Edge to edge focuser

hiroh · Aug 8, 2024

What's a good focuser that lets you see the projected image edge to edge? I’m using a Paterson focuser, but I can only see around the center of the image.

I’ve heard the Peak 2030 lets you see edge to edge, but they’re not taking new orders right now, and I can’t find it anywhere else.

Any good alternatives? Preferably something I can get in Europe.

Pieter12 · Aug 8, 2024

Check eBay for the Peak/Omega Model I. It is the only one I know of. The front-surface mirror can be replaced if necessary.

hiroh · Aug 8, 2024

I found a few Micromegas. Are they good? If there’s nothing else, I can go ahead and buy one of these.

Pieter12 · Aug 8, 2024

hiroh said:
I found a few Micromegas. Are they good? If there’s nothing else, I can go ahead and buy one of these.

They are exactly the same, just rebranded by Omega. Go for the Model I, with the longer mirror.

naaldvoerder · Aug 9, 2024

Kienzle makes their version of the Peak focus finder. Knowing Kienzle I suspect it to be very accurate and rock solid. Among others, it is sold through Foto-Impex.

KIENZLE Micro Focus Finder Pro - fotoimpex.com analogue photography

Grain Focuser with 10x enlargement, made from aluminum, with movable eyepiece With the movable eyepiece you will have the advantage of setting the focus not only in the ...

www.fotoimpex.com

cliveh · Aug 9, 2024

hiroh said:
What's a good focuser that lets you see the projected image edge to edge? I’m using a Paterson focuser, but I can only see around the center of the image.

I’ve heard the Peak 2030 lets you see edge to edge, but they’re not taking new orders right now, and I can’t find it anywhere else.

Any good alternatives? Preferably something I can get in Europe.

If you put your Paterson focuser on the edge of the image, why can't you see it?

Pieter12 · Aug 9, 2024

cliveh said:
If you put your Paterson focuser on the edge of the image, why can't you see it?

Hour head is in the way.

{Moderator's note - I think this is supposed to say "Your head is in the way"}

hiroh · Aug 9, 2024

cliveh said:
If you put your Paterson focuser on the edge of the image, why can't you see it?

Yeah, I think the head is casting a shadow. I’ve tried different maneuvers, but I can’t see too far from the center.

DREW WILEY · Aug 9, 2024

There needs to be an elongated mirror plus a tilting head. I use the Peak Model 1. It will work in the corners, and is a far more precise instrument than anything Patterson offers. Used examples often turn up, or else the Micromega rebrand of the same thing. The Kienzle link posted previously employs the same concept.

Pieter12 · Aug 9, 2024

It might be possible if you can access all around the sides of the easel, meaning the enlarger table is freestanding and you can walk all around it.

pentaxuser · Aug 9, 2024

cliveh said:
If you put your Paterson focuser on the edge of the image, why can't you see it?

I don't know but if anyone can give instructions as to what you do with the Paterson to get beyond a fairly restricted view of the centre of the negative projection then let him speak, No-one has spoken in my nearly 20 years here

pentaxuser

RalphLambrecht · Aug 9, 2024

hiroh said:
What's a good focuser that lets you see the projected image edge to edge? I’m using a Paterson focuser, but I can only see around the center of the image.

I’ve heard the Peak 2030 lets you see edge to edge, but they’re not taking new orders right now, and I can’t find it anywhere else.

Any good alternatives? Preferably something I can get in Europe.

I have the Peak Focuser, and it can indeed focus edge to edge but the magnification is less than with some other popular models, That's why mine is still in its original box and for sale at $200 OBO

hiroh · Aug 9, 2024

RalphLambrecht said:
I have the Peak Focuser, and it can indeed focus edge to edge but the magnification is less than with some other popular models, That's why mine is still in its original box and for sale at $200 OBO

Does Omega have the same magnification as Peak? I’m asking because I’m in the market for one, but I hadn’t considered the magnification factor.

Melvin J Bramley · Aug 9, 2024

This works for most of my needs.
The Mitchell focus scope.

Unicolor Mitchell Focus finder Grain focuser focusing scope | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Unicolor Mitchell Focus finder Grain focuser focusing scope at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.ca

Corner to corner focusing but not highly magnified.

Pieter12 · Aug 9, 2024

Pea

RalphLambrecht said:
I have the Peak Focuser, and it can indeed focus edge to edge but the magnification is less than with some other popular models, That's why mine is still in its original box and for sale at $200 OBO

Peak is 10X, pretty much what most others are.

snusmumriken · Aug 10, 2024

hiroh said:
Yeah, I think the head is casting a shadow. I’ve tried different maneuvers, but I can’t see too far from the center.

I suppose you do realise that there are two models of Paterson focus finder? The larger one is only useful for larger print sizes/enlarger magnifications, but it gets your head out of the line of fire, as it were. As for walking round the image, if the enlarger is set up parallel to the base-board, there should be no need the check the further side.

However, neither Paterson model is useable around the edges of the image circle. I haven’t ever found a Peak magnifier cheap enough to be attractive, and to be honest I don’t really find it necessary anyway. I set the enlarger up carefully, check it occasionally, take care to avoid the (35mm) negative popping by minimising the time the enlarger is switched on between exposures, and thereafter assume that if the centre is accurately focussed the edges will be as good as they can be. Seems to work for me.

RalphLambrecht · Aug 10, 2024

hiroh said:
Does Omega have the same magnification as Peak? I’m asking because I’m in the market for one, but I hadn’t considered the magnification factor.

10x magnification is sufficient, but some offer 25x. Unfortunately, they are the ones that can't do edge-to-edge. You must decide what is more important to you.

RalphLambrecht · Aug 10, 2024

snusmumriken said:
I suppose you do realise that there are two models of Paterson focus finder? The larger one is only useful for larger print sizes/enlarger magnifications, but it gets your head out of the line of fire, as it were. As for walking round the image, if the enlarger is set up parallel to the base-board, there should be no need the check the further side.

However, neither Paterson model is useable around the edges of the image circle. I haven’t ever found a Peak magnifier cheap enough to be attractive, and to be honest I don’t really find it necessary anyway. I set the enlarger up carefully, check it occasionally, take care to avoid the (35mm) negative popping by minimising the time the enlarger is switched on between exposures, and thereafter assume that if the centre is accurately focussed the edges will be as good as they can be. Seems to work for me.

true. if you find that corners are out of focus when the center is in focus, or visa versa, then realignment or film flattening is necessary anyway

Bill Burk · Aug 10, 2024

Soon as you move the Paterson a little off center the patch starts to “cat eye” and any more than six inches it becomes unusable

Bill Burk · Aug 10, 2024

I like being to evaluate if the image is any good for printing, that’s a great advantage. If you can’t acquire a long-mirror-type focuser you may be able to judge negative quality before putting it in the enlarger.

Looks like there are a few on eBay in the $200 neighborhood. That’s a price you may need to pay

Don_ih · Aug 10, 2024

pentaxuser said:
I don't know but if anyone can give instructions as to what you do with the Paterson to get beyond a fairly restricted view of the centre of the negative projection then let him speak, No-one has spoken in my nearly 20 years here

If the enlarger is aligned properly and the negative is flat, you don't need to worry about the corners: if the centre is in focus, the corners are in focus.
I don't see much need to see in the corners.

DREW WILEY · Aug 10, 2024

There is a second reason to have a magnifier which is usable out to the corners. It tells you a lot about lens performance, lens to lens, or at differing apertures. This is especially helpful in critical color printing, or even more so, in fussy duplication work.

cliveh · Aug 10, 2024

This is probably a daft question, but I take it you are using the focus finder with the enlarger lens at full aperture and with no filtration.

GregY · Aug 10, 2024

cliveh said:
This is probably a daft question, but I take it you are using the focus finder with the enlarger lens at full aperture and with no filtration.

Either way Cliveh, the mirror on the Paterson focus aid is too small to move it off centre enough to check focus at the edge of an image.

DREW WILEY · Aug 10, 2024

Don - if the center is in focus, the margins aren't necessarily in best focus at all, especially wide open. If you want that kind of performance, you have to use something like an Apo f/9 highly corrected process lenses at longer than "normal" focal length. That is one more thing a superior magnifier will tell you.

Edge to edge focuser

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