Axomat 5

[sjb79]

Hi all,

I've got a severely underused meopta axomat 5 enlarger. It was a hand me down from my Dad and came without a manual, which means I've got some q's about it.
The enlarger has a filter tray, but I was wondering which filters would fit. Should I buy a certain type or size?
Is the lens that comes with it (I guess it's the "kit" lens) any good? If I wanted to upgrade it, what sort of lens should I look for?
Does anyone have a link to a PDF of the manual? I've not managed to find a lot of info about it on the web.

Thanks!

 

[Lilserenity]

This enlarger is very decent and I use it myself.

Filters wise, the Ilford Multigrade ones are what you need, they go in the filter tray above the negative carrier. You may find the tray has a piece of frosted opaque glass. I recommend removing it as having it there increases the exposure times quite significantly. The filters you need are these:

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/products/product.asp?n=47&t=Photo+Accessories+%26+Equipment

In terms of a manual, well this is the best I could find:
http://www.meopta.com/index.php?id=166

I have some paper copies but I don't have a scanner and you're not missing out on much at all. The enlarger is very simple really.

As for lens, you will probably have an Anaret 50mm f/4.5* or maybe a Belar 50mm f/4.5 -- the Belar being the most basic. Both will produce good 10x8s and the Anaret good to 11x14.

I personally use the EL Nikkor 50mm f/2.8 -- great sharp optic that I can print up to 16x12 on a good sharp negative with good quality, and 11x14s/12x9.5s excellently.

I paid only £25 or so for mine, but they can go for more than double that. Patience is a virtue. There is a cheaper EL Nikkor 50mm f/4 which is also an excellent lens, just a bit slower (i.e. when focussing, f/2.8 is very handy to get the sharpest possible image.) There are other options but you can't go far wrong with EL Nikkor's.

Enjoy the Axomat, it's an overlooked robust gem of an enlarger. Nothing fancy but I like mine.

Vicky

* : There is also an Anaret-S which is a superb lens I am told and as good as the EL Nikkor 50mm's apparently. I've never used one though.

 

[sjb79]

Thanks Vicky, a lot of useful info there. Think i'll start scouring evil-bay for some lenses. Looking forward to making some wet-prints cos I've had enough of scanning for a while. Although I've just remembered that I need to find a new safelight as mine blew up the other day.
Thanks again!

 

[payasam]

How can a safelight blow up? Its light bulb can fuse, of course, but...

"... frosted opaque glass ... increases the exposure times quite significantly ..." Not surprising. Plain opaque glass is OK.

 

[Lilserenity]

"... frosted opaque glass ... increases the exposure times quite significantly ..." Not surprising. Plain opaque glass is OK.

Well now it makes sense, but at the time being a newbie (and generally worse than a wet sponge at physics in school) I had no idea why my 10x8s were needing at least 45 secs of exposure!

It makes sense now of course, I think I learn better by practice than sitting in a room and someone explaining the science to me of why things like that don't work or are that way 🙂

Or am I talking blather!

That said, the glass could be handy if you want to do some dodging and burning, to slow things down and allow you time to work.

Vicky

 

[payasam]

Forty and more years ago, when we did big (30" by 40" or so) prints, our exposure times would typically be of several minutes at f/11. Made manipulations much easier. No opaque or frosted glass in sight neitherly.