[Leica] Re: Leica focometer

[Ken Wilcox <wilcox@tir.com>]

Gary:

I have the same Focometer. I like it just fine most of the time. For most
work I use the diffusion disk and an average rather than spot meter mode.
This works well most of the time.

Mine also sometimes mis-times; either not starting the timer but turning on
the enlarger or else not shutting the enlarger off at the end of the time.
This doesn't happen often so I just ignore the problem.

>My experience has been with the first Focometer (not model 2 and not
>Quartz). It sits between my V35 and Omega D3. I just plug the electrical
>cord into the Focometer from whichever enlarger I am using.
>
>Pros: Consistent timing with the digital readout, down to the tenth of a
>second; simple probe that I use to measure a white portion of neg or slide
>to give me a fairly accurate exposure; pleasant digital read-out and sliders
>for setting time.
>
>Cons: Way too easy to hit the "enlarger on" button, situated mere
>millimeters away from the "time on" button - several times, I have started
>an exposure, only to look up and see that I accidentally turned on the
>enlarger without turning on the timer; the program slider as an analog
>storage for your different paper types is not very convenient and does not
>seem easy to reset from one paper time to another - very small movement
>affects the program setting; the metering cell on the probe is a bit too
>large - sometimes the only projected white spot is too small, and the probe
>is measuring white, plus surrounding darker areas; worst problem on mine is
>the timer on switch - once in awhile it counts down to zero, then resets
>back to the 15 second (or whatever) exposure and starts counting down again
>with the enlarger light still on. Obviously, something is wrong, but it does
>it seldom enough to not allow for easily diagnosing what the problem is with
>switch or circuitry.
>
>Hove books gives a good working description of the Leitz Quartz Focometer in
>"Leica Darkroom Practice", p58.
>
>Regards,
>Gary Todoroff
>Tree LUGger

- ----
Ken Wilcox                                Carolyn's Personal Touch Portraits
Davison Middle School                         preferred--->
<wilcox@tir.com>
600 Dayton, Davison, MI 48423                              <kwilcox@gfn.org>