Focomat IIc

wedoe · Apr 28, 2007

Hello, new poster here.

I recently bought a Focomat IIc off of an online auction site here in Norway(I was the only bidder, and got it for about 20£), and I've got a few questions regarding this thing.
I understand that there are two versions of this enlarger. Mine is grey and has a white base board, and the name "focomat IIc" is only printed at the bottom of the column. Which one is this?
My machine seems to be missing the enlargment-indicator. Is this thing crucial, or is it just an optional guide?
I've got the manual in german, but I'm not all too steady in the language. Do you know if there's an english version? I guess I can work my way through the german one, and the operation seems pretty intuitive, but it would be nice to have a reference.

If these questions are answered in other threads, then I'm sorry for my intrusion, and would greatly appreciate a pointer.

Thank you
Øyvind

wfwhitaker · Apr 28, 2007

The grey finish with the white baseboard would mean it's a late model. The enlargement magnificaton indicator is not necessary in order to use the enlarger - unless possibly something else is missing, too. Were there any lenses included with the enlarger? What is written on them?

wedoe · Apr 28, 2007

Yes, there are two lenses included, one says V-elmar 1:4.5/100, the other Focotar 1:4.5/60. I haven't made any prints with this yet, but I've played around a bit with the focus and the enlargement size, and it seems really good. I'm quite the beginner, though, the only other enlarger I've used is a Durst f35 with a broken focus control.

Roger Hicks · Apr 28, 2007

wedoe said:
Yes, there are two lenses included, one says V-elmar 1:4.5/100, the other Focotar 1:4.5/60. I haven't made any prints with this yet, but I've played around a bit with the focus and the enlargement size, and it seems really good. I'm quite the beginner, though, the only other enlarger I've used is a Durst f35 with a broken focus control.

They're the ones. You made a wonderful buy there,

Cheers,

R.

wfwhitaker · Apr 28, 2007

I think Leica US will make a photocopy for the asking. Not sure about your side of the pond, but you'd think if they'll do it here, they'd do it there. Otherwise check Ebay. Possibly this item.

wedoe · Apr 28, 2007

I found a pdf of that one online, and it's not for my version. It's informative, though. I think I can understand my german manual well enough to see what the differences are. Anyway, thanks.

JLP · Apr 28, 2007

Great buy Oyvind, i have the older black model with a Focotar. They don't come better than that.

Enjoy.

jan

edtbjon · Apr 28, 2007

Some claim that there is no better enlarger than the Focomat. I tend to agree. Some of my very best prints come from a Focomat IIc. I paid some €1500 for my first one in the late -80ies. My second one was a few €100. £20 sounds like a steal to me. (They still goes for around €500 or so at german ebay.)
Indeed, enjoy an enlarger that cost the same as a new Volvo Amazon car when they both were new in the -60ies.

wedoe · Apr 28, 2007

Thank you, I'm sure I will enjoy it. It had been stored in some cellar in the equipment archives of NRK(Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation), and the seller sold it because it didn't really belong there. He said he'd exspected a bit more interest, but he wasn't using it, and he was glad that it was bought by someone who'd put it to use. Now I only have to wait until monday to buy some more chemicals, and then I'll move(permanently) into the darkroom.

John Koehrer · Apr 28, 2007

Although I'm not familiar with the 2c, the lc needed an "auto focus" easel which had a thicker base than an ordinary easel. The enlarger could be adjusted for the thinner base on a standard easel and the AF would then hold focus.
No big thing but if you should be aware of it.
I don't know if the 2c requires the af base or not.

GeorgesGiralt · Apr 29, 2007

Hi Guys !
have a look here :
http://www.kienzle-phototechnik.de/home_english/enlarger/A-type/A69S_type/a69s_type.html
They suposedly where the makers of Leitz enlarger and now do the production for themselves.
They have parts and accessories for the old models too.
They've switched lenses for the best enlarging lenses in the world. But at a high price tag...

wedoe · Apr 29, 2007

John: The easel thing is really quite easy, there's a setting on the column where you specify how tall your easel is. So all I have to do is to put something under the easel I have, to bring it up to an appropriate height.

Georges, thanks for the link, though I can't really find a price list. Nice to know of it, anyways.

edtbjon · Apr 29, 2007

Instead of adjusting the height of the easel by putting something under it, you can put the height adjustment on the bottom of the column at the zero setting and then use the big nut below to set a custom setting. Then you simply use some tape or something to lock the setting and you are done.
(The same nut is used to rise the head along the column if you want to make bigger enlargements.)

//Björn

GeorgesGiralt · Apr 30, 2007

"Georges, thanks for the link, though I can't really find a price list. Nice to know of it, anyways."
Hi !
I was told that you can ask ANY question you like and they'll answer you in a flash !
If I had more room in my darkroom, I'll buy one, but... It was so expensive to get my darkroom that I can't push the walls to make the new baby fit in it ...

Focomat IIc

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