Durst L1000's, one with Taucoli, one with the condensers head and condensers, for less than that. If I had bought my lenses (same or comparable to those) at the same time, the total still would have been less than $1000 USD.

Cheers, Richard
I'd hang hard with your money and bargain hard. Much of the Durst product takes an appeal. And most of it is looking for a choosen few to use. The market is really funny right now, as I am sure you know.

Although a package is nice-problem solved, you have enough pieces to go work, it may be important to look at the pieces for what they are worth.

I assume the unit is clean, alighned and ready to go. I've bought a couple of enlargers in the box and have found I needed to put some effort into them. I haven't had an enlarger yet that I haven't had to go through. I've had at least a few.

I'd offer half, forget the Durst appeal. There aren't too many customers. But if you have the dough and you respect the seller, and it won't hurt the monthly bills, food on the table, etc., go for it. At least you have a package, something to begin to work with. Make sure the lenses are clear, and the condensers aren't mared.

[QUOTE=Nick Zentena]Ken which head do you have? Mine uses common bulbs. EJL??

I have the condenser head... I had the option of an "added" colour head when I bought it, but being somewhat lean of wallet at that time....

As for the bulb.....I'd have to go down and search through a number of boxes that have gone unopened since we moved.. but I do remember that they were Osram (from England)

I did however purchase an extra 35mm carrier that I filed out in order to meet the needs of an "artiste" for whom I used to who custom print and was adamant that all her prints had to have the black border to show the purity of her vision.

I also liked the L1200 with colour head that I had purchased for the lab while I was a "working photographer".... but found I used wratten blue and green filters for split printing rather than the colour head... I found it "more convenient". I thoroughly enjoyed using the department's with point-source 138S for transmission electon micrographs... superb for low power enlarging of photomicrographs of thin tissue sections to film.

Now... If I could just wind the lottery, I could certainly make room for a 10x10 Durst.

Ken

I think Durst split the pain on that enlarger. The colour head uses easy to find bulbs but hard to find carriers. The condensor head uses rare bulbs but more common carriers. I almost bought a second enlarger just to get a negative carrier :rolleyes:

I'd hold out for an L1200 if I were you, especially at that price. Of course, the availability situation may be very different in Canada given the potential distances involved, but I have bought two L1200s with all the trimmings in the last couple of years and didn't pay more than 300 GBP for either (one is a AC1200) - no lenses, but they sell for 35-50 GBP each.

Good hunting! Bob.

Just an observation. I one needs or wants them coated condensers can be very hard to find and dreadfully expensive.

I talked on the phone today with the seller, a camera store owner who is into large format himself. The enlarger is on consignment. He agrees the price is high. The enlarger is owned by an artist who used it to enlarge large format pictures of his paintings. He said it looks hardly used, and all of the lenses are in "pristine" shape. Regarding the light source, he says it's a 150 watt "Number 212" bulb that is listed in his catalogues and easily ordered. He says the condenser lenses appear to be coated, but he was a little hesitant on that score. The 150 lens is a componen-S that he says is a taking lens modified to be an enlarging lens - it has a shutter, left wide open.
So, if I can talk my accountant into it, I'll put an offer in on it. My accountant, unfortunately, thinks a second dress is more important than an enlarger. Some peoples' priorities! Thanks for all the help and advice everyone.

Regarding the light source, he says it's a 150 watt "Number 212" bulb that is listed in his catalogues and easily ordered.
The 150 lens is a componen-S that he says is a taking lens modified to be an enlarging lens - it has a shutter, left wide open.



Check the manual I posted. I don't think the 212 is the right bulb. It might be the one in the enlarger but I don't it's the first choice.

The componon is an enlarger lens. Sounds like it might be screwed into a shutter. If the shutter works it might be worth a few bucks.

I am using the 213 bulb in my Durst 138 for the higher wattage

lee\c

I put in an offer on this enlarger today for C$700 (about US$600). Maybe I'll get lucky. I would have gone higher, but as a condition of bidding I had to promise the second dress.

Well, it's now mine. Can't wait to get it.

Well, it's now mine. Can't wait to get it.

The issue of coated condensors was raised. The only time that coated condensors are used is with a point light source. It takes a special breed of cat to want to print with point light. I would like to try it myself but haven't yet.

Good luck and have fun. I have really appreciated the quality of Durst.