Focusing screen options for Rolleiflex Automat (1938)

philipus · Aug 31, 2021

I was recently given the above-mentioned camera and while its screen is without damage and clean (after I cleaned it) I still find it somewhat dim.

In searching for options I've seen Maxwell and Olesen screens being mentioned. Are there other options out there and which among the alternatives would be the brightest screen?

Thank you in advance
Philip

Alex Varas · Aug 31, 2021

I would recommend Oleson ones, I have it in my K2 and it was a big improvement.
I know you are asking for an alternative but I’m a fan of his screens

woodlandSerenade · Aug 31, 2021

I can also vouch for the Oleson screen. I replaced both the focusing screen and mirror in my K4A and it was indeed a night-and-day difference.

Dan Daniel · Aug 31, 2021

Yes, do the Oleson. Maxwells are great, but the 4x price is a bit of a killjoy.

There are other options. Mamiya RB/RZ screens are nice, need to be trimmed down. There are assorted Chinese screens out there. But if you go cheaper than Oleson, the quality will be less, or suspect unless you have specific info on a specific screen (lots of generic screens being sold by different people, sellers come and go, etc. jinfinance is the only long-term seller I have dealt with). All in all, Oleson is quality, his support is great (and over the years he has been a regular source of great info and support to tons of people so has earned the business)(Bill Maxwell is also deserving of full trust and respect, by the way).

Sample images-
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142212

And do the mirror.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264902004493?hash=item3dad63cf0d:g:KB8AAMXQH6BRE99R

macfred · Aug 31, 2021

I have Oleson screens in use with the Rolleiflex 3.5F (and with the Bronica ETRSi) - I can recommend these screens.

campy51 · Aug 31, 2021

I bought one of his B stock for my 2.8E for quite a bit less if you don't mind a few blemishes.

philipus · Aug 31, 2021

Thank you very much for your thoughts on this, it is most valuable to me. I will go for an Oleson screen. It will most definitely be better than the current screen and since this is not my main camera I'll be happy just to be able to use it well enough.

I see that he offers two different focusing aids, a 13mm "micro prism field" and a 6mm diagonal split image "set in a microprism collar".

Would the latter be similar to what I see in my FM3A, i.e. that it gives the benefit both of a split image and a microprism? I mean, I can obviously read that that's what the description says, but what I'm wondering about is the size of the microprism collar. In the FM3A the collar is large enough to be used, but if it's too narrow I imagine that it would be difficult to use.

Dan Daniel · Aug 31, 2021

Write Rick. He'll be happy to give you dimensions, etc. And tell him your concerns and he'll give you an honest answer based on what he has heard from others.

btaylor · Sep 1, 2021

I very much like Rick’s microprism field. It’s size makes it very easy for me to read.

gone · Sep 1, 2021

I bought a Mamiya screen from KEH and cut it down for mine. It was easy, you just have to be careful. There's probably youtube videos on how to do this, but it's basically measure, score, break and install. Is your mirror in good shape? That's another easy upgrade for your focusing. There's a guy on eBay that sells replacements that are high quality and low priced.

JPD · Sep 1, 2021

Keep the original screen somewhere safe for the future. It's not fun buy a nice classic camera and then see that it has non-original modern parts.

henryvk · Sep 1, 2021

I have Jinfinance screens in my TLRs. They are very cheap (~25$) and if you are okay with split-prism for focusing they work very well.

Here's some reference:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/rolleiflex-focus-screen-comparison-test.113791/

Focusing screen options for Rolleiflex Automat (1938)

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