Ollinger's Guide to Enlargers

Sun Ray Enlargers

Introduction

I know nothing about Sun Ray, except from advertisements. But I have to smile at any company that's willing to name of its products "Arnold."


Quick Comparison

Make Model Country Era Format

Baseboard (inches)

Head Focusing Autofocus Column Ref Notes
Sun-Ray Aristocrat A USA Late 1940s 2-¼ x 3-¼" n/a Diffusion Focusing tube No Single post 2 Slower standard lens than the Arnold D
Sun-Ray Arnold D USA Late 1940s 2-¼ x 3-¼" n/a Double condenser Bellows No Single post 2 Faster standard lens than the Mastercraft 23
Sun-Ray Mastercraft 23 USA Late 1940s 2-¼ x 3-¼" n/a Double condenser Bellows No Single post 2 Slower standard lens than the Arnold D
Sun-Ray Mastercraft 43 USA Late 1940s 4x5" n/a Double condenser Bellows No Single post 2 Slower standard lens than the Arnold D

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Era: It's nearly impossible to get actual production year spans; I've provided this simply to give an idea of when an enlarger was in production.

Focusing:

Autofocus: not to be confused with what we think of as autofocus today; these enlargers don't focus themselves. What they do is offer a sort of tracking control so that once the image is focused, it stays in focus as you change the elevation of the head for cropping.

Column: all columns are assumed to be vertical unless oblique is noted. Oblique columns (i.e. angled forward) are nice at higher head elevations because the image won't expand back across the column post when the head is at the top of the post. On smaller enlargers this wouldn't be a problem, but at larger magnifications (and with lenses with shorter focal lengths), this can become a concern.

References

  1. Modern Photography magazine, October 1962
  2. Modern Photography magazine, December 1949