How do you increase ground glass visibility

[Ariston]

I have trouble seeing very well on my ground glass in the shade sometimes - even for scenes I think are pretty well it. My main lens is an f/5.6, which isn't screaming fast... but I think I should be able to see in the shade on a well-lit day.

Will a new ground glass make much of a difference? I tried to reach out to Steve Hopf because I heard good things about him, but never heard back. I am not sure how much of a difference it would make, anyway.

Is there something I can do to improve the GG brightness for my shoddy eyes?

 

[abruzzi]

The things I can think of:

1. better ground glass
2. fresnel
3. better dark cloth
4. faster lenses

the grind of the glass can make a difference.

 

[jimjm]

Are you using a dark cloth?
For me, being able to block all extraneous light makes a huge difference. I recently bought Blackjacket cloths for my 4x5 and 8x10 cameras and they are a big improvement over the blanket-type cloths I previously used. Especially in windy conditions.

 

[BrianShaw]

Squinting also helps.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I assume you have an effective darkcloth. Wide-angle lenses present viewing issues which longer lenses don't. But I hate fresnel brighteners in general. Some ground glass is simply ground too fine. I use Satin Snow glass; but with them out of business, you could inquire about something similar. Very few of my lenses are brighter than f/9, yet I have no trouble even in deep shade. Having the correct kind of magnifying loupe also helps when it comes to detail and focus issues. It also helps to wear sunglasses when you're not actually under the darkcloth, so your eyes don't have to adjust as much. Fatigued eyes from too much computer or phone screen use is bad in general.

 

[Dan Fromm]

OP, have you tried washing it?

 

[Ariston]

It also helps to wear sunglasses when you're not actually under the darkcloth, so your eyes don't have to adjust as much.

That is a fantastic idea I hadn't thought of. I normally wouldn't wear them in the shade, but I am sure that will help cut down on the adjustment time.

 

[Ariston]

OP, have you tried washing it?

No... it doesn't look dirty, but it doesn't hurt to try. Thanks!

 

[shutterfinger]

Wash with dish detergent direct on the glass rubbing gently with your finger tips only, rinse under running water, rinse in a weak photoflo solution, stand on edge to air dry or dry with a lint free cloth.

 

[JPD]

Last year I bought a 150mm fresnel lens and put matte scotch tape on the plain side. I use it in a plate camera with a 150mm lens, but don't think it's brighter than a normal groundglass, despite that the fresnel lens should have the optimal focal length and the matte tape being finer "grained" than the groundglass. It was worth a try, though.