Leitz Focotar 50mm overhaul?

I picked up an enlarger recently and the guy threw in a Leitz Focotar 50mm lens with it, but it has

fungus inside, and seems like someone tried to open it at one point, so the front ring is a little loose.

The diaphram is smooth and looks like it works well, and the glass isn't scratched or anything, so an

overhaul might get it back into new shape I would think. I have heard this is a great lens, and am

wondering if it might be worthwhile to have it overhauled or if its even possible?

 

Is it that much better than say a Nikkor 50mm 2.8 to make it worth it?

 

What is the value on this lens? Could I recoup the cost of an overhaul if I sell it down the road?

Timo,-- In my experience, the El-Nikkor f2.8 50mm lens is much superior to the old Focotar.

 

It would cost a unrecoverable amount to refurbish the Focotar. More than the cost of a like new El-Nikkor.

 

Jerry

Oh my friend, if you disassemble yours and get it back together please let me know how.

 

I have a 40mm Focotar I opened to clean and... gave up. It's a mess in there. Instead I got an excellent Nikkor 50mm 2.8.

is it a focotar 2? if you want to use the lens, send it to leica for a service, if it's a focotar 2

and you don't want it, maybe we can do some bussiness.

If it has the 3/4 dia front element or is a

focotar 2, give it to an expert. If it is the original, put the money into something else.

Timo, You got it for free. What I would do is spend the 40 or so dollars to clean it and then I would use it, that is for black and white (for which I assume you would be using it). I have used the Nikkor, Componon S, and 40mm Focotar ALOT. I have not used the Focotar 2, but a famous camera dealer from New York who has a German accent told me one day over a few beers that the difference between the first Focotar and the Focotar 2 is "Debatable". To me the original is the one. I use it and it is the best there is (for me). It shows the tonal range of Leica lenses the best. I have it on my old Focomat 1. The thing is, all of these lenses are great. It comes down to what you like. If you want to sell the lens, you might get $80 to $100 for it. Before you sell it, enlarge a negative as much as you can, a cropped 11x14 or even 16x20 and look at the grain. It is separate than the others in this respect. Best of luck, Robbie

Timo, I'm sorry. I meant at the end of my post for you to make a print of that enlarged negative and then decide!!

Hi Timo -

years ago when I had a working wet darkroom I picked up a used Leitz Focotar f=5cm

1:4:5 which needed to be serviced because the lens was not totally clear. At that time, I

sent it off to Leica USA and had it serviced (which unfortunately I can't remember the cost,

nor would it be relevant today) -- but it came back with the glass looking like new. Then, I

made some comparison B & W 8x10 and 11x14 prints between it and the 50mm Nikkor

that I had been using for 35mm work, of which I had been satisfied with up to that point in

time. The tests showed that the Focotar was able to print "both the very fine highlights

and shadow details and tones" that the Nikkor did not. Because of that, I purchased a new

100mm Leitz Focotar II f5.6 for my 2-1/4" Hasselblad work. What a great pair of enlarging

lenses.

 

Unfortunately, I have not had a working wet darkroom for the past 15 years because of

reasons I don't need to bore you with, but, even though I have been scanning my slides

and color/B & W negatives for some time now with great results, I will someday (hopefully

soon) get back into a wet darkroom and put these 2 very wonderful enlarging lenses back

into service again. As, good as highend scanners and current ink jet printers are, I do miss

the quality, tone and feel that the wet darkroom B & W selenium toned prints exude.

 

So, my suggestion to you is to contact Leica and see what they might (or might not) say/

think about the possiblities of servicing the lens and cost estimate; or at least giving you

some futher information about the lens. That should'nt cost you anything.

 

Just my humble suggestion.

 

J D'A

The 50mm Focotars can be used wide open (stunning quality) on a Focomat enlarger "ala" Ralph Gibson.The corners are amazing. It's even better 1/2 stop down. Try to get your Nikkor to do that. I once compared my late Nikkor 105mm enlarging lens with my 100mm Focotar-2. You have to look real close to see the difference but it is there. We are splitting hairs here. The Nikkor is no slouch but the Focotar is better in a tonal sense. Emile/www.deleon-ulf.com

Thanks guys for the great responses. This forum is great. I sent an email off to a repair

shop nearby to see if they do this type of thing and what it would cost. Leica USA might be

a better bet, from your posts. I'll check into that too.

 

FYI It is the the 4.5/50 model that just says Leitz Wetzler... not the old version or the

focortar 2. (right?)

 

I think I might try to get it serviced if its not too expensive, which sounds like it might not

be, and just see for myself. I was expecting it to cost in the $100's or something, but for

around $50 I think it may be worthwhile. Part of this whole thing is that I am still learning

anyway (as we all are I would say), so I could just chalk it up to experience if it turns out

not to be all that it is cracked up to be. Then I could say I know that much more about

enlarger lenses.

 

Cheers.

Debatable. Absolutely no way no way no way. The first Focotars were optimised for 5x enlargements. They will make a decent 8x10, but that`s it.

 

The Focotar 2 is world class lens.

Ronald. With all respect it is debatable because I am going to debate you on this, which I really do not enjoy. But, again with respect, I would like to ask: Why would Leitz make a lens, the 4.5 Focotar, which new I beleive was about $600, only be good for a 5x7 print and then start to fall off at 8x10? I just made a 16x20 with mine, cropped at that, which stuns me in the sense that the last time I printed the image was with a new Componon-S and the new print, with the Focotar exceeds it!. A number of times, in newspaper darkrooms in which I have worked we turned the enlarger heads around an printed to the floor (all B+W). Yes, the prints were very grainy but they were the sharpest grain we ever saw. As I said in my earlier post, all of the afore said lenses are great. The subject IS debatable. I think the Focotar 2 was made for color. What is a World Class lens anyway?