Recent content by evarlam

Yes this might be a solution. As for the bulb, I'll use a led 4000K one. There's a thread here about testing led bulbs and the OP of that thread concluded that the best results, in combination with Ilford multigrade filters, were achieved with 4000K bulbs.

Here's my Opemus II finally restored and operational. The only thing left is to cover the filter tray slot with duct tape, as it seems that this part is totally unobtainium! (I wonder if the filter tray or even the whole middle section of Opemus 3/4 fits....). Notice the slight color difference...

Here's my little contribution here.. Plane tree next to a chapel, at a wooded rural area in Messinia, South Peloponese, Greece, shot on early Januarly 2025. Shot with Canon EOS 300, lens Canon 50mm f/1.8, film Agfaphoto APX100 @100, developed with home made (Pa)Rodinal, 1:50, 10min @ 20 C...

Update about my Valoy enlarger: I got (again for free) an old soviet 50mm Industar 96U-1 lens. Also I bought a set of M39 extension tubes from Aliexpress, dirty cheap! They're brand new, made from machined aluminum. The set includes three tubes, 7mm, 14mm and 28mm. I tested all three lenses I...

Yes, I saw that, but oddly enough, I havent seen a single photo of an Opemus IIa with a filter drawer.

Yes, I consider this, but I must cover the slot to avoid light leaking, probably with gaffer tape, or something similar.

Hello! I just acquired for very little money (36 euros including shipping) a Meopta enlarger. Initially at first glance it looks like a standard Meopta Opemus II. It has the same column, rack and pinion, belows,negative holder system (although the holder itself sadly is missing), but it has a...

Just made the ANR mask! I used thin ABS plastic sheet and cut slots for the pins of the negative holder. Also I cut the frame window slightly bigger, as advised. I tested it and works perfectly (well this means that negative holder slots just fine into the enlarger's head slot). Also I noticed...

Just tested a Nikkor 50mm 2.8, and it has issues with focusing (it barely focuses only in very big enlargement). So this one for sure needs an extension tube. For the moment, Im very happy that Rogonar (although it is considered an inferior lens) matched perfectly with the venerable Valoy.

Yes, I know about this issue, and I think I have the perfect material for this: thin (less than 1mm) ABS opaque white plastic sheets, of the kind used for air modeling, which can be cut easily and make a mask to put between the negative and the condenser.

Update about my early (prewar?) Valoy enlarger. I cleaned and rewired it and installed a 9W 1050 lumens 2700K filament LED lamp (which is considerably shorter than usual). The condenser lens is of the clear variant, in excellent condition, absolutely no scratches! The negative holder also is in...

Thank you so much for the suggestions! With Focotar lens I must buy also the DOORX tube extension? this one looks a good deal, with DOORX tube...

New member here!!!! I just bought from ebay exactly the same early Leitz Valoy enlarger. Thankfully it has the negative holder, but no lens. Is it true that in order to install a regular M39 enlarger lens on an early Leitz enlarger requires the special extension tube (code: DOORX)? I searched...