Focotar 40mm f/2.8, clean it myself?

[HuubL]

Sorry for posting this twice. Yesterday I put this in the "Your opinion on FOCOMATS" thread, but I assume that might have been overlooked.

in the I just got a V35 from the lab at my work. It's a basic setup without the color and vc modules. The focotar has quite some internal dust. Please let me know your ideas about if it's worth to find a vc module. I'm not going to print color, but I also got a life supply of AGFA paper. Also, how difficult is it to open the lens and clean it out myself. (I can do it with summars and summitars, but the focotar seems so fragile and plasticy that I'm afraid it is glued together. I realize I will loose auto focus, but I also got a 50mm focotar and nikon enlarger lenses. Is it worth to use these instead of the 40mm?

 

[dap]

Howdy,

Well...I'm guessing that the lack of response is due to the fact that nobody reading your post has opened the 40mm focotar up. Unfortunately I haven't opened one of those particular lenses up either so I can't help you out on that one. If you decide to crack it open I think you will be on your own (although if you really screw up and break it you would have a perfect excuse to buy a 40/2.8 Schneider which is supposedly even better than the focotar)

I will chime in on using the 40mm vs the 50mm lens though. If I were you I would stick with a 40...the autofocus feature is so convenient that it would be a shame to give it up. Another option would be to call up Leica and see if they still sell the optional V35 autofocus cam made for 50mm lenses (that way you can use 50mm lenses and still retain autofocus function).

Regarding the V35 VC head - IMHO it is worth the effort to find one. Printing using a V35 w/ a VC module is pretty darn fun.

 

[Tmas]

Hello, i got a V35 about two months ago. it is great and I would give the lens to a professional service. I think the lens and cam are calibrated together and if you change the lens (or something not so nice happens...), autofocus will be out of spec!
Concerning the VC-modul: Mine had this and I changed to a regular BW-modul because I am used to those "under the lens" filters. For me this works just fine and my darkroom meter is calibrated for this. I use two enlargers and don't want to change the meter. The projected frame is in fact much darker with the VC-modul!
So I am going to sell it (probably on eBay) soon.
Just my opinion,
Regards,
Tmas

 

[achi4]

Huub,
For the Focotar lens, I would contact Wil van Manen.

I was never overly enthousiastic about the focotar, and used 40 mm schneider componon lens in my V-35.
I was able to adjust the enlarger (if I remember correctly with some ring) and the focus was perfect.
It was quite a while ago, but Minderman in the Hague will know exactly what is needed.
regards, maurice