Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/02/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I noticed the comments regarding the Valloy. In my darkroom I have a Focomat Ic and a Saunders Dichro and a D2 w/cold light. I use them all about equally. I also have a Valloy. I haven't used the Valloy for a long time. But it's ideal for a darkroom you need to set up and take down (i.e. bathroom or closet). The enlarger never needs alignement. I last used the Valloy when I went to visit friends for several weeks. I set up a darkroom in their bathroom. The same day turn-around impressed the heck out of everyone involved. I almost sold it but the neg carrier fits my Focomat and without the carrier the enlarger is pretty much worthless. Two cautions regarding the Valloy. First, as I said, the neg carrier is rare and worth more than the enlarger. Secondly, if you want to do small prints (smaller than 5X7) you need an extension tube, which is also rare. I has someone mill mine from brass tubing. Unlike a bellows, the helicoid focusing doesn't have much range However, I like helicoid focusing more than any bellows mechanism I've ever seen. It's feels very precise. David