I have V35 and Focomat Color 1C enlargers and have been usin the 1C much more since I put a bubble level on the lamphouse and saw that it was not off level to the baseboard. There seems to be no way to adjust this level as it is done at the factory and in theory never needs adjustment again. If you are a V35 user can you please check your levels at the lamphouse and negative stage planes. Let me know what you find, and if there is any way to adjust. The Leitz technicians told me to just send it in, which is a huge hassle and expense, and months before I'd get it back.

-- Joel Sackett (sackettjk@aol.com), February 04, 2002

Answers

Need to clarify my previous question as I was writing before my fisrt coffee. Its the V35 that is off level, on the lamphouse, and the baseboard is level.

-- Joel Sackett (sackettjk@aol.com), February 04, 2002.

Joel, Pick up a Zig-Align system (found in ads in Outdoor Photographer). It consists of a glass plate which fits in your enlarger in lieu of the negative carrier. You then place a round mirror with a hole in the center and a 45 degree mirror attached to the circle, which reflects the image seen through the center hole of the mirror. On the enlarger baseboard, you lay another 6x9" mirror directly under the circular mirror (which again, is on the glass plate in the neg stage).

As you look at the image reflected in the 45 degree mirror, you'll see a set of concentric rings which will tell you precisely in which direction your enlarger is out of alignment. When adjustments have been made (by adding shims under the rectangular base surrounding the center post of the enlarger), all of the concentric circles will be perfectly centered... one inside the other. Your center to edge focus will be vastly improved and you'll have images worthy of your V35.

All of the items I mentioned are included in the Zig-Align system. I bought mine 15 years ago, from Wm Ziegler himself, and it works like a charm.

Lawrence

-- lawrence beck (stork@lawrencebeck.com), February 04, 2002.