Magnifax - Accessories

TR · 2012-12-22T07:16:45+00:00

Hallo allerseits! Ich habe mir günstig einen Magnifax 4 Vergrößerer zugelegt, um bis 6x9 vergrößern zu können. Die Mischbox im dazugehörigen "Color 3" - Far...

TR

Hello everyone! I’ve picked up a Magnifax 4 enlarger at a bargain price so I can enlarge up to 6x9. The mixing box in the accompanying "Color 3" colour head seems to me to be suitable for up to 6x7 (the light-sensitive area is approx. 8 cm wide). It’s just made of polystyrene and a light-coloured plastic surface, but before I try to build something like that myself, I wanted to ask whether you can still get a 6x9 mixing box like this from Impex? This entry has piqued my curiosity in this regard, although its heading is “Replacement Filters”. What exactly is this about? Can I still get hold of a 6x9 mixing chamber for the Meopta Color 3 colour head via Impex? Then another question regarding the image stage: this is equipped with the standard pair of glass/Antinewton elements. For 35mm, there are still masks in the Impex catalogue, but unfortunately apparently no longer for 6x6 and certainly no 6x9 masks – does enlarging 6x9 without glass make any sense at all? Or do they naturally sag? At the very least, the solution of one glass and one mask would be a good compromise here. Best regards, Thomas

MirkoBoeddecker

Unfortunately, the 6x9 mixing chambers and glassless masks are sold out. A glassless mask at the bottom and an AN glass pane at the top make a good combination. The replacement filters are for "mechanics" who want to take their heads apart and change the filters in the beam path at the top. Best regards, Mirko

TR

Hi Mirko, thanks for your reply. I’d already unscrewed the colour head – so now I know what’s meant by ‘replacement filters’ – it makes sense, really, though the product description mentions mixing chambers. It’s a shame that there are no longer any dedicated 6x9 accessories available. So I’ll have to make a mixing box myself. I’ll also need a 6x9 frame. I’ve got an old 6x9 sheet film holder somewhere; I’ll have a look for it – perhaps I can make something out of it. Best regards and happy holidays, Thomas

mabo

[color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][left][background=rgb(255, 255, 191)]Hello Thomas,[/background][/left][size][/color [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-seri[size=3][left[background=rgb(255, 255, 191)]At least the 6x6 mask is currently available on eBay at a fair price: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Meopta-Formateinlage-65x90-60x60-MAGNIFAX-NEU-/310539963426?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item484d9fcc22#ht_1092wt_1183[/background][/lef[/size][/colo [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-seri[size=3][lef[background=rgb(255, 255, 191)]Best regards[/background][/lef[/size][/colo [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][left][background=rgb(255, 255, 191)]Markus[/background][/left[/size][/column

TR

Hi Markus, thanks for the link. I’ve still got a few “sliders” that were originally designed for the 4x5-inch cassettes used in large-format cameras. They’re made of black, fairly stiff plastic, which seems to be easy enough to work with using just a craft knife and sandpaper. I’ll have a go at carving some masks out of them.

pittyman

Hi Thomas, Whenever I’ve needed ‘frames’ in the darkroom, a mat cutter and a piece of cardboard have usually done the job just fine. With very little effort, you can quickly and easily create almost perfectly square masks or frames. If necessary, the result can be finished off nicely with some matt black spray paint. I’ve even made a few negative holders myself using this method. Good luck with your Magnifax! Dirk

MirkoBoeddecker

...which makes sense, but the product description mentions mixing chambers.

Ah, I’ve spotted it now too. Let’s change it. Happy holidays. Mirko

tschackmack

Hi everyone, I’ve got hold of a second-hand Magnifax 4 and (as a newbie, it all takes a bit longer ;) I’ve just realised that the top anti-Newton glass is missing from my negative stage (there was a 35mm mask in there), which is a bit of a pain if you want to shoot medium format ;) So now I’m on the hunt for a suitable anti-Newton glass... Can you still order them? Unfortunately, I haven’t found anything current (only https://www.yumpu.com/de/document/view/3594190/efker-FOTOIMPEX/71 or similar old ones) Or does anyone know if there are suitable ones from other brands? Many thanks! Bye for now

jonny

Kaiser still supplies 6x9 AN glass as an accessory for the V-series cameras. I can’t say for certain whether it’ll fit perfectly in terms of thickness and dimensions. Order it, return it if necessary, and let us know here so everyone can benefit. Otherwise, you could try contacting a local glassmaker. € The best way to get hold of mixing boxes and similar items is to pick up a second camera with the right kit as a spare parts donor when the opportunity arises. Lens plates and masks for the Magnifax 4 were still quite expensive on eBay a few months ago. € You can enlarge medium format with the Magnifax even without glass (using masks). But of course, the ideal combination is AN glass on top and a mask on the bottom. That’s how I enlarge 6x9 with the Magnifax, using a lower mask I’ve cut myself out of cardboard. In principle, you could also have one filed or cut from a 6x6 or 6x7 mask, but filing is tedious and nobody wants to cut one because it’s not worth the effort. In my experience, AN glass/glass is not a good combination, because many modern films (e.g. Kodak CN films) are so smooth on the emulsion side that they produce Newton’s rings there with standard glass. AN glass on the emulsion side (bottom) is, of course, not an option. The anti-Newton’s rings spray that used to be available from Tetenal has also disappeared from the market. In practice, however, as I said, it works very well with AN glass on top and the mask on the bottom, or at least with 6x6/6x7 formats, also with the mask on both the top and bottom.

tschackmack

*wow* Thank you so much for the quick and detailed reply! 😊 I was already on my way to my trusted glazier (since I’ve gone back to analogue photography, I’ve got myself a camera like that ;) ) when I read that it has to be AN-grade glass, and I’d lost a bit of confidence that this is standard practice for glaziers, but I suppose I could ask him if he’d be willing to sand and file it down... I haven’t been able to find anywhere that explains how to recognise one either (“slightly frosted surface”…???). Or just try it out and see if the rings appear? (I did try it by mistake and there weren’t any) 😊 But I’ll definitely try the mask idea straight away. It just goes to show how daft you can be as a beginner – it’s completely logical, but I’d probably never have thought of it myself. Thanks!!! 😊 Thanks again, I’ve got to get back to the darkroom now :)