focomat IIc - 6 questions

[lukas.erba@gmail.com]

hello everyone!

i have just bought focomat IIc..its beautiful piece of german engineering, but I have a few questions, if you could help me it would be just great!

1. how do you work with multigrade filters? When I open the covering (I have focomat IIc version without black handle) on the head of enlarger, there is no drawer..I guess, you can buy a drawer? or do I have to use the filter under the lens?

2. how does knurled head (number 37 in english manual) work? should it be pulled by default? And what is it exactly for🙂?

3. how does ring for vertical adjustment (number 5 in english manual) work? why is it there for?

4. could you PLEASE explain me how bowden cable works? i just do not get it.

5. autamatical focusing when I change the enlargement? it doesnt work for me? would need a little bit of explanation also (now i feel stupid🙂

6. I found this small screw with red dot at the bottom. and dont know what is it for? does anyone know, please?

thank you a lot, lukas

 

[Vickko]

1. you don't have the filter holder, you got only the cover plate. The manual shows what the filter holder looks like, on page 17.

A soft copy of the manual is here: http://manuelsphoto.free.fr/leitz_focomat2c_instructionsforuse.pdf

2. #37 is associated with the auto-focusing. Looks like it needs to be connected to enable auto-focusing. There is a device that allows tilting the easel, and the autofocus needs to be disconnected via screw #37 to allow manual focusing for the tilted easel. The manual says it should be connected for the auto-focus to work.

3. #5 may allow vertical setting of the column, for different easel heights. I would guess that you use this setting for coarse setting of the entire enlarger, and use the threaded collars at the lens for fine focus setting.

4. when you change lenses, by sliding the lens mount left or right, one setting pushes against the Bowden cable, and pushes a roller, and allows the follower to go to the other cam. One cam is for the 60mm lens, the other for the 90mm or 100mm lens. You don't need the cable, as you can manually set the roller. The cable makes it automatic.

5. the enlargement change via the parallelogram moves a roller on a cam and adjusts your focus, thus providing auto-focus. Do you see the lens moving up and down, relative to the negative stage, when you move the parallelogram up and down? It should.

6. looks to be behind the focus cam. Not really sure what it is for, without closer examination.

 

[Vickko]

Two companies have parts:

Glenview: http://www.glennview.com/leitz.htm

enlarger.de: http://enlarger.de/home_english/enlarger/A-type/A69S_type/a69s_type.html

 

[lukas.erba@gmail.com]

hi vick, thank you for quick reply.

1. solved
2. solved
3. i think there is silver label missing on my ring, thats why enlarger cannot AF. different height responds to the different lenses, that are mounted (if i am not wrong?!). Could you please advice me, what height to set up? my lenses are V elmar 4.5/100 and focotar 4.5/60. Here is my current setting

4. solved
5. yes, its moving, but its not autofocusing - i am still out of focus, when i change the enlargment. I tried to find some advice how to calibrate the AF, but i am not sure since I do not know the terminology in english:/. could you please write me how to set AF - step by step would be the best???
6. i think its connected with calbrating AF.

everything is inter-contected🙂

thank you, guys. you are amazing!

 

[Vickko]

Perhaps the wrong cam is being used, especially since the Bowden cable is missing.

Does it focus properly at least at one point?

Try setting the roller to the other cam. I think you either push or pull the follower roller into the other position, corresponding to what the Bowden cable would do. You may need to lift the parallelogram to allow the roller to follow the other cam.

 

[lukas.erba@gmail.com]

bowden cable is not missing, actually it works properly..i just asked because i was not sure, how it works..

..it focuses at one point, but when I move head up or down, it goes out of focus...

extra question: when should I use 60mm lens and when 100mm? my old enlarger worked with 50mm lens for 35mm film and 80mm lens for 6x6 film. is focomat same, or i can combine lenses depending on how big i want enlargment? thank you!

 

[lukas.erba@gmail.com]

update to question 3: the high of ring has something to do with different type (high) of easels i guess..not with the lenses

i found this, but i am not sure if this is my problem
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum43/53187-some-questions-about-focomat-iic.html

any advice??

 

[Vickko]

The 60mm lens is for 35mm film

The 100mm lens is for 6x6cm and 6x9cm film.

Could it be that the wrong lens is mounted to the wrong receptacle? Again, refer to the user manual. the 60mm lens is to be the right, the 100mm lens to the left as shown on page 12 of the manual.

Or is the focusing mechanism riding on the wrong cam? Again, check how the bowden cable is working and whether it is activating the roller for the correct cam. You may need to lift the lens board on its slider to get it correct.

 

[M.Hilo]

Between the many questions and good answers: when sliding the holder for both lenses to the left and right: ALWAYS lift up the holder FIRST.

When you move the lenses to the left (positioning the 60mm) the Bowden cable gets pushed in and on the other side of the cable a round metal part pops out. It only lands ON the cam when you push up the holder and AGAINST the cam when you don't. Doing the latter, you strain the Bowden cable and this results in it breaking, or getting a knick, or the black covering coming lose - all bad.

You can see what happens by pushing the lenses holder to the right, and then push in the cable release with your fingers: look at the other end of the cable where the round part pops out . . .

 

[M.Hilo]

There can be some small reasons for the autofocus not to function:

If you are not using an easel, but projecting on the board itself: the height adjustment ring should be in the 0 position, which is the highest opening 3rd from the right.

Alternatively, if you are using a 2,5cm high easel: the 25mm position (2nd from the right), or a 3cm high easel the 30mm position (furthest on the right. For now you ignore the three positions left of the 0 position, as they serve reproduction equipment.

Make sure the enlarger is lowered onto the height adjustment ring. As soon as it goes up the autofocus is no longer functioning.

About the autofocus: be careful to change anything for now. I have two 2C's and both were set up perfectly. The label you are missing is made of thin aluminium. Perhaps you write the numbers above the slots: from the left to the right: 0 - 25 - 30 - 0 - 25 - 30 mm

Then, referring to my previous post: if the round metal part is not ON the cam, but against it - the autofocus will be off too

Finally, a 2C that has not been used for years may need a little help. You will find several (indicated red) holes that should get some drops of sowing machine oil and some parts should get some grease . . .

 

[lukas.erba@gmail.com]

thank you guys for great guidance...bowden cabel works as it should from very first moment...

when I set adjustment ring in position 0 I have AF with 60 mm lens..hooray!!

but I am not able to get AF with 100mm V-elmar? what seems to be strange is, that when I focus on grain of negative, i have to screw out the lens to this position that I see "golden" screw-thread as on picture:

also small question about the small screw at the lens, i would say that it work as a lock for lense so it will not move by accident? When I focus on grain i can unscrew it and set it to the groove. i added picture, so you know which tiny screw i mean

 

[M.Hilo]

Re the 100mm: when the lens is in place, try bringing the whole enlarger head totally down and then halfway up again. See if that changes the focus story. I remember I had similar issues with my first 2C and that solved it. Something had to click into place and bringing it up and down did the trick.

Also, check if the round part that popped out to sit on the 60mm cam, if it popped back when you positioned the 100mm. Perhaps the cable needs some oil . . .

And, you can have someone look at it for you. Where are you? Analog repair people will not find this a difficult machine.

Indeed that small screw unit is a focus stop. Once you have your average autofocus working well, you fix it there . . . btw, you will always have to check your precise focus, with each new negative again . . .

 

[Vickko]

hmm, that isn't right. They also made a 95mm lens, I wonder if your enlarger is set up for the 95mm lens. The 100mm Focotar-II is a better lens.

 

[Vickko]

actually looks correct if compared to the manual

http://manuelsphoto.free.fr/leitz_focomat2c_instructionsforuse.pdf

 

[lukas.erba@gmail.com]

Hello vick, i have the newer version (grey color with white base board), that should originaly come with these two lenses (60mm and 100mmV-elmar)..moving head up and down i see how high of lenses is adjusting+as i wrote above, the AF with 60 mm works great, but not with 100mm🙁..any other advice?

 

[Vickko]

Okay, great. Only other thing is that the wrong cam has been provided. Can you confirm that when the 100mm lens is moved into place, the cam follower goes to the 100mm cam, and does not stay on the 60mm cam?

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

The longer lens is clearly out of adjustment. You should not see the brass threads...
The screw #6 is for calibrating the cam, you fine tune the position of the cam with that screw and then lock the cam with big screws. After that you shouldn`t bother with it

 

[Tom A]

I haven't had time to check on my Iic. The problem with Ic and IIc's is that you set them up according to the "book" once - and then never touch them again - hence you forget all the finer details of adjustment. It looks to me that the 100 mm lens is not properly matched to the 100mm cam. It could be that someone has unscrewed it from the tube - and not put it in right. The thread is very fine and unless you get it in the right starting point - it throws the focus.
The good thing is that once you got all of right - you really don't have to do anything ever again.
The collar on the post is as you say, et up for the thickness of the easel. Usually the second position from the bottom is for standard 1 inch base easels.

 

[lukas.erba@gmail.com]

one picture better than 100 words:

if I understand everything right i should loosen these 3 big screws and move the part somehow?

btw screw from question 6 is connected to the 60 mm cam, which work great, so i will not touch it🙂

thank you very much for you kind help!

lukas

 

[Vickko]

I think Tom is referring to the tube that the 100mm lens is screwed into.
That tube has a multi-start thread. Tom is suggesting that it has been installed into the wrong thread.

After installing it into the correct thread, then you can adjust the cam via loosening the three screws that you show, and see if it can be adjusted into correct focus.