kenneth Posted January 25, 2010 Share #1 Posted January 25, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am considering upgrading my Paterson Viewer for something a little more sophisticated and I have read good reports about the range of viewers from Peak Optics Enlarging Focuser Peak Optics, Magnifiers, Comparators, Loupes, For Inspection & Measuring, 2x to 300x The Paterson works fine with films with standard grain but with T-grain films it is more difficult. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/110628-peak-enlarger-viewers/?do=findComment&comment=1199728'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 25, 2010 Posted January 25, 2010 Hi kenneth, Take a look here Peak Enlarger Viewers. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
tgray Posted January 25, 2010 Share #2 Posted January 25, 2010 Yeah mine is great. They are pricey new, but more affordable used. The model 1 is the best. The 2 and 3 are similar, but have smaller mirrors, so you can't view grain in the corner of the print. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
palec Posted January 25, 2010 Share #3 Posted January 25, 2010 The same model as Peak #2000 or Model 1 has been sold as Micromega Critical Focuser in past. I have the old micromega and replaced scratched mirror with new stock from Peak. I also have blue filter on it, but I haven't seen any difference (I just did a quick comparison at modest enlargment). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted January 25, 2010 Yeah mine is great. They are pricey new, but more affordable used. The model 1 is the best. The 2 and 3 are similar, but have smaller mirrors, so you can't view grain in the corner of the print.I've just ordered one from Paul Paterson at S/H darkroom. It is £95.00 and according to him it is in perfect working order Second-hand Darkrooms Supplies Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted January 26, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted January 26, 2010 The Peak 2000 duly arrived today and although it looks to have had a busy life everything seems to be in order and the great advantage of it is that it has the ability to focus edge to edge across the negative and it seems to give greater critical focus with T grain film than the Paterson. I believe SHD Darkroom still has one of the other Peak Focus Finders in stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted January 27, 2010 Share #6 Posted January 27, 2010 I loved mine. A great tool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christer Posted January 27, 2010 Share #7 Posted January 27, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) A bit off topic, but still... I have a V35 that focuses automatically and I use it with a Schneider Kreuznach APO Componon HM 40 mm f/ 2,8 lens. I did the initial sharpness setting a couple of years ago with a large reading glass and I have been very satisfied with the results. Recently I had a chance to use a very good lens (probably from a photocopying machine) to check the sharpness. The test showed that I could not improve on the AF. My piece of advice to anybody considering buying an enlarger for 35 mm negatives would be to get a V35 even if it costs a bit more. The extra money spent can be saved by not having to buy a Peak Enlarger Viewer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted January 29, 2010 As I have only had sight of V35 user manual on line in French I can not say whether this is sound advise or not. In order for the auto focus system in the V35 to match the qualities of a Peak viewer it would have to use the negatives grain as a means of reference which I would imagine to be extremely difficult on ultra fine grain films like technical pan or the new T grain in Kodak T-Max. As a user of a V35 enlarger can you confirm how it arrives at it's point of focus and also is it able to give accurate grain focus edge to edge on a negative as you are able to do with the Peak 2000 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christer Posted January 29, 2010 Share #9 Posted January 29, 2010 Kenneth, I assume that you print with your enlarger lens closed down to f/5,6 or f/8 - and if that is so, I suggest you do the following experiment with a very sharp _pictorial_ negative - not a scientific negative with lines and circles and all that jazz, but a real world picture. Focus it as well as you can on your enlarger easel, using the best tool available to you and print once. (Use the enlargement factor you use most of the time in real life.) Then put something under the easel, half an inch thick, or one centimeter, and make another print. Then put the easel back into its original position and turn the lens, say 15° or 30° degrees and make another print. Well, while you are at it, do the same test with a "lens test negative", I mean one of those negatives with lots of parallel lines, and circles and crosses and all that jazz. Please report you findings here and I will compare with mine. BTW, I had my eyes tested earlier this week and the verdict was that with glasses my vision is the maximum possible given the physical limitations of the human eye. Looking forward to your observations, Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topoxforddoc Posted January 29, 2010 Share #10 Posted January 29, 2010 As I have only had sight of V35 user manual on line in French I can not say whether this is sound advise or not. In order for the auto focus system in the V35 to match the qualities of a Peak viewer it would have to use the negatives grain as a means of reference which I would imagine to be extremely difficult on ultra fine grain films like technical pan or the new T grain in Kodak T-Max. As a user of a V35 enlarger can you confirm how it arrives at it's point of focus and also is it able to give accurate grain focus edge to edge on a negative as you are able to do with the Peak 2000 Kenneth, The V35 uses autofocus with a series of cams connected to the swing arm. Each V35 was allegedly set up for its own 40/2.8 Focotar. The autofocus only needs adjustment for easel height and minor adjustment on the lens helix (I used my Paterson Focus finder for this). Once set though, that's it. I haven't taken my focus finder out in anger for years (no need). Same is true for all the Focomat enlargers (I series, II series as well as the V35). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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