Response to Leitz(Leica) focomat Ic: can I make quality prints?

The easiest way to deal with Newtonian rings, which result from the uneven contact of the condensor glass against the back of the negative, is to make a mask of uniform thickness to add some separation. There was an etched glass anti-Newton ring attachment that slipped on the bottom of the Focomat condensor, but these are long out of production and very expensive on the used market. Easier is to take a piece of black 4x5 film or other stiff opaque plastic of uniform thickness and cut a window just larger than a negative frame. You can notch the edges to fit neatly in the Focomat negative carrier (or not bother). When you see rings, slip this mask between the negative and the condensor. You may need to refocus. I only rarely get rings, and then only at some times of the year, related to humidity, so I only rarely use a mask. If the dust spots you see are not from dust on the negative, you need to carefully clean the condensor lens. You can remove the condensor, if necessary, from inside the light housing. It is held by a ring inside the lamp housing that is spring loaded against 2 or 3 pins. You remove the lamp housing, tilt the head back, and gently press in and twist the retention ring. When you remove the ring, you can remove the large spring and the condensor. Be very gentle cleaning the condensor-- especially the older ones were fairly soft and can be scratched or scuffed easily. Good luck!

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