M.Hilo Posted February 10, 2014 Share #1 Posted February 10, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, Does anyone know of a site that has collected the ins and outs of working with the Leitz enlargers? I think most about the Focomat 1C and 2C and the Valoy II. Also the V35. Questions and answers about maintenance, how to set the automatic focus and the various solutions for working with multigrade filters using the non color models, or solving newton rings when there's no AN glass installed . . . Perhaps I have not read the right manuals, but those I did see I found of not much use. Of course there's a lot of information on the net, but it is scattered and it is not easy to find information of photographers with actual printing experience. Michael 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 Hi M.Hilo, Take a look here Practical Focomat & Valoy information. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Michael Hiles Posted February 13, 2014 Share #2 Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) I have had a focomat 1c (non-colour) since about 1970, and I love it. It is a wonderful unit - a fine example of Leitz at its best. I don't know of any central repository of information. I have an original instruction booklet that describes general maintenance and adjusting the autofocus (should not be necessary unless someone has monkeyed around with it). To use multigrade filters, I removed the red filter below the lens. I cut up a CD-ROM into a shape much like the red filter and cut a hole in the middle about the size of the actual red filter. I screwed it onto the machine to replace the red filter, and I lay my Ilford filters on the CD-ROM - it acts as a platform for the multigrade filters. I could use it for colour filters (but I don't). I am not aware of any alternative to the AN glass. You might find something from a scientific supply house, but it would not catch onto the condenser. There may be some tricks, but I don't know - I have the AN unit. Apparently a place called Focal Point has AN glass but I don't know anything more than that. If you are interested in a copy of the instruction booklet send me a private message and I will scan it and email it to you. Edited February 13, 2014 by Michael Hiles 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxspbr Posted May 5, 2014 Share #3 Posted May 5, 2014 Michael, I got (after years waiting for one!) a Focomat Ic. Non-color model, from 1974, tall column. It's perfect, it only ask you a negative and a lamp. Follow the instruction manual about lubrificating now and then - and that's it. About the multigrade filters, O just drop them over the condenser. That's enough. I believe that tu put the filters under the lens can degrade the image. There is a metal piece to put under the condenser to avoid Newton Rings. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bateleur Posted May 8, 2014 Share #4 Posted May 8, 2014 (edited) I'm afraid I cannot help with the "older" enlarger information but in my experience the V35 autofocus once set up according to the instructions works perfectly, it is a little tricky to get it right but I used a high contrast negative and fine tuned the process until I was satisfied. Maintenance is limited to applying silicon grease on the cam. If you need a copy (pdf) of the instruction manual let me know. You are probably aware of Claudio Bonavolta's site, if not here is the link Leitz Focomat V35 Additionally there are often discussions on the Analogue Users Forum, for instance Leitz Focomat V35 Hope this helps Charles Edited May 8, 2014 by Bateleur 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpattison Posted May 31, 2014 Share #5 Posted May 31, 2014 I found these links useful, too... Focomat enlargers | Darkroom User Ollinger's Guide to Photographic Enlargers: Leitz Enlargers He has a pdf of a 1c here... James's Camera Collection: Manuals and Documentation There is also the Hove Foto book "Leica Darkroom Practice" by Rudolph Seck John. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynp Posted January 12, 2015 Share #6 Posted January 12, 2015 Thank you for the links. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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