Meopta IIa Enlarger Manual

Hi All,

I was just wondering if anyone has used a Meopta IIa Enlarger before or knows where I can get a manual.
It has been years since I've used an enlarger, so I would like to read one to get me refreshed.

I was also wondering, the slide where I put my neg, when put back in the enlarger head, there is still a little bit of light coming through the edge- is this normal?
Will this effect my paper?



I'm so excited about setting up my darkroom, but it has been 4 years since I've been anywhere near one- so prepare for me to ask some questions- hopefully not too silly for anyone to roll their eyes about.

ta
Nov

Unfortunately, I don't have a manual, but I doubt you'll need it. I own and use the same enlarger, and I'm quite happy with it. It's simple and solid, and easy to use. The light leaking from the negative carrier is normal, but I haven't noticed any ill effects. I suppose it can fog the paper with very long exposures.

Other than that, if the neg carrier has glass in the upper and lower part, I would recommend replacing the bottom one with a metal mask, and using a anti-newton glass in the upper part. The glass keeps the negative flat, and with the mask you fewer surfaces to keep the dust away from.

I have two metal masks, one for 35mm and another for 6x6.

Good luck with your new darkroom!

Trond

thanks Trond, Ill look out for some metal masks.
Right now I'm actually looking for a better lens because I have the Belar 50mm lens and I want to print 6x6 prints at various sizes. What lens do you reccomend? The thread for the enlarger is 23.5mm, is that correct? I think this is a bit of an awkward size to find ?

Thanks!!

The masks shows up on eBay every now and then, and you can also get a new lens plate for it with normal 39mm threads. For 6x6, I'm using a Anaret 80mm, a Tessar design I believe. It's sharp and very inexpensive, and has the funny Meopta size threads. If you get the 39mm thread lens plate, you will have a lot more options of course.

Trond

hi, is your anaret 80mm lens a meopta lens with the 23.5mm thread? I am looking everywhere for this lens or a lens board but am struggling due to the funny lens plate shape. its really quite frustrating.

Yes, the Anaret I have is 23,5mm. I found mine on eBay a couple of years ago. Perhaps you could try Fotoimpex: http://www.fotoimpex.de/ I believe they have parts and M39 lensplates for Meopta enlargers.

The company site [www.meopta.com] has quite a collection of manuals in the download section. RK Darkroom [aka RK Photographic, www.meopta.co.uk] have (had?) a good supply of most Meopta spares and bits and bobs.

Hi Nov,

Regarding the light spill around your negative carrier; it's fairly common.
I have two Beseler 4x5's with the same problem.
I glued some strips of black velveteen on the lamphouse to act as "curtains" over the offending gaps.
Effective and simple.

If your enlarger is close to a wall, the light spill ...could.. bounce off the wall and cause ...slight... loss of contrast.
Some folks react by paintng the area around the enlarger flat black.
Some even hang black curtains around the enlarger.
I don't like "coal mine" decor, so I eliminate light spill at the source... the lamphouse.

To get some idea of how much light is being spilled and what it's bouncing off of try this:
Cover the lens, turn off the safelights, let yours eyes adapt for a few minutes, and turn on the enlarger.
Can you easily see your easel?
Now, turn off the enlarger and turn on your safelight.
How does the light level on the easel compare?
If the light spilling from the enlarger is the same or stronger than from the safelight... you have a problem.
It's time for the curtains.

Another tip:
Lay a mirror on the easel, cover the lens, and turn on the enlarger.
Study the mirror to discern where light is being bounced down to the easel.
You may need to move those bottles or those developing tanks which are acting as mirrors.
Does the Meopta have a nice shiny chrome column???

Don't worry about silly questions.
The bigger challenge is how to decode the silly answers...

Have fun.

Here's my darkroom:
www.classicBWphoto.com/Darkroom.html

Reinhold