hocus focus

Will S · Jun 13, 2005

At the Les McClean workshop in Texas Les (or someone) had a focusing aid called a "Hocus Focus" Very clever little gizmo. I can't find it online for sale anywhere. Does someone know where to get it? It was invented by Bob Mitchell I think from what I'm seeing online.

Thanks,

Will

Will S · Jun 13, 2005

Well, I found it (from Nova) in England for 17 bps. It looks like Jobo should be carrying it here, but they don't seem to have it. Nova doesn't list it anymore though.

Anyone know of a supplier in the U.S?

Thanks,

Will

lee · Jun 13, 2005

Hi Will,

Could you post link to this Hocus Focus? I am sorta interested in one of those also.

lee\c

Will S · Jun 13, 2005

This site lists them online:

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/

Thanks,

Will

(lee - read my pm)

David Brown · Jun 13, 2005

I am interested, too, but maybe not for around $30 plus shipping from England.

David

Will S · Jun 13, 2005

not available?

The site in England that has them online says they can't sell them in the U.S. because Jobo has the distribution rights. Of course, Jobo doesn't sell them anymore....

I emailed the UK site back to see if they would sell to me anyway, but it looks like we may need someone in the UK to place the order and them mail them to the U.S.

It looks like this is another great product that is scheduled for extinction, wiped out by the digital meteor....

I'll let you know if the UK site agress to sell them in the US.

Thanks,

Will

Aggie · Jun 13, 2005

It could also be that Jobo the USA company, not the parent company is going out of business. This is not to say that Jobo the parent company is, just the USA seperate company is. They are making sure that all of their products that they carry are distributed by other companies.

This makes it so that the link to the company in England is going to be the only one through which you can buy this focus thingy. Letting the English company know the facts, will probably let them arrange for you to buy them direct. My big question would also be, does that price in Pounds reflect the added VAT they have in the EU or is that before the VAT. It might make a big difference in price.

photomc · Jun 13, 2005

Would be interested in one of these as well...let me know if you find a source.

thanks,
Mike

Ian Grant · Jun 13, 2005

Quite right if they don't want to go against their contract with Jobo by selling in the US.

However if you order from Nova direct the point of sale is here in the UK, not the US. So they aren't being truthful, as that would not be a case of selling in the US.

I'd be happy to buy & ship for you, insured postage would be around $4. Cheaper per item if I sent more in the same package.

Ian

Will S said:
The site in England that has them online says they can't sell them in the U.S.

Bob F. · Jun 13, 2005

The instructions here (http://www.novadarkroom.com/instructions/inst_hocusfocus.htm) and picture (http://www.firstcall-photographic.c...cus Focus, Non-squinting Grain Magnifier.html) might give some idea. Be aware that there is no magnification: what you see is what is on the easel, but 2 or 3 stops brighter. The image is projected by a mirror onto the underside of a frosted section of the finder. Because of the coarseness of the frosting, you can't focus on the image grain, even with a loupe, only on detail on the negative, but it happily works into the corners as long as you have some detail there.

The Firstcall price of 17GPB includes VAT so it would be 14.47 GBP outside the EU.

Bob.

Will S · Jun 13, 2005

Ian Grant said:
Quite right if they don't want to go against their contract with Jobo by selling in the US.

However if you order from Nova direct the point of sale is here in the UK, not the US. So they aren't being truthful, as that would not be a case of selling in the US.

I'd be happy to buy & ship for you, insured postage would be around $4. Cheaper per item if I sent more in the same package.

Ian

Thanks for the offer Ian. I'll let you know what they tell me. I forwarded them an email from someone at Jobo to me stating that they don't sell it any longer, but I have not received a reply back yet. I'm guessing they are closed down for the night.

I'll pm you if they won't ship the two I ordered to me.

Thanks,

Will

Bruce Osgood · Jun 13, 2005

If anyone is counting, include me as highly interested.

Ian Grant · Jun 14, 2005

Will S PM'ed me and asked if I'd make a call to Firstcall, which I've just done.

They will quite happily supply you all direct from the UK,

Ian

Aggie · Jun 14, 2005

I was interested in this item also. So I both PM'd Will and then started to track the thing down. I will go with Will on his order, but this is the email I received this morning which should help others who are interested.

Agnes,

Thanks for your enquiry. We are able to supply these units to your photographers based on the the UK-made Hocus Focus.
The price would be £25 delivered. (US$ 45 approx).

Please let me know if this is of interest to you.
Kind regards.

Rodney Bates
Sales Director

Firstcall Photographic Limited
Bringing Home The Magic Of Photography

www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk

Contact Telephone Number: 01823 413007
Open 8.30 a.m. - 6.30 p.m. Monday to Friday BST

My only problem with the above is that it is nearly 10 pounds to send the thing which looks to not weigh much at all. the 10 pounds would be more like $18. Seems that is awfully high for such a small and seemingly lightweight thing. I guess it depends on how much you want it.

Ian Grant · Jun 14, 2005

As I've sent two enlarger lenses to the US in recent months I know the true costs for insured postage and you're right. Does seem rather high. and I was quite surprised when they told me.

Unfortunately retailers here do seem to like to make a good mark up on package & postage.

I did check my German Fotoimpex catalogue and the only similar alternative is a Kaiser Focus Magnifier at $33, but a far more substantial piece of equipment, and probably better.

Here's a details on another UK site:
http://www.silverprint.co.uk/dark31.html#kaiserfocus

Ian

My only problem with the above is that it is nearly 10 pounds to send the thing which looks to not weigh much at all. the 10 pounds would be more like $18. Seems that is awfully high for such a small and seemingly lightweight thing. I guess it depends on how much you want it.

Frank F · Jun 14, 2005

Aggie said:
Agnes,

Thanks for your enquiry. We are able to supply these units to your photographers based on the the UK-made Hocus Focus.
The price would be £25 delivered. (US$ 45 approx).

Please let me know if this is of interest to you.
Kind regards.

Rodney Bates
Sales Director

Firstcall Photographic Limited
Bringing Home The Magic Of Photography

My only problem with the above is that it is nearly 10 pounds to send the thing which looks to not weigh much at all. the 10 pounds would be more like $18. Seems that is awfully high for such a small and seemingly lightweight thing. I guess it depends on how much you want it.

I talked to JOBO... they habe zero in stock and are not supporting the product. Translation... no go. We need to get them from England/ NOVA that is also willing to ship to us at the same cost of 17GBP pre unit plus shipping.

Yes, for 10GBP, they are including some form of handling charge. The way to beat this is to order a bunch, then the handling charge goes to next to nothing. I am doing the RH Designs buy, so that is enough for me... someone else want to offer to buy these things and distribute in the US?

Will S · Jun 14, 2005

Frank F said:
I talked to JOBO... they habe zero in stock and are not supporting the product. Translation... no go. We need to get them from England/ NOVA that is also willing to ship to us at the same cost of 17GBP pre unit plus shipping.

Yes, for 10GBP, they are including some form of handling charge. The way to beat this is to order a bunch, then the handling charge goes to next to nothing. I am doing the RH Designs buy, so that is enough for me... someone else want to offer to buy these things and distribute in the US?

I ordered 4 and they are already spoken for. If I get them that is. I haven't heard back about my order yet. Hopefully there will only be a 10 bps charge for shipping all 4, but I may be too hopeful there....

Thanks,

Will

Ian Grant · Jun 15, 2005

Make sure about VAT

As an export they can't charge you our EU VAT (value added tax) which is included in the price and is also added to the postage/shipping.

Exports are VAT free, the prices they quoted included the 17.5% VAT

Ian

Bob F. · Jun 15, 2005

When you fill in the online ordering form, it asks if you are outside the EU and deducts the VAT automatically. Their terms and conditions also state that they only charge postage at cost for overseas orders.

Bob.

hortense · Jun 15, 2005

This would be a little more that 23USD.

hortense · Jun 15, 2005

Agnes!

lee · Jun 15, 2005

This would be a little more that 23USD.

actually according to my calculator she is right at $18

lee\c

Will S · Jun 16, 2005

I've sent email to them twice and still haven't heard back. So, I don't know what they are actually going to charge me, if they are going to charge me, and if they even have the items available.

Very strange. I guess I will try again.

Will

Will S · Jun 17, 2005

Will S said:
I've sent email to them twice and still haven't heard back. So, I don't know what they are actually going to charge me, if they are going to charge me, and if they even have the items available.

Very strange. I guess I will try again.

Will

I heard from them this morning. Looks like my order is actually going to get processed.

FYI

Will

dancqu · Jun 17, 2005

Will S said:
"Hocus Focus" Very clever little gizmo.
I can't find it online for sale anywhere.

I've special ordered Jobo items through the
View Camera Store; at least Jobo's graduated
cylinders and Jobo's excellent film squeegee.
Email or Call. Dan

hocus focus

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