Just bought a Focomat v35

[yossarian123]

It looks like I finally scratched my itch to start printing in a real darkroom - I've been hovering around ebay and craigslist looking for an enlarger for about 6 months and never found anything that I was really satisfied with (at the price I was willing to pay). Last night I hit CL again and found a focomat v35 for $150, so I pounced on it. Everything seems great on it, it has the B&W module, full frame (25x37mm) neg carrier and the owner generously gave me an ilford VC filter kit along with two spare bulbs (the newer kind). And everything looks to be working fine. So now I have to figure out my next steps. I'm a total newbie to wet printing, so I need some trays, paper, etc. and I have enough space in my basement to set up a mini darkroom. I'm simultaneously very nervous and excited, sort of like how I felt when I first started shooting film (I was a digital --> film convert). But there are still many, many questions. I'm heading to the library now to stock up on books. But I'm also wondering -

- is there a PDF manual somewhere for this enlarger? I found a couple of links on the v35 but the manuals were in French and German. Will Leica send me one if I call them directly?
- How long do the bulbs last? I have two spares but I know they're discontinued so I'm wondering if I should stock up on more while I can.

I welcome any other comments or tips you can give on this enlarger.

 

[tomtofa]

Don't know much about the v35, but here is a manual in English on the auction site:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leitz-Leica-Focomat-V35-V-35-Enlarger-Instruction-Manual-/400499330082


Good luck - wish I had time and a basement to get back into wet printing . . .

 

[yossarian123]

Thanks for the link. I spent today getting some lumber from home depot and putting together a small work table to hold the enlarger plus my other dry gear (still to be purchased).

 

[MichaelW]

I have an English pdf of the instruction manual. PM your email if you want me to send it to you.

 

[Godfrey]

Two more information resources:

http://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/v35.htm
http://www.leicapages.com/focomat.html

G

 

[yossarian123]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4ym62VEk5kCUFBLRXNoNGlNcU0/edit?usp=sharing

For anyone interested, I'm sharing a link to the PDF for the instruction manual (English).

 

[telenous]

Thanks, that's very kind.

.

 

[presspass]

I've been using a V35 for more than two decades. The bulbs do wear out, but I think I've only used two or three in that time. If you can find spares, by all means buy them now. Leica also made a multigrade filter set - it fits in place of the standard one - and that makes filter changing easier. There was also a book, I think it was called Leica Darkroom Practices, that's basically about using the V35. It's a wonderful enlarger and will give years of good service.
BTW, mine is set up with a German-made Heiland Splitgrade variable contrast system that meters, sets the contrast, and sets the exposure. It's good enough to get in the ballpark with the first shot; then you can adjust to taste.