Focotar 40/2.8 for Leitz Valoy II ?

[Hilo]

I have extended the "arm" of my Valoy II, to be able to use an easel when printing larger. This means the enlarger head is now further away from the column. Bringing the enlarger all the way up brings it to about 16X20, using the easel.

Now I wonder if it will make sense to get a 40mm Focotar. It would give me a still larger image, which is actually what I want. Is there anyone here with printing experience using the Valoy II and the 40/2.8? I am using the different versions of the Focotar 50/4.5 and like them a lot. Would the 40mm Focotar work without any problem, or is there something I overlook?

Thanks,

 

[chip j]

There is a problem such that the Leitz 40mm can"t be used==vignetting or something. I've read quite a few remarks about this.

 

[pstake]

I have extended the "arm" of my Valoy II, to be able to use an easel when printing larger. This means the enlarger head is now further away from the column. Bringing the enlarger all the way up brings it to about 16X20, using the easel.

Now I wonder if it will make sense to get a 40mm Focotar. It would give me a still larger image, which is actually what I want. Is there anyone here with printing experience using the Valoy II and the 40/2.8? I am using the different versions of the Focotar 50/4.5 and like them a lot. Would the 40mm Focotar work without any problem, or is there something I overlook?

Thanks,

You probably need the extension ring, which screws onto the lens and then into the lensboard. You need that even to use the 50mm, I think.

I have the Valoy II, which I used with the Focotar and a Componon-S 50 until I got a V35 with the 40 2.8, when I packed up the Valoy II. So I haven't tried using the 40 on the Valoy II. But I remember that I needed the extension tube. I think the Leica part code was VOORX but I'm not positive about that.

If you don't ahve that extension tube, let me know because I've got the manual somewhere that lists the part code.

With the extension tube, I don't know why it wouldn't work just fine.

Also, from my reading, which was extensive at one point, it's good to know that the 40 2.8's coating blocks all UV below 410 or 415nm, so there's no need for a 2E or similar filter. Big selling point for that lens beyond it's wide-angle, sharp, lovliness.

 

[Hilo]

Yes, I have all kinds of Leitz extension rings (for the enlargers), that came over the years with various Focomat 1C and Valoy II enlargers. So that part is ok.

I guess I will just have to give it a try . . .

 

[Richard Jepsen]

Can you show the extension arm? I have a Valoy 2 and like it a lot. At some point I need to down size and the Valoy may be the enlarger I keep.

 

[Hilo]

Richard, I will take some pictures by the weekend and post them.

Michael

 

[Richard Jepsen]

Michael, this is very timely. Tonight I was printing 8x12 on 11x14 paper. I'm using a 1c with a jury rigged filter holder. I'm getting vignetting which I thought was related to the filter holder. I switched to my Valoy II. Darn, I forgot when enlarging to 8x12 with the Valoy I can't center the image on a 4 blade Saunders 14x17 easel. I made do by jamming the easel into the column cropping so the horizontal image is bottom weighted by one additional inch.

On second thought the vignetting may be the Schneider lens is not extended as far as the Focotar. Ran into this once before.

I seem to recall there was a Valoy factory angle arm extension. I really like the Valoy II.

The 15mm Focotar extension ring is either a 17675x or DOORX. They are one and the same. The advantage is they properly extend the lens out of the helical. I had a v35 once. The 40mm lens projected the sharpest grain viewed through a focus device vs say an El Nikkor f/2.8.

 

[Hilo]

Ok, here pictures of how I extend the arm of the Valoy II.

For years it bothered me that with this beautiful, simple enlarger it was so difficult to print large with an easel. Even when you turn the column around, the enlarger head still sits too close to the column. Someone posted in another forum his solution to do this (using plywood, if I remember correctly), and this inspired me to do it too.

I used a part from another Valoy II, which was incomplete and I always kept it for this reason. The part I used is the metal rectangular plate on which the enlarger head rests. All I needed to do was to drill two holes in the second plate, to use the original fixing screws. Once I figured this out, it was quick and easy. It's all fixed solid. I am not at all a skilled technical person, so really anyone can do this.

I also changed the baseboard to a Focomat 1C baseboard, the larger version with the locking hardware for the Leitz easel. It works fine, but perhaps the board is a little too large. It would be worth the effort to find out how the smaller Focomat 1C baseboard fits. Finally, as I use the filter holder for the multigrade filters, I had to extend this as well . . I think the pictures will make it clear.

The actual distance of this extension is 9cm (3.54 inch). I had little choice there. It brought the lens to the same distance from the column as with the Focomat 1C.

One could argue why go through so much trouble when the Focomat 1C is the obvious solution and to an extent this is so. Let's say I wanted to find out if this Valoy II has it's own character, when doing the same size prints as I do with the 1C (mostly 20X24 and 16X20). Can't answer that yet, because it will take many negatives to get that clear.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

You may have the definitive solution for overcoming a Valoy disadvantage. Don't mean to hijack the thread....and this deserves its own thread.

I like the Valoy for its very small footprint.

The Valoy II is newer and should not need a new power cord unlike most 1c's.

The diffusing system is the same concept as the 1c.

I have not seen any image quality difference between my 1c and Valoy.

The helicoil focus is similar to the 1c without autofocus....an option I never use.

I can mount any number of lenses.....I especially like the El Nikkor that rotates in mount so to place apertures facing you.....one can set mid apertures easier vs counting the aperture clicks.

Works well with the 1c Leitz wood easel....11x13 inch paper will fit on this easel. The blade scale markings are 9x11.

If your into simple, a hand metered M-4, Valoy II, combined with graded paper is it. Fun fun fun!

One last point....the real appreciation of a silver gelatin image is when its held in the hand without the vail of glass. One can feel the paper texture and see the micro-contrast of graded paper (Galerie graded). So my pitch is to have fun and print for paper folders or desk top. Have fun, get away from screen absorption and show your digital friends something different.

 

[Hilo]

Richard, no worries re hijacking this thread: there's a Focotar 40mm on its way, just to try out. Same person included a EL-Nikkor 40mm. I had no idea it existed . . .

What's the Valoy's small footprint? All I can think of is steps in the snow . . . - sorry!

Like you I don't think there's any image quality difference. But there are differences, just like there are between 1C and 2C. Even on one enlarger printing with or without AN glass can give differences. Sometimes I switch to another enlarger for these reasons.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

The Valoy baseboard is 15 3/8 X 17 6/8 inches. It weights much less than a 1c and is the most portable, quality 35mm enlarger I know of. Eugene Smith used this enlarger while in Japan with Minolta equipment. The key is the quality and size of the enlarger.

You can experience NR more easily on a Valoy...easy to mitigate by placing a shim made of white out tape or film on the carrier. I also get even enough illumination.

 

[Hilo]

Richard, if you have limited space and the small size of the Valoy II is very important for you, here something you could keep in mind: Leitz made a table clamp for this enlarger. You attach the clamp to a table, it takes the Valoy II column and voila! I think it was designed to use the Valoy II as a copying device, but it works fine for the enlarger too. I used it for many years like that, and still do sometimes. It is more stable than the column on the board, and it is nice with all that space of a table . . .

 

[Richard Jepsen]

Thanks for the table clamp info.




The picture shows my dry DR. It is amazing how photographers appropriate space and make it work.

Once you enlarge with a Leitz Focomat you can't imagine using anything else for small format. I have a 1c and owned a v35. Because of size, simplicity and portability I prefer the Valoy 2.

The options to make larger prints with a Valoy are a 40mm, project on the floor, or rig a head extension.

For my size enlargements a third way is to find a 4 blade easel I can project centered 8x12s on 11x14 paper. This is the largest enlargement I make on small format...partly due to space limitations. Anyone know of an easel that would work to meet my needs?

 

[Richard Jepsen]

I have extended the "arm" of my Valoy II, to be able to use an easel when printing larger.

Now I wonder if it will make sense to get a 40mm Focotar. It would give me a still larger image...... I am using the different versions of the Focotar 50/4.5 and like them a lot. Would the 40mm Focotar work without any problem, or is there something I overlook?

Thanks,

I also use a f/4.5 Focotar with either a 1c or Valoy 2. This lens has wipe marks and some dust. Typical condition. As an experiment I projected negatives to 8x12 enlargements using a mint 50mm El Nikkor f/4 (4 element), a Nikkor f/2.8, and f/2.8 Companon -S. First impressions are the (4) element Nikkor made the best image. Shadows were detailed, a Focotar strength, but the f/4 also rendered fine branches against the sky with minimal fair. Edge sharpness is similar to the others...I'll validate by additional printing. Don't expect a (4) element lens to be the best from 2X to 10X magnification; but the its image quality appears similar if not better at this size enlargement. I'm surprised.

Having had a 40mm on a V-35 Focotar it was noticeably sharper under a focus aid than any of these lenses. There are warnings about using this lens with anything other than the V. I never had the lens out of the enlarger. Maybe the warnings relate to ability to mechanically focus.

 

[Hilo]

The options to make larger prints with a Valoy are a 40mm, project on the floor, or rig a head extension.

A 4th option: Just leave the Valoy on a table, but make sure you have space behind it. You raise the board by about 3 to 4 inches. At the rear side of the board (column side) you leave space underneath the board for an easel to slip under a bit, 2 inches at the most. (I use the two bladed RRB Beard which has blades as wide a the Leitz easels).

You turn around the column. If your column is about 31 inches, you can do almost 20X24 when raising the head to the top . . .

I did this and made prints on 20X24 paper, and did the same negative on the 1C. No difference. I did use the Focotar-2.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

Hilo, you offer great tips to enlarge "big" using the Valoy 2. I'm not printing larger than 11x14. A 11x14 two blade easel with inner adjustable 1 inch stops provides a 1 inch border when projecting a 8x12 on 11x14 paper. I had a closed mind thinking I needed a four blade easel.

Looks like I will keep the Valoy 2 vs the (2) Leitz 1c Focomats.