Focomat IIc - Adjust AutoFocus

[bence8810]

Dear all,

I am wondering how to adjust the autofocus on a IIc? I noticed that with the V-Elmar 100 lens the focus doesn't keep from small to large magnification like it does with the 60mm lens or my other Focomat Ic.

If I lift the head high up and adjust the focus it is good for about 70% of the length of the AF range but when I get to 5x7 inch printing size, the focus is noticeably off. If I then set the focus at that size with the pin and then raise the head, it is off again.

I looked through the manual but don't see this mentioned. I know it should just keep focus as it is but it isn't the case with me.
I use a 2.5cm tall easel and the column is set correctly - moreover AF is keeping very well with the 60mm lens.

I found this dolphin shaped cam on the left side and I assume the little vertical screw is the one I need to adjust?
Has anyone done this before? I searched on Google but found nothing.

I assume the 3 screws need loosening and then vertical one to adjust the fine focus at the small enlargement? That is how it's done on the Ic so I am just assuming here.

Thanks,
Ben

 

[Focomatter]

Is the enlarger focusing OK when set to 100? Make sure the wheel is following the top of the dolphin, especially as you get to small enlargement settings. The bellows should be quite extended as you bottom it out.
Is the 100mm lens the original one that came with the enlarger? Maybe not???
I have wondered about how to do the lens calibration as well in case the need came up. Both of my IIC lenses are presently working OK.

 

[bence8810]

Yes the roller follows the dolphin all the way and the bellows stretches out nicely until it maxes out. The lens is the original one from what I can tell since it is a very close serial number to the 60 lens and also in the same condition / wear.

The focus is not way off but off enough to make me wonder and want to fix it. The 60 is spot on with sharp grain from min to max enlargement in the AF range.

Thanks,
Ben

 

[bence8810]

I found a Japanese blog where the person seems to have adjusted both cams for 60 and 100. While I speak the language I can't read it so I used Google translate, you could do the same.

http://sakusan-no-nihohi.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2009/05/ii-92cc.html

Below the last photo he explains the adjustment, here is the text as per google translate:

"If I understand the theory, the adjustment is the same as Ic.
Adjust the support column first. When using 1 inch thick easel, adjust the color groove to the root pin of the support to 2.5 cm. Lower the head to the color tightly. Put the easel on, prepare the Pinto Loupe and the minus driver size, prepare a small and fine precision screwdriver or a thin hexagonal wrench and be ready.
After loosening the three screws fixing the cam, loosen the adjustment screw and confirm that the cam became free. Focus on the 60 mm lens exactly the same as Ic, focus at the 10 × position with a focus loupe, lower it to the 2.5 × position, focus with the cam adjustment screw, repeat the focus check at the 10 × position again and check the auto focus. Finally, fix the click of the focus ring and check again, then tighten the three screws that secure the cam.
A 100 mm lens is a little troublesome adjustment of the cam. Adjust while turning the adjustment screw that is built in the cam with a thin hexagonal wrench or a thin screwdriver.

I finally made it!"

Pinto is Japanese for focus so when he talks about Pinto loupe that is basically the grain focuser.

It is interesting I can't find anything similar in English, there weren't that many Focomat's in Japan so it is very strange the only person with this problem happened to be in Japan. I am sure I am missing something here.

Thanks,
Ben

 

[chip j]

I would contact Leitz directly or Kienzle.

 

[bence8810]

So I am now done, below is what I did.
First of all I am either seeing ghosts or shimming the column to get full rectangular prints helped but the original V-Elmar is now working.
Yesterday I decided to finally take it apart and put shims under the column as the projected image on the baseboard wasn’t totally rectangular.

Today when checked focus again just before starting to play with the dolphin, I saw that it was spot on with the original lens.

I then tried with another V-Elmar and with a Focotar II (yes I got a bit crazy and shopped) and both those were off. The V-Elmar a bit and the Focotar II a lot! Neither was surprising.

I decided since I already made up my mind, I’ll install th Focotar II and adjust the cam to it.
It was a lot simpler than what I thought and just followed the Japanese blog I posted above.

First put the head up high to roughly the 10X mark and changed over to the 100mm cam.

I then focused and set the sliding pin to the place where it hooks in so the lens is in full focus.

Raised the head all the way up so the Dolphin fully shows with all 3 screws accessible and loosened them just a bit:

This is what it looks with slightly loose screws:

I then dropped the head about halfway down - just until the horizontal screw is still showing and put a tiny screwdriver through the hole and started turning it downwards until i saw the focus come in. This took a while, first of all I didn’t know which way to turn, second of all turning it is extremely tidious and third of all I had to get the light every time I wanted to find the tiny hole to keep turning it after I checked focus.

When it started coming into focus I dropped the head further down almost all the way until the horizontal screw revealed itself again from under a metallic arm and then kept turning it until full focus was achieved at this minimal enlargement size.

Once all done I checked again focus with the head up and middle and down and it was all spot on. I then tightened all 3 screws with the head all the way up and rechecked just to be sure.

It is now great and spot on at every level of the heads movement. So happy I went for it and tried, it is now not just nearly perfect but totally perfect, just the way it should be.

This is what it looked like at the minimum enlargement where I did the final adjustments.

Hope this might help someone else trying to do the same. It takes max 5 minutes so not a big deal.

Ben

 

[Hilo]

This is great Ben !!

I have always been too chicken to do it myself, and in fact it was always a good excuse to visit my repair man who could take apart a Focotar with closed eyes . . .

Now he no longer repairs and this automatic focus adjusting I will need to do myself . . . Thanks to you this looks to be quite easy !

 

[bence8810]

This is great Ben !!

I have always been too chicken to do it myself, and in fact it was always a good excuse to visit my repair man who could take apart a Focotar with closed eyes . . .

Now he no longer repairs and this automatic focus adjusting I will need to do myself . . . Thanks to you this looks to be quite easy !

Hi Machiel,

Yes - this is indeed great and goes against what I read on the internet but it worked out just fine. Amazingly the only blog I could find about this attempt was in Japanese.
While I didn't have to do the same on the 60mm lens, I read (on the same blog) it is even easier as the 60mm cam has the Ic type rear protruding screw that can be turned easily by hand...

Ben

 

[bence8810]

I've also found (I think) some mention of adjusting the autofocus here in this PDF. I am saying maybe as it's in German...
It is on the last page.

http://www.wideangle.de/files/focomat_iic_vers2-1.pdf

Ben

 

[Malcolm Stewart]

I've also found (I think) some mention of adjusting the autofocus here in this PDF. I am saying maybe as it's in German...
It is on the last page.
http://www.wideangle.de/files/focomat_iic_vers2-1.pdf
Ben

Thanks for that link - if only there was something similar for the V35, and in English!

 

[ic-racer]

Thanks for that link - if only there was something similar for the V35, and in English!

This?

 

[Malcolm Stewart]

Thanks.
Looks familiar; is it from the official instruction manual?

 

[bence8810]

Thanks.
Looks familiar; is it from the official instruction manual?

Here's a pretty good site for you to start: http://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/v35.htm

Good luck!
Ben

 

[chioque]

I've also found (I think) some mention of adjusting the autofocus here in this PDF. I am saying maybe as it's in German...
It is on the last page.

http://www.wideangle.de/files/focomat_iic_vers2-1.pdf

Ben

I know this is an old thread, but I am wondering if someone still has this file? The original link does not work anymore

 

[AgX]

I know this is an old thread, but I am wondering if someone still has this file? The original link does not work anymore

Move the head into most upper position.
Focus, then arrest the focus setting.
Move down the head for about scale 2.5.
Loosen the arresting screws of the cam.
Refocus by resetting the came by twisting the knurled knob.
Arrest the cam by its three screws.


That report not only has been filed at the Internet Archive archive.org, but also can be found at the site of the author Hans Albrecht Lusznat.

 

[chioque]

Thank you Sir. How stupid of me not to search the Internet Archive first, somehow it did not register in my head at all to do that. Again thank you very much for the summary and the heads up.