Leitz V35 level?

[joel_sackett]

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]

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.

[lawrence_beck1]

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).

 

<p>

 

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.

 

<p>

 

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.

 

<p>

 

Lawrence

[ron_mckinney]

The head can easily be aligned parallel to the baseboard by

removing the plastic panel that covers the parallelogram

autofocus device. There is a large nut that can be loosened and

then you can change the alignment of the head to the

baseboard.

 

By far the most important alignment is between the negative

stage and the lens stage. If the negative plane is the smallest

bit out of perpendicular to the lens axis you can't get perfect

sharpness corner to corner in larger prints. (I print 16x and 24X

on my V35). Thankfully, this never goes out of alignment on the

V35 and I don't think it is adjustable. Getting the baseboard and

negative planes exactly parallel is not very important--using an

ordinary bubble level is adequate.