i'm using an older focomat 1c that does NOT have a filter drawer, and i wonder what i should do in order to use filters with this enlarger....i've become partial to agfa's multicontrast classic FB paper (118), but given it's a variable contrast paper, i need to figure out how to USE contrast filters (mine are ilford). i read somewhere that the only option to drop the filters down on top of the condensor. sounds like a recipe for disaster to me (my enlarger bulb seems like it would just melt the filters!) anyone have other ideas? thanks for your time.

-- kim sherman (ksherman@isdn.net), February 14, 2000

Answers

How about putting them below the lens? For best quality, you should probably get the special below-the-lens filters.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan@snibgo.com), February 14, 2000.

Those filters are a lot tougher than they look!

Years ago I converted an old B&W condenser enlarger to take colour filters by cutting a thin circular aluminium plate to drop over the condensers in the lamphouse. A square hole cut in the plate and edged with "L" shaped plastic strip finished the filter holder off nicely. Even with a 150 Watt bulb fitted, there was no damage to the filters, not even noticable fading. Taking the lid off the enlarger all the time was a pain though.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), February 16, 2000.

Leica used to provide (on special order) a below-the-lens filter holder. This is no longer available from them, but they are available used even though they are hard to find. You could convert the orange filter, which is still available from Leica, to hold filters by taking out the orange filter, and laying the desired filter over the mount. I considered doing this, but bought a Focomat 1C with a filter drawer instead. I experimented with Kodak below-the- lens filters to determine if they resulted in any optical degradation, but could not detect any problem at even the highest magnifications. Below the lens filter holders are the most convenient way to go, except for variocontrast heads, since you don't have to slide out a drawer to insert and remove filters. The holder is right in front of you when you are printing. If you are handy, you can make a filter holder that would attach via the same screw as the orange filter, and you could use both of them. You might also be able to order one from one of the enlarger companies that can be adapted to the Focomat. Good luck!

-- Eilert Anders (eilert@dav.com), February 16, 2000.