Last year I got back into the darkroom and build my personal darkroom No. 7 with enlarger No. 6 and this time the device was a Focomat IIc, former inventory of the Adam Opel AG, Rüsselsheim, Germany. It was saved from going to the scrapyard by its previous owner who never got to build his own darkroom around it.
My first encounter with this type of enlarger was back in school fourty years ago which helped in many spots and build confidence about its capabilities.
Yesterday I finally bit the bullet, took the last step after dis-/reassembling and cleaning it (including the helicoids) and adjusted the focus for the 4/60 mm Focotar until I had sharp grain at all relevant settings. The 100 mm V-Elmar and was fine as it was. Biggest struggle was to loosen the screws as there was very slight corrosion on the washers. I did another session and it was the first time I enlarged several 35 mm negatives in a row. One after the other, two or three prints on small 13x18 cm (5x7") paper from each negative.
And then I realized how much I like working with it! I have used a number of different enlargers from rather crappy ones to Laborator 54 and 1000 but this one hits different and fits me like a glove: The nicely machined carriers, the - now adjusted - autofocus with the softly swinging mechanics, the filter-drawer. No complaints, no parts or features which need "getting used to" or adjustment on my part. And I was lucky enough to get one in perfect alignment, no train hit the column during its lifetime. Easily the enlarger that gave me the least headaches so far. And the lenses may not be the best available but they are among the best I (!) ever used and I have never used any APO-lenses. Ignorance can be bliss sometimes and as I print 11x14" (28x35 cm) at largest I don't care too much as I will never see any improvement on these smallish "enlargements".
Do I like it? If you haven't taken if from my words above: Without reservations! Is it right for you: If you are looking for an enlarger for 35 mm and medium format, especially larger than 6x6, like to work with a (moderate, not Durst-like) condensor and filters in the drawer, maybe yes! If there is one on offer around you, don't let it pass by without checking. Is it complete? Condition? Price? Best of luck!
Impression: Fresh grease on the helicoid for the 100mm V-Elmar.
My first encounter with this type of enlarger was back in school fourty years ago which helped in many spots and build confidence about its capabilities.
Yesterday I finally bit the bullet, took the last step after dis-/reassembling and cleaning it (including the helicoids) and adjusted the focus for the 4/60 mm Focotar until I had sharp grain at all relevant settings. The 100 mm V-Elmar and was fine as it was. Biggest struggle was to loosen the screws as there was very slight corrosion on the washers. I did another session and it was the first time I enlarged several 35 mm negatives in a row. One after the other, two or three prints on small 13x18 cm (5x7") paper from each negative.
And then I realized how much I like working with it! I have used a number of different enlargers from rather crappy ones to Laborator 54 and 1000 but this one hits different and fits me like a glove: The nicely machined carriers, the - now adjusted - autofocus with the softly swinging mechanics, the filter-drawer. No complaints, no parts or features which need "getting used to" or adjustment on my part. And I was lucky enough to get one in perfect alignment, no train hit the column during its lifetime. Easily the enlarger that gave me the least headaches so far. And the lenses may not be the best available but they are among the best I (!) ever used and I have never used any APO-lenses. Ignorance can be bliss sometimes and as I print 11x14" (28x35 cm) at largest I don't care too much as I will never see any improvement on these smallish "enlargements".
Do I like it? If you haven't taken if from my words above: Without reservations! Is it right for you: If you are looking for an enlarger for 35 mm and medium format, especially larger than 6x6, like to work with a (moderate, not Durst-like) condensor and filters in the drawer, maybe yes! If there is one on offer around you, don't let it pass by without checking. Is it complete? Condition? Price? Best of luck!
Impression: Fresh grease on the helicoid for the 100mm V-Elmar.
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