Focusing Screen

I've been researching focusing screens these past few days and I'm trying to come up with some promising alternatives to the D as well. The D seems to have everything going for it, but it's so hard to find. :( I found some other Mamiya screens, but they're medium format so I think they'd be too large. The Canon screens looked really promising except for that stupid focusing circle. Would anyone be interested in splitting up one of these Linhof screens as Edweirdo is suggesting? I guess it's hard to get solid commitments without ever having seen results. What a Catch 22.
 
Last edited:
Mother effer! and I went ahead and ordered two of each!....
I did not catch the little circle.
way to go freaking Canon!...plain matte my arse!
 
Well, now you can test them and see how good they are. It certainly looks like there is a focusing circle in the middle, but maybe by some crazy twist of fate there won't be one? I'm sure there will be, but hey, why not be optimistic? :D
 
Super8 said:
Mother effer!* and I went ahead and ordered two of each!....
I did not catch the little circle.
way to go freaking Canon!...plain matte my arse!
Click to expand...

Man super 8, I hope the pooch isn't nutted. When I talked with Canon last week I was very clear that I was looking for a Plain matte screen that had no grid or focusing circle, VERY clear. They were also VERY clear that it had no marks on on it. The image that is on adorama, which is not a photo but a drawing,
http://www.adorama.com/ICASEEA.html...recision-Matte)-for-EOS-5D-Digital-SLR-Camera
shows no circle. The other screens displayed on their site, in the same way, when their is a circle or a grid it is displayed. I'm hoping that the photo on B&H is inaccurate for your sake as well As mine as I'm In the same boat. As I stated earlier, I called Canon, and was very clear that it had to be void of any markings as it would be useless for me if it did. I Called them back several times, ( measure twice, cut once ) About the issues of light transmission etc, to decide which screen was best suited for my adapters needs.

I really hope that I did not lead you or anyone else (including myself) down a path that is not only inaccurate but useless. I did the best research possible with out looking at the screen with my own eyes. Lets see what shows up and then with any luck we have a screen that is actually what they (canon) claims it to be...

once again, very sorry about this if it turns out to be a red herring.
 
Last edited:
dijit23 said:
The image that is on adorama, which is not a photo but a drawing,
http://www.adorama.com/ICASEEA.html...recision-Matte)-for-EOS-5D-Digital-SLR-Camera
shows no circle. The other screens displayed on their site, in the same way, when their is a circle or a grid it is displayed. I'm hoping that the photo on B&H is inaccurate for your sake as well As mine as I'm In the same boat.
Click to expand...

In my research into these Canon screens I have seen many drawings and pictures of the Ee-A. Like you indicated, the drawings do not show a circle in the center. The other photos I have seen have been much lower res than the one that Edweirdo posted and it is impossible to ascertain whether or not there is a circle in the middle. I am also hoping that these types of screens work out well, as they would be a more available alternative to the Nikon D screen. I guess we'll find out when Super8 gets them.
 
Hey guys, what about this one: Nikon B BrightView screen. It appears to be a matte surface, with no focusing marks or circles. I could be wrong though. Seems like it is only ONE specific type of the B screens and it is for a digital camera. I just found it and thought it might be of interest. I couldn't find anyone commenting on this screen when I did a search, so I thought I'd throw it out there.
 
Yeah, that was the first thing I noticed too. Of course it would be out of stock and impossible to find elsewhere. :( I've got myself signed up for a notification when it comes back in stock. Apparently this screen fits the Nikon D2X, which is a rather high end digital SLR (12.4 Megapixels). I'd like to try this out, especially as the BrightView technology is supposed to brighten up the image a stop or more. That should be helpful. :D
 
That screen looks good. so was there any news as to whether Dijit23's screen have circles or not. you know, the canon screens. Im hoping theres no circles, but can anyone clear that one up? thank you
 
OK everyone heres the poop!

After reading SUPER 8'S post and seeing My post had trickled over to postings at DVINFO.NET I quickly cancelled my order with B&H and begin researching this. Calling B&H, I was told it did have a circle, the guy went on about canon like a mad russian. His "expert" opinion was based on the photo posting. He would not verify his firm opinion that it had a focusing circle with his own eyes and was angered at me for asking.:kali:

Adrorama was little nicer, he said look at the picture and thats what you get. and that he could not verify it by sight as he didn't have any in the store, just in the warehouse for shipping out. At this point I realized it was time to call Canon, after all they are the ones that make the bloody thing in the first place. right? Well, They are as helpful as ring worm is pleasant. One guy said it had micro blocking but could not explain what that means. I asked if he had one he could look at, he said no but the drawing he had..... So I waited, called back and this what another guy said. the EE-a and EE-s have a clear matte surface. That there is nothing etched on the surface. No circle. No box. That the EE-d has a grid. Thanked him and began a search on the net to see if their was any actual pic of some DIY how to that might show a close up of the screen. Zip on that. What I did find was mostly line drawings;

http://www.adorama.com/images/Product/ICASEEA.JPG

( nine times out of ten, this drawing shows up, actually, B&H is the only one that actually shows the pic. I suspect it is generic and inaccurate.)

a Japanese site shows this image:

http://store.nifty.com/img/goods/S/045014960999297361_s.jpg

which also show a blank, and rather more detailed image.

So the bottom line, I guess I'll bite the bullet and buy one. The EE-a is designed for slower lens and should bring in more light. The EE-s is for faster lens, and might be to dark. Of course as fate would dictate, I also just got the hard to find F100 brightview that nikon discontinued. But who knows, this might just work out, and god forbid, be better then the brightview. (or even the BIII)

Hope this answers and lessens the frustration, and really sorry if this doesn't pan out. as the saying goes, if you don't try you'll never know.

pax
david jude

PS
to SUPER8, did you get your's yet? Whats the word? box, or smiley face giving us all the raspberry?
 
Last edited:
I am really hoping that the Canon screens are completely clear as they may provide a nice alternative to the Nikon D screen. Looking forward to tests done by those who have ordered them.

Speaking of the Nikon B III BrightView screen, I found it in stock here. I don't mean to start some mad panic to Adorama, but I have ordered one for myself and my other parts are on the way from eBay. If all goes well I should have my adapter assembled late next week. As far as I know no one has tried the Nikon BIII, and I'm hoping for some good results, especially after the success of the D screen. Plus this BrightView technology is supposed to really brighten things up. Time will tell. I just wanted to let everyone know because I know how frustrating it can be to be searching for a good focusing screen or GG solution. I think it's best when we share information like this. Good luck everyone.


EDIT: The screen is on back order for a supposed "two weeks". Hopefully it will ship soon. I'll post results once I have it. That should be the last piece I need once my other parts arrive.
 
Last edited:
I thought I would help out a little bit. I called Nikon direct about the B III screen. They said you can call your local, yes I'm about to say this, local Best Buy, Ritz, Circuit City to get this screen. You just have to specify the product and have them special order it. They are able to do this because they are an authorized dealer. Here's the exact model number

25304

Hope this helps.
Rh
 
Yeah, scrath that idea. I've called Ritz and Circuit City by phone and it's like i'm talking to a robot. "Digital camera yes, you want to order a camera? I'm sorry sir please call Nikon."

Idiots...so there goes that idea. I haven't tried best buy, but 2/3 so far, i'm sure it's going to be the same.

Rich H.
 
Has anyone got their hands on the Canon or new Nikon Screen yet? I'm really having trouble tracking down an old Nikon D screen. I saw someone had ordered the Canon screens and hope that they've received them by now.
 
The Canon screens are out. They have a focusing circle in the middle. I've orderd a Nikon B III screen but it's on backorder right now. I'll definite post results once I get it.
 
Hey...

Since everyone seems to be bashing their heads in trying to find a good screen, I have an idea: I'm 99.9999% sure I can hand make a more efficient ground glass screen than the Nikon F3. I say this because I purchased an F3 screen a while back and, after comparing it to my best hand ground efforts, I found my own work to be better.

I will do a short run of five units if anyone here shows interest, and I'm willing to sell the first five for $50 + shipping. The reason the cost would be that high for now is that I have a bulk glass order on its way but optical grade, scratchless glass in quantities of 100 or so takes about 3 weeks from time of order to delivery. Once the order arrives, the material cost goes down, and I would lower the price to $38 per unit.

For now I would have to purchase Hoya filters and pay myself above the material cost for the time it takes me to go get them, and then grind them.

I would give purchasers a week to fool with the glass and see if it's to their satisfaction. If not, send it back and I'll refund you the $50, less any PayPal charges. Glass would be 49mm in diameter (just under two inches). Note: there would not be a condensor component to this glass.

PM me if you're interested -- I'd look for a $25 deposit, and then the rest just prior to shipping.

FYI -- this will be the same grade glass as in my Go35 Standard. I have high res footage with a GL1/Go35 Standard prototype that shows the grain and focus characteristics of this glass (my apologies about the dust) here.

- jim
 
Last edited:
Jim,

How would you compare your glass to the optosigma 1500gg?
Plus, there's no way you can make the glass any bigger, say 50mm?

RH.
 
It's better than any 1500 grit glass.

Let me put it to you this way, re: the glass diameter. For this first run I'll simply be using any arbitrary Hoya UV filter as my grinding glass, and I happen to have a couple 49mm's here. If you need 50mm exactly, I can't help you out. But, if you want one of the first $50 run of pieces, and it can be a diameter of a specific Hoya UV filter, I'll go to B&H and get it. 46mm, 49mm, 55mm and 58mm are the dimensions I can recall them being. All are slightly "off" the actual dia of the glass, as there is the metal ring in the dimension.

I'm waiting on a vernier caliper and will, once I receive it, measure the interior diameter of the Go35's tubing. Then I'm going to place a large order for glass of the exact dimensions I need...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top