Will I regret selling my Focomat v35?

[Bob Bibab]

I am thinking about selling my Focomat v35, to fund my purchase of a Durst medium format enlarger. I don't necessarily need to sell it to buy a Durst, but trying to be sensible here. I want to buy the Durst so that I can do both medium format and 35mm.

Am I going to regret selling the Focomat v35, or is the Durst going to keep my adequately satisfied?

 

[AgX]

The Focomat yields autofocus what the typical Durst MF enlargers do not.

 

[Paul Howell]

Other than auto focus, it's all in the lens, if you get a good lens set and give yourself time to get use to working with a Durst you will be happy. On the other hand I typically use to 2 enlarger set up, my 4X5 for 6X9 and 4X5 and a 35mm and 6X6 so that I work on 2 negatives during the same printing session without changing lens or negatives.

 

[Luis-F-S]

Buy the Durst first and then sell the V35 if you don’t use it.

 

[Alan9940]

Buy the Durst first and then sell the V35 if you don’t use it.

+1

Personally, I'll never sell my V35. IMO, it's one of, if not the most precise enlarger for printing 35mm.

 

[logan2z]

I have a similar dilemma. The lack of availability of the correct bulbs has me thinking of selling my v35. But it's such a beautifully designed enlarger for 35mm that I'm hesitant to let it go, despite the fact that I am now printing all of my 35mm and MF negatives using my Beseler enlarger. I may just hang onto it simply because it's such an elegant example of mechanical engineering.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Where I'm enlargers are next to free. Excluding Focomats.

 

[Chan Tran]

I am thinking about selling my Focomat v35, to fund my purchase of a Durst medium format enlarger. I don't necessarily need to sell it to buy a Durst, but trying to be sensible here. I want to buy the Durst so that I can do both medium format and 35mm.

Am I going to regret selling the Focomat v35, or is the Durst going to keep my adequately satisfied?

If you get the right price for the focomat then sell it. I wouldn't use the Focomat for my work. If I have one I would try to get money out of it.

 

[Colin Corneau]

I've heard of plenty of people who regret selling quality gear. Never heard of people who regret *not* selling it...

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I'd never sell my 1c. Not sure about the V35 with the bulb issues, but if you like it keep it.

My advice is to figure out how much it would sell for, then ask yourself if you didn't have it, would you buy one at that price if one was offered to you? If the answer is yes, don't sell it. If the answer is no then it is time to move it down the road.

 

[Lachlan Young]

I have a similar dilemma. The lack of availability of the correct bulbs has me thinking of selling my v35. But it's such a beautifully designed enlarger for 35mm that I'm hesitant to let it go, despite the fact that I am now printing all of my 35mm and MF negatives using my Beseler enlarger. I may just hang onto it simply because it's such an elegant example of mechanical engineering.

Ask Kienzle about adapters for suitable replacement bulbs. They seem to have a few options available in their Leica enlarger parts list, along with the Heiland LED system & various other parts.

 

[logan2z]

Ask Kienzle about adapters for suitable replacement bulbs. They seem to have a few options available in their Leica enlarger parts list, along with the Heiland LED system & various other parts.

I have a bunch of replacement bulbs that I got from KHB that fit fine and 'work' but they are quite a bit dimmer than the original bulbs and exposure times are too long.

 

[Lachlan Young]

I have a bunch of replacement bulbs that I got from KHB that fit fine and 'work' but they are quite a bit dimmer than the original bulbs and exposure times are too long.

The Kienzle parts are a set of machined pieces designed to allow the use of a suitable spec currently available bulb (EFN) - which are essentially identical to Leitz's own upgrades towards the end of the V35's life.

 

[logan2z]

The Kienzle parts are a set of machined pieces designed to allow the use of a suitable spec currently available bulb (EFN) - which are essentially identical to Leitz's own upgrades towards the end of the V35's life.

I have the later style bulb holder in my v35. These are the replacement bulbs I bought:

http://store.khbphotografix.com/75W-12V-Enlarger-Lamp-for-the-Leitz-Focomat-V35-Enlarger.html

They seem dim enough to produce long exposure times. Do you know of other bulbs that are a closer match for the originals? My understanding is that most /all replacements have a wider beam angle that causes a lot of light to be lost in the mixing box.

 

[Lachlan Young]

I have the later style bulb holder in my v35. These are the replacement bulbs I bought:

http://store.khbphotografix.com/75W-12V-Enlarger-Lamp-for-the-Leitz-Focomat-V35-Enlarger.html

They seem dim enough to produce long exposure times. Do you know of other bulbs that are a closer match for the originals? My understanding is that most /all replacements have a wider beam angle that causes a lot of light to be lost in the mixing box.

I'm not a V35 expert by any stretch, I'd only noticed that Kienzle made quite a few parts for the illumination system whilst I was looking for a few parts for my Focomat IIA. Bulbs are just one of several reasons why I've avoided acquiring a V35.

I think that a little ingenuity should solve the problem - as I understand it, the original bulb was a 15o beam angle whereas most current bulbs are 30-45o - it may be that Kienzle have made a solution to this.

I've attached Kienzle's pricelist and range of Leitz products to this message.

 

[baachitraka]

Yes. Comparing Focomat, Durst are crude...

But if you sell v35 and get Focomat I or Valoy then you may not regret.

* Valoy's are very good machines

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I have a similar dilemma. The lack of availability of the correct bulbs has me thinking of selling my v35. But it's such a beautifully designed enlarger for 35mm that I'm hesitant to let it go, despite the fact that I am now printing all of my 35mm and MF negatives using my Beseler enlarger. I may just hang onto it simply because it's such an elegant example of mechanical engineering.

I have a V35.... I buy my bulbs from http://www.khbphotografix.com,.... he's an enlarger expert.

 

[Lachlan Young]

Yes. Comparing Focomat, Durst are crude...

But if you sell v35 and get Focomat I or Valoy then you may not regret.

* Valoy's are very good machines

I think the OP is looking for medium format capacity - unless he wants to spend Focomat II money, a better compromise is probably something like a De Vere 203 which is very pleasurable to use and extremely well made.

 

[cliveh]

I don't think you will regret it. I use Leica cameras, but print with a Durst enlarger. Durst are excellent enlargers and you will notice no difference in quality. Also, who wants an auto-focus enlarger when the human eye is better.

 

[darkosaric]

Yes, you will regret. Focomat V35 has (between other already stated facts) also unique lighting system (marge from diffuser and condenser) - and it is stable, heavy, and super precise. Best 35mm enlarger.

 

[MattKing]

Also, who wants an auto-focus enlarger when the human eye is better.

An auto-focus enlarger with an easy to use fine focus over-ride control gives you the best of both worlds.
Precise cropping at the easel without the "change the magnification/change the focus/change the magnification/change the focus" dance, and precision focus for the actual print.

 

[jtk]

Dump the Leica and the Durst, refine your Beseler with specialized film holders.

 

[Luis-F-S]

Yes. Comparing Focomat, Durst are crude...

But if you sell v35 and get Focomat I or Valoy then you may not regret.

* Valoy's are very good machines

Have a Valloy II I’ll never sell it!

 

[Bob Bibab]

sounds like there is no right decision

 

[NB23]

I own a focomat IIc, Ic color tall column, Ic color regular. I use all three regularly, several times a week. I have another Ic that is in storage.

I gave my V35 to a good friend because that’s what friendship is about. This prevents me of regreting it (of course), but I’m missing it. Even next to my IIc!

Selling won’t bring you anything. You’ll put the cash in your pocket and it’ll disappear the next moment.