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Condenser Lens for Leitz Wetzlar Focomat 1C Enlarger - $50 (DUMBO (Brooklyn))
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The plain glass condenser for the Leitz Wetzlar Focomat 1c is a single, precision-ground, solid glass optical unit housed within a black-painted brass or metal cylinder, designed specifically for 35mm format enlargement. It serves as both a light-concentrating lens and a pressure plate, which lowers onto the negative to hold it flat during exposure.
Key Description and Features
Structure: The assembly consists of a thick, heavy glass element, usually with a plano-convex shape (one flat side, one curved side).
Housing: The glass is secured within a long, cylindrical black metal "collar" or housing.
Function: It is designed to be part of the automatic focusing mechanism. The condenser sits in a cylindrical mount and rests directly on the film.
Installation: It slides in from above the negative stage into a helical mount, and its position is secured by a spring and a retaining bayonet ring.
Anti-Newton Measures: Unlike the later, rarer anti-Newton ("AN") condenser, the standard plain condenser is entirely transparent and smooth on the bottom.
Compatibility: The 1c condenser is generally a single unit, unlike the 2c which may use multiple lenses, though early 1c units might differ.
Identification: A vertical white line is often present on the side of the condenser to ensure proper orientation when installed in the 1c head.