Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/12/06

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Focometer question
From: TTAbrahams@aol.com
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 22:03:36 EST

Gareth, Boy what a deal, The Focometer-2 or Quartz is probably worth more 
than the Focomat! It is an exposure meter/timer. Somewhere on its back there 
is a small plug that accepts a probe for the baseboard. You calibrate it to 
the paper you are using and it will set the exposure. The electrical 
connector is very similar to some of the power cords used on Leitz projectors 
(the odd shaped grey plug with three pins). I have been using the predecessor 
of this meter for years The Focometer and it has paid for itself multiple 
times in not having to do test-prints. For the instruction manual you can 
probably contact Leica directly (by e-mail should be fine) and both the probe 
and the power cable should be available. Also ask for the foot-switch, speeds 
up printing considerably. The later version of the Focometer had 'multiple" 
channels that you could store information on in regard to contrast grade, 
paper stock etc.
 It takes a while to figure out, but once you know it is indispensable. In 
most cases I can pull pretty close to a perfect print in the first try by 
letting the meter handle the printing times. It also can be used to read 
filter requirements for Multigrade papers and with 0,1 sec. resolution on the 
timing circuit, it beats trying to do that with test-prints!
Tom A