for those who use a beattie screen...

J

John J. Heppe

Active member
1) is a condenser between the 35mm lens and screen absolutely necessary to avoid a center hot spot? i know the nikon d screen has a condenser built into the assembly, but i'm having a hard time finding an assembly to pull a condenser from (if it even exists) for my Contax beattie screen...which leads me to my second question

2) are there alternatives to using a condenser? i've built a spinning cd adapter in the past and used a fairly large magnifying glass in between my "gg" and lens (though at this point i don't even know if that was really necessary)...i'm considering using a 49mm +1 macro on the front end of "the sandwich" that houses the screen to help spread light over the beattie, i was wondering if has anybody else tried this before i go and spend another $20-$40 on this thing?

3) any other advice on mounting the beattie in "the sandwich"? also, is the "grounded" side of the screen supposed to be facing the 35mm lens, or the camera?
 
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1. A condensor isn't necessary if you have a expensive, fast lens. But the Beattie has a built in condensor.

2. -???????-

3. Having built what may very well be the greatest static adapter using a Beattie, I can say that sandwiching is a must. If you can sandwich it, then you will have yourself one hell of an adatper.

BUT........

Cover the glass if you plan to grind it down, the chips will get caught on the screen and are difficult to get off without scratching it.

I would also like to say that the Beattie screen was the WORST screen I've ever used in an adapter. I don't understand optics but all I know is the DOF is not as shallow with say, a $30 Optosigma 1500 Grit GG..........

But much brighter, a fine grain that is acceptable and an incredibly sharp picture.........
 
John J. Heppe said:
1) is a condenser between the 35mm lens and screen absolutely necessary to avoid a center hot spot?>>>>>

NO.


<<<<2) are there alternatives to using a condenser? i've built a spinning cd adapter in the past and used a fairly large magnifying glass in between my "gg" and lens (though at this point i don't even know if that was really necessary)>>

You should have tried to go without it to answer the question. Nowadays, a good achromatic CU lens is the entry level.

<<<<...i'm considering using a 49mm +1 macro on the front end of "the sandwich" that houses the screen to help spread light over the beattie>>>>

THAT JOB IS DONE ALLREADY BY THE FRESNEL SCREEN.
Read here how and why:

http://www.intenscreen.com/pdf/How_Does_It_Work.pdf

For the same reason as above, if the camera is too close to a GG, you get the "hotspot".

>>>>i was wondering if has anybody else tried this before i go and spend another $20-$40 on this thing?<<<<

Pass.

<<<3) any other advice on mounting the beattie in "the sandwich"?>>>

The only thing you might need (I don't know what camera you have) is an achromatic CU lens to allow you to focus on the screen.
Do not sandwich the screen with anything and touch nothing but the sides or you shell suffer.... Period.
Click to expand...
 
Wait, wait. You're housing this inside a 2" coupler? Isn't the Contax screen a medium format screen, and thus much larger than 2"? I could be wrong, but it's something to double check before ordering.
 
My advise to you is to NOT try to alter the beattie. Just put it inside the sandwich of the two adapter rings. Possibly UV filters backwards or something where it is sealed and not sanded or cut. When it fits in snug, glue it with a very small amount of glue. I was sanding mine trying to get it just right and OOOoop! A $135 mistake!

:-)
 
I must have taken mine in and out of my adapter about 50 times doing different tests, and it is still intact.

It comes with instructions... :)
 
petri63 said:
I must have taken mine in and out of my adapter about 50 times doing different tests, and it is still intact.
Click to expand...

Don't swear it!
I am happy for you and I share the sadness of Ill Eagle. I blew more than two.... Is just that it may happen to anyone, at any given time, regardless the skills and experience. But use those two till you get better in handling them (no need to practice on new screens, right?) Sad story anyway. Sorry to hear.
 
I really enjoy the beattie screen,

although they scracth like crazy, i really like the botken and light that comes thru. living with the scracths are not so bad, since wide open, you can't tell
 
dan said:
Don't swear it!
I am happy for you and I share the sadness of Ill Eagle. I blew more than two.... Is just that it may happen to anyone, at any given time, regardless the skills and experience.
Click to expand...
True. And I’ve done other costly mistakes, believe me. It’s just that, if you are very careful, you can manage to do a lot of work with one.

And as phally says, even a scratched one may be usable, especially in a vibrating setup.
 
petri63 said:
even a scratched one may be usable, especially in a vibrating setup.
Click to expand...
True enough, you don't see "the scratch" anymore but you'll see the circle the scratch describes. The motion does hide it somewhat, but you can still see it (depending on the scratch, if you have a plain/even lit surface without any details in soft focus, you'll see it). NG for commercial work, but good enough to practice.
 
I replaced the GG on my letus 35 with a beattie & I loved it. Unfortunately, the beattie I got (for contax RTS) is too small for 16 x 9 framing on my sony z1. So now i'm forced to shoot 4 x 3.
 
Im thinking of buying the beattie Intenscreen, and being EXTREMELY careful with it. For a mount, Marlene suggested cutting out the center of a bottom lens cap, and securing the focusing screen in that, which will then be fitted inbetween two 2" couplings...though she was referring to another type of screen, and I dont know if the beattie would be to small/big to fit in a bottom lens cap...Does this sound plausible?
 
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i dont know why you would have to ruin a rear lens cap just to mount the beatiie, it could be mounted in anything plastic, cut out aluminum, something. even cardboard. then put it in the coupling. thats lens cap could be used as a mount for you 35mm lens.
 
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