[Leica] Focomat II C

["Anderson, Ferrel E" <AndersonF@ria.army.mil>]

Rich,

Q:  Are there both glass and glassless negative carriers available?

A:  Leica supplies two conventional film carriers.  The carrier for up to 6
X 9 cm negatives is a double glass type.  The carrier for 35mm negatives is
a single glass type with the glass acting as a pressure "plate" on top of
the negative.  They supply carriers for electron micrographs, but this as
also a double glass plate type.  They also sell a carrier for glass plate
negatives for 6.5 x 9 and 7X7 cm formats.  This carrier, cat no 17869, does
not have any glass, and could probably be converted to glassless carrier
(Why would you want a glassless plate carrier?  I have had no problems with
my glass carriers, and don't have to worry about whether the negative is
flat, and whether it will buckle with heat).


Q:  What about a color head?

A:  Leica supplied the adapters and heads of the following types:

	Agfa Color Head

	Super Chromega D Dichroic II

	Durst CLS 450

	Wallner

I don't know whether these are still available, but they are out there, and
on occasion can be bought used.  I don't know whether the Aristo cold light
would fit, but I am sure an adapter for it can be made by a competent
machinist.


Q:  Does the IIC print 2 1/4 by 3 1/4 inch?

A:  Yes.


Q:  How are the two Leitz enlarger lenses, better than Nikon or Schneider?

A:  The IIC has been supplied with the 60mm f4.5 Focotar lens with no change
since its introduction.  It has been fitted with three different medium
format lenses.  The first is 95mm f4.5 Focotar.  The next is the 100mm f4.5
V-Elmar. The last is the 100mm f5.6 Focotar II lens, which bests or is the
equal of any make of lens at this focal length.  A superb lens.  The 100mm
V-Elmar is also excellent, but the scuttlebutt is that it does not cover the
6X9 format as well as the 100 Focotar II lens, and must be stopped down to
achieve good coverage in terms of resolution and light distribution in the
corners.  The 95mm lens did not cover 6X9 adequatly from what I have heard.
Leica supplied a graduated filter for use with these lenses for formats
bigger that 6X6.  The 60 Focotar is an excellent lens, but it does not equal
the performance of the best 50 mm lenses available today, such as the APO
lenses provided by Rodenstock and Schneider, and the 50mm Focotar II lens
which can only be gotten on the used market.  This opinion is based on my
experience with a 60mm Focotar that has been cleaned by Leica.  I have not
tested an original lens.  Schneider has a 60mm f2.8 APO Componon lens, but I
don't know whether it can be fitted to the IIC.  If it can, it would
probably have to be focussed manually.


To check on the availabilty of parts and the color head, call Leica.  In the
US, call Dave Elwell at 201-767-7500.