[Leica] Confirming Autofocus on the V35 Enlarger

["Greg J. Lorenzo" <gregj.lorenzo@home.com>]

In light of a recent purchase of a V35 Enlarger I have been reviewing
old LUG archives regarding the Autofocus feature.

To date, I have been using the V35 more as a "continuous focus" enlarger
rather than "autofocus" and based on my experience felt Leica marketing
people had rather over described this feature.

My ignorance arose from the fact that I did not get the User Manual with
the V35 and I could see that focus held throughout the extension range
of the light head (i.e. magnification) for a given negative once I had
adjusted the enlarger's column to compensate for the depth of my easel.

Okay, now getting back to confirming the autofocus adjustment. The
adjustment process seems to be:

1). Adjust the height of column to match the depth/thickness of your
easel.

2). Insert a test strip in negative holder.

3). Extend lamp housing into its uppermost position. 

4). Produce optimum sharpness for the centre of the picture by rotating
the helical focusing mount of the lens. If the helical focusing mount is
not in the click-stop position (I assume this means fully to the right),
release the arresting screw. Hold the lens in position with one hand, at
the same time turn the knurled ring into the click-stop position.
Tighten arresting screw and recheck the final setting (i.e. for precise
focus).

The click stop position of the ring automatically guarantees optimum
sharpness within the entire focusing range.

Can someone who has performed the above adjustment confirm that I have
in fact got it right in theory, before I actually touch the arresting
screw?

Also, on my V35 the lens aperture scale faces to the left rear and away
from my line of sight and as such in an less than optimum position. Can
the position of the lens be adjusted to face front ward at the same time
the autofocus adjustment is made? 

I assume if the autofocus is correctly optimized for one negative, no
other negative subsequently inserted into the negative carrier should be
less than tack sharp. Is this assumption correct?

Any help or suggestions for using this unit are much appreciated.

Regards,

Greg J. Lorenzo
Calgary, Alberta