Rolleicord IV - Ground glass vignetting?

[marcmarc]

Hi Everyone,
I recently received a Rolleicord IV as a gift. It's my first TLR. I shot a few test rolls today and while I was doing so I had a hard time focusing anything that was not dead center in the ground glass. The center is fairly bright (although I wish it were brighter) but going off center and towards the edges the light falls off so much so that it's hard to see objects on the edges of the frame. Is this normal for this model or TLR cameras in general? I have an RZ67 and it's evenly bright across the focusing screen. I had a lot of fun today learning to use this camera and I hope to be able to use it on a fairly regular basis so I want to make sure it's in tip-top shape. Thanks for replies.
Regards,
Marc

 

[trythis]

My III is the same


Sent with typotalk

 

[Gerry M]

Rick Oleson sells a Bright Screen with 12mm micro prism that will make your Rolleicord a real pleasure to use.

 

[ic-racer]

Without a fresnel lens that is how it looks.

 

[pschwart]

That is normal for a Rollei of that vintage (early 1950's). The IV is a fine camera -- all that's required is a focusing screen upgrade.

 

[marcmarc]

Thanks for the upgrade suggestions, I'll get in touch with Rick Oleson. I see he recently stated that split image screens are temporarily unavailable but all of his screens have a split in the center so maybe he's just making them without for the time being? I'm also a little hesitant on changing the screen. Shortly after I acquired my RZ67 I received as a gift a bright screen of unknown make. After replacing it I began to notice that my pictures were out of focus. Not by much, but definitely noticeable. I took the body in to a factory trained tech near me to have him diagnose the problem and he discovered it was the new screen. I put back in the factory screen and the problem disappeared. He warned me not to use after market screens because to his knowledge they just weren't made to the ridged factory specs. In any case I'll still send Oleson an email, he seems to have been in business for quite some time so I'm sure he has lots of happy customers.

 

[jimjm]

I have one of Rick's screens in my Rolleicord III, and it brightened up the view considerably. He includes very specific instructions on the placement of the screen so that you don't affect the focusing.

 

[gone]

Have you taken a peek at your mirror's condition? That can make a huge difference on the image that is projected onto the GG. There's a guy on eBait that sells hand cut mirrors for 'cords, Brillants, etc and they are super cheap and of excellent quality. I gave him the dimensions from cameras that I had at the time, so they fit w/o trimming. Just do a search over there and you'll find him. Nice person to buy from too.

 

[Ian Grant]

I bought a Chinese screen 3 or 4 years ago planning to fit it in my Yashicamat 124, instead I've used it in my MPP Microcord which is a British made Rolleicord very much brighter than the original ground glass screen and mre even illumination.

Ian

 

[marcmarc]

I just developed the three test rolls I shot with it. Overall the camera worked well for having sat around for who knows how long. There is some exposure variances and two frames overlapped but I suspect a CLA will iron these issues out. I'm really stoked by this camera, I can't wait to get it serviced and get a brighter screen and get back out there shooting.

 

[Dali]

I always found that Fresnel lens makes the view brighter but focussing somewhat harder. So choose your poison: brighter view or easier to focus, it is your call.

 

[Gerry M]

Rick Oleson offers 2 levels of screens. The standard upgrade and a higher upgrade named "Bright Screen" with a 12mm microprism. I have used both, and the higher grade is outstanding. I just put one of the Bright Screens in my ETRSi and am amazed at the clarity and ease of focusing with the 12mm center spot.

 

[Harry Stevens]

Reading this thread I ask myself how all those people from the past managed to take such great pictures with the standard screens.......

 

[Loren Sattler]

When you change out a focus screen on your Rolleicord the focus lens will need to be adjusted unless the new screen is exactly the same thickness as the original because the screen is mounted in the camera registered off its top surface while focusing is achieved viewing the image on the bottom (frosted) surface. I found out the hard way. I purchased an inexpensive RB67 screen and mounted it myself on my Rolleicord IV. It was much brighter than the original, but the focus was off. I then sent the camera out for focus calibration.
If I had it to do over, I would send it out and have a new modern screen installed professionally. The camera is worth the effort. It is probably my favorite out of all the equipment I own. It is very light, compact and portable for travel and carrying around yet it produces a high quality 6 x 6 negative which I prefer for B&W.

 

[marcmarc]

Thanks Loren, I had the same issue with a bright screen for my RZ67. I'm taking the Rollei in for a CLA so when the screen I ordered (the brighter version with the micoprisim) from Rick arrives I'll ask the tech to install it and check for accuracy. I agree, it's a great camera for lots of applications I think I'm going to get a lot of use out of it.