Which version(s) of the Leitz Focomat V35 enlarger negative carrier do I have?

Hi,

I recently got a Focomat V35 as my first enlarger. I was initially confused at why the negative carrier was larger than my frames, resulting in black borders. Searching around, I determined that I must have ended up with the relatively rare oversized carrier.

So, I ordered another that I specifically verified with the seller was a 24x36mm model and that happened to have the double glass. However, it also seems to give what I would say is an extra 1mm length and width, just like my original carrier (single glass).

Below is a photo of the new double glass carrier with a frame from a Leica M4 and one from a Nikon N60. Would appreciate any help in determining which size I have.

Thanks!

Not really sure what info you're looking for here, but I have the single glass version and the opening in the carrier is just slightly larger than a 35mm frame. I believe they were all designed that way.

You will be surprised to know that your M4 will give you varying sized negatives depending on the lens you use, mainly thanks to retrofocus design.

-) what are the dimensions of the gate in your carriers?

-) why don't you use the masking shades?


-) "rare oversized carrier" Can you specify on this?

Yup, depends on the camera and lens. I believe the Focomat V35’s carrier is designed to give a full image regardless of camera and lens. On my 35mm cameras I get a variety of different sized negatives depending on camera and negative. Smart move on Leica to be slightly oversized than undersized and have to deal with a bunch of angry M6 users with 21mm lenses having to crop 2% of their negative. Besides, the V35 has a masking feature if that border bothers you and you’re not using an easel.

It’s one of those feature/flaw vs. flaw/feature things. Personally I consider it a feature, not a flaw…

I use Leica M6 with lens range from 24 - 90mm and a couple of Nikon camera with several different lenses. The carrier opening on my V35 has always been slightly larger than any negative from any camera/lens combo that I've put in it. As xtol121 said, I think Leica designed it that way and, frankly, it's the only way I'd have it. I really didn't appreciate having to file out all my Beseler 45 negative carriers in order to print the entire image area.

xtol121 said:

Yup, depends on the camera and lens. I believe the Focomat V35’s carrier is designed to give a full image regardless of camera and lens. On my 35mm cameras I get a variety of different sized negatives depending on camera and negative. Smart move on Leica to be slightly oversized than undersized and have to deal with a bunch of angry M6 users with 21mm lenses having to crop 2% of their negative. Besides, the V35 has a masking feature if that border bothers you and you’re not using an easel.

It’s one of those feature/flaw vs. flaw/feature things. Personally I consider it a feature, not a flaw…

Click to expand...

Thanks! That makes sense. I read some bad information that it is "standard" for neg carriers to crop a slight amount to guard from unwanted borders (and the one Beseler carrier I have used did do that), and thus why Leica offered an oversized model as an option. Also was thrown off by a handful of posts by people who really, really wanted a larger carrier than standard: link and link. Thought it was possible my first model could even have been one that was filed (no sign, though), but the second with the glass bottom mask couldn't be.

AgX said:

-) what are the dimensions of the gate in your carriers?

-) why don't you use the masking shades?


-) "rare oversized carrier" Can you specify on this?

Click to expand...

-) why don't you use the masking shades?
My first thought was definitely to use the built in masks, but, disappointingly, they yield a soft and blurry edge and aren't useful for cropping. This is a separate topic/question, but the consensus does seem to be that this is how they were designed, and I've never seen a good explanation of what they're actually for. Something about "masking stray light." I kind of doubt Leica was catering to the half frame crowd, or anything like that.

-) "rare oversized carrier" Can you specify on this?
For reference, attaching a book excerpt describing some of the various models, but even that is incomplete as it leaves out at least one I know to exist the 17012 25x37mm, for example.

-) what are the dimensions of the gate in your carriers?
Ah, I found a ruler, and it's gotten interesting. My first single glass carrier measurers at or just over 24x36mm.. but the double glass carrier measures 25x37mm. I didn't notice that the double glass carrier was leaving larger borders than the single glass. So, what seems to have happened is that I mistook the standard carrier for oversize per xtol121 and Alan9940, and then managed to order a carrier that is actually the oversized model, despite specifically checking with the seller over it. Seems like a 4 blade easel is what I'm really looking for.

Single glass:



Double glass:

Thank You!
It was in my teenage days that I used a V35 and I forgot these details, most likeley I was not even aware of them back then.

Meanwhile I found the 3 carrier versions in a V35 broshure, but in my V35 manual only 2 are listed.
Weird indeed that the two versions with glass panes got different gate sizes.
Best I can make of this is that the double-glass carrier was introduced at a later stage. And by then the idea at Leitz came up go provide a larger gate to be on the safe (inclusion-wise) side.


Basically the idea behind carrier masks is to reduce stray light. Thus my remark about using them in your case was not really bright...