Compact, mostly metal parts.

No way to align it if it''s out of alignment. No head for VC paper (you must use filters).

I had a Durst 605 with B&W condenser head, however I sold it because it was misaligned and there was no way to correct this (I am a bit of a fanatic for having the enlarger properly aligned as I like corner to corner sharpness).

Similar Products Used:

Omega D2, Beseler C23, Kaiser VPM9005

(This review is for an old M600 with a plain old incandescent enlarging bulb.)

Simplicity of operation, good build quality, good performance for such an essentially humble machine.

We used ours almost daily for over a decade as a dedicated 35mm enlarger (to leave the Omega D free for 4x5 negs, etc.), and this little beauty almays made lovely 5x7 and 8x10 prints with a 50mm Nikkor. Illumination was generally even, and resulting images sharp.

The multi-format glass negative carrier is wacky. Early on, we replaced it with a very simple hinged glassless carrier from the Astrolux, which always worked just fine. (The above-the-neg-stage filter drawer was also inconvenient; we rigged a hanger under the lens for VC filters.)

The column isn't high enough to get much beyond an 11x14 with a 50mm lens and 35mm neg.

Though pretty solid, it's just not in the same league as a true pro enlarger, like an Omega D. (But then, it's not in the same price or size/weight league either!)

Nice little machine, perfect for 35mm b/w use in a first darkroom. Well-built enough that many of today's 30-year-old models are still perfectly serviceable. And for its small size/weight, its ability to also handle 6x6 MF negs is pretty impressive.

Customer Service

Never had a problem we couldn't handle ourselves.

Similar Products Used:

Beseler 23C, Federal, "Astrolux" (clone to Bogen B-35), and assorted larger-format enlargers.