Leica FocoMat V35

[snaggs]

I put one of these on layby when I got my M6. Does anyone here use one? I was wanting to find out more information on all the accessories etc to go with them. Mine comes with the Leica colour sensor "thingo".. I've also saw one advertised as having a variable contrast head (or are they all like this?).

The only links I found were;

http://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/v35.htm

A PDF copy of the Amatuer Photographer review would be nice 🙂

Daniel.

 

[peter_n]

All I can say is - wow! 😎 What a fantastic enlarger... I bought an enlarger earlier this year and did a lot of research on photo.net where there is a fair amount of information on Leica enlargers. Also you might want to try the "official" Leica forum which can be a bit moribund at times.

FWIW I ended up with an Omega B22-XL and a Leitz Focotar lens very similar to the lens in yours. No excuses for bad prints! 😉

 

[kbg32]

The Focotar, is one of the best, if not the best, unsung enlarging lenses of all time. I could not believe what my negatives and prints looked like after I first tried it. The clarity, contrast, and sharpness are unbelieveable. Great purchase! Enjoy!

Cheers.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

I use the Leitz focotar lens on my Beseler 23, great lens!.

Wayne

 

[Doug]

Like Wayne, I have the Focotar on my Beseler 23C, and it's been great. But that little Focomat enlarger looks sweet! Auto-focus, huh? 🙂

 

[billbarber]

My V35 arrived yesterday. I set it up in my darkroom last night but haven't printed yet. I can't wait. Having Thur and Fri off; guess what I'm doing. I have the color module but will be on the lookout for the vario or b/w module in the future. I already see a huge difference just focusing my negs. Very sharp and clear.

 

[jlw]

You can use the color module for variable-contrast printing; dialing in different amounts of magenta and yellow filtration corresponds to the different filter grades.

If you use Ilford paper, there should be a chart on their website showing what M and Y values correspond to each filter number. You may be able to find similar data for other papers on the web, or use the Ilford numbers as a starting point.

 

[ticanina]

I have also just purchased a S/H V35 from Sydney and have just finished setting it up. Mine looks the same but has the Vario-Contrast Head. I have no manual for mine and so have ordered one from the local agent.

Maybe we can compare notes. I have no idea how the variable contrast head works as it seems to have 2 scales.

 

[mad_boy]

What a co-incidence,

I have also got one yesterday. I have sniffed it, touched it, felt it but not yet used it (in fact I am still building the dark-room, but came across an offer I could not refuse).

I have the colour module with it, and as I understood there is no reason to get an B&W one as well.
The colour can be set such that the filter is the same red as in the B&W module, which will allow positioning B&W paper under it with the light on without exposing,
and if you use multigrade paper the filters can be used to select the correct hardness of the paper.

I did find out that these enlargers are not autofocus as is meant nowadays
(a system that focusses by itselt).
What it merily means is that the focus stays constant no matter to what height you move the head (look from the bottom into the head and you will find the cam and the follower that do the trick).
In other words, focus is manual; but has to be performed only once. (if the height of the device is set up correctly with regards to the thickness of your paper-board).
See the manual for instructions.

Mad_Boy

 

[ticanina]

Yes, I set up the autofocus with the help of the following linkhttp://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/v35.htm and it seems to function well.

I do have a concern though, when I look at the enlarger from the side the head does not appear to be parallel to the baseboard, yet the image seems to be perfectly rectangular... can anyone shed any light on this..... or am I missing something obvious

 

[taffy]

Hi! I have a foctomat too HOWEVER, the one I got came with a 50mm/4.5 focotar II rather thatn the 40mm. Bummer 🙂

 

[billbarber]

Jlw & Mad_boy:
thanks for the advice, I found the conversion chart at Ilford (link below).
http://www.ilford.com/html/us_english/pdf/Cont.pdf

maybe longer exposure times with double filter, but such a convenience to have that built in the enlarger!
bill barber

 

[Stephan]

I've used one of theses few times fot colour enlarging, it's not bad at all but I seem to remember somthing wasnt as conveniant as the usual Durst enlarger I use, but for the life of me I cant remember what... Oh and it only prints 35mm which is a little limiting to me.

"I've also saw one advertised as having a variable contrast head " : This is probably just an allusion to the fact that you can use the magenta / yellow filters that a re built in to the head in BW instead of using classic BW grading filters 🙂

 

[waileong]

Manual in English

Manual in English

Does anyone have a manual in English that they could send me a photocopy? I'll pay postage, of course. I've written to Leica twice with no response from their technical dept. I also have the French manual from
http://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/v35.htm and I have the Hove Leica Darkroom Practice on order but I would really like to get the English manual.

Can anyone please help?

Wai Leong

 

[Dan States]

The Leica of enlargers. I love mine as much as the camera itself. Sturdy as a rock. This plus a Leica and you no longer have any excuses about equipment...you have the best there is.

As mentioned aboe the color head is very easy to use for variable contrast.

What carrier did you get with the enlarger? I understand the one that prints more than a full frame is pretty desirable.

Best wishes
Dan

PS, I only have the German manual, but if you have any particular questions about setting up the enlarger feel free to email me off the forum.

 

[billbarber]

I have the full frame carrier and the slide carrier. The slide carrier was new in the box.