Looking for a new screen... Beattie or Maxwell?

brian steinberger · Oct 8, 2008

I've searched the forums here and have not much found much info. I just got a Bronica ETRSi and the screen is not very bright. I would like to update the screen. My main questions are:

Maxwell or Beattie?

I found purchase info for Beattie, but none for Maxwell. Is Bill Maxwell still around and making screens?

Will the increase in light affect my meter readings? I have the AEIII prism for my ETRSi.

Thanks!

aparat · Oct 8, 2008

I bought two screens from Maxwell a few months ago for a TLR. They're fantastic, and Maxwell was very nice to deal with over the phone.

brian steinberger · Oct 8, 2008

aparat said:
I bought two screens from Maxwell a few months ago for a TLR. They're fantastic, and Maxwell was very nice to deal with over the phone.

Does he have a website or phone number? Also, how do prices compare with Beattie?

jeroldharter · Oct 8, 2008

I bit the bullet and bought a Maxwell screen for my Canham 4x5. I am pleased with it. Much brighter. Expensive plastic though. It comes well packed with clear instructions. Mr. Maxwell is very knowledgeable and can give you any help you need deciding. He has no website so you have to call him and talk to him. I can't remember, but I think the 4x5 screen was a good $300.

This is contact info:

NOTE: You are advised to call before placing your order in case we are temporarily out of some items (this does not apply to Hi-Lux screen enhancements).

We accept checks, m.o. and all major cards (American Express, Optima, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover)If you have any questions, please call us at:

(404) 244-0095

Or you may email us at:

maxwellprecisionoptics@toast.net

Or write:

Maxwell Precision Optics
P.O. 33146
Decatur, GA
30033-0146

Uncle Goose · Oct 9, 2008

brian steinberger said:
I've searched the forums here and have not much found much info. I just got a Bronica ETRSi and the screen is not very bright. I would like to update the screen. My main questions are:

Maxwell or Beattie?

I found purchase info for Beattie, but none for Maxwell. Is Bill Maxwell still around and making screens?

Will the increase in light affect my meter readings? I have the AEIII prism for my ETRSi.

Thanks!

Strange, I find the screens of Bronica quite clear (but maybe it's because I regularly swap between an ETRSi and a Flexaret ). A brighter screen will indeed affect your readings but that's why there is a small slide with 0,1 and 2 on the bottom of your prism, these are for permanent compensation when another screen is installed (it does roughly the same thing as the compensation dial on top of the prism). You will only have to find out how much you will have to compensate.

Rolleiflexible · Oct 9, 2008

I've used both in my Rolleiflexes.
Both are excellent screens. In
my experience, the best screen
is the Maxwell screen without the
center spot focusing aid, followed
very closely by the Beattie screens.
I would avoid the Maxwell screens
with center microprism spots --
in my experience they are not up to
the other screens' quality. If you need
the focusing aid, get the Beattie.

lns · Oct 9, 2008

Rolleiflexible said:
...
I would avoid the Maxwell screens
with center microprism spots --
in my experience they are not up to
the other screens' quality....

I would like to politely disagree here. At least, this has not been my experience. I have two Maxwell screens, one with split image microprism and one without, on two different Rolleis. I find them both excellent in use and indistinguishable in quality.

On the other hand, I use split image microprisms regularly in my 35mm cameras, so perhaps I am predisposed to like them and rely on them. And, to be fair, when I talked to Bill Maxwell about which screen to get, he initially recommended the plain screen.

But if you are used to the split image, and it helps you, as it does me, I firmly believe that there's no reason to avoid it.

-Laura

Rolleiflexible · Oct 9, 2008

Laura, Bill will tell you that his screens
with microprisms are inferior to his plain
screens. They are made by a different
process and manufacturer. Bill offers them
only because people ask him for screens
with focusing aids.

In a Rollieflex, Bill's screens with the
microprism will black out at the edges when
viewed through the Rolleiflex's magnifier.
Bill's plain screens will not do that. The
fresnel lines on his microprism screens are
much more pronounced than they are on
the plain screens. Perhaps because of that,
I find Bill's microprism screen harder to focus.

All that said, they are all very good screens.
But I find the Beattie screens with focusing
aids much easier to use than the Maxwells
with focusing aids.

patricia de roeck · Oct 14, 2008

Hi Brian - I've got a Bronica ETRSi as well and was so frustrated trying to focus that I bought a Beattie screen with a centre split-image - its fantastic, even in very low light and saved my sanity. Because I'm in Oz it was easier to get hold of the Beattie, so can't comment on the Maxwell. Good luck with it.
Patricia

Looking for a new screen... Beattie or Maxwell?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency