Where to buy a Hocus Focus?

[gone]

Do they still sell these? I need a focusing aid for my enlarger. Most of the darkroom gear was sold for a move, so now I have re-buy some of it. I once tried 90-135mm camera lenses as a "loupe", which actually worked as well or better than a lot of the low end grain focusers, believe it or not. The idea of a Hocus Focus sounds good but I don't see anyone selling them in the US. Did see one in the UK, but the shipping was a deal killer.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Go for a Peak Grain Focuser instead. You will be glad you did.

 

[Ian Grant]

The Hocus Focus finders are amazingly good. At the moment Royal Mail isn't shipping Internationally, and the alternatives are extremely expensive.

Some years ago I bought 3 for US members and shipped to one of them who sent the other to internally in the US. I seem to remember that was because of a minimum order charge.

Ian

 

[MattKing]

If you can use them with two hands, they are as good as a Peak unit.

 

[gone]

Thanks. I'll keep an eye out on Etsy and the like. I don't really need an expensive focus finder, in-focus is in-focus, and F8-f11 covers the DOF fine. The camera tele lens actually worked well, but it was beyond aggravating trying to hold it steady w/ one hand and fiddling w/ the enlarger's focus knob w/ the other, all the while trying to keep your eye about 8" away from the lens. Might try just using a good magnifying lens w/ the image on a sheet of paper on the enlarger's easel until I find one.

 

[BMbikerider]

I have not heard or seen them advertised for at least 10-15 years, not have I ever used one.

The Peak focussing finder is The 'crem de la crem' of focus finders, but with big enlargements they are very difficult to use comfortably being so small it is a long stretch to to reach the focussing wheel unless you have a focussing extender cable such as the ones used by some Kaiser or Meopta enlargers.
I actually tore a shoulder muscle a few years back while using one and that took months to heal up.

I mainly use the 'Major' version of the Paterson finders which is about 13" tall and it is about as good as the Peak. However the Peak finder has the facility to focus on the edge of the frame. I still use the Peak finder for enlargements up to 9.5x12 because the magnifying lens is slightly stronger and can pick up very fine grain with medium sized enlargements.