Changing the Yashicamat focusing screen.

[manfromh]

I have been thinking about getting a better screen for my Yashicamat (the first model), and cutting down an RB67 screen seems to be the cheapest option.

How difficult is it to change the screen? And do I have to make focus adjustments to the camera afterwards?

I don't want to ruin the camera, so if it's too much work, I'll stick to the current screen.

Matis

EDIT: Also, how do the Rick Olesen screens compare to the original yashica ones?

 

[mablo]

Yashicamat original screen is pretty good IMO. I'm not sure you can get a much better screen by changing it. First make sure that the current screen is clean from both sides and that the mirror is clean too.

 

[Hikingman]

Here's a site for more affordable screens.

Or, you can get a Maxwell for bigger bucks.

John

 

[manfromh]

I have considered the Rick Olesen screens. Mainly due to the split-screen focusing.

There is a fair amount of dust on the screen and on the mirror. I'm a bit scared to clean them myself. I have heard that the gridlines fall off easily, and I find them very useful. And I am afraid of damaging the mirror. I will send and email to the local camera repair guy and see if he has any experience with TLR's.

 

[mablo]

There are four small screws around the viewfinder hood. Unscrew those and carefully lift up the hood and the screen in one piece. Now you can blow all the dust away on the mirror and the bottom of the screen. Don't be afraid of the mirror, you can get a replacement for a small amount of money if you manage to screw it up.

I use Rick's split-screen on my Rolleicord. It is much better than the original Rolleicord "Malevich's Black Square" screen but you can really focus only on the split-screen part of the screen. This is ok with me.

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Malevich.black-square.jpg )