Durst M 600/605 Classic Enlarger

I had a Durst 605 with B&W condenser head, however I sold it because it was misaligned and there was no way to correct this (I am a bit of a fanatic for having the enlarger properly aligned as I like corner to corner sharpness).

Compact, mostly metal parts.

No way to align it if it''s out of alignment. No head for VC paper (you must use filters).

Omega D2, Beseler C23, Kaiser VPM9005

Nice little machine, perfect for 35mm b/w use in a first darkroom. Well-built enough that many of today's 30-year-old models are still perfectly serviceable. And for its small size/weight, its ability to also handle 6x6 MF negs is pretty impressive.

(This review is for an old M600 with a plain old incandescent enlarging bulb.)

Simplicity of operation, good build quality, good performance for such an essentially humble machine.

We used ours almost daily for over a decade as a dedicated 35mm enlarger (to leave the Omega D free for 4x5 negs, etc.), and this little beauty almays made lovely 5x7 and 8x10 prints with a 50mm Nikkor. Illumination was generally even, and resulting images sharp.

The multi-format glass negative carrier is wacky. Early on, we replaced it with a very simple hinged glassless carrier from the Astrolux, which always worked just fine. (The above-the-neg-stage filter drawer was also inconvenient; we rigged a hanger under the lens for VC filters.)

The column isn't high enough to get much beyond an 11x14 with a 50mm lens and 35mm neg.

Though pretty solid, it's just not in the same league as a true pro enlarger, like an Omega D. (But then, it's not in the same price or size/weight league either!)

Beseler 23C, Federal, "Astrolux" (clone to Bogen B-35), and assorted larger-format enlargers.

Never had a problem we couldn't handle ourselves.