Why would any sane person have TWO Focomat IIc's?

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by sepiareverb

Personally I don't know why anyone would want even one Focomat.

Why not? The IIc is not my favorite but its still better, more solid and faster to use than many, if not most, of the enlargers out there.. There really are many worse choices to be had.. The low tech design makes them easy to keep in operation.... no electronics.. just sheet metal, some machined bits, brass and cast iron... and the they do look very retro cool!

[sepiareverb]

Originally Posted by J J Kapsberger

Because they look cool.

That they do, in a Sputnik kind of way.

[Tom A]

What's wrong with owning two Focomat IIc's? I find it completely normal - though one is on the floor at the moment and I keep walking into it (a Ic is on the enlarger table instead).

[Erik van Straten]

I like the IIc very much, also for 35mm work. The strong points of the IIc are the evenness of the illumination and the ergonomy the special 35mm carrier provides. When you intend to do 35mm work with the IIc this special carrier is essential. This 35mm carrier has only on one side glass, anti-Newton glass. The glass holds the negative flat in the same way the condenser in an Ic does, but it has the advantage that there also is a small clip that holds the negative in place. This clip is very convenient. It can hold in place a piece of film as small as the length of one frame. Now try to do that with an Ic.
When you want to print the whole negative with a black border, you'll have to file out the cut-out of the brass mask. The brass is 2mm thick. The filing takes some patience, but is not hard to do.
The 60mm Focotar is very good for prints up to 24x30cm. On prints of 30x40cm you'll notice a very slight unsharpness of the grain towards the corners, but the prints are nevertheless beautiful.
When choosing a IIc you should look for one with a filter drawer. The IIc is a bit too big to take off the lamp housing every time you change the filter.
I love my Focomat IIc as much as I love my Leicas. It certainly is the most beautiful enlarger in the world.

Erik.

[Al Patterson]

Originally Posted by Vickko

Why would any sane person have TWO Focomat IIc's?

Vick

Because they can?

I have a few camera pairs, like two Leica CLs, two Canonet QL17 GIIIs and two Canon A-1s. But then again, I'm not the sanest person on the block either...

[alexwmcheung]

Two years ago, I owned three 2c (black color with 60 focotar & 100 elmar; grey color with 60 focotar & 100 elmar; grey color with 60 focotar & 100 focotar-2 & enlarging indcator) and two 1c (grey hammertone & black color) as well as all leitz enlarging len series except elmar one.

Now, I retained hammertone and some leitz accessories for collection purpose.

[timor]

Originally Posted by Edward C. Zimmermann

I Madness..?? the question is whose..? Those who disposed of the stuff or those that rescued the bits and put them to function?

Digi-tsunami. Nice description, but thanks to this I can enjoy my hobby for small money. Madness ? Is any real hobby not a one ?