Saunders/LPL 4550XLG

Name: Saunders/LPL 4550XLG
Brand: Saunders
Availability: InStock

The 4550XLG is the biggest of the Saunders/LPL 4x5s, LPL's 7452L sold first under the Saunders badge and later as the Omega/LPL 4550XLG. It grew in two steps. The 7452, sold here as the 4550XL, moved the lens further from the column for big easels and added a 250 W lamphouse. The 7452L then got a 135 cm column and a 60x80 cm baseboard, enough for 20x24 prints from almost any negative. It keeps the modular head that made the 4500-II popular, so one machine can print color, dial-in variable contrast or plain diffusion B&W. The two-letter difference matters on eBay. An XL has the shorter column and smaller baseboard, so check the column length before you pay XLG money. Look for the original stabilized supply and a full carrier set.

Saunders/LPL 4550XLG with the VCCE, dichroic color or B&W diffusion moduleSaunders/LPL 4550XL, the LPL 7452 with a 120 cm column and 60x60 cm baseboardOmega/LPL 4550XLG, the later US badgeLPL 7452L outside the US

Spec at a glance

Maker: Saunders
Format: Large format, up to 4x5 in
Stock head: Diffusion
Takes: 35mm to 4x5 in, with Xpan, 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7 and 6x9 carriers
Light source: Modular diffusion lamphouse: VCCE, dichroic color or B&W module, 250 W 82 V quartz-halogen lamp
Lens mount: Reversible, rotating threaded lensboards, 25 to 55 mm threads (39 mm standard)
Column: 135 cm XL box girder, counterbalanced, reverses for floor projection
Biggest print on the baseboard: 20x24 in, on a 60x80 cm baseboard (21x from 35mm with a 50 mm lens)
Weight: About 31 kg
Also listed as: Saunders 4550XLG, Saunders LPL 4550 XLG, LPL 4550XLG, Omega LPL 4550XLG, Saunders 4550
Typical eBay ask (Oct 15, 2026): $3,425–$3,450

Darkroom check

Light, carriers, bellows and lens

Light source and lamp: The lamphouse takes the same three LPL modules as the 4500-II: dichroic color, VCCE variable contrast (grade 00 to 5 at constant exposure) or plain B&W diffusion. It runs a brighter 250 W 82 V quartz-halogen lamp, which KHB still lists, and a 24 V version goes with 220 V-market supplies. Ask which module is fitted and for a photo with the lamp on.
Carriers and condensers: Hinged glassless carriers come in every format from 35mm to 4x5, and KHB says LPL's 4x5 carriers also fit Omega D4, D5 and D6 enlargers. The 4x5 mixing box works with every format. Optional 6x7 and 35mm boxes give more light for small negatives. Ask which carriers and mixing boxes are included.
Column and bellows: The 135 cm XL column carries the head on two 40 mm constant-force springs, with an elevation lock, fine elevation and fine focus on the right knob. The elevation lock knob and carrier lift lever have plastic collars that split with heavy use, so they turn without effect. Ask for a video raising the head to the top, locking it and focusing.
Alignment: The die-cast lens stage holds a reversible lensboard, and KHB's later lens stages carry adjustment screws for squaring it. Ask for a photo under the lens stage showing the adjustment screws. On arrival, check alignment with a mirror or laser tool at full height.
Lens: It comes with one 39 mm threaded lensboard and no lens. A 135 or 150 mm lens covers 4x5, and LPL's 50 mm thread board fits certain Rodenstock and Schneider lenses of those lengths. Check which lensboards are included and which lens, if any, is mounted.
Timer and power: The lamp runs from a 120 V voltage-stabilized supply. The current supply has a round 4-pin plug that won't fit the square plug on earlier Saunders/LPL lamphouse cords, so keep the original supply with the head. Plan on your own enlarging timer.
Shipping and pickup: It weighs about 31 kg. The column alone is 8.2 kg and the 60x80 cm baseboard 12.7 kg, and KHB ships it in three cartons. Local pickup is the easy answer if the seller is near you, and otherwise ask how the head will be boxed apart from the column.

Should come with it

Filter module (VCCE, dichroic or B&W) in the lamphouse
4x5 mixing box
120 V stabilized power supply with the matching plug
39 mm threaded lensboard
Red safety filter assembly
The 135 cm column and 60x80 cm baseboard

Hard to find if missing

The original square-plug power supply for early Saunders/LPL lamphouse cords
The 6x7 and 35mm mixing boxes (KHB lists both as discontinued)
The 135 cm XL column and 60x80 cm baseboard if either is missing

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

KHB says the elevation lock knob and carrier lift lever split their plastic collars with heavy use and then turn without effect. The diffuser panel in the mixing box can discolor or break, though a discolored one usually cleans up with mild detergent.

01XLG or XL: Check the listing or badge says 4550XLG and the baseboard is the long 60x80 cm one. An XL has a 120 cm column and a square baseboard.
02Module: Ask which filter module is in the lamphouse and for a photo with the lamp on. VCCE, dichroic and B&W modules all fit.
03Filter knobs: Ask for a video turning the filter or contrast knobs end to end. They should turn smoothly and the scales should light.
04Power supply: Check the stabilized power supply is in the photos and its plug matches the lamphouse cord. Early Saunders/LPL cords use a square plug.
05Mixing box and carriers: Ask which mixing boxes and carriers come with it. The 4x5 box plus carriers for your formats is a working set.
06Elevation lock: Ask the seller to lock the head at full height and press on it. It shouldn't creep down.
07Bellows: Ask for a photo of the bellows racked out with a light inside. You shouldn't see pinholes or split folds.
08Lens: Check which lensboards and lens, if any, are included. It ships with one 39 mm board and no lens as standard.
09Pickup or freight: Ask whether local pickup is possible and how the column, baseboard and head will be boxed. At about 31 kg, three separate cartons is the safe way.

New to used enlargers? How to check a used enlarger covers the bellows, the column, the lamp and alignment, and moving a big enlarger covers freight, pickup and taking the column apart.

Buying guide

Which one to buy

§ Oct 15, 2026

We'd look first at telegraph_estate's 4550XLG at $3,445 delivered, titled with the VCCE module, Nikon and Rodenstock lenses and 4 carriers, but ask whether the baseboard and power supply come with it, since the photo shows only the head on its column. With 3 for sale, the $3,425 to $3,450 band is that one delivered price and isn't a market read. apogeebee's 4550XLG at $3,695, with a VCCE or CYM module and a warranty, quotes no shipping, and its $5,755 listing is a 4550XL, the LPL 7452 with the shorter 120 cm column and 60x60 cm baseboard, not the XLG. The XLG weighs about 31 kg and KHB ships it in three cartons, so ask how the head will be boxed apart from the column, or plan on pickup. Ask for a video raising the head to the top of the 135 cm column, locking it and focusing, since the plastic collars on the elevation lock and carrier lift lever split with heavy use.

Listed now: 3
For parts: 0
Typical ask: $3,425–$3,450
Full range: $2,995–$5,755

Cheapest
$3,445.00est. delivered
The lowest-priced XLG, $3,445 delivered with $450 shipping, titled with the VCCE module, Nikon and Rodenstock lenses and 4 carriers. The photo shows the head on its column with no baseboard in view, and no power supply is titled, so ask about both before you pay.
Saunders LPL 4550XLG 4x5 Enlarger VCCE Module Nikon Rodenstock Lens 4 Carriers
View on eBay ↗: Saunders LPL 4550XLG 4x5 Enlarger VCCE Module Nikon Rodenstock Lens 4 Carriers$3,445.00 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

3 of 3 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
Saunders LPL 4550XLG 4x5 Enlarger VCCE Module Nikon Rodenstock Lens 4 Carriers
$3,445.00est. delivered
$2,995.00 + $450.00 shipping
Buy It Now$2,995.00
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
VCCE module with Nikon and Rodenstock lenses and 4 carriers. No baseboard or power supply in the photo; ask.
Seller: telegraph_estate
99.8% positive
View on eBay ↗: Saunders LPL 4550XLG 4x5 Enlarger VCCE Module Nikon Rodenstock Lens 4 Carriers
Used
Saunders LPL 4550XLG 4x5" Enlarger VCCE or CYM Module SHIPS WORLDWIDE w/Warranty
$3,695.00+ shipping
$3,695.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$3,695.00
Our take
Dealer machine with a VCCE or CYM module and a warranty; the photo shows the power supply. No shipping quoted; pickup or ask.
Seller: apogeebee
100% positive
View on eBay ↗: Saunders LPL 4550XLG 4x5" Enlarger VCCE or CYM Module SHIPS WORLDWIDE w/Warranty
New
Saunders LPL 4550XL 4x5" Enlarger CYM Unused SHIPS WORLDWIDE w/Warranty
$5,755.00+ shipping
$5,755.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$5,755.00
Our take
A 4550XL, the shorter-column model, titled unused with a CYM module and a warranty. No shipping quoted; pickup or ask.
Seller: apogeebee
100% positive
View on eBay ↗: Saunders LPL 4550XL 4x5" Enlarger CYM Unused SHIPS WORLDWIDE w/Warranty

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Saunders/LPL 4550XLG

Spec at a glance

Maker

Saunders

Format

Large format, up to 4x5 in

Stock head

Diffusion

Takes

35mm to 4x5 in, with Xpan, 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7 and 6x9 carriers

Light source

Modular diffusion lamphouse: VCCE, dichroic color or B&W module, 250 W 82 V quartz-halogen lamp

Lens mount

Reversible, rotating threaded lensboards, 25 to 55 mm threads (39 mm standard)

Column

135 cm XL box girder, counterbalanced, reverses for floor projection

Biggest print on the baseboard

20x24 in, on a 60x80 cm baseboard (21x from 35mm with a 50 mm lens)

Weight

About 31 kg

Also listed as

Saunders 4550XLG, Saunders LPL 4550 XLG, LPL 4550XLG, Omega LPL 4550XLG, Saunders 4550

Typical eBay ask (Oct 15, 2026)

$3,425–$3,450

Light, carriers, bellows and lens

Light source and lamp

The lamphouse takes the same three LPL modules as the 4500-II: dichroic color, VCCE variable contrast (grade 00 to 5 at constant exposure) or plain B&W diffusion. It runs a brighter 250 W 82 V quartz-halogen lamp, which KHB still lists, and a 24 V version goes with 220 V-market supplies. Ask which module is fitted and for a photo with the lamp on.

Carriers and condensers

Hinged glassless carriers come in every format from 35mm to 4x5, and KHB says LPL's 4x5 carriers also fit Omega D4, D5 and D6 enlargers. The 4x5 mixing box works with every format. Optional 6x7 and 35mm boxes give more light for small negatives. Ask which carriers and mixing boxes are included.

Column and bellows

The 135 cm XL column carries the head on two 40 mm constant-force springs, with an elevation lock, fine elevation and fine focus on the right knob. The elevation lock knob and carrier lift lever have plastic collars that split with heavy use, so they turn without effect. Ask for a video raising the head to the top, locking it and focusing.

Alignment

The die-cast lens stage holds a reversible lensboard, and KHB's later lens stages carry adjustment screws for squaring it. Ask for a photo under the lens stage showing the adjustment screws. On arrival, check alignment with a mirror or laser tool at full height.

Lens

It comes with one 39 mm threaded lensboard and no lens. A 135 or 150 mm lens covers 4x5, and LPL's 50 mm thread board fits certain Rodenstock and Schneider lenses of those lengths. Check which lensboards are included and which lens, if any, is mounted.

Timer and power

The lamp runs from a 120 V voltage-stabilized supply. The current supply has a round 4-pin plug that won't fit the square plug on earlier Saunders/LPL lamphouse cords, so keep the original supply with the head. Plan on your own enlarging timer.

Shipping and pickup

It weighs about 31 kg. The column alone is 8.2 kg and the 60x80 cm baseboard 12.7 kg, and KHB ships it in three cartons. Local pickup is the easy answer if the seller is near you, and otherwise ask how the head will be boxed apart from the column.

Should come with it

Filter module (VCCE, dichroic or B&W) in the lamphouse

4x5 mixing box

120 V stabilized power supply with the matching plug

39 mm threaded lensboard

Red safety filter assembly

The 135 cm column and 60x80 cm baseboard

Hard to find if missing

The original square-plug power supply for early Saunders/LPL lamphouse cords

The 6x7 and 35mm mixing boxes (KHB lists both as discontinued)

The 135 cm XL column and 60x80 cm baseboard if either is missing

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

01XLG or XL: Check the listing or badge says 4550XLG and the baseboard is the long 60x80 cm one. An XL has a 120 cm column and a square baseboard.

02Module: Ask which filter module is in the lamphouse and for a photo with the lamp on. VCCE, dichroic and B&W modules all fit.

03Filter knobs: Ask for a video turning the filter or contrast knobs end to end. They should turn smoothly and the scales should light.

04Power supply: Check the stabilized power supply is in the photos and its plug matches the lamphouse cord. Early Saunders/LPL cords use a square plug.

05Mixing box and carriers: Ask which mixing boxes and carriers come with it. The 4x5 box plus carriers for your formats is a working set.

06Elevation lock: Ask the seller to lock the head at full height and press on it. It shouldn't creep down.

07Bellows: Ask for a photo of the bellows racked out with a light inside. You shouldn't see pinholes or split folds.

08Lens: Check which lensboards and lens, if any, are included. It ships with one 39 mm board and no lens as standard.

09Pickup or freight: Ask whether local pickup is possible and how the column, baseboard and head will be boxed. At about 31 kg, three separate cartons is the safe way.

New to used enlargers? How to check a used enlarger covers the bellows, the column, the lamp and alignment, and moving a big enlarger covers freight, pickup and taking the column apart.

Saunders/LPL 4550XLG

Spec at a glance

Light, carriers, bellows and lens

What to check

Which one to buy

For sale on eBay