stmartin
Hello, I’m new here.
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I’ve started taking analogue photos again. Now I’d like to develop my own photos and films. A friend has given me an
enlarger. It’s a Meopta Axomat. Can I use it to enlarge 6x6 negatives as well?
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Many thanks and best regards
Lichtjahr
...it's quite simple.
Take a look at the film stage to see how big the opening is.
The film stage is located between the lens and the lamp housing; it should be designed to slide out.
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Edi
stmartin
Hi, the film stage is for 35mm film. Is it possible to buy a larger one? Unfortunately, I’m new to this and don’t know where to get hold of one.
Urnes
Axomat is KB, Opemus 6x6, Magnifax 6x9. The latter two can also handle the smaller formats.
Regards, Sven.
stmartin
Right, thanks a lot then – I’ll get myself an Opemus. Or is there a better machine for enlarging small and medium-format photos?
TR
Hello, there are certainly ‘better’ machines than those made in Eastern Europe. The market leader is – or was – the company ‘Durst’. However, an Opemus is sufficiently robust and, in itself, a good machine (the latest, grey generation). If you’re thinking of buying one, take your time and have a look on eBay to see if there are any such enlargers available with as many accessories as possible. Because sourcing these accessories later on will be difficult. The enlarger should come with a couple of good lenses (one for 35mm; one for 6x6) and also several insert masks for the stages (35mm, 6x6 and possibly glass inserts). Ideally, the colour mixing head should also be included. With this, you can easily control the contrast for black and white as well and won’t be reliant on the insert filters.
ZalmanYanowsky
Whether you are ‘reliant’ on insert filters or choose to use them deliberately is a question of the standards you set for your enlargements. When I started putting together my darkroom, HR films had just come onto the market, representing something of a quantum leap in terms of acutance and fine grain. Just compare prints from Kodacolor II with those from Fujicolor HR 100!
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I didn’t want to miss out on that, so instead of buying a colour mixing head for my Krokus Color 69 S, I bought (for roughly the same price) Kodak print filters. And I haven’t regretted it to this day. Incidentally, the Krokus mentioned above is so sturdy that you could hang yourself from it if you ever got completely fed up with it.
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If you want a slightly softened sharpness – as mixing chambers generally produce – you can achieve this by inserting a frosted glass pane into the filter drawer.
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Best regards!
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Zal
highscore
I’m not convinced by colour-mixing heads on SW enlargers for enlargements.
I once tested one on my enlarger. And I was disappointed by the blacks, which were just dark grey.
And I don’t see any time-saving benefit with manual split-grade either.
Ah. Kokus are good machines!
