Maxwell Screens?

Hi,

I'm looking for a better focusing solution for my Pentax 67. Just a little background info, I'm shooting with adapter Cinelux projector lenses that are extremely fast (f/2) so the resulting DOF is paper thin. Right now, the centered microprism isn't cutting it as I usually focus and recompose which results in out of focus images due to the shifting of the thin plane of focus.

I did a bit of research and the Maxwell screen (Hi-Lux Brilliant Matte)) seems to be the best solution. However, I've heard conflicting things about this screen's ability to actually allow the end user to determine critical focus. Also, the price tag is extremely steep at $415 for the conversion. Just wanted to see if other users could chime in on this screen (hopefully the specific brilliant matte model). If this screen seriously allows me to "snap" in focus with my lenses, I'm more than willing to spend the money. Any input would be appreciated.

Have you consider the chimney finder? It blocks all external light and has a mild 1.3x magnificaction while keeping 100% coverage of the screen. It is much easier to focus than with pentaprism finder, the big downwards is that vertical framing is very difficult or even imposible handheld. The positive side is that it is much cheaper than a Maxwell screen.

I have bought two screens from Bill.

The first one was for a Mamiya RB67 ProSD with the latest screen Mamiya made for it. The difference in brightness was not that much but the focus snap was better. It also was less reflective so looking down the chimney from above I saw more of the picture than my own reflection. With postage and import taxes it was probably about $500. Was it $500 better? Probably not and I probably wouldn't buy one for that camera. One thing to compare to, at the time I did have a Hasselblad as well with the latest Acute Matte D and the screen was as good as that.

Now, the second one I bought from Bill was for my now deceased Rollei 6008i. That screen cost me probably about $300 and a bit with taxes. Would I buy it again. Oh yes. The screen is night and day compared to the stock screen I had.

One thing to note, I don't like focus aids and like plain matte screens so I can focus all over it without distractions. So the snap and brightness of the screen makes a huge difference compared to someone who uses a split image.

So to summarise, it depends on the screen. I briefly owned a Pentax 6x7 (I sent it back after a week as it had spacing issues) and cannot remember how good/bad the screen was.

Overall I would say Bill's screens are at least as good as Hasselblad's Acute Matte D and the B screen I have on my F3HP.

Final piece of advice. I bought the Mamiya screen direct from Bill. The Rollei I bought via Rollei US. The reason? Because dealing with Bill is not easy. Basically you need to ring him, if you email him you will probably not get an answer and if you do it will be a week or two later. I also had to chase him for a couple of weeks to get it done, he's slow making these. So be prepared to wait.

$500 for a chimney finder? I made a quick check in eBay and there are plenty of them in Japan, last versión for around $130 + taxes.

https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/162939881335

In conversation with Bill Maxwell a few years ago, he specifically recommended that I not get a screen with a split image focus aid for exactly the reason the OP mentions- shooting close with small depth of field, people will be shifting the camera to reframe and lose focus. He recommends his plain screen, whatever the name is. The ability to focus across the hole screen is much better in his plain screen.

A Mamiya RB/Z 67 screen, the plain matte, is almost as bright as the Maxwell, and I think has a bit more bite for focus. Shouldn't be too hard to cut one down and shim properly for a Pentax 67.

Dan Daniel said:

A Mamiya RB/Z 67 screen, the plain matte, is almost as bright as the Maxwell, and I think has a bit more bite for focus. Shouldn't be too hard to cut one down and shim properly for a Pentax 67.

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The size may be right but is the thickness correct?

halfaman said:

$500 for a chimney finder? I made a quick check in eBay and there are plenty of them in Japan, last versión for around $130 + taxes.

https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/162939881335

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We're talking about the screens, not chimney finders.

I have Maxwell screens in my Rolleis and a Beattie screen in my Pentax 67. Seems to me the Beattie is every bit as good and maybe easier to focus. The interesting thing about the Maxwell screen is that when focusing on something with texture like leaves in a tree or anything with lines, the lines on the Maxwell screen sort of vibrate with interference with the lines in the subject.. telling me it is exactly in focus.

halfaman said:

Have you consider the chimney finder? It blocks all external light and has a mild 1.3x magnificaction while keeping 100% coverage of the screen. It is much easier to focus than with pentaprism finder, the big downwards is that vertical framing is very difficult or even imposible handheld. The positive side is that it is much cheaper than a Maxwell screen.

Click to expand...

Ideally, I would have gone with this route but a lot of my work is done in the portrait orientation so that's a no-go for me.

dpurdy said:

I have Maxwell screens in my Rolleis and a Beattie screen in my Pentax 67. Seems to me the Beattie is every bit as good and maybe easier to focus. The interesting thing about the Maxwell screen is that when focusing on something with texture like leaves in a tree or anything with lines, the lines on the Maxwell screen sort of vibrate with interference with the lines in the subject.. telling me it is exactly in focus.

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Interesting. Are you using a standard pentaprism with the Pentax or a waist level finder with the magnifier? I only use the standard pentaprism without any magnifying aid.

jm3795 said:

Interesting. Are you using a standard pentaprism with the Pentax or a waist level finder with the magnifier? I only use the standard pentaprism without any magnifying aid.

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I use the metered prism on my 67 and I have a +1 diopter installed... which were available new at the time I bought it.

I thought the P67 was difficult to focus until I realized it was my aging eyeballs. The +1 diopter was a great improvement.

Screens other than the native ones for the Pentax 6x7 / 67 will introduce metering errors; this has to be considered and ideally, worked around with a separate hand-held meter, particularly as the TTL meter has a range of 5 stops from dead centre (+2.5 / -2.5).

Additionally, the Beattie/Maxwell screens provide a false-dioptre affect that misaligns actual focus with dioptric difficiency. That is to say, you must get the most accurate dioptric lens installed on the Pentax 6x7 / 67, focus that critically and then consider focusing screens. Personally and from long experience, alternative screens are a waste of money. Invest your time and money in a fast lens of f2.4 to f2.8, of which several are available.

The native 67 screens are quite sufficient for skilled photographers to to focus with. If there is any difficulty, a right-angle finder, or central-spot magnifier are further sufficient means to achieve accurate focus. After installation of any focusing screen, it must be calibrated to achieve accurate focus in three places in the central and peripheral area of the focusing screen (collimation).

dpurdy said:

I have Maxwell screens in my Rolleis and a Beattie screen in my Pentax 67. Seems to me the Beattie is every bit as good and maybe easier to focus. The interesting thing about the Maxwell screen is that when focusing on something with texture like leaves in a tree or anything with lines, the lines on the Maxwell screen sort of vibrate with interference with the lines in the subject.. telling me it is exactly in focus.

Click to expand...

A couple hundred years ago, I owned a Pentax 6x7 and ditched the split focus screen for a matte Beattie that had the
thirds-grid. Massive difference! I also bought the eyepiece magnifier that flipped up, making the prism finder a joy to focus. Food for thought...