Leitz V35 light output

[mesh]

Just had the first session with my 'new' V35. Lovely to use - feels wonderful. I was surprised however that my dev times are about 4x longer! I have the colour head and am using about 60M to simulate what previously was about Mg2-3 (seems accurate). There is a bit of haze in the lens (which I plan on getting cleaned professionally) but not sure if this would be the only cause. For comparison, I was producing the same print with my Meopta 5 and an el-nikkor @ f8 around 30 seconds. It's now well over 2 minutes. Any ideas? Thank you.

 

[Jesper]

Some lamps are wider than the enlarger uses so most of the light is lost. Check to see if you have the correct lamp/holder combination.

 

[BMbikerider]

It may be that you lamp is incorrectly positioned (they are as far as I am aware, adjustable for position.) If it is the original Leitz enlarging lens, they have a reputation for developing fungus so getting it cleaned is a good move. I regretted getting rid of my V35 a few years ago when the darkroom I had then was dismantled.

Don't forget the Meopta Enlarger may have had direct lighting via condensers which would have made the light much brighter, but if I remember rightly the V35 has a combination of single condenser and diffuser which will cut down the light levels.

The filtration to get the following grades with the V35 are the same as for Durst Enlargers:-

Grade
2.5 = 20M
3 = 45M
3.3 = 65M
4 = 100M

All the grades for Ilford Multigrade are on the leaflet included with each packet/box of paper.

 

[Alex Muir]

Hi. The 40mm Focotar lens should give best results at f5.6. That is what Leitz recommend for normal use. With the colour head, using the dual filtration values from the Ilford data, sheet you should get exposures of 4 to 8 seconds for an 8x10 print. Check that you have not dialled in some cyan filtration and that the correct lamp is fitted. I don't think the lamp is adjustable on this model.

 

[mesh]

Thanks for all the replies - much appreciated. The lamp is a Philips 13139 and it appears to be fitted correctly. I assume it's the right holder too but I might need to google more pics to be sure. Am now using 5.6 (with 20 Magenta) but still with 60 sec + times. No big deal - in fact it's nice to have more time to dodge and burn, but it seems a long time compared to what I am used to. I might look into sourcing a new lamp just in case that it the issue.

 

[Captain_joe6]

Sooo....

Email Leica US in New Jersey ASAP and order a bulb adapter for your enlarger. Philips discontinued the 13139 years and years ago, so your hopes of finding a new one are about zilch. Order through Leica, not the Canadian seller on eBay, since the price is about half for the real deal. Still about $90, though.

There's also some fuss about the older V35 having a single-condenser mixing box, while the later ones had double-condenser boxes and supposedly more even light output. I've measured mine and have found a center vs. edge variance (in and older V35 with a bulb adapter and an EFY bulb) of about 1/5 of a stop. (.06 density variance), so you'll be fine with what you've got.

 

[Captain_joe6]

Also, grab the before-mentioned Ilford contrast guide and use their numbers. They'd know best how to work magic on their own papers.

 

[AeroDan]

mesh - I had the exact same situation, and it turned out that the bulb in my enlarger (while working) was on the way out. They lose brightness rather than just kicking out... get a new lamp and I'll bet your issue will be resolved. I went from 243second exposures to 20seconds with that one...

Good luck, it's a great enlarger!

 

[mesh]

Thanks AeroDan - that makes sense. I will definitely try and source a new one.

Whilst I have some V35 experts here, can I please ask one more silly question? I know I'm pushing my luck ;-) I quite like a black border on my prints, and I get it using the standard holder but only if I don't use the levers to put pressure on the plate. I am assuming it's important to keep the film flat but with it activated I can't get borders all the way around. Were there other carriers available to show a larger amount of the neg? It's not a biggie - just thought I'd ask whilst I had you guys around. Thanks heaps.

For what it's worth, I am really happy with the V35. I also have a Durst M601 and the Metopta 5 - both which are nice, but the Leitz is so much more 'solid' and positive to use. I feel much more confident focusing, and the neg carrier is waaaay nicer.

 

[mesh]

Just read your post Captain_joe6. Thanks for that info. I'll try and source one through Leica as you suggest but I am also thinking of buying another new version which is going for a reasonable price. I'd like to keep using it for another 50 years so a spare or two probably can't hurt ;-)

 

[Alex Muir]

There was a carrier produced with a larger aperture to print black borders. It may be quite hard to find. You could try the German eBay site. I have seen lots of V35 stuff there in the past. You should use the pressure levers as any border you see when they are not applied means that the negative is not flat in the carrier. By coincidence, my other enlarger is a Durst M601. It is also a great machine. Alex

 

[mesh]

Thanks for that Alex. I am still using the M601 for 6x6 and it's great. Out of interest, what do you see are the pros and cons of each enlarger? Do you use the 601 for 35mm?

 

[Alex Muir]

I used the 601 only for 35mm until I bought the V35. I then bought a Rolleicord Vb, and now use the 601 only for 6x6. The V35 is a superior design. It is very stable, even at big print sizes. With the 40mm lens you can produce large prints on the baseboard. The Durst is a bit more limited that way. I have looked at my copy of the book "Leica Darkroom Practice" by R. Speck and I see that the black border carrier is part 17011. I got a set of the film cradles(17425) from Mr Cad in Croydon, England. They attach to the neg carrier and make it easier to handle. They may already be fitted to yours. As far as I can see, the 13139 lamp you have is the latest model for the V35. The original was the 6604. It sounds as if your V35 has already been upgraded. If I am wrong about that, then perhaps another forum member can let us know. The book I mention can be found online. It doesn't tell you much new about printing, but it is a useful guide if you have a V35. Alex

 

[Captain_joe6]

Right you are, alex! Its been a long, long time since I've purchased a Phillips bulb, so as soon as I read "it has a phillips bulb, no...." my mind jumped to the old 6604 bulb and the headaches that come with it. The 13139 is indeed the correct bulb, though cheaper replacements can be had by purchasing so-called EFN or EFY bulbs (EFN has something like a 50-hour life, and the EFY is 1000 hours or something like that, in the same reflector housing). So, keep on trucking and don't worry about buying a bulb adapter.

The book is a good one, and you can get snippets on Google Books. Otherwise it carries a bit of a collectors price tag.

 

[mesh]

Thanks Alex and Patrick. And thanks everyone else. Really appreciate the info.

 

[Alex Muir]

One thing occurred to me that you should check out. The V35 has a transformer built into the base unit. There were different specs for variations in the local supply voltage. There is a switchable device on the back of mine to adjust for different voltages. I'm not an electrical engineer, but I would think that a mismatch of voltage could affect your light output. Regards, Alex.

 

[youngrichard]

Thanks AeroDan - that makes sense. I will definitely try and source a new one.


I feel much more confident focusing, and the neg carrier is waaaay nicer.

Focussing? The V35 has the best auto-focus system in the world, assuming you have the 40mm f2.8 Focotar. I used to check it was true before every session; now about once every 6 months! No more taking off specs, bending over and peering into focus-scopes for me.
Richard

 

[gamincurieux]

Mesh, the light mixing box in your V35, is it the old or updated version? Take it out & feel with your finger around the bottom near the lens, the updated version has a small plastic 'pimple' you can feel (see http://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/v35.htm#Light Path). If you have the older one it IS worth upgrading - I know, I upgraded mine, and saw the difference straight away just looking at a blank baseboard. They are still available as a spare part from Leica, ordered through the Australian distributor Adeal in Melbourne, no worries. Contrary to what you've been told here, Leica USA will not sell/send outside the US, they will only ship to a US address. As for Philips 13139, I've long been able to get them from GMT Lighting in Melbourne (Hawthorn), a veritable Aladdin's Cave of bulbs, phone 03 9819 1777, their product code 1059, cost about $25 each. Normally I'd keep that secret, but don't mind telling as I'm going to do the Heiland Splitgrade LED cold light system (http://www.imx.nl/photo/technique/splitgrade.html) upgrade for my V35. Aaaaaaaaalso, there's a German firm, Kienzle Phototechnik (http://www.kienzle-phototechnik.de) that make a whole bunch of accessories for the V35, including a very good 25x37mm negative carrier for your nice black borders, quite fairly priced too compared to the stupid prices the old Leitz negative carriers fetch on Ebay, better made too by the looks of them. When buying a used V35 make sure it's not the 50mm version (unless that's what you want) - there was a cheapo 50mm version of the (normally very expensive when new) V35 that came delivered with a shitty Rodenstock 'Ysaron' 50mm lens, this version will not autofocus with a 40mm lens, there's tonnes out there in Australia, they either have a 50mm lens on it or no lens at all, beware. Finally, if you want the best lens ever for it, better than the Leitz, get a Schneider 40mm 2.8 APO-Componon HM.... it is OUTSTANDING.... but the price is ASTOUNDING! Again, as with the mixing box, I've seen the difference with this lens on my V35. Quite amazing really how this enlarger is still supported with the parts & things you can still get for them, even in Australia! Cheers

 

[gamincurieux]

You can see I've circled in red on that attachment, which was meant for someone else I sent it to... but what I've circled there is something else Kienzle offer: a CONDENSER light mixbox for the V35! I for one will definitely be getting it to try. If there is just one negative aspect to the V35 (and this is only one!) is that it has a diffused light source (yes yes the mixbox has a condenser lens in it, two in the case of the updated box, but they're still opaque/diffuse), so prints can lack that certain 'punch' that only a condensed light source can give... simply turning up the contrast grade won't get you there, this is something only a condenser will do. Of course that look is not always appropriate, but oftentimes it is, and this will give you that option on the V35.

 

[~andi]

Let us know how the Kienzle condenser box works out. I'd love to try it but 260 Euros is a bit too rich for me right now. Nevertheless, it's a seductive prospect having both light qualities in a single machine.