Opemus 5a manual

buh · May 3, 2005

I would buy the opemus 5a enlarger but in the web I didn't find many information.
I see the meopta's home page but I can take any information. There is only a simple reference in history page.
Does anybody have some more information, links, manual for this enlarger?

Many thanks.
Luca.

Soeren · May 3, 2005

I have an Opemus 5 enlarger with colorhead albeit sans manual. What do you need to know ?
Regards Søren

buh · May 3, 2005

Soeren said:
I have an Opemus 5 enlarger with colorhead albeit sans manual. What do you need to know ?
Regards Søren

First of all, if this could be a good choice for me. It's my first enlarger, I have no experience, but I would try to print b/w photos.
I red in some messages here that exists manual in eletronic format but I don't find it in the web.
I thought it's a good idea to read manual before buy only to understand if this enlarger it is usable by newbie person.

This enlarger was build in 1982. Do you think I have some problem to find some component if I have to repair it?
This enlarger has Meopta Anaret 50mm. This is a good lens to start, what do you think?

Thanks.
Luca.

argus · May 3, 2005

The 50mm lens will suit you for enlargments of 135 film, if it is of any quality, I don't know but anything will do to start with. If you're unhappy with it, just buy a new (used) lens.

Operation of the Opemus 5 is easy, there's only a height adjustment knob and a focussing knob. No need to fit a lamp in the exact correct position like eg. for a Durst 607.
In my experience, the crop tools on the negative carrier (mine goes up to 6x6) are rather unstable. Every single time you touch the enlarger, the sliders will get out of position and that is a major backdraw.

G

Ole · May 3, 2005

Luca,
Opemus enlargers are very reliable, there isn't much that can go wrong with them. I have a manual for my Opemus 6 which I don't think I've ever opened, I'll take a look in it and see if there's anything you ought to know

The Anaret lenses range from "fair" to "exellent". I have compared mine (50mm and 80mm) with other lenses including some horrendously expensive top-of-the-range APO lenses, and not found any significant improvement over the Anarets. It is not only a good lens to start with, it's a good lens to continue with!

Oh - one thing: The lensboard is round and has an upset. With a 50mm lens the upset should point up into the enlarger to bring the lens closer to the negative. For the 80mm lens reverse it to increase the distance.

TPPhotog · May 3, 2005

Try (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Soeren · May 3, 2005

The Opemus 5 enlarger has the same negative carrier as the 3 and 4. The negativecarrier is made of metal and will convert from 24X36 to 6X6 when replacing some inserts with a glasscarrier works great for me ( then again I got two )
some of the cheaper Durst have plastic negcarriers that I find ........ cheap.
They are pretty common, at least here in DK. You may still find parts for it new but you can often get another enlarger for a song to use as spares if it should become necessary. That said it is not that fragile and there is few parts in it.
Mine came with the colorhead and the lamphousing. I don't use the colorhead because of its weight and because I don't find it worth bothering with. The weight of the the colorhead made the enlarger more unstable IMHO, partly because the baseboard is not that thick.
I don't know about the anaret optics but if you want to use 50mm lenses with 39mm tread (el-nikors) you might be in trouble. They need recessed lensboards and I have yet to find one that will take my El-nikor and fit the Opemus 5.
Since I use Schneider Kreuznach lenses now for both 24X36 and 6X6 that is no problem for me but you should be aware of it. All in all I like the Opemus enlargers, they are simple, light and fairly sturdy, Not like german panzers but they are good enough for me. You can find enlargers that are better eg Besseller and more expensive Dursts but will they give you more value for money ? I don't think so, at least not as a beginner.
Did I leave something out ?
Regards Søren

Bob F. · May 3, 2005

Meopta used to have their manuals for older enlargers online but they took them off some months ago which is why you still see people referencing them. I used to have a Meopta and can vouch for their general build quality. Built like a tank and will last a lifetime.

As others have said, there is nothing much to put in a manual. There's nothing on a simple enlarger like these that you can't figure out for yourself, or ask here if something you do not understand crops up.

As a general rule when buying a used enlarger, make sure all the negative carriers and condensers (if a condenser enlarger) for the formats you will use come with it: obtaining them separately can be a real pain and prove expensive.

Cheers, Bob.

Glenn Mathison · May 3, 2005

I have a very similar model the Opemus 5. It was also my first enlarger and I scored it for free with a 50mm EL Nikkor. Works a treat for 35mm. I also have a schneider 80 mm for 6x6 negs and it also work wonderfully.

Let me know if you have any specific questions and I'll be glad to help out.

Glenn

TPPhotog · May 3, 2005

I forgot to add I now have a Meopta Anaret S 50mm in my collection and find it a really sharp lens. Never had any trouble with the neg carrier as mines solid. I'd recommend a Meopta and frequently have

If you get the enlarger and really must have the manual (which I've never used) I'll scan it for you.

BTW ... Welcome to APUG

Glenn Mathison · May 3, 2005

Hey Tony, what sort of neg carrier do you have with yours, glassless or glass carrier? I'm curious about glass carriers.

Mine has a metal glassless carrier with the sliding insert for 35mm. My wife does leadlighting and so she made me a pair of glass plates that fit perfectly, so when I use 6x6 negs I just sandwich the neg between the two glass plates and then place it all in the carrier and insert it in to the enlarger and it works fine. I just wonder how different the factory made glass carriers are, if they exist.

Glenn

TPPhotog · May 3, 2005

Glenn,

Mines a glass carrier for 6x6 (but is designed for 35mm to 6x6). There are two adjustable locater pins at the rear to position the negative depending on size being used. There are also 4 adjustable blades that can be used for 35mm or cropping the larger beauties. It's quite advanced for it's age

Glenn Mathison · May 3, 2005

TPPhotog said:
Glenn,

Mines a glass carrier for 6x6 (but is designed for 35mm to 6x6). There are two adjustable locater pins at the rear to position the negative depending on size being used. There are also 4 adjustable blades that can be used for 35mm or cropping the larger beauties. It's quite advanced for it's age

Does it look like this?

TPPhotog · May 3, 2005

Sure does but mine hasn't got the wings

buh · May 3, 2005

Many thanks to all!!!
Now all is more clearly.

Glenn Mathison · May 3, 2005

Focussing aid?

Now you guys have me wondering...

I'm curious about the block you can see on the rear of my carrier (refer previous post with the attachment.) Is this the split focus aid some have described?

If so, how do you use it?

Glenn

TPPhotog · May 3, 2005

It really is worth having if it's clean and I don't think you will be disappointed

Glenn .... forgot to add that my carriers mint! .... sorry couldn't resist it LOL

Ole · May 3, 2005

So it is. Pull the holder half way out, twiddle focus until the two lines match up. Focus should then be perfect.

TPPhotog · May 3, 2005

GlennSYD said:
Now you guys have me wondering...

I'm curious about the block you can see on the rear of my carrier (refer previous post with the attachment.) Is this the split focus aid some have described?

If so, how do you use it?

Glenn

Pull the carrier forward and a split line of light appears on the easel, adjust the focussing knob until it becomes one sharp straight line and then push the carrier fully home. Wam bam the image is a sharp at it's going to get.

Sorry Ole you type faster than me

argus · May 3, 2005

Ole said:
So it is. Pull the holder half way out, twiddle focus until the two lines match up. Focus should then be perfect.

Woohoo! I didn't even know about that!

Tnx

G

Glenn Mathison · May 3, 2005

You learn something every day !

Well I'll be damned... Never knew if had that focusser feature. Could have saved the money I spent on the grain focusser.

Oh well, that's life I guess.

Glenn

TPPhotog · May 3, 2005

I'm going on a sleep-over shift soon but if anyone is interested I could try scanning the manuals for the Opemus 5a and the colour head. To save bandwidth here with the images I could dump them on my humble site?

Glenn Mathison · May 3, 2005

TPPhotog said:
I'm going on a sleep-over shift soon but if anyone is interested I could try scanning the manuals for the Opemus 5a and the colour head. To save bandwidth here with the images I could dump them on my humble site?

Yes please! Just in case there are any other tricks I don't know about. Thanks Tony.

Glenn

Soeren · May 4, 2005

GlennSYD said:
I have a very similar model the Opemus 5. It was also my first enlarger and I scored it for free with a 50mm EL Nikkor. Works a treat for 35mm. I also have a schneider 80 mm for 6x6 negs and it also work wonderfully.

Let me know if you have any specific questions and I'll be glad to help out.

Glenn

Glenn I have a question about your lensboard. What kind is it ? Make material ? And how/where did you get it ? I have some reccessed 39mm tread lensboards for my Opemus. Pressed sheetmetal and "turned" alluminium. The one type wont fit my El-nikor and the other wont fit the enlarger. it hit's something inside.
Regards Søren

Soeren · May 4, 2005

Ole said:
So it is. Pull the holder half way out, twiddle focus until the two lines match up. Focus should then be perfect.

argus said:
Woohoo! I didn't even know about that!

Tnx

G

Neither did I and now I really feel stupid :confused: Didn't even think about it, I bought a grainfocusser that is a pita and it turns out I don't even need it.
The worst part is this isn't my first enlarger that have this feature DOH
Cheers Søren

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