UPA-6E ZENIT (YNA-6E ZENITH) enlarger, is there any manual available?

Hi all!

This is simple yes or no question, but it may as well turn into one of those longer discussions.

I have this marvelous deadweight for years now, but I have some questions that should be answered in the original manual. Parameters, maintenance, adjusting autofocus, proposed arrangement of parts in the suitcase, since mine suitcase has no foam left. I just need to know the basic stuff, that's the important part.

I've seen UPA-5 manual already, and the design in most aspects differs a lot.

If there's any proud user of this particular enlarger, I'd be more, tan glad to hear any advice, like how she or he deals with light leaks, what types and formats of paper are being used, if the grain is sharp or not, what lightbulb should I use when the original, oddly-shaped tungsten one will break etc. I'm interested in all the odds, in all the guts of working with this tool, mostly how to avoid the errors and hidden traps. Also, I need a fair word about print quality, best if with examples, and if it's reasonable to even start tinkering wit this tank-like creature, or should I simply sell it and look for some other suitcase enlarger that would be up to standards.

I still have to get my hands on proper set of trays and multigrade filters, so it's nothing urgent.

Is that enlarger made by the KMZ company? I could not find any hint at that.

If YNA is Russian , it becomes UNA not UPA in English. Can you give the name of the lens also ?

[video=youtube;bJbIXvKajTw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJbIXvKajTw[/video]

That UPA-5 enlarger is one of those simple (or ingenious) out-of-box enlargers, not a autofocus one as the OP is inquiring on.

AgX said:

That UPA-5 enlarger is one of those simple (or ingenious) out-of-box enlargers, not a autofocus one as the OP is inquiring on.

Click to expand...

My "Raduga" UPA-5 is apparently identical to the one in Mustafa Umut Sarac's video. It is autofocus and well made, except for that foam case lining. Its Industar f/3.5 50mm lens outperforms a few of the Omega lenses that I've encountered. I can provide a copy of the meager 8-page instruction booklet if anyone needs one.

YNA-6E, N shaped oddly, so I reckon it's P, and whole name is UPA-6E. Russian H is latin N FWIK.

Lens is marked N50Y, so it becomes I50U (another kind of N letter ), meaning it's Industar, well-respected lens indeed. If it's good enough, I guess I have one thing less to worry about. At least two of the elements are coated with purple tint on a coated element, M39 mount, no stops on aperture ring and it looks like a funnel.

Whole upper body design is totally different, than UPA-5. It's heavy, cast, cubical, big chunk, painted with grayish paint. Closer to UPA-603, but the set of accessories is different - timer and lamp are different, the body and the suitcase seems the same though.
Here's 603 model, possibly incomplete:
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/8840/allegrofoto056ii4.jpg

I'm able to get 18x28cm print size without using provided 45 deg. mirror or swinging the head, so maximum magnification seems to be lower, than 8x, that UPA-5 manual states, and it's a tiny bit below what I'd be happy with (10x). But with a mirror, who knows... Also, there is one more negative frame, than what UPA-5 manual says - I have four.
Light leaks are horrific, but, I hope, manageable.

Thanks guys!

Found this - not much of a help apart from proving the fact, that the machine exists:
http://www.photohistory.ru/index.php?pid=1207248184774925

Horrific light leaks are not good to hear. You will invest lots of money to papers and we want you to gain most success. Try to invest a Leitz lens or Leitz Focomat enlarger with Leitz lens. If you manage to use it , you gain most from the pictures. What is your camera and lens , film and developer ?

NO ! If they are a fool like me who soled his for way to cheap.

Yups, Focomat would be great asset, so would a Leica. Also there are some suitcase-sized Dursts... Leitz gear is still not quite abundant where I live, it's easy to find information, but hard to find a given product - there's actually zero Leitz enlargers on our biggest auction site in this moment, and at least one full UPA suitcase set, fully working and in decent condition for under 20 USD. That's the reality.

I'd be happy to accept a gift or two, but having to spent a small fortune, I'd rather waste some film and paper and actually learn something or do something at least semi-decent or good enough. Light leaks are manageable, it just takes some time and thinking to plug all holes in the head without restricting ventilation, and I'm wondering how other people fixed this issue.

For now, my analog toolset consists of low-end lenses in K mount (28, 35-80, 50, 70-200) with Ricoh XR-1s, Cokin filters, lightweight tripod and a flash, and alternatively of Zorki C with two Industar lenses (22 and 61 L/D). I'll be buying something soon (ME Super or P30 body, Zorki 4 if there will be enough funds left for that), cause I'm selling trusty, but heavy Pentax Z-1 body, together with some other gear, that was only gathering dust recently.

Films and developers differ, I haven't found my favorite yet, but I'm trying to stay in 50-125 ISO range. What I do is mostly landscape photography, and I'm doing almost exclusively b&w photos, at least as long, as film goes. Digital stuff is a different animal. This year I've done some serious shooting with Polypan F, which is said to be Ilford Pan F without anti-reflective layer, but I doubt this kind of animal to be anybody's favorite. I'm not a typical landscape photographer, but I think we've already tackled this subject some time ago.

I think its better to engineer these leaks and continue with what you have. Zenit people are amazing and they build tank like products.
I bought an Zenit ET with Helios 58mm , 27 years ago new and I put in to newly bought Bosch refrigirator ice box and it was minus 25.
Camera worked like a charm and when I was university dorm , I changed it with German made military boots They were leaking also like your zenit. I think We found good common point. Heavy cameras are feels like an engineering product not like plastic toys , you understand when you lose it. My advise , if your z1 is working , let it stay with you. Dont invest a zorki but may be a kiev contax copy. I used two feds and they worked only couple of months. Good to know you are an landscape photographer and tri x rules in that business. May be better developers and films costs less but improves more. Do you know pyro developers , if you dont drink , touch , spill on yourself or around , its a toxic but very good may be the best developer. You can mix it but follow , read all the instructions and never breathe the pyrogallol powder.

Polish, Flemish are my favourite languages but I dont have energy to learn them. Valessa was a great , symphatic guy.

LOL I guess it's not only the leaking we have in common, also Zenit and Helios experience

Yups, this enlarger is built like a tank, not only from outside. I've just finished cleaning it throughly. Die-cast, crude and heavy, much like some Opemus enlargers I've seen, minus all the rounded edges. Russia is unlike any ordinary, civilized place, things there either are solid or borked.

It looks like I can mount some M39 lenses to the enlarger if I50U won't be up to the task. Not every one of them, cause there's very little space there (m42 thread won't fit the space designed for the lens, so it's less than 3mm of space), but still it leaves me with options like Nikon or Rodenstock lenses made for enlargers. I've visually checked image quality of the lens I have, and I guess it'll be sufficient to at least seriously try to work with this tool. The image is sharp and contrasty, the lens and timer are easy to use, the condenser seems to be working fine, and the enlarger itself is pretty stable thanks to its weight. All I need to start with.

We have three Zenit bodies here (E, 12XP and 3M). One I borrowed, one belongs to my GF and one I keep for sentimental reasons only. I can't stand their tiny viewfinders, no-go for a tool one has to work with. Plain, ground glass, 20x30mm size at best. Especially if you can replace it with any other semi-decent camera, there's just no coming back. But all three are in working condition. The curtain shutter in FSU 35mm cameras won't break easily BTW, it's derived from pre-war Leicas - doesn't matter if it's FED, Zorki or Zenit, it originates from Leica II. It gets used, either ribbons, curtains or glue will finally give up, but it's a matter of proper maintenance to prevent it from happening.

Also Helios originates from pre-war Germany - Zeiss called it Biotar back then. 44m is an excellent design, Russian engineers were perfecting it for over 60 years, and you just have to love the swirly bokeh it gives Actually a different Helios (103) is regarded as one of the best lenses for Kiev/Contax rangefinders. I've had Kiev 4AM with this lens, and I must say the body was inferior. Heavy like a brick, I was unable to nail framing in vertical direction, and it suffered from uneven film transport. On the contrary, the lens was pure magic, Ive done my best photos with it. I've sold it long time ago. Best, apparently, is not good enough. I'd give all but one film cameras, filters and lenses I have for an old Contax II with two lenses and two filters (Helios mentioned above and any decent backup lens plus polarizer and pale yellow-green filter), but I'm afraid the world just won't work this way.

I've been working with Z-1 for a short while, disliked the experience, and it was left unused ever since. I won't regret selling it, really. It's a pity to see such a decent camera gathering dust in a dark corner just because me being not flexible enough. But I am what I am, I can't work with it the way I like. So I don't. It should capture light, enable someone to make brilliant photos. Cheap Ricoh bodies in K mount have better viewfinders (bigger coverage and magnification) and some of them will never complain about depleted batteries. And this is more or less what I value, getting the job done without any distraction. I guess I'm Zorki/Leica type of guy, a lost case anyway.

I'll keep tri x and pyro in mind and try it as soon as I'll run out of Polypan, thanks a bunch for the tip I've never worked with pyro developers, and I recall I've done only like one or two rolls of any b&W kodak film, apart from Accademy, years ago. I was working more with Foma and Ilford films. I don't mind toxicity, pyrogallol is noting compared to dichromate anyways.

Beware, Polish is one of hardest languages to master. A lifetime task, even for some native speakers

I am seriously thinking to spend few years at poland , hungary , czech republic and belgium to learn all the languages there. I am thinking to join the courses. My one of the biggest ambition is constructed languages and inspiration is Tin tin s syldavian. Its a mixture above all plus Turkish.
I have lot to say but people starts to run after me with forks and torches.

I used two IIIC and two IIIF original Leica for years and I know what you mean with your selection.

I have an Polish friend here and he showed me a site where polish people were selling kilometers long old movie films for few euros.

Do you have a film seller who stocks regular 8mm color bw movie fresh film for me ?

I agree , these japanese cameras are works like an tank whatever their prices and K mount lenses are great.

I might have jeopardized myself by posting here, search engines throw this thread out in the very top.

I've found more photos of a similar unit, so that maybe someone sees it and chimes in with any advice: http://www.ussrphoto.com/wiki/defau...ContentID=1512&Item=UPA-601+Portable+Enlarger - the enlarger looks the same, though the red lamp is different. So maybe the actual -6E part isn't that important in the model name.

The manual I've found for UPA 5 is here:
http://www.submin.com/general/manuals/zenith/zenith_upa5m.htm
It seems to provide some substantial information, like the fact, that last stroke to adjust focus should be made upwards, or the fact, that autofocus should be adjustable, even though the design of this part is completely different in 6E model.

After quick search I've found only one fresh 8mm film readily available: FOMA B&W reversal. You may have more luck in Czech Republic or Germany, I think.

AgX said:

That UPA-5 enlarger is one of those simple (or ingenious) out-of-box enlargers, not a autofocus one as the OP is inquiring on.

Click to expand...

I have to beg your pardon Umut!


It IS autofocus.
I got something myself of this kind! Type 720. Bought in the 90's on one local so-called Poles-markets. Had looked at it at home and stored it. Never opened it since then. Still fine. I totally forgot about that autofocus feature...

Mine got a wedge in a slit alongside the front of the collumn, actuating a lever connected with the focusing stage.

Yups, same here, and it seems to be working nearly 100% fine. I have to adjust the focus only when changing the magnification drastically, for minor scale adjustments it's all OK.

My set has no facility to set the column ontop of that suitcase. The casing is completely covered with thin foam rubber. There is no special contouring. The deeper part of the suitcase has got two metal covered slits which accept the ends of the collumn and thus fix the whole enlarger. On top of that all is the baseboard. Loosely laid upon. It will be arrested by the foam covering in the top of the case when closing it.

The cast-iron lower part of the collumn I placed under the collumn. Its feet keep it somewhat to the collumn, but still it is not actually fixed.

Do you have 45 deg. mirror in your set, AgX? Else it's more or less usable only up to a4 range, not much fun.

Problem is I have a red lamp and a timer/switch that I have to fit in the suitcase in a way, that will not cause any problems. Also, I'm leaving a ground glass in the filter compartment, not sure if it's safe. The foam will deteriorate, be warned.
All the parts look like here:
http://www.photohistory.ru/Pictures/Enl-UPA-609-big.jpg
But... Where to squeeze the timer in this arrangement? It barely fits where one thinks it should go (underneath the lens), and there is very little place left for things not shown in this photo, like the negative carrier with frames or 6m of electric cords with three plugs in total. I have no baseboard or coping frame (ow, if this is Vergrößerungsrahmen in English), I'll have to take care for this tool as well.

All foam will deteriorate... A constant issue for all of us hoarding stuff. Especially annoying if the foam is custom contoured.

No I got no mirror, nor is their any reference in the russian manual. The collumn is telescopic and yields an enlargement factor of 10 or 20. Both factors are given in the manual, on the enlarger head on a photo in the manual it says 1-10-20, mine is plain. I'm puzzled by this and shall check this when I got time.
My kit is from 1992. Made by the Kirov plant from 1989 onwards.

My kit only consits of enlarger and baseboard. I never saw your two-suitcase kit before. Maybe your timer belongs into the suitcase with those trays.

Well I have single suitcase only and no foam, but the lack of it doesn't make me happier. I'll keep in mind 20x enlargement when stumbling onto one of those in an auction site.

Over here you can get sliced pieces of foam rubber at those large DIY-supply stores and at workshops specialized in custom-cut foam for upholstery etc. You also can get that sound absorbtion foam with conical surface strucrture and even that cubicle-cut foam. I assume the supply situation is the same in Poland.

But restoring the kit would only make sense if you want to re-gain the original state or even improve it for carrying around.

It's not about the new foam, really, but about the imprints in an old one, so that I'll know the safe arrangement of parts in the case. Upholstery folks have plenty of different foams here, there is at least one workshop in every town, and it's not an issue to buy a piece this way or another.

Do you remember if there were light-tightness issues with your model? The ceiling is illuminated quite brightly with what I have, so maybe instead of tinkering, I should look for a model with the head, that yours come with and just get rid of mine?

Thanks for the replies

No soviet enlarger-in-a-suitcase I know of has a contoured foam insert. Nor seems any to have special fixtures aside of those slits in the walls of the case to accept the collumn.

I did not check my enlarger for light leaks yet. It is a different model than yours anyway.

It's not about the contoured foam but about imprints. Yups, I know the models differ, but I have two UPA-725 sets available cheaply ATM, auctions end in about a week.