Shopping for a used easel. What about this one?

[sterioma]

I am shopping for a easel (I don't have any). What about this Beseler on eBay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Is it fairly priced?

Thanks,
Stefano

[Mick Fagan]

Stefano, some food for thought.

You are starting out with your enlarging using RC paper. This paper doesn't really need a four bladed easel to hold it flat. Most RC paper especially what you are using, Ilford MGIV Deluxe / Satin. Ilford Multigrade is the same that I use. Sometimes the paper comes out with a slight banana shape, I just gently roll it on either side to straighten it out and I'm off.

When I use this paper (8x10" 203x250mm) I use a flat board (chip board) with a small lip attached on two sides. I marked out the majority of paper sizes up to 400 x 500 (12x16") and put 4 small rubber feet on. It's great for all of my RC paper work and I made it about 15 years ago.

The Beseler Easel in the picture looks pretty similar to some other brands I've seen in this country, but at a starting price of nearly $200 Australian I think it's not on the cheap side.

For your early darkroom needs, possibly a Jobo Varioformat easel could be quite handy, especially for doing tests and multiple prints on a single sheet of 8x10" paper. I have one of these as well and basically it gets used for making all sorts of different pictures on a single sheet of paper often. Check out one of these by googling.

Mick.

[Neal]

Dear Stefano,

I don't know how the prices run in Italy, but I think this easel sells new in the U.S.A. for ~$175. 4 bladed easels are the most flexible in terms of cropping, particularly if you are going to make an odd size print to suit a particular composition.

Neal Wydra

[ann]

We have several of these at the school (a nice gift from another source).

I find the fact that they are black to be a pain, but that is a personal thought, as a piece of paper takes care of that.

The price seems a bit high, but if that is what they bring maybe i should sell the ones we have, as they get little use, if any.

[Lee Shively]

I'm not able to help on the pricing either, but I agree that a 4-blade easel is the way to go if you can afford it. I used a standard 2-blade type for many years simply because they didn't cost as much. Once I finally got a 4-blade, I discovered how much more impressive the final print began to look when the image was centered on the paper.

[Monophoto]

I also recommend a four-blade easel. But I have to say that I got by for 20+ years with a two blade easel. The difference is mainly a matter of convenience.

But this seems to be a fairly large easel - 16x20" in the archaic system of measurements our government insists that we use here in the US. If you are just starting out, I would expect that you would be concentrating on smaller prints, and you should be able to find a smaller easel that will cost less.

I bought a NEW 28 x 36cm easel for about the same that the seller wants for this used easel.

[Neal]

So as not to avoid confusion and based entirely on the photo, the easel in question is an 11x14, not a 16x20.

[haris]

U bought new Meopta 30x40cm 2 bladed easel for 80 USD... Secondhand should be a lot cheaper. Me to wanted 4 bladed easel, but never be able to justify price...

[ann]

oops ours are 16x20, but basically the same with regard to how it is used and functions.

by the way, the "arms" snap in place with a maganetic type of locking device

[sterioma]

So as not to avoid confusion and based entirely on the photo, the easel in question is an 11x14, not a 16x20.

Neal, the seller claims it's a 40x50cm (so I guess that would make it a 16x20 inches if my math is not wrong).

I understand this might be a bit big for a beginner like me, but you don't see too many enlargers listed in Italy: shipping prices from outside the country can be fairly high on these items.

Thanks every body for your comments by the way