Meopta Opemus III

I acquired and have been using a Meopta Opemus III B&W enlarger for some time with 35mm negs.
I am interested in working with medium format, and understand that I need a larger lens on the enlarger. After purchasing a number of larger lenses on e-bay, I have been unable to attach any of the lenses to the enlarger. The existing lens is mounted on a disc that attaches to the enlarger. Do I need a special disk for the larger lens or a specific lens for the enlarger?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Use the same disk. You have to unscrew the lens if it threads directly to the disk or just unscrew the jam nut. Or fabricate your own disk.

IIRC the Opemus range I - V uses the same disk/lens plate. You can have them with different size threads or a plastic adapter dinkie. The older Opemus Standard uses a larger lens plate
Kind regards

It depends on what board it's on, normally you can unscrew the lens from the board. You have either a standard 39mm board or the weirder 25.5mm board. which one do you have?? and what are the sizes of you new lenses??

I guess the plate on your Opemus has an 23,5mm thread (I *think* this is standard for the O.III). If you want to adjust a "larger" objective (probably a 39mm, ) you need a special plate. Actually there is no need for a "larger" objective there are also objectives with a focal width suitable for medium format, with a 23.5 thread. If you can turn around the plate of your Opemus, you can use a 23,5mm thread objective (e.g. a Anaret 80mm). If not you will have to search for 39mm thread plate fitting the Opemus III or a plate for medium format lenses with a 23,5 mm thread (probably easier to find) plus a 23,5mm lense...

Thank you for your replies.
typically, as soon as I posted the message, I lost my internet connection and have only just been able to get back on line.

The plate is kind of domed shaped, measuring about 70mm externally and with what seems to measure 37mm threaded hole in the centre.
My existing lens is a 2.8/50 Schneider.
The new lens is a 9/210 Schneider.

The new lens is in two parts - front glass unit with Thank you for your replies.
typically, as soon as I posted the message, I lost my internet connection and have only just been able to get back on line.

The plate is kind of domed shaped, measuring about 70mm externally and with what seems to measure 37mm threaded hole in the centre.
My existing lens is a 2.8/50 Schneider.
The new lens is a 9/210 Schneider.

The new lens is in two parts - front glass unit with aperture setting, and rear glass unit which unscrews from the front unit. The thread between the units is about 35mm.
The plate does not seem to fit anywhere to the new/larger lens.

Is this the wrong sort of lens?

It is wrong, but not because of mounting, it is wrong becuase of focal lenght. For medium format use 80mm lens, not 210mm.

As I know 50mm and 80mm Schneider have same mounting thread (39mm, so called Leica thread, "standard" thread size for enlarger lenses), so as I can see, you do not need new enlarger lens plate (that is thing you call disc), you need only to unsrew 50mm and screw 80mm. If you do not have 80mm lens, and you want to use medium format, you need to get 80mm lens. You said you have 210mm lens, it is too long for medium format, you need 80mm lens.

Chack also next: For example, my Opemus 5 works with lenses next way:

Enlarger lens plate is domed shape as with your Opemus III. So, 50mm lens is screwed "inside" of lens plate. 80 mm lens is screwed "outside" of lens plate, that is for 80mm lens lens plate is turned 180 degrees from position for 50mm lens.

If your new lens have different mounting thread, you can do 2 things: Find Meopta enlarger lens plate with mounting thread for your lens, or if you can not buy one, make one. If you can not make it, pay someone who can.

I had next situation: I bought Opemus 5 with 50mm and 80mm Anaret lenses. Mounting thread for those lenses is 23,5 mm. Then I got Rodenstock and Schneider 50mm and 80mm lenses. Mounting thread for those lenses is 39mm. So, I wrote E_mail to Meopta and bought from them enlarger lens plate for Opemus 5 with 39mm monut thread.

I know that Fotoimpex from Berlin (www.fotoimpex.com) have spare parts for old Meopta enlargers, so check with them if they have enlarger lens plate you need. Or, directly at Meopta, www.meopta.com.

Thank you very much for your help. Looks like I'll be on the lookout for an 80mm then.

You are welcome.

You can decide needed enlarger lenses as normal lens for camera. So for 35mm film, normal enlarger lens would be 50mm, for 6x4,5 would be 75mm, for 6x6 is 80mm, for 6x7 is 90mm, for 6x9 is 105mm, etc... Because 75mm, 80mm, and 90mm are so close by their focal lenght, people usually use 80mm as "standard" medium format enlarger lens for all medium format film sizes. That is why I talked about 80mm lens. I use 80mm lens for 6x7cm negatives.

210mm lens you have would be normal camera lens (and thus enlarger lens) for 5x7 or 13x18cm negative size, and it is too long for MF enlarger lens.

Good luck

cjdales said:

The new lens is a 9/210 Schneider.

The new lens is in two parts - front glass unit with aperture setting, and rear glass unit which unscrews from the front unit. The thread between the units is about 35mm.
The plate does not seem to fit anywhere to the new/larger lens.

Is this the wrong sort of lens?

Click to expand...

This lens sounds to me as lens for large format camera, not lens for enlarger. Please, check for that. Ask on this forum (with picture) or check on http://www.schneideroptics.com/.

Schneider enlarging lenses have written (name) like Componon, Componon-S, Componar. If that is written on your lens it is probably enlarger lens.

If something like Symmar, Xenar, Angulon is written on your lens, it is probably lens for large format camera, not for enlarger.

That would make semse of the make-up of the lense. I will look into it.
Thank you.

if you look on fleabay you can pick up lenses and things for an Opemus III. Mine came with a 75mm f4.5 for 6X6 and I bought a 50mm for 10.00 plus shipping and it worked fine.