I recently received a Leitz Focomat Ic enlarger from a relative after talking about a darkroom class I took this summer(she gave it to me since she wasn't going to use it anymore) with a Leica IIf camera. The 5cm summitar lens is used on the enlarger. Can I make real quality prints with this enlarger?? She bought it new many years ago but would I be better off getting a newer one???

-- Jeff Elmer (elmtree3@hotmail.com), October 17, 2001

Answers

Jeff--You are a lucky guy! For enlarging 35mm B&W, the Focomat 1c is a high-quality classic. The autofocus system works well, if calibrated, and the enlarger mechanism overall is as sturdy and precise as a good camera. If you upgrade with a new enlarging lens (which I would strongly recommend), like a Schneider Componon-S 50/2.8, you can get superb quality prints. The light source is a hybrid of diffusion and condensor and produces smoother gradation and grain than straight condensor types. On my Focomat (from about 1950!), I replaced the swing-out red filter under the lens with a holder for VC filters--very easy. You never need to align the negative & lens stages of the Focomat, because they are a permanently aligned like in a camera. For 35mm, there is really no advantage to getting a newer enlarger, IMHO, unless you want a built-in variable contrast light source. You'll discover that the Focomat is of better build quality than most small and medium format enlargers on the market today. Definitely get a new lens, though, and be careful to keep the bottom surface of the condensor lens (that touches the negative) clean and scratch-free.

-- Tim Nelson (timothy.nelson@yale.edu), October 17, 2001.

Jeff, you are realy lucky ! I sometimes refer to my focomat as my best friend in the dark except from my wife. The only disadvantage is that you must be carefull with dust on the negatives as with all condenser enlargers. Is it equiped with anti-newton glass on the condenser ? If not, I can help you with avoiding these ugly newton rings. And she also gave you a leica camera ! Great, it's hard to hide my jalous feelings.

-- Frederik Boone (frederik.boone@harol.be), October 19, 2001.

Thanks for the info, I did my first at home printing yesterday, and there were alot of dust spots and the rings, I thought I was careful, I would like to know more about getting rid of the rings and dust, and I will be cosidering the new lens....thanks for the help, any more would be appreciated....Thanks

-- Jeff Elmer (elmtree3@hotmail.com), October 19, 2001.

The easiest way to deal with Newtonian rings, which result from the uneven contact of the condensor glass against the back of the negative, is to make a mask of uniform thickness to add some separation. There was an etched glass anti-Newton ring attachment that slipped on the bottom of the Focomat condensor, but these are long out of production and very expensive on the used market. Easier is to take a piece of black 4x5 film or other stiff opaque plastic of uniform thickness and cut a window just larger than a negative frame. You can notch the edges to fit neatly in the Focomat negative carrier (or not bother). When you see rings, slip this mask between the negative and the condensor. You may need to refocus. I only rarely get rings, and then only at some times of the year, related to humidity, so I only rarely use a mask. If the dust spots you see are not from dust on the negative, you need to carefully clean the condensor lens. You can remove the condensor, if necessary, from inside the light housing. It is held by a ring inside the lamp housing that is spring loaded against 2 or 3 pins. You remove the lamp housing, tilt the head back, and gently press in and twist the retention ring. When you remove the ring, you can remove the large spring and the condensor. Be very gentle cleaning the condensor-- especially the older ones were fairly soft and can be scratched or scuffed easily. Good luck!

-- Tim Nelson (timothy.nelson@yale.edu), October 23, 2001.