DURST 401 Labator 1000

[ardea]

I'm in the process of building and equiping a darkroom for 4x5 B&W

and noticed this enlarger thats up for bid on E.... Anyone out there

that can pass on some info on this model Durst?

 

Thanks, Richard

[leonard_robertson]

Here are a couple of sites for Durst: http://www.durst.it/uk/faq.htm http://www.jobo-usa.com/bulletins/b030.htm

I suspect if you go to http://www.google.com/grphp?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q= and do a search for that Durst model, you will find some information. Also, http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-one-category?topic_id=1542&category=Enlargers

is worth looking through.The larger size Dursts aren't as common as Beseler and Omega, so negative carriers and other pieces won't be as easy to find. I've never had a 4X5 or larger Durst, but nearly everything I've read has been quite positive. However, you might check the site listed above that gives sevice information. There isn't much to worry about with the chassis, but the color head might be another story. There may be someone other than Durst who can work on the color head, but I don't know who.

[braden_barclay]

Richard,

I've been using the Durst Laborator 1000 with a Pavelle 401 color head for about 7 months now. I've found it to be quite reliable and mechanically robust. I only have the 4x5 negative carrier, so I use masks for 6x7 and 35mm, which seem to work fine. Carriers are available new from durst in oregon which have notches to align negatives, but I think they are around $50 or $60, very occasionally do they appear on ebay. I use a 150mm componon-s for most of my 4x5 and 6x7 work, although the 150mm lens will just make between an 8x10 and 11x14 enlargement from the 6x7, but will make a 16x20 from a 4x5. The head can easily be rotated for wall enlargements, though I have never used this.