Best ground glass screen?

[AlanC]

On my home made 5 x 4 camera I have a ground glass and fresnel lens that came off an old Linhof. I've never found it easy to focus on the image when using a loupe, as the granular nature of the ground glass and the lines from the fresnel lens both seem to get in the way.
There must be a better arrangement. Any suggestions will be gratefully received as my eyes aren't getting any better.

Alan Clark

 

[David H. Bebbington]

The simple but expensive answer is a Beattie Intenscreen - gives a very valuable gain in brightness. IIRC, a Linhof screen measures exactly 4x5", so no problem with fit.

Regards,

David

 

[AlanC]

Thank you David. I was hoping for a cheaper option, but will keep it in mind.

Alan

 

[Pinholemaster]

I like, own and use GG made by Brilliant Ground Glass. The one man shop is located on eBay. http://stores.ebay.com/Brilliant-Ground-Glass_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

His GG are handmade, excellent quality, fast turn around, and inexpensive.

As far as adding a new fresnel lens, there are fresnels that don't have lines painted or scribed to them. I'd hunt around eBay for a replacement.

 

[Bandicoot]

I have screens from a number of different sources and the only one I have that I find both appreciably brighter and finer grained than the standard Arca-Swiss ones (which are themselves extremely good anyway) is a Maxwell. My one Beattie screen is about the same as the Arca for grain and a tiny bit brighter. Neither is a cheap answer though.

Boss-Screens that I have seen others use might also come into the bright-yet-fine-grain category (it isn't really grain at all with a boss-screen) but I haven't used one of these myself.

I have yet to try a Satin Snow which I would not expect to be quite as good as the Maxwell, but (especially in the larger sizes) the price would be rather friendlier.


Peter

 

[Mike A]

I have made my own for a couple of years now in 8x10 and 11x14, I think it cost me around $8.00 a screen and an hour of sanding.

 

[AlanC]

Mike,
I made a screen myself a while back, but it was no better than the Linhof.

Peter,
Thanks for all the useful information. I will chase it up.

Pinholemaster,
I looked up Briliant screens. If all else fails I may send for one.

Alan