De Vere 504
The De Vere 504 is a 5x4 inch large-format enlarger built by the British manufacturer De Vere for darkroom use with sheet film negatives up to 5x4. It was aimed at professional and advanced amateur darkrooms, with a rigid column and interchangeable light sources making it a workhorse rather than a consumer product.
At UK auction today, hammer prices for the De Vere 504 have spanned roughly £180 to £530, with a median around £340 across the recent sales on record. Values at saleroom level depend heavily on completeness — a 504 with the correct lens, condenser or colour head, negative carriers and baseboard sells for noticeably more than a bare chassis, which is why the price range is wide and condition-sensitive.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Jan 2025 | £525 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 640) Title: A De Vere 504 Darkroom Enlarger & 504 Dichromat Head
Description:
to include a De Vere 504 enlarger, with 250-Watt transformer, Cathomag enlarger head, a Colour Star 3000 colour analyzer, all untested, BUYER BEWARE: (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2025 | £625 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 578) Title: A De Vere 504 Darkroom Enlarger & Ilford Multigrade Head
Description:
to include a De Vere 504 with Ilford Multigrade 500H enlarging head, a selection of light boxes & masks, power transformer, timer, all untested, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2024 | £175 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 636) Title: A De Vere 504 Professional Enlarger
Description:
in F-G condition, rise/fall working for both dials, with Ilford Multigrade 500H head, not working, also with a De Vere Cathomag head, untested, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2024 | £338 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 637) Title: A De Vere 504 Professional Enlarger
Description:
in G condition, with Ilford Multigrade 500H head, light box & light sources present within, untested, with 50mm enlarging lens, optics P, heavy haze (Qty: 1) |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a De Vere 504 worth today?
Recent UK auction hammer prices for the De Vere 504 have ranged from about £180 to £530, with a median near £340, so a complete and clean example typically sells for somewhere in the upper part of that range.
How much does a De Vere 504 sell for at auction?
The price varies with configuration: a stripped chassis can hammer under £200, while a 504 with a working colour head, lens and carriers has reached over £500 at recent UK sales.
Is the De Vere 504 worth buying second-hand?
For darkroom printers needing 5x4 capability the value is good, since new large-format enlargers are scarce, but factor in collection costs and the price of any missing carriers, lens or head when assessing what it is really worth.