Brightest focusing screen for RZ

[Jarin Blaschke]

Hi all:

I have now a Mamiya RZ ProII. Are there brighter screens out there one can buy? I shoot portraits often and want to focus as quickly and confidently as I can. Is Beattie the way to go, or does anyone find another screen brighter and better?

Thanks-
Jarin

 

[EdSawyer]

I use a brightscreen 20/20 but they are out of business now.

 

[aoresteen]

Bill Maxwell of Maxwell Precision Optics can supplu a bright screen for your RZ.

 

[wiltw]

I love the Maxwell screen for large format view cameras! If using any aftermarket screen with RZ, be aware that metering prisms are fooled by change of focusing screen brightness.

 

[film_man]

Got a Maxwell screen for my RB. Very nice screen. Expensive though!

 

[Jarin Blaschke]

Thanks. Anyone with experience with Maxwell vs. Beattie?

Fortunately I use a handheld meter only..

J

 

[Alan Gales]

I had a Beattie in a Hasselblad 500cm and I found it to be really bright and a huge improvement over the original screen.

I have read that one is as bright as the other but the Maxwells are easier to focus with but I have never used one. It's just what I read on the internet. I found the Beattie easy to focus with myself.

 

[Trail Images]

I've had a Beattie for years on my RB and seems better over the standard units. It does set the light meter off by about a stop. No big thing I just check it against a grey card and change the ISO / ASA setting to get it back to reading correctly.

 

[digital&film]

Identifying Screens for Minolta RZ Pro II

some questions:

1) which screen comes "standard" with the Mamiya RZ Pro II?

2) which screen has the split prism, like 35mm SLR's.

3) how do you identify the different screens? Markings? Part Numbers on Screen?

 

[MattKing]

some questions:

1) which screen comes "standard" with the Minolta RZ Pro II?

2) which screen has the split prism, like 35mm SLR's.

3) how do you identify the different screens? Markings? Part Numbers on Screen?

I'm assuming you mean "Mamiya", not "Minolta".

 

[digital&film]

I'm assuming you mean "Mamiya", not "Minolta".

Yup! Fixed it.

 

[Trail Images]

As listed on one site for Mamiya focusing screens.

Focusing screens

no. 1 Matte
no. 2 Checker
no. 3 Rangefinder spot
no. 4 Microprism
no. 5 Cross hair
no. 6 Rangefinder spot 45°

 

[Trail Images]

This is a bit more detailed on the previous list I posted......


No. 1 Matte – Entirely matted with Fresnel lens
No. 2 Check – Entirely matted with Fresnel lens and sectional grid markings
No. 3 Rangefinder spot - Entirely matted with Fresnel lens and split prism at center
No. 4 Microprism – Entirely matted with Fresnel lens and micro prism at center
No. 5 Cross-hair – Entirely matted Center small circular portion is transparent with cross hairs marker (useful for high magnification or telephoto, using parallax focusing)
No. 6 Rangefinder spot - 45 deg/microprism

 

[digital&film]

I guess I'll go with #3 or #4.. split or micro prism

 

[Trail Images]

I guess I'll go with #3 or #4.. split or micro prism

I wish I could help with that, but I have no idea what flavor mine is. I bought it almost 20 years back now. Good luck......