Durst · Medium format · 1972–1977

Durst M601

Name: Durst M601
Brand: Durst
Availability: InStock

The M601 replaced Durst's M600 in 1972 as the 6x6 enlarger for serious amateurs, and it stayed in production until 1977. Its condenser reflex head bounces the light so heat goes up and away from the negative, and Durst supplied three condensers to cover each size. American importer EPOI sold it in 1976 with a list of challenges: real rack-and-pinion elevation, a tilting head, a tilting and shifting lens board and masking bands in the carrier. Its big selling point was the CLS 66 dichroic color head, a halogen unit that slipped on in minutes and was announced for January 1973. Durst's own ads claimed it had pioneered dial-in dichroic heads. The M601 focuses by hand. Durst's autofocus 35mm enlarger of the day was the A 300.

M601, black and white with the condenser headM601 Color, with the CLS 66 color head

Representative photo, made by AI from real seller photos. Every listing differs. How we make these →

Spec at a glance

Maker: Durst
Format: Medium format, up to 6x6 cm
Stock head: Condenser
Launched: 1972
Made: 1972–1977
Takes: 35mm to 6x6 cm (60x60 mm)
Light source: Condenser reflex head with three condensers
Color head: Optional CLS 66 dichroic head with a halogen lamp
Elevation: Rack and pinion with friction pads
Head movements: Tilting head; tilting and shifting lens board
Lens boards: Durst LAPLA boards
Also listed as: M601, M 601, Durst M 601, M601 Color
Typical eBay ask (Oct 15, 2026): $320–$410

Darkroom check

Light, carriers, bellows and lens

Light source and lamp: The stock head is a condenser reflex design that bounces the light and carries heat away from the negative. Durst's CLS 66 dichroic color head, with a halogen lamp, slips on in place of it, and plenty were sold together. Ask which head is included and for a photo of the bulb, since Durst stopped amateur spares at the end of 2008.
Carriers and condensers: Durst supplied three condensers to cover each negative size up to 6x6, so count them in the photos. The carrier has masking bands for cropping. Ask which format masks or carriers are in the sale.
Column and bellows: The head rides a rack-and-pinion with friction pads built into the column, with scales and magnification marks. Ask whether the head moves smoothly and stays put. With the head off, the column doubles as a copy stand.
Alignment: The head tilts for wall projection and distortion control, and the lens board tilts and shifts. Ask the seller to confirm they're set back to zero. A print sharp in all four corners proves it.
Lens: It takes Durst LAPLA lens boards, and many were sold with no lens. Ask for a photo of the board and whether a lens is screwed in. Count it as missing if the photos don't show one.
Timer and power: Plan on a separate darkroom timer, since none of the sources show one built in. If the CLS 66 head is included, ask what powers its halogen lamp and get that part with it.
Shipping and pickup: No source gives a weight. It's die-cast metal, so ask the seller to pack the head separately from the column and baseboard. Pickup avoids a bent column.

Should come with it

Condenser head with all three condensers
Negative carrier with masking bands
LAPLA lens board
CLS 66 color head, if it's the M601 Color

Hard to find if missing

The full set of three condensers
CLS 66 color head
LAPLA lens boards

Check the listing photos against these lists, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing carrier, condenser or lens board should come off the price.

What to check

Durst's service support ended in 1982, so missing condensers, boards and carrier parts must come from other used M601s. Sellers often list it with only a 35mm carrier and no lens.

01Head: Check the photos for the condenser head or the CLS 66 color head. Ask which one is in the sale.
02Condensers: Count the condensers in the photos. Durst supplied three to cover 35mm to 6x6.
03Lamp: Ask the seller to switch it on and send a photo of the lit baseboard. The circle of light should be even with no dark corner.
04Carrier: Ask for a photo of the carrier and its masking bands. Check that masks for your formats are included.
05Lens board: Ask whether a LAPLA lens board and lens come with it. Many listings have neither.
06Tilts: Ask the seller to confirm the head and lens board tilts are at zero. Off-zero tilts make one side of the print soft.
07Elevation: Ask whether the head moves smoothly up the column and holds its height. It shouldn't drift.

New to used enlargers? How to check a used enlarger covers the bellows, the column, the lamp and alignment, and condenser, diffusion and color heads explains which light source suits how you print.

Buying guide

Which one to buy

§ Oct 15, 2026

We'd buy the M601 titled with its Sivoneg carrier at $359 delivered from a 99.7% seller, or the plain one at $294 delivered if you can find a carrier for it. With only 4 for sale, the $320–410 band isn't a market read. Durst supplied three condensers to cover 35mm to 6x6, and missing ones have to come from other used M601s, so count them in the photos and ask which carriers, masks and LAPLA lens board come with it. The $450 one titled with an "Omnicron-El" lens ships free, but the photo shows it taken apart, and the $575 one with a timer and color analyzer quotes no shipping.

Listed now: 4
For parts: 0
Typical ask: $320–$410
Full range: $250–$575

Cheapest
$294.17est. delivered
The lowest delivered M601 here at $294, and the photo shows the condenser head on its column and baseboard. The title names no carrier, lens or lens board, so ask, and count the condensers, since Durst supplied three.
Durst M601 enlarger
View on eBay ↗: Durst M601 enlarger$294.17 est. delivered
Best value
$359.48est. delivered
Titled with a Sivoneg carrier, and the photo shows it set up on its baseboard with the carrier beside it, at $359 delivered from a 99.7% seller. Ask whether a LAPLA lens board and lens come with it, since many M601s sell with neither.
Durst M601 Film Enlarger w/ Sivoneg Carrier, Sivoneg 50
View on eBay ↗: Durst M601 Film Enlarger w/ Sivoneg Carrier, Sivoneg 50$359.48 est. delivered

Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.

Snapshot

For sale on eBay

4 of 4 listed

Checked Oct 15, 2026. Some may have sold.

Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.

Used
- Cheapest
Durst M601 enlarger
$294.17est. delivered
$249.95 + $44.22 shipping
Buy It Now$249.95
Good buy
Condenser head, column and baseboard in the photo. No carrier or lens named.
Seller: stephenjake10
99.7% positive
View on eBay ↗: Durst M601 enlarger
Used
- Best value
Durst M601 Film Enlarger w/ Sivoneg Carrier, Sivoneg 50
$359.48est. delivered
$278.00 + $81.48 shipping
Buy It Now$278.00
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled with a Sivoneg carrier. Set up on its baseboard in the photo.
Seller: cardinalcameraused
99.7% positive
View on eBay ↗: Durst M601 Film Enlarger w/ Sivoneg Carrier, Sivoneg 50
Used
Durst M601 Enlarger w/ Omnicron-El Lens
$450.00delivered
$450.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$450.00
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled with an Omicron lens, free shipping. The photo shows it taken apart on a table.
Seller: onlymonthrufriday
99.6% positive
View on eBay ↗: Durst M601 Enlarger w/ Omnicron-El Lens
Used
Durst M 601 Darkroom Enlarger, Darkroom Timer & Light Meter/Color Analyzer
$575.00+ shipping
$575.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$575.00
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
With a darkroom timer and a color analyzer. No shipping quoted; pickup or ask.
Seller: tlwaldo
100% positive
View on eBay ↗: Durst M 601 Darkroom Enlarger, Darkroom Timer & Light Meter/Color Analyzer

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Brand

Format

Light

Read

Durst M601

M601, black and white with the condenser headM601 Color, with the CLS 66 color head

Spec at a glance

Maker

Durst

Format

Medium format, up to 6x6 cm

Stock head

Condenser

Launched

1972

Made

1972–1977

Takes

35mm to 6x6 cm (60x60 mm)

Light source

Condenser reflex head with three condensers

Color head

Optional CLS 66 dichroic head with a halogen lamp

Elevation

Rack and pinion with friction pads

Head movements

Tilting head; tilting and shifting lens board

Lens boards

Durst LAPLA boards

Also listed as

M601, M 601, Durst M 601, M601 Color

Typical eBay ask (Oct 15, 2026)

$320–$410

Light, carriers, bellows and lens

Light source and lamp

The stock head is a condenser reflex design that bounces the light and carries heat away from the negative. Durst's CLS 66 dichroic color head, with a halogen lamp, slips on in place of it, and plenty were sold together. Ask which head is included and for a photo of the bulb, since Durst stopped amateur spares at the end of 2008.

Carriers and condensers

Durst supplied three condensers to cover each negative size up to 6x6, so count them in the photos. The carrier has masking bands for cropping. Ask which format masks or carriers are in the sale.

Column and bellows

The head rides a rack-and-pinion with friction pads built into the column, with scales and magnification marks. Ask whether the head moves smoothly and stays put. With the head off, the column doubles as a copy stand.

Alignment

The head tilts for wall projection and distortion control, and the lens board tilts and shifts. Ask the seller to confirm they're set back to zero. A print sharp in all four corners proves it.

Lens

It takes Durst LAPLA lens boards, and many were sold with no lens. Ask for a photo of the board and whether a lens is screwed in. Count it as missing if the photos don't show one.

Timer and power

Plan on a separate darkroom timer, since none of the sources show one built in. If the CLS 66 head is included, ask what powers its halogen lamp and get that part with it.

Shipping and pickup

No source gives a weight. It's die-cast metal, so ask the seller to pack the head separately from the column and baseboard. Pickup avoids a bent column.

Should come with it

Condenser head with all three condensers

Negative carrier with masking bands

LAPLA lens board

CLS 66 color head, if it's the M601 Color

Hard to find if missing

The full set of three condensers

CLS 66 color head

LAPLA lens boards

Check the listing photos against these lists, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing carrier, condenser or lens board should come off the price.

What to check

Durst's service support ended in 1982, so missing condensers, boards and carrier parts must come from other used M601s. Sellers often list it with only a 35mm carrier and no lens.

01Head: Check the photos for the condenser head or the CLS 66 color head. Ask which one is in the sale.

02Condensers: Count the condensers in the photos. Durst supplied three to cover 35mm to 6x6.

03Lamp: Ask the seller to switch it on and send a photo of the lit baseboard. The circle of light should be even with no dark corner.

04Carrier: Ask for a photo of the carrier and its masking bands. Check that masks for your formats are included.

05Lens board: Ask whether a LAPLA lens board and lens come with it. Many listings have neither.

06Tilts: Ask the seller to confirm the head and lens board tilts are at zero. Off-zero tilts make one side of the print soft.

07Elevation: Ask whether the head moves smoothly up the column and holds its height. It shouldn't drift.

New to used enlargers? How to check a used enlarger covers the bellows, the column, the lamp and alignment, and condenser, diffusion and color heads explains which light source suits how you print.

Durst M601

Spec at a glance

Light, carriers, bellows and lens

What to check

Which one to buy

For sale on eBay

Durst M601 enlarger

Durst M601 Film Enlarger w/ Sivoneg Carrier, Sivoneg 50

Durst M601 Enlarger w/ Omnicron-El Lens

Durst M 601 Darkroom Enlarger, Darkroom Timer & Light Meter/Color Analyzer

Compare with

Durst M605

Durst M670

Durst M35 Micromat

Keep exploring

Durst M601

Spec at a glance

Light, carriers, bellows and lens

What to check

Which one to buy

For sale on eBay

Durst M601 enlarger

Durst M601 Film Enlarger w/ Sivoneg Carrier, Sivoneg 50

Durst M601 Enlarger w/ Omnicron-El Lens

Durst M 601 Darkroom Enlarger, Darkroom Timer & Light Meter/Color Analyzer

Compare with

Durst M605

Durst M670

Durst M35 Micromat

Keep exploring