Rolleicord V focusing screen

Yaeli · Jun 30, 2024

Greetings everyone,

So, I bought a Rolleicord V, and I really like using it, except for the viewfinder. It's really dim, and even outside, I can't really assess if my framing is right or not. I've looked online for replacement screens, but I have a few questions :

1) The screen on the V is not supposed to be interchangeable, but it seems to be possible nonetheless : apparently, you have to remove 4 screws and I think pins that keep it in place. Is that right ?
2) I've read about Maxwell, Beattie and Oleson, and apparently, Maxwell gives the best results in terms of brightness AND ease of focusing. So I'm thinking about buying one, but I've read that I might have to adjust focus if the screen is not as thick as the original one. Is that right ? And if so, is it hard to do (for someone like me with 2 left hands ) ?
3) Should I just send it back and get a Vb (the screen is much brighter, apparently) or go for a Yashica Mat, or even a Mamiya 330 ?

Thanks beforehand for your feedback !

bags27 · Jun 30, 2024

I have the Vb(ii) and the screen is easily replaced. I don't know if that's true of your slightly earlier version. I, too, had heard about Maxwell, but as he didn't answer my original email, I went with Rick Oleson. He's a great guy and I'm very happy indeed with the result.

When I replaced the screen the Xenar lens still produced tact-sharp photos without any adjustment. IIRC, Rick was pretty knowledgeable about this stuff. Maybe shoot him an email?

brightscreen21@gmail.com

Dan Daniel · Jun 30, 2024

The screen is interchangeable but as you say, it requires removing the hood and unmounting the screen from the frame.

Maxwell screens are wonderful. And last I heard over $300. And maybe not even available any more.

Beattie is out of business, I think?

Get an Oleson. It is 93% of a Maxwell. In practice, the small difference disappears. Rick provides instructions and shims for installing.

Unless you are unhappy with other aspects of the V, no need to go shopping around.

Another thing to look at- the mirror could be tarnished. Open the hood and look through the front of the viewing lens. Look at the mirror, especially the edges. If it is flaking, black, or shows definite haze, think about changing it. You'll have the focus hood off anyway.

Rolleicord Type I, II, IV, V replacement mirror (glass first surface) | eBay

It is made from a piece of 1.6mm thick FSM (front surface mirror).

www.ebay.com

GregY · Jun 30, 2024

Yaeli, I have a Maxwell screen in my Rolleiflex T it was installed with the initial overhaul after i got the camera.....it makes a huge difference compared to older model Rolleis. I'd go with the Oleson.

blee1996 · Jun 30, 2024

Like Dan said, before changing the screen first check the mirror. Quite often it is the mirror that is the main problem. The stock Rolleicord screen is not bright, but quite usable outdoors since it snaps in and out of focus really well.

Pieter12 · Jun 30, 2024

Mirror replacement and an Oleson screen. A Maxwell will cost you more than the camera is worth, a Magiflex screen will be cheaper, but not by much.

Yaeli · Jun 30, 2024

Thank you all for your answers !

bags27 said:
I have the Vb(ii) and the screen is easily replaced. I don't know if that's true of your slightly earlier version

No, it's not as easy. You have to remove the hood (4 screws) and then remove the springs that hold the screen. It doesn't seem really hard, but I'm not a very manual guy, so...

@bags27 @Dan Daniel @GregY @blee1996 @Pieter12

Thank you for the advice ! I will check the mirror (I just bought it from Kamerastore, where, supposedly, it should have been cleaned, but you never know) and look for an Oleson screen.

blee1996 said:
The stock Rolleicord screen is not bright, but quite usable outdoors since it snaps in and out of focus really well.

On an overcast day like today, I really only have the center that is bright enough. I don't see anything in the corners at all, they're completely black. What I did was "twist" the camera to check my framing using the center, but it's really not practical

Dan Daniel · Jun 30, 2024

Rick Oleson BrightScreen – Focusing screens for medium format TLR and SLR cameras

They will be happy to mail a screen to you in France.

GregY · Jun 30, 2024

Yaeli said:
Thank you all for your answers !

No, it's not as easy. You have to remove the hood (4 screws) and then remove the springs that hold the screen. It doesn't seem really hard, but I'm not a very manual guy, so...

@bags27 @Dan Daniel @GregY @blee1996 @Pieter12

Thank you for the advice ! I will check the mirror (I just bought it from Kamerastore, where, supposedly, it should have been cleaned, but you never know) and look for an Oleson screen.

On an overcast day like today, I really only have the center that is bright enough. I don't see anything in the corners at all, they're completely black. What I did was "twist" the camera to check my framing using the center, but it's really not practical

I agree....& really tough indoors! It is a different world with those cameras with a modern screen.

Yaeli · Jul 1, 2024

GregY said:
I agree....& really tough indoors! It is a different world with those cameras with a modern screen.

Oh, I have already given up on trying anything indoors. Even with strong window light, I could only see the head of my brother in the middle of the focusing screen... Today, outdoors, in the bright afternoon, it was definitely more usable, but still quite dim in the corners. I can't wait for that screen, because I love this camera, and I love the experience of the WLF overall !

Dan Daniel · Jul 1, 2024

Since you say that you are new to TLRs, I will ask: are you using the magnifier lens? You can put your eye up to it and see most of the screen, even.

And the level of darkness does sound as if your mirror could use replacement.

Well, you'll figure it out. Sounds like you've found a camera that you are getting along with. Look at the early work of Robert Doisneau to see some nice work with the TLR. And remember, he was working without a bright screen

Yaeli · Jul 2, 2024

Dan Daniel said:
Since you say that you are new to TLRs, I will ask: are you using the magnifier lens? You can put your eye up to it and see most of the screen, even.

And the level of darkness does sound as if your mirror could use replacement.

Well, you'll figure it out. Sounds like you've found a camera that you are getting along with. Look at the early work of Robert Doisneau to see some nice work with the TLR. And remember, he was working without a bright screen

I am using the magnifier lens, yes. Even with it, I'm not sure I'm really in focus, so I can't even imagine without it
But with or without it, unless in sunny outdoors conditions, I can't see in the corners of the screen. I have to check them by "twisting" the camera around to put the center of the screen where I want to see...

I hope I don't have to change the mirror... I've tried to look at it using the method you suggested, but I can't say I've seen anything looking like a mirror

Otherwise, yes, I quite like that camera. A lot of photographers that I admire used TLRs with very good results, and, as you say, even with dim screens !

P.S : I ordered the new screen last night. Should be here in about 10 days. I took the one with the split screen in the middle (I'm used to that system on my old SLRs, and I was afraid the microprism wouldn't help me enough...).

Rolleiflexible · Jul 2, 2024

Yaeli said:
I am using the magnifier lens, yes. Even with it, I'm not sure I'm really in focus, so I can't even imagine without it
But with or without it, unless in sunny outdoors conditions, I can't see in the corners of the screen. I have to check them by "twisting" the camera around to put the center of the screen where I want to see...

I hope I don't have to change the mirror... I've tried to look at it using the method you suggested, but I can't say I've seen anything looking like a mirror

Otherwise, yes, I quite like that camera. A lot of photographers that I admire used TLRs with very good results, and, as you say, even with dim screens !

P.S : I ordered the new screen last night. Should be here in about 10 days. I took the one with the split screen in the middle (I'm used to that system on my old SLRs, and I was afraid the microprism wouldn't help me enough...).

A few thoughts:

Your mirror is probably okay. It is a pervasive problem for prewar Rolleis, not so common for the V-series Rolleicords.

The falloff in the corners can be corrected by a Rolleigrid, a fresnel that fits over the ground glass. It brightens the corners. The tradeoff is that it makes focus harder. Most users end up replacing the glass. But a Rolleigrid is an option if you can find one.

Forget the microprism for focusing. Unless your point of focus is in the middle of the frame, the microprism will only cause more misfocused images. The beauty of the Rolleiflex is that the big bright screen makes it easy to focus anywhere on the screen, assuming you’ve installed a quality screen. A cheap screen will drive you crazy trying to focus the camera.

BrianShaw · Jul 2, 2024

Rolleiflexible said:
Forget the microprism for focusing. Unless your point of focus is in the middle of the frame, ...

Same with the split-image prism focus aid.

Some folks, though, find either of these aids useful and don't mind focus and re-compose. Whatever it takes...

Yaeli · Jul 2, 2024

Rolleiflexible said:
Your mirror is probably okay. It is a pervasive problem for prewar Rolleis, not so common for the V-series Rolleicords.

The falloff in the corners can be corrected by a Rolleigrid, a fresnel that fits over the ground glass. It brightens the corners. The tradeoff is that it makes focus harder. Most users end up replacing the glass. But a Rolleigrid is an option if you can find one.

Forget the microprism for focusing. Unless your point of focus is in the middle of the frame, the microprism will only cause more misfocused images. The beauty of the Rolleiflex is that the big bright screen makes it easy to focus anywhere on the screen, assuming you’ve installed a quality screen.

BrianShaw said:
Same with the split-image prism focus aid.

Some folks, though, find either of these aids useful and don't mind focus and re-compose.

Thank you both for your advice !!

I have already ordered the Oleson screen (no, I'm not a very patient guy ) , the one with the split image focusing aid, so... I guess I'll just have to do with that... If it's as good and bright as people seem to say it is, I guess I'll be able to focus anywhere on the screen without needing to focus and recompose. But I kinda like the "safety" of the split image in my SLRs so, I might be glad to have it. I had read a review (here : https://www.edwardgoodwinphotography.com/blog/maxwell-and-oleson-focusing-screens ) saying that the microprism caused more trouble than it helped (in some cases), which is also why I chose the split image.

Rolleiflexible · Jul 2, 2024

BrianShaw said:
and don't mind focus and re-compose. Whatever it takes.

But that's the problem. People who move the focal point to the center, then reframe for the shot, are going to end up with misfocused images nearly every time. The change in distance and angle in the recomposed frame are nearly always enough to throw off focus.

Try to shoot a portrait this way, where the eye is toward the edge of the frame. If you center the eye for focusing, then recompose, the ear will be in focus, and the eye will be out of focus, in front of the focal plane.

The only way this works is if the shooter takes a few steps parallel to the focal plane, to bring the point of focus into the middle of the screen. (Which I have done on occasion shooting a 35mm rangefinder.) Otherwise it is a recipe for frustration.

BrianShaw · Jul 2, 2024

Rolleiflexible said:
But that's the problem. People who move the focal point to the center, then reframe for the shot, are going to end up with misfocused images nearly every time. The change in distance and angle in the recomposed frame are nearly always enough to throw off focus.

Try to shoot a portrait this way, where the eye is toward the edge of the frame. If you center the eye for focusing, then recompose, the ear will be in focus, and the eye will be out of focus, in front of the focal plane.

The only way this works is if the shooter takes a few steps parallel to the focal plane, to bring the point of focus into the middle of the screen. (Which I have done on occasion shooting a 35mm rangefinder.) Otherwise it is a recipe for frustration.

All true, if/when shooting at wide-open aperture. With a bit of DoF that's not a major issue, in a practical sense rather than theoretically.

No matter, I agree with learning to focus using the matte surface rather than relying on focusing aids.

Rolleiflexible · Jul 2, 2024

BrianShaw said:
With a bit of DoF that's not a major issue, in a practical sense rather than theoretically

I don't mean to beat a dead horse -- we agree for the most part. But increased depth of field rarely saves this kind of misfocused image. Usually, the object focused on -- an eye, in a typical portrait composition -- ends up in front of the focal plane. Typically, that kind of error isn't forgiven with increased depth of field, which extends more behind the focal plane.

Yaeli · Jul 2, 2024

Rolleiflexible said:
I don't mean to beat a dead horse -- we agree for the most part. But increased depth of field rarely saves this kind of misfocused image. Usually, the object focused on -- an eye, in a typical portrait composition -- ends up in front of the focal plane. Typically, that kind of error isn't forgiven with increased depth of field, which extends more behind the focal plane.

I have encountered that problem in the past with my old manual SLRs. I agree with you : the only real solution is to move parallel to the focal plane. That being said, I suppose that the new, brighter screen, even if it has a split image and microprism in the center, should allow me to see clearly enough to achieve focus without using them if my subject is to the side. If I'm not completely mistaken, apart from that center of the screen, the rest is the same screen as the one without focusing aid. At least, from what I gather from the website...

Rolleiflexible · Jul 2, 2024

Yaeli said:
I have encountered that problem in the past with my old manual SLRs. I agree with you : the only real solution is to move parallel to the focal plane. That being said, I suppose that the new, brighter screen, even if it has a split image and microprism in the center, should allow me to see clearly enough to achieve focus without using them if my subject is to the side. If I'm not completely mistaken, apart from that center of the screen, the rest is the same screen as the one without focusing aid. At least, from what I gather from the website...

You are correct. The center focusing aid tends to seduce users into relying on it. Just ignore it and you will be fine.

If you were buying a Maxwell screen, there were reasons to avoid the screens with the center aids. Bill Maxwell sourced those from a third party, and they were not nearly as good as Bill's plain screens. (As Bill would be quick to tell you.) I hope he is still around.

Yaeli · Jul 2, 2024

Rolleiflexible said:
You are correct. The center focusing aid tends to seduce users into relying on it. Just ignore it and you will be fine.

If you were buying a Maxwell screen, there were reasons to avoid the screens with the center aids. Bill Maxwell sourced those from a third party, and they were not nearly as good as Bill's plain screens. (As Bill would be quick to tell you.) I hope he is still around.

From what I gather, Bill is still around. I went for an Oleson screen instead because the Maxwell ones cost a bit over 300 dollars, more than half what I paid for the camera, so it seemed a bit too much - and also, many people recommended the Oleson, so... I guess I'll know more in about 10 days. I just received the email telling me that the screen is on the way.

BrianShaw · Jul 2, 2024

I hope that works out for you. For about 30 years a Rolleicord Vb was my primary camera. A real delight to use and responsible for some of my best images. You should really enjoy yours!

Yaeli · Jul 2, 2024

BrianShaw said:
I hope that works out for you. For about 30 years a Rolleicord Vb was my primary camera. A real delight to use and responsible for some of my best images. You should really enjoy yours!

Thank you ! I hope so too So far, I'm enjoying it, except for the screen. I sent my 1st roll to the lab, I'm anxious to see the results.

BrianShaw · Jul 2, 2024

If you don't mind an additional, completely unsolicited, suggestion... my experience with the Rollei was vastly improved when I started using a monopod, Rolleifix, and short cable release. Everything improved. Only downside was having to explain to British customs agents, several times, that the monopod was not some sort of sinister "aerial" or weapon.

bags27 · Jul 2, 2024

BrianShaw said:
If you don't mind an additional, completely unsolicited, suggestion... my experience with the Rollei was vastly improved when I started using a monopod, Rolleifix, and short cable release. Everything improved. Only downside was having to explain to British customs agents, several times, that the monopod was not some sort of sinister "aerial" or weapon.

Ditto on the monopod and short cable release--or that ridiculously expensive original equipment little metal thingy that you can screw in (but works its way out and is lost somewhere in the forest--not that I'm at all bitter). The weakness of the Rolleicord is the release, which moves the camera sideways.

Rolleicord V focusing screen

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