I have recently purchased a mint condition Leitz V35 enlarger. This is the second V35 I have owned the earlier one being labled Leitz while the newer one is labled Leica. There is a couple of differences between the two. Firstly the vario-contrast module has a well made plastic housing on the Leica model and a metal one on the older Leitz model.

Secondly and of some concern is that the more recent Leica model doesn't seem to have a click stop on the heleical housing for the lens. I carefully dismantled this housing and it just contains a straight groove all the way around it, with no indentation for the click stop. Consequently it is very difficult to set this enlarger up for correct autofocus function and in fact I have not been able to get it right yet. I have raised the column to the height of the easel etc. but no go.

Does anyone know whether Leica on the latter model end of production run V35's did away with the click stop arragement? Any informaion or design changes on the Leica badged versions compared to the Leitz versions would be appreciated.

-- sam smith (Ruy_Lopez@hotmail.com), December 27, 2001

Answers

All I can say is they don't make them like they used to...!

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), December 28, 2001.

Call Leica Service in New Jersey. Unlike the old days, they actually try to be helpful, and are very knowledgable.

-- (bmitch@home.com), December 28, 2001.