Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/03/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I am the proud owner of a Valoy II enlarger - which I have found to produce a tonality in BW prints unequalled by any other enlarger I have used. My question is whether anyone knows of an aftermarket source of negative carriers: I am looking for an oversized 35mm type (like the 25mm x 37mm one made for the V35). This is because I like to print the whole negative with a black border and whilst the original carrier allows this with Leica negs shot with standard or tele lenses the slightly larger image size from wideangle shots is a tad larger than the carrier's opening. The usual practice of enlarger makers to provide neg carriers that crop the edges of the neg is one of the most irrating things in photography IMHO! Durst being one of the worst perpetrator IME. I recall that someone (a LUG member even) was machining these carriers - which are incidentally identical to the Focomat 1c's - but have lost the contact details. By the way - a useful tip to those who may have a Valoy or Focomat with scratched anti-newton glass surface: I polished mine up with a toothbrush and toothpaste and it is perfect again! No more weird marks on the prints. On a related them - has anyone used one of the new Paterson enlargers, the 67 one with 'Rodenstock double condensors' and switchable VC to colour filtration in the same head: sounds like a great idea. Not that it would replace my much loved Valoy, you understand! I am in the midst of evaluating the relative qualities of the Focotar 50 and Focotar II 50. Will report anon. From grey and rainy Shanghai Adrian Adrian Bradshaw Editorial and Corporate Photography Shanghai, China