>>4019647Ahahahahahahahaheh. Lel, even.
If you can find a used enlarger locally or with cheap shipping, under 500 bucks. I don't remember how much this one was exactly but everything pictured was well under a grand. Not pictured but included in the price is trays and tongs and all the other shit. The camera was $230.
If you want to do 6x7 or other things, you need a large format enlarger and you're fucked unless you find it used locally or with cheap shipping. 6x6 is cheaper than 35mm because no one uses it. Film carriers and accessories sized to fit are the expense thing there if it doesn't come with everything, I had to get a machinist friend to make me some 6x6 inserts for the carrier. It came with 2 lenses (none of which were medium format focal lengths), all the filters, and a color head not pictured that needs work but has the handmade transformer to get the light to work. 250-850 is the best I can give for a good price on an enlarger, you have to learn your models and spot what has a sturdy stand. This thing is a fucking Lambo as far as features, including the fact that nothing lines up and it leaks light like a sieve.
Your main costs after that are chemicals and paper. Chemical prices aren't bad and tf-5 lasts way longer than it says it does. Paper is expensive as fuck and you eat through it like crazy. You can cut to size and use test strips all you want but factor in at least 7 print runs for an acceptable final print. Cutting bigger sheets down is cheaper up to a point, but then you need a good, sharp paper cutter so everything is square. Mine needs sharpening and refurbishment, all my shit is from the 80s or earlier because I'm cheap and dgaf.
Figure a startup cost of like $500-800 for prints.
