Hi, I plan to start processing & printing my own B&W fotos (35 mm). I found a Prinz 66 Enlarger for sal, it has a 3.5/50mm lens. Would this be a decent enlarger for me to start off with? Is it good, bad? How much should I expect to pay for it (used)? Thanks Phillip

-- Phillip Silitschanu (speedin_saab@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001

Answers

This is probably from the late 60's, early 70's, and a Japanese private label enlarger. This is a low cost enlarger, and probably sold for around $100 when new. Don't pay too much for it, maybe $20 to $30. It's very unlikely you can find spare parts, negative carriers, lens accessories, etc, if needed.

For a better enlarger, at least in terms of serviceability, look for a Beseler, Omega, or Durst. You can get spare parts for most Beselers from Beseler directly as the new models are very similar. For the others, enough were made that spare parts are still on the used market.

For my money, I'd look at other options. But if used enlargers are scarce where you live, and pickings are slim, or funds are minimal I'm sure you could do OK work with it, but you'll likely want to replace the lens with a really good one.

-- Charlie Strack (charlie_strack@sti.com), December 19, 2001.

I have this enlarger. I got it from Spiratone for $69 with two lenses. It served me well for 20+ years and I have produced excellent 16x20 prints with it. Condition is every thing in a used enlarger!

The lenses are marginal at best. I quickly upgraded to a 50mm f4 El- Nikkor which is a splendid lens to start out with and can be picked up on e-bay for $20-30. I thought about upgrading the 50mm, but it does a decent job with B&W and I also stopped shooting B&W 35mm about a year ago (concided with my move to digital and investment in a hasselblad)

I replaced the enlarger pole with a longer piece of pipe and could make 16x20's on the base board.

I wouldn't pay more than $25 for it. Again condition is everything!

-- Gene Crumpler (hassieguy@att.net), December 20, 2001.

So, how would I determine if it is in good condition or bad? How would I tel if the lens is in decent condition? (Would it be the same way I would check a camera (ie, Leica) lens? Scratches, fogging?) Thanks Phillip

-- Phillip Silitschanu (speedin_saab@hotmail.com), December 20, 2001.

I had this one for many years and did very fine prints with it. I think it has the parallelagram (sp?) arrangement for height adjustment that works well. I modified mine with a better locking knob, wall mounted the post, and added a couple adjustment screws to the focus piece so it could be aligned. No, I wouldn't pay more than $30 for one, but it can do good work. Reject it if the condensers are scratched or cracked, if it's badly banged up in any way, or unusually corroded for its age. Be sure it has negative carriers, as they're a unusual hinged design from thin steel that would be impossible to find. Could be made, but not as easily as for an Omega or Beseler. If you get it and want more info on mods, email me.

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), December 20, 2001.

My Prinz 66 has a plain pole for height adjustment. I purchased a long peice of pipe from a hardware store and was able to make 16x20's from 35mm. The point about the carriers is good. I saw the 35mm carrier in a store recently, but the guy wanted $20 for it.

I'm keeping mine primarly because it is a decent copy stand when the enlarging head is unscrewed from the sliding standard. I'm not using it for printing any more.

-- Gene Crumpler (hassieguy@att.net), December 21, 2001.

I use 2 enlargers--a Leitz Valoy II for 35mm and a Kodak Precision Enlarger for 6X6 and 6X9. The mid-50s Leitz enlargers go for about $200 on Ebay--probably more than you want to spend, but the Kodaks go for less than $100. AFAIK they were made from the late 30s to the early 50s. They are very versitle modular enlargers and make 16 X 20s on the baseboard. The upright is a plain pole, but MUCH thicker than most, so they're very sturdy. Carriers and lensboards apear frequently on ebay. You'd want one with a condensor head that goes up to 2 1/4 X 3 1/4. There was also a difussion head for 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 to 4 X 5, but you wouldn't want to use that for 35 mm..

-- Robert Marvin (marvbej@earthlink.net), December 21, 2001.