Enlarger lens mounts

[inthedark_06]

I have a Meopta Anaret f4.5 80mm lens (it has a roughly 23mm thread mount) and I need to use it on a LPL C7700 for a school project. Any advice on making/ sourcing an adapter for it? I have access to a good quality 3D printer as well as some 3D modelling knowledge I can use to make a custom lens board if that is necessary.
Any advice or tips would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[MattKing]

Welcome to Photrio.
There is a very high likelihood that that lens has a 25mm thread mount. I know KHB in Canada makes 25mm thread lens mounts for the LPL 7700 enlargers.
Here is the listing: http://store.khbphotografix.com/25mm-Threaded-Lens-Board-for-LPL-4x5-and-7700-Enlargers.html

 

[koraks]

Welcome to Photrio, @inthedark_06 !

In addition to Matt's suggestion: you could indeed 3D print a lens board. I've done this for a couple of lenses on my Durst enlarger, and the approach works. The nice thing with materials like PETg and PLA is that they're pretty soft. Hence, if you print a circular aperture of an appropriate diameter, you can simply screw/force the lens into this and it'll sort of thread itself in there without damaging the thread on the lens. Of course, you won't be able to infinitely unscrew and screw back the lens into the board, as the board will wear down. But if you just print a dedicated board for this lens and enlarger, you could just leave the board on the lens and use it that way. Printing a legitimate thread for multiple use is pretty much a non-starter given the resolution and in particular tolerances of a typical consumer-grade 3D printer.

What I did for my Durst boards was simply use an existing lens board as a template, recreate it in Fusion 360, but with a circular opening of an appropriate diameter. Works very nicely. When sizing the opening, err to the side of making it smaller so you can enlarge it a bit if the lens doesn't fit. If the hole is too small, the screw mount will get stuck halfway through and the lens won't be aligned properly. Take some sandpaper or a round file to the hole and give it another go.

It's not going to win any beauty contests, but it'll get the job done alright.

 

[bernard_L]

I have a Meopta Anaret f4.5 80mm lens (it has a roughly 23mm thread mount)

There is a very high likelihood that that lens has a 25mm thread mount.

@inthedark. Following this site:

Photo Cornucopia

your lens would have a 23.5 mm thread (what did they think??).
Assuming your LPL enlarger has a 39mm standard hole/thread, you need a 23.5 --> 39 adapter. Contact this guy, who delivers good quality for very reasonable price. Explain to him precisely what you need; is the hole on the enlarger side threaded or plain? do you also need a 39mm retaining nut?

CUSTOM PHOTO TOOLS

customphototools.com

 

[Don_ih]

If you only need it for a school project, just patch it onto the enlarger. Get thick cardboard (like mat board). Cut a hole in it slight smaller than the lens threading, force the lens into it. The cardboard will hold the lens well enough. Paint it black inside.
Anything else is probably more than you need.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG Photrio!!​

 

[MattKing]

This is what an LPL lens mount looks like - essentially a threaded cup.

I don't know if that greatly complicates other people's suggestions.
And yes, if it is 23.5mm, what were they thinking?!!!

 

[Don_ih]

This is what an LPL lens mount looks like - essentially a threaded cup.
View attachment 332470
I don't know if that greatly complicates other people's suggestions.
And yes, if it is 23.5mm, what were they thinking?!!!

It won't need to be a cup at 80mm. It would need to be a cup at 50.

 

[Nitroplait]

If the LPL is 39mm it is probably easier and as cheap to find a fitting lens rather than to buy or manufacture an adapter- unless you follow Don’s advice- which is perfectly sound.

 

[ic-racer]

 

[MattKing]

It won't need to be a cup at 80mm. It would need to be a cup at 50.

For normal operation, the LPL is set up so the "cup" is oriented one way - with the "bump" down/out - with an 75, 80 or 90mm lens and oriented the other way - with the "bump" up/in - with a 50mm or shorter lens.

 

[Don_ih]

For normal operation, the LPL is set up so the "cup" is oriented one way - with the "bump" down/out - with an 75, 80 or 90mm lens and oriented the other way - with the "bump" up/in - with a 50mm or shorter lens.

Matt, I'm just trying to establish for the poor guy that he doesn't need to run out and buy a 3d printer or order some kind of adapter when a piece of cardboard and some masking tape will get his school project done.

 

[koraks]

Don, if you read the OP, he has access to a good printer and apparently knows how to use it. Your solution will also work. The 3d printed option is roughly halfway between a properly machined metal plate and your modified egg carton in terms of quality, reliability etc.. Any of these and several other implementations can be made to work just fine. I imagine it's nice for OP to have options.

Also, "the poor guy"? For all I know (s)he's a perfectly capable and autonomous individual like most of us on here.

 

[MattKing]

Matt, I'm just trying to establish for the poor guy that he doesn't need to run out and buy a 3d printer or order some kind of adapter when a piece of cardboard and some masking tape will get his school project done.

What I'm trying to indicate is that the "poor guy" may have to use something that works and looks like the purpose made LPL lens mount - perhaps by attaching your cardboard and masking tape to an existing LPL mount with a larger hole!

 

[inthedark_06]

@inthedark. Following this site:

Photo Cornucopia

your lens would have a 23.5 mm thread (what did they think??).
Assuming your LPL enlarger has a 39mm standard hole/thread, you need a 23.5 --> 39 adapter. Contact this guy, who delivers good quality for very reasonable price. Explain to him precisely what you need; is the hole on the enlarger side threaded or plain? do you also need a 39mm retaining nut?

CUSTOM PHOTO TOOLS

customphototools.com

Thank you for the reply.
I am not sure whether the hole for the lens board on the enlarger has a thread, I haven't had a chance to get a thorough look at it since it stays in the darkroom at school and my photography teacher gets weird about inspecting the enlarger. Judging off of other lens boards that I have found online for this enlarger, as well as the instruction manual I found the lens board itself is held in with a single retaining screw, if that is what you were asking. As for the retaining nut, there is a small amount of smooth space either side of the thread on the lens? I am unsure whether that is helpful. It it odd that they would make such an unusual size mount- at least to my understanding of these things.
Regards

 

[inthedark_06]

If the LPL is 39mm it is probably easier and as cheap to find a fitting lens rather than to buy or manufacture an adapter- unless you follow Don’s advice- which is perfectly sound.

Thank you for the reply. I think 3D printing or cobbling together a custom mount will be the best option for me.

 

[inthedark_06]

What I'm trying to indicate is that the "poor guy" may have to use something that works and looks like the purpose made LPL lens mount - perhaps by attaching your cardboard and masking tape to an existing LPL mount with a larger hole!

Thank you both for your advice. Designing any kind of lens mount shouldn't take long at all, whether is is a 3D printed one or made from cardboard. I really only need to get the measurements of the lens mount and I'll be good to go, either way.
Regards.

 

[inthedark_06]

Welcome to Photrio, @inthedark_06 !

In addition to Matt's suggestion: you could indeed 3D print a lens board. I've done this for a couple of lenses on my Durst enlarger, and the approach works. The nice thing with materials like PETg and PLA is that they're pretty soft. Hence, if you print a circular aperture of an appropriate diameter, you can simply screw/force the lens into this and it'll sort of thread itself in there without damaging the thread on the lens. Of course, you won't be able to infinitely unscrew and screw back the lens into the board, as the board will wear down. But if you just print a dedicated board for this lens and enlarger, you could just leave the board on the lens and use it that way. Printing a legitimate thread for multiple use is pretty much a non-starter given the resolution and in particular tolerances of a typical consumer-grade 3D printer.

What I did for my Durst boards was simply use an existing lens board as a template, recreate it in Fusion 360, but with a circular opening of an appropriate diameter. Works very nicely. When sizing the opening, err to the side of making it smaller so you can enlarge it a bit if the lens doesn't fit. If the hole is too small, the screw mount will get stuck halfway through and the lens won't be aligned properly. Take some sandpaper or a round file to the hole and give it another go.

It's not going to win any beauty contests, but it'll get the job done alright.

Thank you for the reply.
This is most likely what I will end up doing. The biggest hurdle at the moment is actually getting into the darkroom with a pair of calipers and a notepad to get the measurements of the lens board. My photography teacher (who basically owns the darkroom- she's the only one who teaches it at the school I go to) gets a bit weird about letting me go in there and tinkering with the enlarger, but I'll work it out.
Regards.

P.S,
Thank you for a gracious welcome.

 

[Don_ih]

My photography teacher (who basically owns the darkroom- she's the only one who teaches it at the school I go to) gets a bit weird about letting me go in there and tinkering with the enlarger, but I'll work it out.

I assume you need the 80mm to enlarge 645 or 6x6. Is that unusual in that darkroom? She doesn't have an enlarging lens for medium format?

 

[simplejoy]

This is what an LPL lens mount looks like - essentially a threaded cup.

I don't know if that greatly complicates other people's suggestions.
And yes, if it is 23.5mm, what were they thinking?!!!

While I'm not particularly happy with the threads on some of my Meopta ELs, I'm thankful they didn't use the 27.4 mm one Agfa used for their Color-Magnolar and Colostar 60 mm lenses...

 

[MattKing]

I am not sure whether the hole for the lens board on the enlarger has a thread,

The LPL enlarger has, where the lens mount fits, a round receptacle with three set screws - each 120 degrees away from each other.
The lens mounts are round cups with a central hole at the smaller bottom.
The large opening of the cup is sized to match the round receptacle on the enlarger. It is not threaded.
The large opening in the lens mount cups is shaped in order to permit the mount/cup with the smaller threaded hole bottom to be mounted either facing down - for longer lenses - or up - for shorter lenses.
The central hole in the bottom of the cup is sized to match the enlarger lens thread size for which the lens mount cup is designed
To the best of my knowledge all the LPL lens mounts are threaded. I'm not sure how compatible they would be using different threaded lenses and a retaining ring.

 

[inthedark_06]

I assume you need the 80mm to enlarge 645 or 6x6. Is that unusual in that darkroom? She doesn't have an enlarging lens for medium format?

Unfortunately the photography department at the school I go to doesn't get the best budget allocation + most people aren't all that interested so the film photography portion of the curriculum is all on 35mm. I asked her to look to see whether she does have a lens that would fit and she doesn't.
Thanks

 

[Molli]

I have an LPL Enlarger and a Meopta lens (the Belar f4.5 50mm, but it has that same 20-odd mm thread mount). If someone can tell me which bits need measuring, I'll do my best.
At the very least, I can scan the items at 300dpi on a flat bed scanner with a ruler in place. Print the page out at the same dpi without scaling and you can take measurements from there.

Alternatively, if you're in the south eastern corner of the continent, @inthedark_06, I'd be happy to lend you an 80mm enlarging lens for the year.