Focomat V35 + Focotar-2 50 = autofocus?

[aesop]

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Is it possible to retain the autofocus function of a Focomat V35 if the original Focotar 40mm 2.8 lens is replaced with a Focotar-2 50mm 4.5 lens? Or is the autofocus function strictly related to the focal length of the lens?

 

For the record, I prefer the Focotar-2. Any advice on this specific issue will be gladly received. Thanks in advance.

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[Irishimage]

According to "The Focomat Manual" by Rudolph Seck

 

And i quote

"On request the Focomat V 35 AF can be fitted with a 50mm lens.

 

A suitable focusing device has been designed for the 50mm lens f4.5 Focotar II.

 

This changeover can only be carried out in Leitz workshops"

End of quote.

 

I presume they mean replacing the Cam / or and Cam roller that activates automatic lens position in relation to magnification.

 

The mechanics of the Focomat are very straight forward, anybody with knowledge of mechanics/machines should be able to exchange these parts without too many problems.

 

Hope this helps in some way...

 

Noel

[aesop]

According to "The Focomat Manual" by Rudolph Seck

 

And i quote

"On request the Focomat V 35 AF can be fitted with a 50mm lens.

 

A suitable focusing device has been designed for the 50mm lens f4.5 Focotar II.

 

This changeover can only be carried out in Leitz workshops"

End of quote.

 

I presume they mean replacing the Cam / or and Cam roller that activates automatic lens position in relation to magnification.

 

The mechanics of the Focomat are very straight forward, anybody with knowledge of mechanics/machines should be able to exchange these parts without too many problems.

 

Hope this helps in some way...

 

Noel

 

 

...hey, Noel, I feared it would be a definite no-no, so I am really glad to hear it is not impossible. I will await further input from the clan before I take the next step(s) - keep it coming folks, and thanks for your support.

[christer]

WHY?

 

It would be a better option to buy a top notch 40 mm lens. Schneider APO Componon HM would be my choice.

[tobey bilek]

If you do it, auto focus will only go to 11x.

 

The auto focus cam needs to be replaced.

[aesop]

WHY?

 

It would be a better option to buy a top notch 40 mm lens. Schneider APO Componon HM would be my choice.

 

 

Christer, thanks for your input, but I'm afraid the question is not "why?" but "how?"

 

We all know there is no end to the science versus art debate. Opinions will differ, and rightly so. That is why I made my position vis-a-vis lens choice perfectly clear.

 

Most high-end modern lenses, when properly applied, are more than capable of delivering stunning results. I print up to 30" X 20" and have enough confidence in the technical capabilities of the Focotar II 50mm f4.5 lens. If the resultant images are not beyond excellent (technically and aesthetically) then it is down to me. Not the lens.

 

I therefore find it more rewarding to focus my energies towards developing the artistic side of my work, rather than getting caught up on whether top notch lens A knocks the spots of top notch lens B. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to participate in a lens force-ranking exercise, using clearly defined scientific criteria. I will also gladly debate the substantive benefits and disbenefits of camera X over camera Y. But I am not entirely sure it adds to the creative process.

 

One more point - it takes time to understand equipment, particularly lenses. You get a lot more out of your lens if you understand it. I am still on that never-ending journey.

 

Again, thanks, and keep 'em coming.

[aesop]

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If you do it, auto focus will only go to 11x.

 

The auto focus cam needs to be replaced.

 

 

...this is great, Tobey. So, assuming all equipment is Leitz/Leica darkroom stuff, my understanding is thus:

 

- no V35 autofocus with a 50mm lens until the original 40mm cam is changed to a 50mm cam;

- if the change to a 50mm cam is effected, magnification with a 50mm lens will only go up to 11X;

 

Questions:

- can a 40mm lens be used with a 50mm cam?

- what limitations, if any, exist with a "40mm lens/50mm cam" combo?

- can the cam change be be reversed (50mm cam back to 40mm cam and vice versa), and how easy is this?

 

Thanks in advance.

[christer]

...this is great, Tobey. So, assuming all equipment is Leitz/Leica darkroom stuff, my understanding is thus:

 

- no V35 autofocus with a 50mm lens until the original 40mm cam is changed to a 50mm cam;

CORRECT

- if the change to a 50mm cam is effected, magnification with a 50mm lens will only go up to 11X;

HALF TRUE.

TRUE: ON THEORIGINAL BASE BAORD.

NOT TRUE: IF YOU TURN THE HEAD 180 DEGREES, AND KEEP THE ENLARGER ON A TABLE AND PROJECT ON THE FLOOR

 

Questions:

- can a 40mm lens be used with a 50mm cam?

YES, BUT NO AUTOFOCUS FOR 40 MM

- what limitations, if any, exist with a "40mm lens/50mm cam" combo?

UNPRACTICAL

- can the cam change be be reversed (50mm cam back to 40mm cam and vice versa), and how easy is this?

YES, THERE IS NO STANDARD RICHTER SCALE FOR THIS, BUT BASED ON YOUR QUESTIONS (SORRY): VERY DIFFICULT

 

Thanks in advance.

 

YOU WROTE: Christer, thanks for your input, but I'm afraid the question is not "why?" but "how?"

 

EBAY FOR LESS THAN 100 EURO (PERSONAL EXPERIENCE), A LOT CHEAPER AMD EASIER THAN CAM CHANGE.

 

chris

[waileong]

I doubt Leica has the people or the parts to replace it for you now. So where are you gonna get the work done?

 

The V35 came with a 40 mm lens, why not use it? It's a very good lens too. If you prefer a 50 mm, use another enlarger.

 

As for your comment of learning how to use lenses, I agree that most of us use only a fraction of the potential of the equipment we have, HCB did much better pics with less technically superior equipment than all of us, the Indian is more important than the arrow, etc. This is true for shooting but I think it's less true for enlarging.

 

In shooting we have decisions to make about handheld vs tripod, aperture vs shutter speed, overexpose vs underexpose, where to focus, what film to use, etc.

 

However, in the darkroom we have very little control left to play with, since the neg has been developed. We worry a lot about baseboard alignment and easels that keep paper flat because we want sharp images, we worry about unwanted reflections and stray light because we don't want to lose contrast, we worry about even-ness of illumination because we don't want the corners of the print to be too underexposed relative to the centre.

 

The enlarger lens has only one focus point, and that is to the baseboard (or the easel); aperture is usually set to optimum (eg f8) unless there is a specific reason otherwise (eg exposure time would be too long or too short for dodging/burning), even-ness of illumination is an important consideration, and resolving power is absolutely critical at large enlargements.

 

For these reasons, all darkroom book authors tell you not to cheap out on the enlarger lens, as it is the most important piece of glass in your photographic chain (assuming you print and not just scan the images).

 

I think this is why a quality enlarging lens is critical, unlike in normal shooting where a cheap 50/1.8 SLR lens could perform just as well as an L zoom lens at moderate apertures, particularly have real world factors such as camera shake, subject movement and imperfect exposures are taken into account.

[Irishimage]

I know this is just a minor point, but a correction should be made to some of the above posts in that the magnification range for the 50mm Lens is at maximum 12x not 11x as stated .

 

Also the magnification scale can be rotated through 180º to indicate this range when using the 50mm Lens.

 

BUT why bother using autofocus in the first place ,i never do,i fine focus visually as best i can for every enlargement, even if you use autofocus i'm sure you'll still need to tweek it a little every time.

 

Noel