Omega D5XL? Help!?

Craig, I just bought a used one a few months ago to add (actually to replace) my aging Beselers. I absolutely love it. I also have used a Chromega B (up to 6x6) since the 80's and have always had that one up because it was so fast for smaller formats. Now I find the D5 is every bit as efficient (more-so than my D2V), so I just use the Chromega D5XL for everything up to 4x5. Mine came with the lens turret which makes it very easy to change formats.

Lamps are still easy to find in the US, and do-dads are available on fleabay if you need them, though they seem a bit more expensive than my Beseler 45s. Except for the head itself, just about everything is somewhat interchangeable with other Chromega D's. Trust me, it is a fantastic enlarger and I absolutely did not regret buying mine. It is very solid, and well designed. It is a total joy to use. If you can get the Chromegatrol (the timer that goes with it), it is a real kick as well. Adjustable down to the second and works wonderfully. If you do multiple formats, definitely get the turret 3 lens board. A range of negative carriers are available. I found that my Beseler Negaflat works pretty well in the D5 with no adapters. I haven't tried a negatran yet.

Adjusting the filtration for use in B&W VC printing is really nice too.

Hi Michael: Thanks for responding. I was hoping to hear from someone who has first-hand experience with this as well as alternatives. If you have time, take a quick look at ebay 120615880846 and see what you think. Do you think the 105mm lens is better for 6x6 than an 80mm? I am not going to be changing formats right away, so the lack of the turret does not worry. If I do change formats in the future, Iwill just have to change the lens. The timer is a concern, however.

Craig, the thing that strikes me most about this ad is the price. That's pretty high for this enlarger these days. I paid $200 for the enlarger, 3 Schneider lenses, numerous large easels and trays, tanks, plus the Omega timer control, and tons of darkroom equipment, easels, etc. I know it was a smoking good deal, but people are not getting nearly $500 for enlargers these days. It is a very expensive enlarger new, but people have been truly giving them away in my area, just to get rid of them.

With the XL chassis, you can use the 105mm for 6x6 enlargements. The El Nikkors are good lenses, but I think the 105mm is for up to 6x7 or 6x9 images. The easel will only do 11x14" prints, and you will still need another easel for smaller or larger prints. They are not cheap. The Time-O-Lite timers are not my favorite, but it will work to get you going. You still need trays and tongs. The safelight will probably work, but it's kind of tiny.

Note that the seller says the baseboard is not included. That's a HUGE red flag. How are you going to use it? Wall mounts can run $200 or more, and baseboards are not going to be easy to find and when you do, they will be expensive. Honestly, I would pass on this outfit and find something that is a better deal. Even this would be a better enlarger: 300462836378

I think I have a pic of my setup I'll try to include if I can find it. Do you have a Craigslist.org in your area that you can monitor for deals? There's also crazedlist.org for finding equipment across the country or west coast.

Hi Michael: Nice setup. Thanks for the advice. It is very helpful, and I understand about the price. At 400USD for shipping to Japan, however, I do not want to skimp on the enlarger. I would rather pay a bit extra and get it from as established a seller as possible. If I get it from a private party and it gets here and there is something wrong, it will be exremely difficult - if not completely impossible - to get it fixed. The seller did say that he has the 18x24 baseboard that goes with it and will include it for free. I think a lot of people end up mounting these to tables. I have seen several without the baseboard. I have checked used camera stores here that have every type of vintage camera equipment, and to their knowledge no used market exists for enlargers. That does not mean, of course, that it is not better to pass on this one and wait a bit and see what comes up as you suggest. Craigslist for this area exists, but the categories are all empty. I will check crazedlist as you suggested. If you happen to come across anything, please let me know know. Thanks again for the all the advice.

The D5-XL was one of the best 4x5 enlargers even built, along with the others in the Omega D series and the Beseler 4x5s. It was certainly one of the most popular, and as a result there is no shortage whatsover of parties, acessories, etc., even if not necessarily from the manufacturer. Other companies made fine enlargers but Omega and Beseler dominated the marketed to such an extent that I find it hard to recommend anything else. There were huge cottage industries built up around these two brands, so pretty much anything you're ever going to need for it is readily available and -- thanks to digital -- is being sold for a fraction of what it cost new.

Hi Craig, This is reassuring to know. If you could give me the main contacts for people supplying these things, it would helpful.

Here's a useful web site for Omega enlargers... http://www.classic-enlargers.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl
I use a D6-XL with turret and three lenses for 35mm, 6X6 & 6X7cm and 4X5". A great setup for times when I do REAL printing as opposed to digital stuff. ;-)