Beseler 67sc?

[Csacwp]

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I’m looking to put together my first darkroom and have been offered a Beseler 67sc for a good price. I only want to enlarge black and white 35mm film. Is this a good enlarger, and did it come with a good lens? I want to be one and done and don’t want to have to purchase a better enlarger in the future.

[Michael Hiles]

Beselers are generally well though of. Solid, well designed. The main advantage of the model you are considering is the ability to take some medium format negatives – up to 6x7 cm. If that is important to you – you will likely to be fine for a long time. Depending on your needs, a capacity of 6x9 would be better to accommodate other medium format negatives.

 

If you only will do 35mm, look for a Leitz Valoy or Focomat. They are terrific.

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[Martin B]

I also have a Beseler 67S with color diffuser which I rarely use (I got it two years ago for $40). It came with a Nikkor 50/2.8 enlarger lens which had some fungus - I replaced the lens with a mint new one which I bought online. I don't like the 35 mm aluminum metal film holder it comes with - it leads sometimes to unwanted light reflections. The holder always flips up automatically and the negative can easily move before it is fully squeezed into the enlarger's film holder opening. I like the larger Beseler 45 MXT film holders much better - thicker metal base, all black and not reflective surface.