Focotar service UK

Hilo · Sep 20, 2022

Wyck said:
Thank you for everyones suggestions. I will miss the lenses when they go for a CLA as I'm trying to finish printing a project.

I have been loaned a 50MM Focotar 2 with a small extension tube but of course it won't focus. Has anyone successfully been able to use a 50mm Focotar 2 with a Focomat IIc? Or am I wasting my time.

Thanks again for your help.

Maybe, maybe, maybe one could change the entire automatic focus system (the cams in particular) to make it work. But most likely not.

A clean 60mm is really a very decent lens, despite the criticism it gets.

Hilo · Sep 20, 2022

Wyck said:
I forgot to ask does anyone know where I would find the serial number of my Elmar 100 and a Focotar 60? I can't see it anywhere on the lenses.

Wyck, the serial numbers of your two lenses are written on the black (I think) ring around the rear glass. Or perhaps one of the black rings around the rear glass. Use a bright light and a loupe. They're there!

As far as I remember this goes for all all the Focotars and Elmars, for sure the ones indicated with mm (not cm). So, 50mm or 60mm or 100mm. Then, to find out more about your specific lens and its serial number: in the Leica forum's Wiki you go to 'Image Processing Techniques & Equipment' - then to 'enlargers and Film Processing' - then to 'Leitz Enlarger lenses'

Wyck · Sep 20, 2022

Hilo said:
Wyck, the serial numbers of your two lenses are written on the black (I think) ring around the rear glass. Or perhaps one of the black rings around the rear glass. Use a bright light and a loupe. They're there!

As far as I remember this goes for all all the Focotars and Elmars, for sure the ones indicated with mm (not cm). So, 50mm or 60mm or 100mm. Then, to find out more about your specific lens and its serial number: in the Leica forum's Wiki you go to 'Image Processing Techniques & Equipment' - then to 'enlargers and Film Processing' - then to 'Leitz Enlarger lenses'

Hi Hilo,

Thank you for your replies.

I have found the serial numbers now, thanks. I see what you mean, I had to take a photo with my phone and then enlarge it to see the serial number. It appears my 60 Focotar was from 1970. My IIc has the black head and wooden base board unlike the later grey models with the white base board so I guess it may be from the early seventies.

Trying to get the 50mm to work sounds like a lot of trouble. I will send both the 60 and 100 off to be cleaned.

Thanks again for your help.

MattKing · Sep 20, 2022

Hilo said:
A clean 60mm is really a very decent lens, despite the criticism it gets.

I was very happy with the results using a 60mm Focotar on an Omega D6 with fairly stiff bellows - the extra 10mm made a big difference in usability, and the tall frame of that enlarger meant that the reduction in maximum print sizes from a 135 negative immaterial.

Hilo · Sep 20, 2022

Wyck said:
Hi Hilo,

Thank you for your replies.

I have found the serial numbers now, thanks. I see what you mean, I had to take a photo with my phone and then enlarge it to see the serial number. It appears my 60 Focotar was from 1970. My IIc has the black head and wooden base board unlike the later grey models with the white base board so I guess it may be from the early seventies.

Trying to get the 50mm to work sounds like a lot of trouble. I will send both the 60 and 100 off to be cleaned.

Thanks again for your help.

I have the same black version IIc, which I inherited from a friend who bought it new in the early 70ties. And never used it! Another friend who was a Leitz repairer serviced it in 2000 and it still works fine. One bit of advice: when you move the lens slider to the left to use the 60mm, do take the white indication arrows serious: first move the slider upwards, then to the left. When you don't a small metal wheel lands against the cam and not on the cam as it should. That causes unnecessary stress on the Bowden cable which, over time, will result in this cable breaking . . .

Lachlan Young · Sep 20, 2022

Hilo said:
Maybe, maybe, maybe one could change the entire automatic focus system (the cams in particular) to make it work. But most likely not.

Probably easier on a late model IIa - though, having had a quick look at the inside helicoid of mine, it's leaving me wondering if the IIc didn't have slightly more clearance inside (a Componon-S barrel is a no-go on the IIa by maybe 0.5mm, though a lot of the older Componons or EL-Nikkors look like they'd have sufficient clearance) - I'm assuming that the barrel size of the 9.5cm Focotar didn't change across its production run. Not that I'm planning on changing the lenses - part of the charm is the original 50/95 Focotar pair.

Hilo · Sep 21, 2022

Lachlan Young said:
part of the charm is the original 50/95 Focotar pair.

Couldn't agree more! The key being that, over time, we get the best out of these lenses. That's not a quick fix because so many parameters play. I won't dispute that later lenses tend to be sharper. But they also give more contrast which, subjectively, adds to the sharpness as well.
For instance, I love the Focotar-2 50mm because it opens up the image so easily. However, for negatives with a lot of contrast I often switch to a Meopta Meogon 50/5,6. That one inflicts a certain quiet on the image, which could well match what you get from your 2A's 50/95 Focotar pair.

Wyck · Sep 21, 2022

Hilo said:
I have the same black version IIc, which I inherited from a friend who bought it new in the early 70ties. And never used it! Another friend who was a Leitz repairer serviced it in 2000 and it still works fine. One bit of advice: when you move the lens slider to the left to use the 60mm, do take the white indication arrows serious: first move the slider upwards, then to the left. When you don't a small metal wheel lands against the cam and not on the cam as it should. That causes unnecessary stress on the Bowden cable which, over time, will result in this cable breaking . . .

Thanks Hilo, I am so careful when I change lenses which is very rare..especially after having to source a new Bowden cable. as the previous owner I guess had broken the original one. I have always changed lenses as you have described above.

Wyck · Sep 21, 2022

Hilo said:
Couldn't agree more! The key being that, over time, we get the best out of these lenses. That's not a quick fix because so many parameters play. I won't dispute that later lenses tend to be sharper. But they also give more contrast which, subjectively, adds to the sharpness as well.
For instance, I love the Focotar-2 50mm because it opens up the image so easily. However, for negatives with a lot of contrast I often switch to a Meopta Meogon 50/5,6. That one inflicts a certain quiet on the image, which could well match what you get from your 2A's 50/95 Focotar pair.

Today I borrowed a 1C which has the 50mm Focomat 2 lens. I made prints on my IIc and the 1c with my Focotar 60mm. My Heiland LED head was lifted out of the Iic and worked perfectly on the Ic. I can also see as you mention more contrast and possibly a slightly sharper image with the Ic. I was printing on to 9 1/2 x 12 fibre classic glossy. I also printed onto semi matt fibre warm tone. I will have another look at the prints in the morning.

I think I will have my 60mm Focotar cleaned and then make a decision especially as I don't really have the space for 2 enlargers, oh and I hadn't planned to buy another enlarger either.

Hilo · Sep 22, 2022

Wyck said:
I don't really have the space for 2 enlargers, oh and I hadn't planned to buy another enlarger either.

About having little space and these enlargers: you can place a Focomat Ic and a IIc next to each other on a medium sized table. By placing the IIc on the left and the Ic on the right. For two reasons: their clamping levers for the baseboard won't interfere with each other. And because the baseboard of the IIc is slightly higher, the easel on the IIc can move to the right 'over' the Ic baseboard.

For 135mm negatives having both enlargers has always made a lot of sense. When you don't arrive on one enlarger, it is very likely the other enlarger will solve the problem. I have always used their original heads with the opal bulbs, the IIc gives more even illumination, in particular with 135mm negatives. Which is logic, given the size of the condensor.

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