Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Marc, The Hove book on leica enlargers is most dissapointing, of all the useful things to include, they omit how to set up the autofocus on the V35, unforgiveable! There was a posting on the list a day or so ago (of how to do that), I can send a copy of the original instructions page if you wish. Presumeably you have the proper 40mm lens for it and not a 'rogue' 50? Some literature maintains that each lens is specific to each enlarger/focussing cam, but I'd be surprised if that was the case, do you know if your lens is original to the enlarger? Essentially, you need to measure the hieght of your masking easel and crank up the column to that hieght, (there's a scale at the back to help) and then set focus and lock it off, that should be it! I waited years to get a V35 and have not been dissapointed, except in the cost of the 'oversize' neg holder and the fact that it wont give me black lines around a Super angulon neg, but it beats my Durst M800 for eveness of illumination and corner to corner sharpness. Persevere, we can't all be wrong can we? Oh, BTW, why did Leica stop making them?... Jem ---------- From: 'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us' Sent: 28 April 1998 07:11 To: KIMEJ44; 'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us' Subject: Re: [Leica] V35 autofocus help Perhaps this should be titled, LANDFILL HELP, as I have been asked by the City of Roanoke, Virginia, NOT to throw my V35 into the public dump, though I am sorely tempted. This is one cranky, nasty, foul-tempered, foolishly designed item. It is, bluntly, the most worthless excuse for an enlarger I have ever used. Autofocus? Well, I concede that it "auto" focus, but, bloody hell, with each frame, it is a ten-minute exercize in futzing about with a gazillion adjusting screws to make it work. Go to the next frame? Autofocus? Nope. Back to square one, and do it all over again. I've been struggling with this sucker for two months now. Many of you who swear by these things have tried to be most helpful, and one List member kindly lent me that incomprehensible excuse for an instruction manual Hove prints (I have seen advanced nuclear physics texts that were clearer!). The Focotar enlarging lens is okay, but not great: the Rodenstock lenses on my Beseler C23 are on par. The V35 enlarger itself seems to be worthless; my C23 is a nice, gentle, predictable enlarger which doesn't play games. What is so great about these V35's? Does anyone want one cheap ($1000 and you pick it up)? Will someone here convince me to keep this and, maybe, help me to see that I am doing something wrong? Mine, incidentally, is a colour-head version. Hatred? Yes, I have hatred of this V35. I shouldn't, perhaps, but I have, in 48 years, never seen such a cantankerous piece of machinery. Leica must have studied British sports cars to produce something as unreliable and uninspiring as is this thing! Marc > msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!