Brighter ground glass for Horseman 985

Lollipop · Jan 5, 2022

Hello,
I'm a new owner of this camera that I find versatile and a pleasure to use.
The only flaw I noticed is the poor quality of the standard screen: rather dark and rough.
Are available brighter alternative options on the market?

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 5, 2022

I use a Horseman 970 and to be honest I find the ground glass pretty acceptable.

But you didnt ask for my experience on the camera. I think probably Maxwell may have one that fit or make a custom one.

https://www.facebook.com/Maxwell-Precision-Optics-200647716643807/

madNbad · Jan 5, 2022

I had a Maxwell screen in my VH-R, it's worth it and a joy to use. It even works well at smaller apertures.

@DrHSTGonzo · Jan 5, 2022

For me a lot of it depends on the lens I have mounted on my VH and how well my dark cloth/black T-shirt blocks out the extraneous light. Once my eyes adjust even my 75/6.8 lens is fairly bright in the center. But the corners are darker with that one.
Like Marcelo said, perhaps a Maxwell screen would help brighten it up.
Edit:
@madNbad about how much did the screen set you back? I looked at getting one for my Rolleicord but was a little rich for my blood.

madNbad · Jan 5, 2022

@DrHSTGonzo said:
For me a lot of it depends on the lens I have mounted on my VH and how well my dark cloth/black T-shirt blocks out the extraneous light. Once my eyes adjust even my 75/6.8 lens is fairly bright in the center. But the corners are darker with that one.
Like Marcelo said, perhaps a Maxwell screen would help brighten it up.
Edit:
@madNbad about how much did the screen set you back? I looked at getting one for my Rolleicord but was a little rich for my blood.

I don't remember, but it was more expensive than the other screens. I had the VH-R from 2001 till about 2008, then went back to 35mm exclusively.

Lollipop · Jan 8, 2022

Thank you all. So, I do understand that the solution would be a Maxwell precision screen. I will get in touch with them.

Dan Daniel · Jan 8, 2022

You can also add just a fresnel layer in combination with the existing ground glass. This requires making certain that the orginal focu surface stays in the same place so that it is still accurate. It's been a while but I think I did this with my Horseman VH.

Here is a screen that you could cut down to fit; it would not be as good as a fresnel meant for shorter 6x9 lenses but will certainly help-

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144290735754?hash=item219865e68a:g:MosAAMXQHDlRdeFF

Another option is the thin plastic magnifier sheets that were sold for reading. Pretty rough lines and not the most even but certainly does brighten things up a bit-

https://www.amazon.com/RZJZGZ-Premium-Magnification-Magnifier-Fresnel/dp/B09959HZQM/ref=sr_1_24?crid=3P51PJMTH859Q&keywords=reading+magnifier+for+books&qid=1641683362&sprefix=reading+magnifier,aps,249&sr=8-24&th=1

Maxwell screens, which are the best available, cost in the hundreds of dollars.

Sirius Glass · Jan 8, 2022

This may be a silly question for me to ask but are you using a dark cloth?

ic-racer · Jan 8, 2022

The Horseman VH-R came with the fresnel lens and I believe, it may have been an option for your camera or someone removed it. If it was removed from your camera, it should still focus OK because the fresnel is mounted on the side of the ground glass AWAY from the lens.
It was available with or without the mounting hardware, depending on if you camera came with one originally.

Lollipop · Jan 11, 2022

Dear all, thank you for replying.
Honesty i don't like so much the fresnel lens: viewing is brighter for sure but harder for focusing due its 'texture'. On my 4x5 Sinan F I removed it, using only its clear and already bright ground glass.

I saw some prices of Maxwell screens and I do think they, even respecting the quality, are too expensive for a Horseman and that there's not an reasonable alternative to the original one.

If I find I would chanche the current #27832 GG whit the grid pattern one #27833.

@Sirius Glass, yes of course.

Dan Daniel · Jan 11, 2022

I did replace my stock ground glass in a Horseman with a borosilicate ground glass. It was brighter. I don't remember exactly where I got it. I see this guy in England-

https://hopfglass.wordpress.com/

You might contact him, or visit some large format forums to see if there is another source.

Lollipop · Jan 15, 2022

Dan Daniel said:
I did replace my stock ground glass in a Horseman with a borosilicate ground glass. It was brighter. I don't remember exactly where I got it. I see this guy in England-

https://hopfglass.wordpress.com/

You might contact him, or visit some large format forums to see if there is another source.

Seems interesting! Thank you!

Chuck1 · Jul 5, 2022

theres a beattie intenscreen in this size on ebay now out of the uk

Brighter ground glass for Horseman 985

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