Matériel · 2026-09-04

Kaiser or Kienzle: Which New Enlarger Should You Buy to Set Up a Darkroom in 2026?

If you're looking for a brand-new enlarger in 2026, the market has shrunk considerably. Two manufacturers still offer new equipment aimed at serious amateurs and working pros: Kaiser Fototechnik, based in Germany, with their System-V range, and Kienzle Phototechnik, also German, who build their enlargers in solid metal to order. These are pretty much your only options if you're ruling out used gear and want a warranty, available spare parts, and current documentation.

The goal here isn't to push you toward one or the other, but to give you the concrete information to decide: what format you're shooting, your budget, what accessories are available, and where the real trade-offs are.

Kaiser System-V: the VP 6005 and VP 9005

Kaiser offers two black-and-white enlargers in their System-V line, and the difference between them is straightforward. The VP 6005 covers formats up to 6×6 cm, and the VP 9005 handles up to 6×9 cm natively.

VP 6005: the entry point for 35 mm and 6×6

The VP 6005 is designed for lenses up to 80 mm focal length, which covers 35 mm (typically 50 mm) and 6×6 (75 or 80 mm). The column stands one metre (about 39 inches) tall, giving you a workable enlargement size for common formats. The head takes a 75 W opal lamp and has a filter drawer compatible with Multigrade filters.

On price, the VP 6005 runs around €1,300 to €1,560 including VAT depending on the retailer. The enlarger is sold without a lens, which is standard in this category. It's a real investment, but you're buying new equipment with a warranty, not a secondhand column with an unknown history.

VP 9005: 6×9 cm without compromise

The VP 9005 is a black-and-white enlarger for all film formats up to 6×9 cm, accepting lenses up to 105 mm. It comes with a dual interchangeable condenser for up to 6×9 cm and a fine-focus mechanism with micro-drive for precise adjustments. Spring-assisted counterbalancing makes moving the head along the column noticeably smoother.

The filter holder is adjustable in height and angle, designed for square filters and framed Multigrade filters, with an integrated diffuser plate for integrated metering. This is a machine built around regular use with variable contrast paper, not just a base you'll be improvising around.

Prices come in around €1,635 to €1,945 depending on the retailer. The premium over the VP 6005 buys you the 6×9 condenser, the micro-drive focusing, and a few extra refinements.

Kaiser System-V lineup at a glance — prices vary by retailer and are shown VAT-included.

What Kaiser doesn't offer (yet)

Both the VP 6005 and VP 9005 are opal-source enlargers with a filter drawer. There's no built-in motorized multigrade head in these standard versions. Kaiser did sell a VPM 6005 multigrade model in the past, but that unit is now permanently discontinued. If you want to dial in contrast with a knob or an external controller, you'll either need a third-party solution or you'll want to look at Kienzle.

Kienzle C69: all-metal, built to order

Kienzle Phototechnik is a quiet German company, not well known outside serious darkroom circles, but their reputation comes down to two things: solid construction. The C69 is a compact all-metal enlarger covering formats up to 6×9 cm. There's no structural plastic anywhere, and it's built to last. "Compact" is relative here: the baseboard measures roughly 550×725 mm (about 22×28 inches) and the whole unit weighs around 28 kg (62 lbs). This is not something you move around casually.

A modular system, configured at the time of order

The real strength of the C69 is how configurable it is. When you order, you choose your head:

Condenser head with filter drawer (100 VA or 250 VA)
Variable contrast (VC) head with integrated filters (100 VA or 250 VA)
LED light source with integrated Heiland Splitgrade controller

The C69 in the base condenser 100 VA configuration lists at around $2,500 USD through Edition Argentum, one of the few North American distributors. European prices vary by distributor and configuration. For a VC or LED head, budget considerably more. Kienzle doesn't publish a standardized public price list online; quotes are common, especially for custom configurations.

Build quality and longevity

Photographers who bought Kienzle enlargers new in the early 2000s report zero issues after years of regular use. The build quality is as high as it gets, solid, made for a lifetime. This is the kind of equipment that holds its value when properly maintained.

What to weigh before deciding

The format you're shooting now (and later)

If you're working exclusively in 35 mm and have no plans to move to medium format, the VP 6005 is more than adequate. If you're already shooting 6×6 or 6×4.5 and might eventually want to print 6×9 negs, the VP 9005 makes more sense, and upgrading within the system is cheaper than replacing the whole enlarger. The Kienzle C69 is built for medium format from the start, no compromises involved.

Contrast control: separate filters or integrated head

With the Kaiser VP enlargers, you slip a Multigrade filter into the drawer. Simple, proven, and Ilford or Kodak filter sets are inexpensive. An integrated VC head is more convenient for split-grade work or for changing contrast grades without opening up the head, but it's also more expensive and more complex to service if something goes wrong.

The Kienzle with LED source and Heiland Splitgrade takes it further still, but that's a tool for someone who prints a lot and wants to optimize their time in the darkroom. For someone just starting out or printing occasionally, it's massive overkill.

What it actually costs

No point pretending any of these options are affordable. The Kaiser VP 6005 is the most accessible entry point, but add a decent lens (budget €150 to €300 for a secondhand Rodagon or El-Nikkor in good condition), a set of Multigrade filters, a developing tray, and paper, and you're well past €1,700 to get started. A Kienzle with LED head can push past €3,000 depending on configuration.

Indicative costs only — the VP 6005 and VP 9005 bars include a used lens and filter set; the Kienzle bar shows the enlarger body alone. Currencies differ (EUR vs USD). See text for full breakdown.

Availability and logistics

Kaiser is distributed through several retailers in Europe and North America, often on order but without excessive lead times. Kienzle is harder to find outside Germany. Edition Argentum handles North American distribution, but factor in a longer delivery window and make sure you understand what the warranty covers if you're ordering from outside the European Union.

Going further

If you're considering a Kaiser VP 6005 or VP 9005, the next logical step is choosing a lens. A Rodenstock Rodagon 50 mm for 35 mm or a Rodagon 80 mm for 6×6 are both solid choices, available used in good condition without much trouble. The condenser conversion kit for the VP 6005 to handle 6×9 is sold separately by Kaiser.

For filtration, the Ilford Multigrade Filter Set (grades 00 through 5 in half-grade steps) is the natural companion for the Kaiser filter drawer, and it works with any opal-source enlarger.

If you're seriously interested in the Kienzle with an LED source, spend some time reading up on the Heiland Splitgrade before you commit. It genuinely transforms how split-grade printing works in the darkroom, but there's a learning curve. The Heiland Electronic website explains the system clearly and covers compatible enlargers, including the C69, C67, and A35.