How an enlarger works: An enlarger for the darkroom is just a timer-controlled projector with a fancy aperture-controlled lens and a place to filter the light through various shades of magenta for contrast control. The negative rests in a negative tray on top of the lens and a light shines down through it, allowing you to capture the image on photographic paper in an easel below. For large-scale printing, an enlarger can also be taken off of its base and pointed at the wall or floor.

The enlarger for a black and white darkroom need not be a black and white enlarger. I use a Minolta Color Enlarger Mod-III, which works out quite well. (If you’ve come here looking for the manual, I’ve yet to find one, but I might be able to answer some of your questions.)  Because the color enlargers have a color head that control the color filters for color printing, you can use them in place of the normal contrast filters that are needed for a black and white enlarger. Add magenta for more contrast, add yellow for less.

The lens on the enlarger is very important, so when buying a used enlarger, check the lens for damage. Checking to see if a lens is functional is actually really simple: remove the lens from the enlarger and hold it up to the light. Twist the aperture ring. The lens iris should open and close with the movement of the aperture ring.

Something else to consider when buying an enlarger is what type of film you are planning on working with. There are some enlargers that will accommodate 35mm and 120 film, but many only work with 35mm film. You might only be interested in 35mm film right now because you’re just starting out, but I guarantee at some point, you will be interested in working with a larger format film, especially in the darkroom.

However, if you see a great enlarger for a great price, go for it. Often you can find enlargers ranging from $0 to $200. It really depends on what it’s worth to the previous owner. Many people are switching over to digital and only want to get rid of these rather mammoth machines. It’s not unfeasible for someone with a relatively small income to acquire more than one enlarger later on.

Photography supply stores and internet retailers do carry enlarger new for those wary of buying used apparatuses. I imagine that they often come without a timer, so be sure to check and pick one up at the same time. It’s very hard to make prints without one.

Related to enlargers: Electronic Timer