Switching out enlarger lenses: Compatibility

gonzo74 · Jan 29, 2009

Hi all,

I am curious about something, sorry if it is a silly question. I recently got ahold of a early model Focomat Ia with a Varob 5cm f3,5 lens. Oddly enough it is in really nice condition but I wanted a sharper lens and settled on a Schneider Componon S 2.8 50. I installed it, and no luck. Have I made a mistake in assuming that this enlarger would be able handle this lens? Is there something that I have overlooked? I did read up and found that lots of people that own the enlarger use these lenses, so I am not sure what I have done. Thanks! Any advice is really appreciated, and sorry for the noob question despite lots of reading up on the subject you never know until you try...

Konical · Jan 29, 2009

Good Morning, Gonzo,

Exactly what do you mean by "no luck"? No image? Uneven lighting? Not able to focus with lens? Poor prints? The Componon has an excellent reputation, so it seems reasonable to think that whatever the problem is, the lens itself is probably isn't at fault.

Konical

gonzo74 · Jan 29, 2009

Hi Konical,

Sorry! I should have been more clear! No luck means that I was unable to focus the image whatsoever; lighting was even. It is simply that no matter how much I adjusted everything (focusing ring, the enlarger head, ect.), I was unable to properly focus the image. The image was distinguishable but blurry. I also think that the Componon itself is not at fault and that maybe it isn't meant to be used with this enlarger. I am curious if I am overlooking something that is based on my inexperience with enlargers

Konical · Jan 29, 2009

Good Morning, Gonzo,

My own experience suggests a possibility: I currently use an El-Nikkor 50mm lens for my 35mm enlarging. When fitted on my Beseler 45 MCR-X, the lens was somewhat difficult to focus, especially with 8 x 10 or larger prints. The problem is that the bellows was squeezed very tightly. I solved the problem by rigging a slightly recessed lens board. It didn't take much (less than 1/2 inch) recessing to alleviate the problem. The flat, simple Beseler boards made the process very simple. I have no idea how tricky it might be with your enlarger; perhaps a recessed board is available.

Try adjusting for a very small print; if you can achieve focus for a wallet-sized print, but not for the larger sizes, the recessed lens position is almost certainly what you need to try.

Konical

Konical

archphoto · Jan 29, 2009

I believe the Focomat, as in the name, has a kind of auto-focus.
You have to set it up once and than it will be in focus for all other sizes of prints with that lens.
How to set it up propperly ?????? Try to get a manual for the Focomat.

Peter

gonzo74 · Jan 29, 2009

Hi Peter, thanks I did find a copy of the instruction manual for the Ic (I have the Ia) and did mange to set it up with the original lens; my problem is that as soon as I put a different lens on there I messed the whole thing up. No autofocus to speak of. I think I will have to fiddle with it; someone recommended that I need an extension tube. I can't imagine trying to hunt one down though!

@Konical, thanks so much for the tips. I will try it out and see what I can come up with, but it is certain that it has nothing to do with the lens itself right? Is there something that I could be overlooking there? It is in excellent condition, no scratches, dirt, no nothing would hate to give it up! I will try then with a smaller-sized enlargement and see if I can manage any kind of good image; it might have something to with the bellows because they are also squeezed together tight...

Konical · Jan 29, 2009

Good Morning, Gonzo,

I think the last thing you need is an extension tube. That would only make the problem worse.

If the autofocus problem persists, in spite of your best efforts, can you simply disable the autofocus feature?

Konical

Zathras · Jan 29, 2009

Konical said:
Good Morning, Gonzo,

I think the last thing you need is an extension tube. That would only make the problem worse.

If the autofocus problem persists, in spite of your best efforts, can you simply disable the autofocus feature?

Konical

The extension tube is EXACTLY what is needed. The problem the the original poster is having is being caused by by new the lens being too close to the neg. The proper tube is the DOORX tube made by Leitz for the Focomat. I believe that a 15mm screw mount extension tube will also work.

Nicholas Lindan · Jan 29, 2009

Leitz enlargers and enlarging lenses are a bit of a mess regarding the need for an adapter. The Varob is a late 30's design, a re-badged Elmar, and I don't know if the required extension was built into the lens or not. It is possible the tube is on the back of the Varob lens - if so unscrew it and put it on the new lens. If there was no tube then you will have to supply one.

I bought a set of Russian LTM extension tubes for this purpose, the threads were chiseled with a with a blunt rock, true, but it worked.

gonzo74 · Jan 30, 2009

Thanks all, I tried to see if the tube on the Varob unscrews but it is fixed, that would've been great! I found a document in which all the various adapters for the various Leica stuff (enlargers and lenses) is listed and I am completely confused. I think that my best bet is to go for the Focotar and use the adapter/extension tube that comes with along with the Schneider lens. I did see a DOORX a little while back on the auction site, actually there are Leica extension tubes but they are marked only with numbers, not letters and it is really difficult to tell which one goes with what lens. Mercy, I just want to make pictures! If I do go for a no name tube, what size does it need to be? I know which thread size I need, but I have seen various tube sizes and assume that the longer tubes are meant to be used with the longer lenses, or am I completely backwards? Thanks again!

Switching out enlarger lenses: Compatibility

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