Darkroom Photo Enlargement Equipment

Finding the Right Darkroom Photo Enlargement Equipment

Photography is a much loved hobby that offers many different tasks to master. From taking beautiful pictures to learning how to develop your own film and use equipment such as darkroom enlargers, there is much to learn. Understanding the various types and features of darkroom enlargers is critical before purchasing a used photo enlarger.

What size photo enlarger to you need in a darkroom?

When processing and developing your own film in a darkroom, understanding what size film you will most often work with helps to determine what size of film enlarger you need. There are two steps you follow in a dark room: developing the film using the developed negatives from your film to make photo prints. The enlarger is used to make the actual photo prints. The developed film is positioned in the enlarger by feeding it through the negative carrier portion of the enlarger. Thus, your darkroom enlarger size matches your film size. See the manufacturer site for details. Here are some sizes to consider:

• 35mm - This is the most commonly used size film and therefore the most commonly sized.
• Medium format
• 4x5

Features to consider in a used photo enlarger

Purchasing a used photo enlarger is an investment in your darkroom equipment setup. Making a smart decision by considering the features you need will help you to discern which darkroom enlarger is right for you. Consider these features when searching for a used photo enlarger:

• Glass versus glassless negative carriers - The negative carrier feeds the film and holds it in position while the photo print is being made. A glass carrier offers the benefit of holding the film flat and keeping the edges from curling. Glassless negative carriers avoid Newton's Rings, a slight swirling on the finished print due to the play of light on the glass.
• Age - Most enlargers have a long life span, but it's wise to consider the overall age of the unit before purchasing.
• Color versus black and white - Printing color photo prints requires an extra headlamp for colored, filtered light. Printing black and white photo prints only requires a white light headlamp.

What size column should the darkroom enlarger head have?

The column is the portion of the darkroom enlarger that the head moves up and down on to position the negative and light source to achieve the desired finished photo print size on the photo paper. When choosing the column size for your darkroom enlarger, consider these factors:

• Rigidity - The column should be a strong, rigid structure so that the negative is held absolutely still during light exposure. Vibrations can cause blurring in your finished print.
• Vertical versus oblique columns - Many basic film enlargers have a simple vertical column. Higher-end film enlargers may feature an oblique column which allows for forward motion of the film enlarger head as it moves upward on the column, allowing for larger, crisper prints.