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Focomat IIa vs IIc


pico

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Presently I use a *crippled Focomat IIa. I would dearly like to learn from IIc users of the differences. If you know, please share.

 

*crippled - auto focus parts missing and given its condition other parts could be gone as well. In the meantime I use small wooden blocks to trap enlarger movement to my preferred print size, and focus manually. (I do not use Leitz enlarging lenses.)

 

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Pico,

 

I never used the IIa, so whatever I would have to say to your question is based on using the IIc. In general I believe the evolution of the IIa itself saw many small changes and the same goes for the evolution of the IIc.

 

One quite an important difference between IIa and IIc is the size of the rectangular opening of the negative holder. It is larger with the IIa and the glasses must be larger too. I have a friend who swears by the IIa for this reason. It is correct that some 120 film negatives are difficult to place in the IIc, in particular when trying to include the negative borders. I filed out a IIc neg holder for a shot done with a Zeiss Ikon folder.

 

My favorite IIa would be the early one lens version. If I am correct this one can take any lens. Much like its small future cousin the Valoy II.

 

I am sceptic about the many stories on the net about early Focotar and Elmar lenses being not very good. I have used many versions in almost 40 years and, basically, when you know what you're doing the results are always very good.

 

Michael

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[... snip generous advice ...] One quite an important difference between IIa and IIc is the size of the rectangular opening of the negative holder. It is larger with the IIa and the glasses must be larger too.

 

I dearly like the larger negative carrier of the IIa because one of my favorite cameras is the original Plaubel Verywide 100 which is a true 56x90! Good old German stuff! (I like it so much I have two, just in case) :) My IIa has the rotating lens mount, but I never use it.

 

You wouldn't know if the IIa carrier would work in the IIc, would you?

 

Thank you, Michael!

Edited by pico
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Pico, for sure the IIa carrier won't work in the IIc. The IIa negative holder is a different design.

 

So, about your question, I think the other differences are probably inconsequential and I don't think you will see much difference between their prints.

 

Both are great enlargers

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  • 2 years later...

Don't know if anybody is going to read this post, 3 years after the conversation. Anyway, I'll give it a try.

I have a friend who received a Focomat IIa and asked me to help him to get started. I never handled a Focomat however. After a first look, I have 2 questions:

1 - the enlarger is equipped with 2 lenses. I can't see however how one can shift from one to other.

2 - How can the negative carrier be taken out (for cleaning the glasses, for instance).

If anybody has a usuers manual in any language (german, english, whatever..) I would be quite interested to get a copy (I would pay the necessary fee - if reasonnable - of course.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Jacques Kevers (Belgium)

www.picto.info - www.photo-expression.be

 

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Jacques,

As I have not used the IIa all I can say is "from the distance".

- There is a turret that holds both lenses and you should be able to turn it around, to switch lenses. If it won't move, there's either a lock to be unlocked, or it is stuck from not being used.

(with the IIc the two lenses are situated in a rectangular lens stage, which moves sideways . . .)

- Negative carrier should just slide out, but again there could be some kind of lock. Take a good look, otherwise pull harder than you have . . .

(when I can't pull out the negative carrier of a IIc, I take off the entire head by unlocking a large black knob on the right of the head. This unlocks and one can lift up the head. I don't know if the IIa has something similar. When you can do that, first bring the parallelogram in the high position, otherwise it may shoot up once the weight balance is no longer there).

- I read on the Leitz page of the Glennview site "the cam follower is manually repositioned". A cam follower regulates automatic focus when lenses are switched. With the IIc this is the cable release that does that, called the Bowden cable. It is interesting that with the IIa you can set that by hand. This may be the better system of the two.

- There a IIa pamphlet on Ebay.de, but don't get your hopes up. These Leitz leaflets basically mention lose parts and very little about actual use.

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