Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/10/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Carl - Like Eric, I also beg to differ. There is no point in comparing autofocus on a camera to autofocus on an enlarger. On an enlarger, there is one plane of focus, period. If the machine can give you that time after time, then time is what you save (which is especially important in a darkroom where time already seems to fly by about three times faster than anywhere else!). Do I need to mention time any more times? In fact, what started this thread a few days ago was my problem in not being able to find the autofocus "sweet spot" on my V35, after being spoiled by the absolute focus precision on my Focomat 1C. I originally discovered autofocus on the IIC enlargers when I worked at KameraBild in Stockholm. They had about five IIC's, and I'm sure they paid for themselves many times over because they were so fast and efficient. Now that I have to stop and check focus again, I really want my autofocus back! BTW to Alexander Konig - I checked my V35 bulb, and it is the newer Phillips 13139. However, the mirror finish was cloudy around the bulb, about 1/3 out towards the rim. Perhaps that is causing the dim projection, and I will try a new bulb soon. Thanks again to everyone re Focomats - long may they live! Gary Todoroff > From: Curt Miller > I'd love a V35 BTW. I just don't want or need autofocus enlargers for many > of the same reasons I don't want a G2 instead of my M5 and M6. Autofocus is > probably why Leica quit making this machine. They are expensive to make, > finicky and, in the end, don't save the end user much time even when they > are flawless!