I'm in the process of setting up a B&W darkroom after having been away from it for several years. I have decided on either a Saunders 4500II or 4550 XLG with a VCCE head. I will be printing from 4X5 negs and do not plan on going any larger than 20X24. I would appreciate advice on which of the two Saunders enlargers you would recommend. The 4500 is a few hundred dollars less but will it give the capability of doing 20X24's?

-- Mark Windom (mwphoto@nwlink.com), June 27, 2000

Answers

Here are the spec's for both:

http://www.saundersphoto.com/html/saund_lpl.htm

-- Chris Ellinger (ellinger@umich.edu), June 28, 2000.

I am not sure about 4x5s, but I know that from a 6x7 negative, the 4500II with a 105 lens will only go to 16x20. After deciding what lens you will be using, calculating the magnification ratio from the home page given above is of course a much more accurate way of finding out. Essentialy, however, the prime difference between the two enlargers is the size they allow you to achieve (the differences are the size of the column and base board and strength of the light source).

-- Raja A. Adal (d60w0635@ip.media.kyoto-u.ac.jp), June 28, 2000.

The simple answer, just from the spec, is "no" the 4500II won't stretch to 20x24. So it's down to the XLG version. Despite LPL/Saunders claims of massive over-engineering (hah! they've obviously never seen a British made DeVere, now GEM, enlarger) I reckon you'd need some wall bracing at the top of the coloumn for regular 20x24 use.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), June 29, 2000.

I had the same choice, and picked the 4500II because it was at least $600 cheaper.

If your talking 4x5, the 4500 will go just past 20x24 with a 135mm lens, but not a 150. For the difference in price of the enlargers you can buy a very fine 135mm lens.

But in any case, if you wall mount the 4500II you can easily set it up so you can print 16x10. The only disadvantage is that you'll increase your minimum size print.

The 4500II is reasonably stable at the top of its limit, but wall bracing or mounting would really be recommended. For the extra length of the 4550, I think you would have to use a wall brace, but then why not use the 4500II.

Best of luck

-- Charlie Strack (charlie_strack@sti.com), July 13, 2000.