"Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar" is a name synonymous with traditional cameras... in particular the 35mm rangefinder, but also in recent years with the SLR. Whilst "precision" and "quality" are words which easily spring to mind to describe products from the Leitz factory the word "autofocus" certainly isn't... although the company has made a few compact AF cameras of late. Whether they will ever make a fully specified autofocus 35mm SLR is open to debate... now that the company and factory is "The Leica Camera Group" based at Solms, the direction is clearly a digital one with the M8 rangefinder being produced in increasing numbers to satisfy an increasingly strong demand.

What I'm describing here is the Focomat range of enlargers. Leitz used the name Focomat to describe their autofocus models at a time when they also manufactured manual enlargers which can still be found second-hand as the popular Valoy and Valoy II, and rather less frequently as the Vamax, amongst other esoteric names.

Enigma Codes
Of course the names or numerical codes Leitz have used over the years only serve those who know their interpretation. Whilst not quite in the "secret society" league I think that advertisers in the popular photographic magazines who list items under their codes such as, for example, Verat, Verup, Veryn and Verax, which obviously refer (to those in the know) to 50cm, 80cm, 100cm and 120cm metal columns for the Valoy only do themselves out of potential new customers. I have owned all three basic Focomats at different times over the years and have never understood the mysteries of the accessory codes. Although originally factory designations perhaps they are now perpetuated for collectors only rather than users and as such serve their purpose... perhaps I am wrong?

Nevertheless, for discerning users the enlargers are arguably the finest piece of equipment for the darkroom money can buy. Like a Leica rangefinder camera there is a "feel" that is unmistakable... especially in the dark. Once the idiosyncratic nature of the tool is understood there's no looking back. You may own other more modern cameras, or an enlarger, after using a Leitz product but you will never get rid of the "oldie" for it will always be there to use for the sheer enjoyment of its (and here are those two words again) precision and quality.

Purchasing
Focomat enlargers can only be purchased pre-owned because even the modern Focomat V35 gave way to a name change in 1989 to become the Leica V35. There are, however, ample opportunities of finding "as new" Focomats simply because most owners of such equipment looked after them. I say most because we have to take into consideration age... after all the first Leitz AF enlarger was manufactured 70 years ago... and use. Many Focomats, especially the larger IIc model, saw constant use in newspaper darkrooms where the throughput of prints would have been at least 100 times that of the home darkroom. To attach the label "well used" to such items would be accurate although a little unfair as the equipment would still probably be in full working order. But, the buyer should be aware.

On the other hand there are new examples lurking in-store which see the light of day from time to time and I remember a decade ago Samy's Camera in Los Angeles having one "unopened, boxed" for $7,900. Whilst around £4,000 is a high premium price to pay for a IIc there is comfort in the knowledge that, as with all Leica products, you should not lose on your investment! A decade ago prices in the UK hovered around the £1,995 mark for late models of the IIc (mint-) complete with accessories, down to £795 for used examples. The more common Ic is obtainable for anything from £200 for an early well-used model to £495 and above for an example in very fine condition. Accessories which are scarcer than the products they fit are expensive... and the Enigma code breaker is thus an advantage.

35mm Focomat Models
Several Leitz Focomat autofocus models were released over the years... and there were no doubt small variations which are beyond the scope of this review such as baseboard and column dimensions, but, they can be narrowed down to the following 35mm models...

Focomat introduced in 1934, for 35 mm with AF operation from 2x to 10x.

Focomat Special Version enlarger baseboard 25x26 inches and 48 inch column.

Focomat Ia 1937, longer column and larger baseboard with clamping device.

Focomat Ib 1946-50, (made in USA), extended AF range from 2x to 13x, and with hinged lamphouse.

Focomat Ia 1949, (made in Wetzlar).

Focomat Ic 1950-77, first new post-war enlarger, sturdier construction.

Focomat Ic Color 1950, built-in drawer for Agfa colour printing filters.

Focomat Ic Color 1973, plastic laminated baseboard, 47 inch column of 2 inch diameter.

Focomat V35 Autofocus 1978, new 40mm f/2.8 WA, modules for black-and-white, VC (variable contrast) and colour printing.