For film drying I built my own double-filtered drying cabinet using a zip-up portable clothing closet and a Prinz Jet Rapid film dryer head and inner cabinet. I use a Jobo CPP2 for processing large color prints up to 20x24 or small film runs. Both processors provide automatic precision temp control and require no water hook-up. The rest of the darkroom consists of automatic programmable digital table-top processors - a PhotoTherm SuperSidekick SSK8 for up to 4x5 and a Fujomoto CP32 tabletop dry-to-dry processor with automatic repleniser. For color I use a ColorStar 3000 color analyzer and calibrate it precisely in a single exposure using an extremely rare Mitchell Colorbraor. Someday I might splurge for an few Schneider HM models, or if I come across one - a 150mm Rogagon-G - a unicorn enlarger lens for super-sharp enlargements at extreme magnifications, but the Componon-S lenses are no slouches in the absence.Īs far as the enlarger set-ups go, I also use two vacuum easels - one is a B圜hrome up to 16x20 and the other is a custom built easel up to 30x40 as I prefer to print borderless.įor enlarging timers I use an RH Designs Analyser Pro which is a combination F-Stop (zone) enlarging meter, analyzer, densitomiter, and timer. Insofar as enlarging lenses I use an assortment of Schneider Componon-S lenses from 50mm through 150mm. These LPL enlargers are luxuries - I spent most of my life using the same Durst M-601 since I was 14 - an affordable, sturdy, high quality enlarger that I was sad to give up a few years ago. I like the LPL 7700 because unlike the 4550 it has a anti-newton glass carrier for 6x7 and its fine focus control. An invaluable accessory is the focus extension control. The 4550 XLG has an extended column and higher wattage light source for making very large prints on the baseboard and the head can be reversed for even larger prints on the floor. I wet print mostly 16x20 but have gone as large as 30x40" on occasion both B&W and color. As part of that construction I'm building a dedicated darkroom after struggling with makeshift darkrooms for the past 50 years - I expect to spend a lot more time shooting, processing and printing in my retirement years alongside my semi-digial and all-digital workflows.
My darkroom is now boxed up as I prepare to move to a new home I'm building in the mountains of Western NC. The 4550 has easy swappable VCCE and color modules. I have two enlargers, a Saundes LPL 4550 XLG and an LPL 7700.
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