Looking for an English manual for a Leitz Focomat 2c

Hi all,

I'm looking for an English manual for a Leitz Focomat 2c. There is one floating around that may be the 1957 version. I found a much better one in German by Hans Albrecht Lusznat, but it's in German. Any sources for a detailed guide that deals with alignment/setup procedures? Thanks!

This one work? French site but English manual:

http://manuelsphoto.free.fr/leitz_focomat2c_instructionsforuse.pdf

Thanks, Richard. That seems to be the most popular one, but the photos are hard to read. I wonder if there is a service manual available.

I have a newer manual than the above link, looks like 11/74 date on it. Just paper copy now. I'm not sure how much better it would be, it looks like they reduced the size to a square format putting two pages on one. Some differences in text at first glance but not sure how much. I can scan it if you want but might take a while before my scanner gets back where it was.

Just reread OP -- nothing on alignment in this manual either.

How available are the IIC's? I have a IC and really appreciate the quality and convenience of this machine, would love to find a IIC for medium format.

I have IIc manuals but need to check which language they're in. However, these manuals never say much about alignment.

I have used these Focomats since the late seventies, still do and I know many photographers who use them too. Something really bad must have happened if anything went out of alignment. Generally all is ok: the automatic focus, the lens stage and the bulb. Set up is quite easy, but it depends a bit on how much you need to put together. I guess you should just try, there is nothing you can do wrong except for sliding the lens stage from right to left: you MUST lift it upwards and ONLY THEN move it to the left. Look at the small arrows! Unfortunately it is possible to simply move the lens stage sideways, but when pushing it towards the left it releases the Bowden cable which causes a round metal part to jump out. This part should land ON the cam, but if one did not lift the lens stage upwards it lands AGAINST the cam. This causes heavy strain on the cable which results in the cable breaking much sooner than necessary.

The Focomat IIc manuals I have are in German and they concern the earlier IIc (oval nameplate on the foot of the column) and the later IIc (grey). They do not have anything about how to deal with the automatic focus, nor anything about alignment procedures.

Even though this equipment seldom goes off, I think your question is a very good one. I will try one more thing to find this type of information, by asking someone who repaired for Leitz. If that does not work it is perhaps smart to open a new thread looking for people who have managed themselves, or people who know the procedures.

steven.bollman said:

Hi all,

I'm looking for an English manual for a Leitz Focomat 2c. There is one floating around that may be the 1957 version. I found a much better one in German by Hans Albrecht Lusznat, but it's in German. Any sources for a detailed guide that deals with alignment/setup procedures? Thanks!

Click to expand...

(I'm a new member everyone, hi!)
I've had the same issues quite recently and I found a german service manual that gave instructions on Focomat IIC focus adjustment. Here (attached) is a VERY quick google translation + redesign. Let me know if you have questions.
Note: You adjust the cam for the two lenses seperately. So two adjustments are needed for full alignment.

Thank you, very much! Greatly appreciated, Luminousoctaves!

Don't thank me just yet! Read the instructions carefully and let me know if something is unclear before you proceed.
all the best!

Added both the german version and a new english version of the PDF.

Steven, was the manual to any help? Did you manage to calibrate your Focomat IIc?