Meopta availability in the U.S.?

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Guy Mann

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I've read a number of positive reviews about Meopta enlargers but as far as I can tell they only have U.S. distributors for their sport optics, not enlargers. I'm wondering if we have any U.S. Meopta users here and if they have any recommendations from personal experience of sources, either domestic or international, for Meopta enlargers and parts/accessories.

I've just started to watch ebay for Opemus and Magnifax enlargers and thus far every modern Meopta enlarger for sale seems to be located overseas. I suppose I'm curious if anyone has been down this road before and how often modern Meopta enlargers show up on ebay in the U.S.
 
I happen to have a Meopta Opemus III enlarger that I bought around 1971. At the time Consumer Reports seemed to think pretty highly of them. I bought it at a store known as Frank's Highland Park Camera in Los Angeles, and used it with its original lens. Used it mainly for 6x6 negatives from my Yashicamat 124.

I haven't heard much about the brand in recent years, so it may well be they are no longer imported. They also made some types of cameras. I believe they came from Czechslovakia, which would ring true, since the Frank's Camera family were immigrants from there. It was a sad day when that store went out of business - in their day they were sort of the L. A. version of B&H.
 
Frank's Camera

Frank's Camera

I went there about a month ago. I had business in that part of town. Jena was still at the store. She's changed over the last 37 years since I bought my Spotmatic there. I've probably changed too. ;)

The 200 foot deep x 60 foot wide main floor was filled with junk. All of the display cabinets were covered chest high in papers and notebooks. Faded forty year old marketing props filled the front windows. Pigeons were nesting in the broken ceiling tiles twenty feet overhead. They were constantly flying about. A slightly demented homeless man has hired by Jena to shuffle some papers. There was so much junk, you could not get to the back 2/3 rds of the store. The staircase to the upper floor was inaccessible. I saw maybe 20 very cheap lenses and cameras. They still had many camera bags and some ancient film. Kodacolor II anyone?

Jena said they were all well. Vera and Frank retired to the ranch. Milan managed the ranch for movie shoot rentals and Jena was still in the store.

I went a couple of times to their photoshoot festivals at their Sand Canyon ranch. They had 20 - 30 models and Playboy Playmates in skimpy bathing suits to pose for the customers. They had Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Hassy, Minolta, Leica, and many other reps there. It was about half a mile from my parents' ranch.

Frank's Camera's website seems to be about 6 years old, however they have the new two year old commuter train stop listed on the home page.

http://frankscamera.com/

-Lance
 
I stand corrected. I just got back from trying it on the web, and sure enough, they are still there - or are again, maybe. Looks like the same place.

They at one time used to advertise pretty heavily in Pop Photo, then I didn't hear a thing about them for a long time. I no longer live in the L. A. area, so that could have something to do with it, too.
 
David Murphy said:
A quick search of eBay just revealed at least five for sale now, plus accessories
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Odd... when I search I only see only one... an Opemus 6 and it's located in England. There are a couple of seriously ancient Meopta enlargers as well but that's all. What search parameters return these 5 for you?
 
Guy Mann said:
Odd... when I search I only see only one... an Opemus 6 and it's located in England. There are a couple of seriously ancient Meopta enlargers as well but that's all. What search parameters return these 5 for you?
Click to expand...
I don't know what country you are in (eBay searches are tailored to country), but on eBay US if you enter "Meopta enlarger" and click the box "search title and description" you will find a bevy of them (most look to be second hand, but I did not study the ads).
 
I've read a number of positive reviews about Meopta enlargers but as far as I can tell they only have U.S. distributors for their sport optics, not enlargers. I'm wondering if we have any U.S. Meopta users here and if they have any recommendations from personal experience of sources, either domestic or international, for Meopta enlargers and parts/accessories.
Click to expand...


Hello!

I love Meoptas! I've used the Opemus range and Magnifax for the past 10 years after college. The Magnifax range have a rotating column for floor projection. You can also work it so that it will project side-ways too.

If you're serious about getting one, how about the Magnifax 4 range? Prints from 110 format up to 6x9cm format. That's really something. Very sturdy and reliable and will last for decades too.

Lots of love.

xoxoxoxo

Miffy

http://carrotblog.livejournal.com
 
Carrotblog said:
how about the Magnifax 4 range?
Click to expand...

Indeed. I'm specifically interested in the Magnifax 4 enlargers...very attractive feature set. I guess my concern is that I've been watching ebay for a good while and have yet to see any located in the United States. If I recall correctly, some of the Meoptas I've seen available in Europe had 220V power supplies. I'm kinda wondering if I will be waiting a looong time to find one that is a.) used b.) affordable c.)in decent condition d.) have a compatible power supply or if I should just get something that is more readily available.

I'm also wondering whether or not I would be setting myself up for unwanted expense and difficulty obtaining accessories and parts as it doesn't seem they have any North American distributors.

Can anyone recommend any reputable UK/Europe dealers that deal in used equipment and will also ship to the United States? I would like to add dealers like this to my search options in general.
 
I don't know the magnifax feature set, but from the discussion above, certain Beseler models perform most or all of those functions.
 
I would leave the Meoptas alone and spend the money on a good Beseler or Omega. Parts are easier to come by in the US.
 
Guy Mann said:
Indeed. I'm specifically interested in the Magnifax 4 enlargers...very attractive feature set. I guess my concern is that I've been watching ebay for a good while and have yet to see any located in the United States. If I recall correctly, some of the Meoptas I've seen available in Europe had 220V power supplies. I'm kinda wondering if I will be waiting a looong time to find one that is a.) used b.) affordable c.)in decent condition d.) have a compatible power supply or if I should just get something that is more readily available.

I'm also wondering whether or not I would be setting myself up for unwanted expense and difficulty obtaining accessories and parts as it doesn't seem they have any North American distributors.

Can anyone recommend any reputable UK/Europe dealers that deal in used equipment and will also ship to the United States? I would like to add dealers like this to my search options in general.
Click to expand...


Hi Guy,

It's not likely you would need parts for a Meopta - they're that reliable. The Beselers are lovely too, but when you need to print 6x9cm greater than the easel allows, what better enlarger is there, than a Meopta which can swivel its head and project on a flat surface? The Beselers don't project 90 degrees and print 6x9cm unfortunately - beautiful as they are. The Meoptas - fantastic quality at a budget price. Only De Vere 203s outshine, but then look at the weight of a De Vere!

xoxoxo

Miffy

http://carrotblog.livejournal.com
 
Miffy: The Beseler 45 will do exactly that; all you needed was a 6x9 carrier. I used one for years. And yes, the 45 is "oversized", but there's an advantage to that. Having an oversized light source can provide better illumination.

Also, I removed the baseboard, mounted the unit on a concrete block wall, and used adjustable baseboard that could be raised and lowered.
 
Trius said:
Miffy: The Beseler 45 will do exactly that; all you needed was a 6x9 carrier. I used one for years. And yes, the 45 is "oversized", but there's an advantage to that. Having an oversized light source can provide better illumination.

Also, I removed the baseboard, mounted the unit on a concrete block wall, and used adjustable baseboard that could be raised and lowered.
Click to expand...


Thanks Trius. I like the Meopta because the 6x9cm is the same size as a 6x6cm enlarger. For 4x5 work, I'm not sure I'd be happy settling on a Beseler 45 when a Devere 405 would do the same job and weighs as much. Spot on too with the oversize light source.

The beauty of the Meopta Magnifax is that there isn't anything as small and dainty that does projectable 6x9cm in such a small package :)
 
Wow, Frank's! They were very good to deal with, and back in the 70's and 80's I bought quite a bit of Pentax 6x7 and 35mm gear from them because they had the stuff in stock. I live two states away, but once when passing through LA I made a point of looking up the store and stopping in for a pleasant visit. Glad to hear they're still around, sad to hear of the condition of the store. The reminds me of Clyed's in downtown Seattle, long gone now, but they had every obscure accessory for Leica, Bolex, Hasselblad, etc... all covered thickly in dust.
 
I've had a Meopta Magnifax 4a B&W enlarger for a couple of years now, which I use with Meopta 50mm and 80 mm lenses. It is an extraordinary enlarger, made in the Czech Republic to very high standards. The lenses are equal in quality to comparable Nikons or Rodenstocks. But yes, as far as I know you can't get them in the US, and they only are made for European voltage. I suppose you could import one from its UK distributor, the helpful RK Photographic, where I bought mine (see www.meopta.co.uk), but shipping charges would be high -- they are HEAVY. You'd also need to get a step-down transformer and plug converter as well. Not sure it's worth it, as much as I love mine.
 
But yes, as far as I know you can't get them in the US, and they only are made for European voltage.
Click to expand...

Being an itinerant rabbit, I find voltage transformers for different places very useful. The Magnifax 4a is absolutely ggreat Carl! You should be very happy with it (what other enlarger might you have in mind, that might deserve love more than your Meopta?!)

xoxoxoxo

Miffy

http://carrotblog.livejournal.com
 
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