Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/07/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 10:58 AM 7/29/96 PDT, you wrote: >Can anyone give me a run down on what is the optimal technology for today >(do those sheet fed processors produce good quality?) and what's a good >enlarger. The Leitz Focomat looks appealing, but seems way expensive. > >I might consider printing from color slides on color paper too, though my >first interest is B&W. Straight prints rather than electronic manipulation >are my primary goal. As a former owner of the V35, and a long-time user of a IC, I can say in my opinion, the V35 is a superb instrument. And you can often find them used for $1,200. The other advantage for your case is, the filters are interchageable. Buy one now with the VC head in it, and you get infinitely variable contrast. And the autofocus on those babies are perfect. For optimal printing, don't use the motorized "activator" machines. Maybe ones that use convnetional chemistry with paper that doesn't have developer incorporated in the emulstion will work, but I love using a tray and watching the prints come up. And you can get experience and be able to judges development as you watch, at least for work prints. They need to be dry to judge for final prints. If you don't want to spend that much, get a IC, but you will be losing a lot of functionality that leaves you printing and not fiddline with the enlarger. That's my two cents worth. =================== Eric Welch Grants Pass (OR) Daily Courier NPPA Region 11 JIB chair "I think not," said Descartes, and disappeared.