Leitz Focomat V35 multigrade filter seem ruined

I was gifted a Focomat V35 with a multigrade filter. I was in relatively good shape given the fact that it hasn't been used since 1995. Besides the usual cosmetics, cleaning and fixing the loose lamp wires, I noticed that when set on the lowes number, the multigrade filter has some sort of smudge that won't come off (look at the photo, the shadowy thing, almost fingerprint shaped, discoloration of sort you see is the the obvious defect, cause unknown) The magenta part of the filter is clean. The amount of light being projected through the lens is not something I'd call acceptable (very dim) even with a 100W halogen light bulb. When I completely remove the filter and just temporarily cover the gaping hole where the filter was, the amount of light almost doubles. Is filter ruined? If so, is it fixable? If not, what are the options besides buying an used one from Ebay (which may exhibit the same or similar problems given the age of these things).


Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated

They are probably dichroic filters, so you could replace them.

You could also pick up a different module. I believe they made a regular black and white module and a color module. You could even pick up a whole light system if you wanted. Heiland makes one. Pricey though, but if you have the scratch it would be worth it.

Or you could just bypass the filters and use below the lens filters.

The light issue might be the bulb though. The earlier ones used a special bulb and without it the image is dim. You can Google it for an explanation. I'm sure someone else with more experience will come on here and explain it better.

That probably doesn't help you a whole lot, but I hope it gives you some direction.

Thanks for you reply. Oh, I wish I could get a b/w module, but they're impossible to find. Moreover, after playing with the filter, it seems it's out of whack. I could never get it to bypass the glass filters and give me the straight light. Thye mechanics are all messed up ... any idea how to get it back in order?

Hey Peter, not sure if you're interested but I have a working multigrade filter module that's just sitting in a box unused since I upgraded to the Heiland. Send me a PM if you'd like me to send photos of it

xtol121 said:

Hey Peter, not sure if you're interested but I have a working multigrade filter module that's just sitting in a box unused since I upgraded to the Heiland. Send me a PM if you'd like me to send photos of it

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I am not a "lurker" but unfortunately, I cannot pm you. You can email me: peter_212@live.com

Thanks