Some questions about Focomat IIC

I got that big thing, did some prints and left this for a while. I didn't managed to understand how to autofocus even I did read the manual. It is way too scientific language for me.

Anyone can explain at easy way how to make that AF works in IIC?

Don't I need worry about thickness of easel when Focomat can adjust for it? So anything like Dunco can fit?

Which other brands of lenses can fit into Focomat? Nikkor 63mm, Componon-S? What is the adapter called which takes 39mm lenses to fit in (like tube extension or so) since it is so deep there in Focomat? I found the 15mm extension tube #17672 but I'm not sure if it is right thing.

What optimal aperture is it for Focotar 60mm and V-Elmar 100mm?

Sorry if it is too many questions

Should I post question in "Enlarging" section? I think that the first question matters only for me.

Most people see all the new posts posts when they log in so no need to post again in a different sub-forum.

Sorry, but I do not know this enlarger so cannot help. Hopefully someone who does use it and missed seeing your post in the past will see it now!

Good luck, Bob.

You can start with focusing the lenses on the base board. First you have to set the height adjustment at the bottom of the column to zero (and possibly screw the big adjustment screw all the way to the bottom too). Next you loosen the small locking screw on one of the lenses (the 100 on the picture) and very carefully focus a negative on the baseboard. Lock the screw and you're done. Repeat for the other lens. That should be enough for the autofocus for both lenses.

At the bottom of the column there should be a ring that could be set to different heights. (There are a couple (or three) set heights which corresponds to Leitz original easels.) Anyhow, unless your easel is of one of those heights, you can set it to zero and then adjust it with the big twist grip at the bottom until it's the correct height. (The second picture have the ring on the bottom and the big twist grip on top of the picture.)
As my favourite easel is of "non standard Leitz height", I've set the ring with the set heights at a height slightly lower than my easel and put a piece of metal to adjust it to the height I want. Then I don't have to worry about the twist grip unscrewing itself.

You can use any lens, but the AF only works with the lenses that you got. While I love my focomat IIc, I know that there are better lenses (which sounds strange as we are talking about a Leitz). The problem is that the lenses really needs to be exactly 60 and 100 mm for the AF to work. (E.g. the Schneider Componon-S 100 can be anything between 95 and 105 mm.) If you really like your enlarger and plan to use it a lot, plus have a lot of money, check out Kiensle who sells a calibrated set of Componon-S lenses for your Focomat at a probably very hefty fee.
(One way of looking at it is to consider the fact that this enlarger cost about the same as a new Volvo Amazon in the -60'ies. So spending a "few" $$ on upgrading the lenses to be on par with the rest of the enlarger is money well spent.)

I normally stop the lens down by 2 stops. Most lenses have their sweet spot there.

Eh, yes... I nicked the pictures from an infamous auction site... Easier than processing and scanning pictures of my own focomat.

//Björn

thanks for replies

edtbjon, I found out that the column rusted a bit so when I did screw down the big ring, the enlarger didnt move down even I used brute force to push this down. Now the consol is cleaned from slight rust, I also relubed focus ring (which you adjust focus). I don't have locks which hold the focus rings. Now when they are relubed, they move too smooth when I want to change aperture, now I see that locks would be good to have

Now to the easel. I measured and found that easel is 25mm thick. I dont know if it is leitz easel because it seems old (20x25cm size). You have to screw buttons to fasten outer lines and the easel has one diagonal line in beneath which you can lock on Focomat. It is not an usual Leitz what I have seen before (two diagonal lines beneath and push buttons to adjust outer lines for a typical one) I like the lock function of Focomat but unfortunately I had push the enlarger to side so it could view at centre of easel. It is so hard to adjust with diagonal line

When I also set the ring on 25mm for the easel, I tried adjust focus at both low and high enlargement at 2-11x. AF didnt seem cover at all. It blurs out at very high and low enlargements, not between.

So I wonder which size of paper works (let say from smallest to biggest?) so it'd be easier to know what sizes works.

I have Paterson focus finder. I feel sometimes that this doesnt its job. Is it enough accurate? Sometimes my eyes helped better, hm.

Do you mean any lenses can fit into Focomat with extension tube 15mm? Nikkor lens seem to be too thick and it maybe needs to remove focus tabs from Rodagons and Componons. I just thought it'd be good to have a lens for higher enlargement like 30x40. I use most 20x25cm so I think Focotar can cover up that size nicely. So I dont mind lose AF when I do 30x40cm rarely. The ones from Kenzle seems too expensive for me. The focomat did cost me less than an old used, rusty volvo 244 in the north of Sweden nowadays

I think there are not many lenses that can fit the IIc, unfortunately. I've tried El Nikkor and Rodagon, but those were too thick. 16 mm extension ring is originally meant for repro work, but would be probably enough for Focotar 50 to replace not so famous Focotar 60, at the price of loosing autofocus ability. I don't care for AF as I don't need to change magnification often. I'm just waiting for 7-8mm ring to arrive and check it by myself.

AFAIK Dunco made their easels Focomat compatible with height of one inch - 25.4 mm.

Are you switching to the appropriate "cam" via the cable release when you switch lenses? This will effect your enlargers ability to autofocus. From what I remember the upper cam is for the 90mm and lower cam is for the 50mm.

palec, 7-8mm ring, just thinner than original leitz extension tube 15mm. I wonder if 7-8mm ring makes 50mm focotar more like as 60mm one?

kaputnik, do you mean that I could check if the lens is properly settled on left or right place? At left side, I see Elmar 100mm and at right - Focotar. Is it right? I dont have idea how I could see which is upper and lower It seems so when you switch lenses, you use something mechanical rather than a cable, hmm. Is it something else?

Hi Tomasis,
This is difficult to describe without being able to show you and
I apologize if this is unclear, I have some manuals and service diagrams that helped me set up my IIc when I first got it a year ago.I would be happy to fax or mail you....
I believe my IIc is from the late 1970's, though I am not positive. I am assuming the design of yours is the same.
On the right side of the IIc on the arms, there should be a "cam switching cable".This is just a standard release cable that is the same as any cable you would use with a camera. It may be missing from your system. If it is, it should not be difficult to replace.

When pushed in combination with gently lifting the lens stage it will allow you to switch between the auto focusing "cams."
Normally when you adjust the height of the arms they ride along the "cams" or guides.
There is a cam/guide for each lens. If your cams/guides are not switched appropriately , you will constantly be refocusing and your auto focus will not work properly. The upper one is for the 100mm, and the lower one is for ( on mine) the 60mm.
Most of the IIc is black, the cams are not. On mine they have a brushed steel finish and are kind of wedge shaped. Once you find the cams/guides, you then have to adjust them. This involves loosening the three screws which can only be accessed at certain heights. Then setting the focus at a size almost 1X enlargement and then again at about 5X enlargement. Then going back and forth and repeating the procedure until you reach a point were you are no longer making adjustments and everything is in focus.
It is a fairly simple and is satisfying to have the focusing system work as it was designed to.
But even if you don't care about the auto focus working properly, you still need to switch cams when you switch lenses.
I hope this helps, and let me know if you want me to send you some more detailed info.
regards,
Sanjay

kaputnik, thank you for the reply. I start recognize the piece you're talking about. So I hope it will be solved soon. I pm'ed you about service diagrams.