120 film & meopta opemus 4x4 enlarger

[mopella]

I have had a Seagull twin lense camera for ages, but haven't been able to use it since college seeing as I had no darkroom to develop film in. I just recently aquired an old Moepta Opemus 4x4 enlarger in perfect condition off of sime random kind soul. I notice that it comes with a 35mm and 4x4 negative carrier (and another one which I fail to identify), but no 6x6 for my 120 film. From what I've read, the Opemus 4x4 only fits up to 4x4 negative carriers (hence the name I suppose), but if I used a 6x6 carrier in it... would that even work? It looks like it would fit, but I'm worried the edges might turn out distorted due to the size of the opening vs the film. I suppose I could always use the 4x4 negative carrier with my 120 film... but that's no fun! I'd have to take every shot with that in mind, and that would suck.

 

[Soeren]

I've never heard of 4x4 negcarriers for opemus enlagers, though the may offcource exist . The ones I have had my hands on all came with 6x6 and 24x36 carriers. To my knowledge the meopta range consisted of the axomat for 24x36, the opemus for 24x36 and 6x6 and the magnifax for up to 6x9. Identificere the model and look on the Web for a matching 6x6 carrier

 

[Ian Grant]

No chance the condensers in the older Opemus 4x4 won't be large enough to cover 6x6. the enlarger was for 35mm & 127 film.

You should be able to find a larger format 6x6 Meopta or something else reasonably cheaply. I gave 2 Meoptas away to someone running workshops about 5 years ago, I found both at the local tip (dump in mint condition).

Ian

 

[Soeren]

I stand corrected re the opemus 4x4
Is it this one?


http://www.meoptahistory.com/?id=312
So I learned something interesting today.

Opemusses are very common here in dk but 4x4 must be a rarity and almost considered antique
(as I mentioned earlier Ive not heard of them untill now)
I liked the ones I had especially the later models, simple, easy to use and relatively sturdy

 

[mopella]

Yes, Soren, that's the one! You can take the head off of the base, and I'm attaching it to an old desk from the 70s.

Thanks Ian. That's what I suspected, but I was hoping it would work out so I don't have to go on a quest for a Meopta Opemus 6x6. They seem relatively difficult to find here in Dallas. I suppose I can stick to 35mm for now... sorry Seagull

 

[Ian Grant]

Yes, Soren, that's the one! You can take the head off of the base, and I'm attaching it to an old desk from the 70s.

Thanks Ian. That's what I suspected, but I was hoping it would work out so I don't have to go on a quest for a Meopta Opemus 6x6. They seem relatively difficult to find here in Dallas. I suppose I can stick to 35mm for now... sorry Seagull

Meopta enlargers were very common here in the UK and the rest of Europe, a lot of college darkrooms used them because they were inexpensive but wll made.

You're better looking for a US enlarger or maybe an LPL/Jobo they will be far easier to find.

Ian

 

[btaylor]

You shouldn't have much trouble finding an old Beseler 23c or Omega B22 on Craigslist for close to free. These were massively popular in the US back in the day.