Leitz Focomat V35

[canuhead]

sounds like a return to seller unfortunately...

 

[Mark Fisher]

I bought one and I needed to align it. I needed to shim the base. I thought that the lens was out of alignment with the neg stage, but I found out that the problem was that the lens mounting flange was not very parallel to the front of the lens. I checked the alignment from the stage to the lens mounting plane and it was good. The autofocus is not perfect....pretty good but not perfect. I wouldn't trust it anyway so I was happy.
And Tim......it is really a pleasure to use (and I have a color head...I'm looking for a MC head). If this one doesn't work out, it will be worth trying again.

 

[Alan9940]

Hi Gary,

I've used a Focomat V35 for years; bought it used from a fellow LUG member about 15 years ago. It was still fairly expensive then, even used, but I got a LOT of extras with it including both the variable contrast module and color module. Regarding the original 40mm lens...it's a pretty good lens, but quite a few years ago I swapped it out for a Schneider APO-Componon HM 40mm lens and, in my testing, it pretty much trounched the Leitz lens. On smaller prints--say 5x7--the difference wasn't that noticeable, but at sizes such as 12x18 the difference was VERY noticeable especially in the corners! The Schneider optic certainly wasn't cheap, but worth every penny for extracting every last detail out of those wonderful Leica negs!

Good luck with your V35. I'm sure you'll enjoy it for years to come. BTW, I've read of many others trusting the autofocus mechanism; not me I still use a grain magnifier. I'm kind of anal retentive that way...I want to know for sure that image is as sharp as possible! After all, we are dealing with 35mm here.

 

[Gary Holliday]

I'll keep an eye on larger prints Alan...thanks. I thought the AF was lost when the lens was changed. I'm still loving the novelty of AF. Using the grain magnifier to check that it is still in focus is half the fun! I'll be in the market for a medium format IIC in a few months time.

I had thought of buying a multigrade head for the V35, but I feel there is more control with the colour head allowing you to tweak between small changes of magenta and yellow.

The only thing that is missing is an under the lens filter holder. I miss the safelight filter when making spilt grade burning-ins. I'm not sure what options are available...might have to do a DIY job on it.

 

[RobC]

At a slight tangent to this discussion, Schneider advised that their WA-Compnon 40mm was not suitable for use on condenser enlargers because it would not give even illumination. I'm curious about this and since the standard lens on the V35 is a 40mm lens, I'm wondering what peoples experience is with using a wide angle lens on a condenser system in terms of eveness of illumination. i.e. Do these wide angle lenses really show noticeable light falloff on condenser systems?

[edit]
p.s. Have been reading up and I notice that the V35 was modified in 1987 to a double condenser to provide more even illumination. I presume this was done in conjunction with its 40mm lens. So perhaps its not an issue with the later V35s. But I would still be interested to know about other enlargers as I was thinking of getting a wide angle lens for my durst condenser enlarger. Thanks.
[/edit]

 

[Alan9940]

I'll keep an eye on larger prints Alan...thanks. I thought the AF was lost when the lens was changed. I'm still loving the novelty of AF. Using the grain magnifier to check that it is still in focus is half the fun! I'll be in the market for a medium format IIC in a few months time.

I had thought of buying a multigrade head for the V35, but I feel there is more control with the colour head allowing you to tweak between small changes of magenta and yellow.

The only thing that is missing is an under the lens filter holder. I miss the safelight filter when making spilt grade burning-ins. I'm not sure what options are available...might have to do a DIY job on it.

Hello Gary,

The AF isn't lost it just might not work as expected; that is, keeping the grain sharp as the head is moved. The Schneider optic I swapped the original lens for is a 40mm so the AF is still pretty close. I'm sure there are differences, though, because this enlarger was engineered for the Leitz 40mm lens. Anyway, in my testing even using the original lens I found the AF to be very slightly off. Of course, this could be that the AF was malfunctioning slightly on my unit but it didn't concern me because focussing with that helical mount is absolute precision compared to, say, my Beseler 45! Plus, I've been using a grain magnifier for so long I'd be lost without it!

One thing I still enjoy about the AF system is that the image stays relatively in focus as the head is moved. To me, this makes it much easier and faster to get actual printing.

I've never used the color head for VC printing...note to darkroom mole: try the friggin color head!

Thanks!

 

[Alan9940]

Hello Rob,

Not sure what the difference is between the APO-Componon HM 40mm and the WA-Componon 40mm, but I've never seen any hint of uneven illumination in my prints from the V35. Could be because I use the VC head which is built pretty much like the color head, albeit with slightly different filters and neither contain condensers that I know of. I've printed 35mm on a number of enlargers over the years and IMO no unit comes close to the V35 in terms of precision and edge-to-edge, corner-to-corner sharpness of the grain structure.

 

[Fintan]

I've also picked up a used one recently, does anyone have a link to a user manual, I'm not sure if the AF is working or not.

Thanks

Fintan

 

[clogz]

This link may help: http://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/v35.htm

 

[tim rudman]

I've also picked up a used one recently, does anyone have a link to a user manual, I'm not sure if the AF is working or not.

Thanks

Fintan

Hi Fintan
I used the link given in the previous post but it didn't help with the AF really. It tells you how the adjust the AF when 1st focussing manually - which is useful, but if it doesn't stay in focus when you change magnification it doesn't tell you what to do.
I rang the folk at leica (via google). They were helpful and sent me a photocopy of the manual (which also didn't help with the AF problem I had).
Speak to Nobby Clarke. The number is on their website.
Tim

 

[tim rudman]

returning V35 - who goes first?

Re the V35 I recently bought on Ebay and discussed in this thread earlier:
I have checked its functions with a leica collector friend of mine and confirmed the above mentioned faults, so I notified the seller I wish to return it and he agrees but wants it back before refunding my cash as he isn't sure of his protection as a seller (I think it's his first time). I naturally would prefer my refund before returning the enlarger - so what is the norm here? Anybody been in this situation?
Tim

 

[Gary Holliday]

You would normally return the goods as you would with any retailer and ask for proof of posting from the post office.

 

[RobC]

Re the V35 I recently bought on Ebay and discussed in this thread earlier:
I have checked its functions with a leica collector friend of mine and confirmed the above mentioned faults, so I notified the seller I wish to return it and he agrees but wants it back before refunding my cash as he isn't sure of his protection as a seller (I think it's his first time). I naturally would prefer my refund before returning the enlarger - so what is the norm here? Anybody been in this situation?
Tim

You trusted him to send you the thing AFTER you had paid him so why wouldn't you trust him to return your money if he says he will. I guess you will loose shipping costs as you would with any mail order operation but that may depend on his wording of the ad. But if you want to argue about that and he thinks you are going to give him bad feedback, then there is no incentive for him to take the thing back. i.e. he will be looking to maintain his feedback rating if he intends to sell more stuff from ebay. So play it softly softly, get the price of the enlarger back and everyone should be happy(ish).

 

[tim rudman]

You trusted him to send you the thing AFTER you had paid him so why wouldn't you trust him to return your money if he says he will. I guess you will loose shipping costs as you would with any mail order operation but that may depend on his wording of the ad. But if you want to argue about that and he thinks you are going to give him bad feedback, then there is no incentive for him to take the thing back. i.e. he will be looking to maintain his feedback rating if he intends to sell more stuff from ebay. So play it softly softly, get the price of the enlarger back and everyone should be happy(ish).

Yes I'm sure you are right. He seems a really nice guy.
I guess that as I paid him so promptly and he sent me faulty goods, I feel a bit miffed at the implication that he doesn't trust me!
Tim

 

[canuhead]

I'd feel the same Tim, how much would it cost to ship it back to the seller may I ask ? Just wondering...

 

[df cardwell]

Return the V35 ? Why ?

Be sure to adjust the height of the easel compensation to correct for AF.
If THAT is out, it is a simple matter to adjust the cam for perfect AF.

 

[tim rudman]

I'd feel the same Tim, how much would it cost to ship it back to the seller may I ask ? Just wondering...

Well he charged £20 for courier delivery to me.
He will arrange courier collection so I suppose the cost will be similar, although I threw away his box and am having great difficulty finding a good strong replacement (I know - lesson learnt!) so I may have to return in 2 boxes.
Tim

 

[tim rudman]

Be sure to adjust the height of the easel compensation to correct for AF.
If THAT is out, it is a simple matter to adjust the cam for perfect AF.

"Return the V35 ? Why ?"
Well as I explained earlier in the thread the AF doesn't work (I set col height to 0 and used baseboard. I manually focussed and adjusted the click stop ring, tightened screw etc. Checked all instructions). It goes OOF as soon as head position is moved. (It has correct cam for 40mm lens and it moves on runner correctly).
Also it is out of alignment at lens and neg carrier stages in different directions,so shims will not help.
Tim

 

[df cardwell]

Sounds like the cam is out of adjustment. But I'm not good at diagnosis at 3500 miles ! Of course, its your call.

 

[mmcclellan]

If the enlarge will still focus grain-sharp corner-to-corner, I would not send it back. I have the AF but I still check it every time I print on it. It's generally perfect, but I still don't trust it so always double-check before finalizing my prints.

Even without the AF mechanism working, the V35 is such a killer enlarger and so nice to use that it's still worth the money and effort.

 

[tim rudman]

If the enlarge will still focus grain-sharp corner-to-corner, I would not send it back. I have the AF but I still check it every time I print on it. It's generally perfect, but I still don't trust it so always double-check before finalizing my prints.

Even without the AF mechanism working, the V35 is such a killer enlarger and so nice to use that it's still worth the money and effort.

Yes but this one is out of alignment and tricky to correct as bothe lens and neg stages are out

 

[df cardwell]

this one is out of alignment

in the 'old days' I'd say it was impossible to put a V35 out of alignment,
but that was before instruments were taken out of service and
tortured.

oh, well

 

[mmcclellan]

Oh, got it. My V35 was once a bit shaky on the alignment, so I devised a three-point system under my easel using furniture casters so I could adjust the easel to align with the film and lens planes (Scheimpflug principle). It worked great and only cost me a few dollars for the casters at a local hardware store. Given the expense and trouble of shipping and repairs, you may want to try that. Just a thought.

 

[Sean]

Hey, just got a V35 today about $300US and it's MINT, looks like it just came out of the box, including the focotar. I snagged it because my Durst is on the fritz. I was wondering if there is any concern over my neg carrier not having any AN glass. I vaguely know of a glass carrier for the v35 but they must be rare and impossible to source? Thanks for any info.

 

[canuhead]

I've never had a problem printing with a glassless carrier.