DeVere Enlargers

[paulrobinson1959]

Just as an intro I am starting to get into film photography after a long absence... a beginner beginning again. Bought myself a MF camera and in the process (forgive the pun) of developing my own negatives. Not sure at the moment whether to go down the route of scanning the negatives and using a printer; or go back to a traditional wet room?

I need to find out more of what is still involved. If I want to print my negatives I will need an enlarger and I believe the devere enlargers are among the best, in terms of producing good quality prints and also in build quality. I want eventually to go onto LF so perhaps need a 504?

Can anyone give me advice on the different devere models and am I going down the right road?

[Malcolm_Stewart]

Check out this thread and scroll down for the websites I listed. Either Nova or S H Darkroom I imagine will be able to answer all your questions.

Good luck - my darkroom has all the gear, but lots of other junk as well, so some serious archaeology would be required before I did any wet printing again!

[Rhys]

Found an old post here.
I used to use a DeVere 504 with a colour head at college for most of my enlarging (35mm through to 5x4). There was only one there and usually first come first served. Brilliant piece of kit. The Durst enlargers were good as well for up to 6x7 but the quality just seamed that much better with the DeVere.
They are a bit of a beast though so you need a bit of room for one.
HTH

[paulrobinson1959]

Thanks for all your help. I am looking on ebay for a DeVere, though it was mentioned that a Durst can be equally good.

When you start looking into the type of emlarger to go for, the Devere always comes out at the top. From what I have read, the 504 will meet most, if not all, printing needs.

The smaller 203 also seems good, and again appears will meet most printing needs. Pricing for secondhand is not an issue as I have seen 203 selling higher than a similar 504; when you would expect it to be the other way round.

Is it better to have a free-standing model or a bench model (if size is not imnportant)for printing?

I guess I am just going to have to take the plunge when one comes along, and just buy it, then try it out!

Paul

[Rhys]

Dursts are good as well, I have one kicking around somewhere - number two choice at college if the DeVere was being used.

[paulrobinson1959]

Looking on ebay there appears to be many differemt types of heads, even for the same model. Can anyone provide me with a website(s)on older DeVere models, and the types available.

Thanks, Paul

[DaveS]

I have an old DeVere, a 54 with an Ilford 400 mutigrade head. It's wall mounted and weighs a ton (Mods, It's NOT for sale!) It's also built like a tank, and is about as elegant!
Dave

[Tom3]

Not sure if anyone is still interested, but for what its worth I used a DeVere 504 with cold cathode head for 25 years from 1977, almost exclusively for 5x4 but sometimes for 6x6 and 35mm. It was (still is) a wonderful enlarger, built like a battleship, very high precision and absolutely reliable. The advantages of cold cathode head: diffuse light minimises negative dust, scratches or defects; it prints softer that collimated head (which artificially increases contrast); and cold source prevents negative distortion through heat expansion. Possible disadvantages: B&W only and won't work with multigrade paper, due to noncontinuous spectrum of cold light source. Because the light window is 5x4, exposure times are longer for smaller neg formats. Can be annoying on 35mm but no problem on 6x6 though.

[Gordon_McGeachie]

I used to use things like this when I was in the RAF.




it did prints upto 40"x40"

[apochromatic]

You may have already found a DeVere but here's a few pointers - I've been using them for 20 years... The 405 will allow up to 4x5 negs using a couple of different light sources.
The light source will most often be a colour head with adjustable dials for amounts of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow; the colours are transmitted through opalescent perpex and is a reasonable choice for printing traditional BW paper.
The other choice for BW is a condensor head that uses an opalesceent bulb together with condensor lenses: big blocks of glass that are hard to find and expensive so don't drop them. Good points is they are very sharp but downside is they will show up every blemish and grain of dust you really didn't want.
Other choices are Multigrade Head - becoming so rare you shouldn't even bother looking for one. The microchips were one-offs and when they go bang that's the end of your system.
Finally Cold Cathode heads. I only ever used one at college and they seemed the work of the devil. I know some people use them but some people swear by hairshirts and enemas - it's up to you!
Things that can go wrong with DeVere's
1. the counterweight spring breaks - replacement are hopefully available from Odyssey Sales for an extortionate amount but you're stuffed without one.
2. Cable breaks - you may well get a bicycle repair shop to make one or go to Odyssey
That's about all that goes wrong.
I've not used a 203 but I'm sure they are well made, just restricts you to ... 35mm/120 film I think??

Durst enlarger are OK if they have been looked after (not kicked around) They have lots of plastic in their construction and in use feel like driving a Fiat Uno compared to a VW Golf.

[DaveS]

I used to use things like this when I was in the RAF.




it did prints upto 40"x40"

Drools..
Dave

[Malcolm_Stewart]

I used to use things like this when I was in the RAF.




it did prints upto 40"x40"

Drools..
Dave

Yes - it must be nice to have the space.

[DaveS]

Weeel...My darkroom's only 9'x7'. I think it was originally the maid's room when the house was built. So maybe I'll just have to dream
As it is, my DeVere 54 is bolted to the wall above the dry bench.
Dave