Source for very bright ground glass?

jtk · Jul 16, 2019

I want something brighter than Graflex standard ground glass.

Who makes brighter ground glass?

I have no trouble focusing precisely thanks to Toyo loupe....I want to see the field of view more easily.

AgX · Jul 16, 2019

The brightness of classic groundglass is physically determined by its roughness. And thus the spreading of light. There is no best, but a compromise between characteristics.

The brightness must be related to the incoming ray, which angle varies.

A groundglass in LF thus is a too complex system to be described just by "being brighter".

choiliefan · Jul 16, 2019

Wikipedia mentions borosilicate having better light transmission properties compared to the common green stuff.
I've seen mention of water glass somewhere in regards to something photographic as well but am too exhausted mentally to look it up right now.

jim10219 · Jul 16, 2019

The brighter the ground glass, the less sharp the image will be. Usually, a rougher grind will make the image brighter, but a smoother grind will make the image sharper.

The Graflex is a special case, however. Their standard ground glass is pretty rough, but the glass itself also tends to not be very transparent. As a result, they're almost always really dark, and usually not super sharp. Pretty much any replacement, even one you grind yourself with home repair store plate glass, should be a vast improvement (ground to around 800 grit). I actually reground the glass on my Speed Graphic, and it helped, but it's still not as good as some of my other view cameras.

Are you using wide angle lenses? If so, you might consider a Fresnel lens to place over the ground glass. You can DIY one out of a magnifying sheet from an office supply store. They can help out with wide angle lenses being too dark. But if longer lenses are also too dark, then you'll need a new ground glass or a better dark cloth.

jtk · Jul 16, 2019

jim10219 said:
The brighter the ground glass, the less sharp the image will be. Usually, a rougher grind will make the image brighter, but a smoother grind will make the image sharper.

The Graflex is a special case, however. Their standard ground glass is pretty rough, but the glass itself also tends to not be very transparent. As a result, they're almost always really dark, and usually not super sharp. Pretty much any replacement, even one you grind yourself with home repair store plate glass, should be a vast improvement (ground to around 800 grit). I actually reground the glass on my Speed Graphic, and it helped, but it's still not as good as some of my other view cameras.

Are you using wide angle lenses? If so, you might consider a Fresnel lens to place over the ground glass. You can DIY one out of a magnifying sheet from an office supply store. They can help out with wide angle lenses being too dark. But if longer lenses are also too dark, then you'll need a new ground glass or a better dark cloth.

Yes, using Graflex's glass with Graflex fresnel...and yes, using a 47/8 Super Angulon when is switch to my Graflex 23 (I'm adapting a Samsung 24mm bright line finder to that camera...just about perfect for 6X7 roll back and wide enough to cover 6X9 )

My Toyo loupe does deal with Graflex glass poor sharpness but my bigger complaint is impossibility to view the big picture of many scenes. Never had to deal with that in studio with quartz modeling lights.

wiltw · Jul 16, 2019

Bill Maxwell used to make some wonderously bright focusing screens for view cameras...I have one.
This is the Facebook website, and it includes an email address and a phone number.
https://www.facebook.com/Maxwell-Precision-Optics-200647716643807/

Dan Fromm · Jul 16, 2019

jtk said:
Yes, using Graflex's glass with Graflex fresnel...and yes, using a 47/8 Super Angulon when is switch to my Graflex 23 (I'm adapting a Samsung 24mm bright line finder to that camera...just about perfect for 6X7 roll back and wide enough to cover 6X9 )

My Toyo loupe does deal with Graflex glass poor sharpness but my bigger complaint is impossibility to view the big picture of many scenes. Never had to deal with that in studio with quartz modeling lights.

Can't see the big picture with a 47 on a 2x3 Graphic? Use a center filter. Use a dark cloth, and let your eyes adapt to the dark. And wash the ground glass.

Alan Gales · Jul 16, 2019

I use a Blackjacket dark cloth on my 8x10. It is a little finicky to use because it has sleeves but boy is it ever dark inside. It sure makes composing and focussing easier for me.

StepheKoontz · Jul 16, 2019

Maxwell focus screens are AMAZING. It's been years since I have bought any from him and they aren't cheap but you almost need sunglasses using them

Ian Grant · Jul 17, 2019

If it's a Pacemaker Speed or Crown Graphic adding a fresnel will amake a huge difference to the brightness of the overall field of view. Unless the camera had one fitted from new you need to fit to the outside (rear0 of the GG screen and shim the GG retaining clips so the focus hood locks in place. I fitted a fresnel to my Crown Graphic maybe a decade ago now and it made it much easier to use.

Beware a US company Global Matters (he's a rogue trader), there's reasonably priced Chinese fresnels, I added one to a Speed Graphic I repaired/serviced a couple of years ago the camera was actually missing the original fresnel. With Pacemakers the Fresnel was an option the focus frame that holds the GG differs when a fresnel was supplied, unfortunately the casting number is the same so you need to know how to tell the difference.

When I changed to a new focus screen and added a fresnel I gained around 3 stops brightness, so it was well worth while. I have new Graflex screens in stock all the time if you need one.

Ian

Mainecoonmaniac · Jul 20, 2019

What I did was buy a fresnel page magnifier used on top the ground glass.

Dennis-B · Jul 20, 2019

Beattie makes the Intenscreen. It's available for all types of cameras, especially 4x5. I don't think they sell directly, but B&H, etc., are listed as selling dealers.

Here's a link: http://www.intenscreen.com/products_large-format.htm

Peter Schrager · Jul 20, 2019

Dennis-B said:
Beattie makes the Intenscreen. It's available for all types of cameras, especially 4x5. I don't think they sell directly, but B&H, etc., are listed as selling dealers.
Thanks dennis
Here's a link: http://www.intenscreen.com/products_large-format.htm

DREW WILEY · Jul 21, 2019

This topic really needs to be thought of two different ways. The first is, what specific grind of glass makes the image easiest to focus through a loupe. Too fine a grind is not ideal. Screen brighteners are a supplementary topic. I hate fresnels because they make critical fine focus difficult on a view camera, though I do use an older Beattie on my Nikon, when they were more reputable.

KenS · Jul 23, 2019

Funnily enough..about an hour after reading this thread this afternoon, I was down in the darkroom to do some much needed 'cleaning up'. At the very back of one of the shelves under one of my 'bench-tops" I came across a couple of items that I had forgotten all about.. and for which I have no near future use....
1) Two unopened boxes of 12, 5x7" Kodak "Fine ground glass" (cat # 156 3899) and (what looks to be a 5x7 Back' for a Burke and James (the grey paint has been 'removed' and it seems as if it has had a coating of a clear 'matte varnish'

Anyone 'out there' in "Need"

Ken

Jon Shumpert · Jul 29, 2019

Hi Ken, I was just getting ready to ask a question about replacement glass for an old Kodak Recomar folding camera. The ground glass in it was broken and the previous owner used masking tape to hold it together. The ground glass is 3-1/2 x 4-3/4 inches. It uses 3-1/4x 4-1/4 film. The lens seems to be in good condition for such an old camera. I don't know if I can buy the correct size or cut down 4x5 film for it, but it would be fun to try to use it. I don't know how much it would cost to ship from Canada, but I may be interested. Thanks

KenS · Aug 9, 2019

Jon Shumpert said:
Hi Ken, I was just getting ready to ask a question about replacement glass for an old Kodak Recomar folding camera. The ground glass in it was broken and the previous owner used masking tape to hold it together. The ground glass is 3-1/2 x 4-3/4 inches. It uses 3-1/4x 4-1/4 film. The lens seems to be in good condition for such an old camera. I don't know if I can buy the correct size or cut down 4x5 film for it, but it would be fun to try to use it. I don't know how much it would cost to ship from Canada, but I may be interested. Thanks

Jon...
There are two boxes 5x7 but have an OLD Kodak Century camera without a GG....so I took one sheet out and took it downtown to a 'glass/mirror'framing shop and had one cut down to 4x5 (for free.. ))
You may have a sheet for the cost of packing and shipping

Ken

Jarin Blaschke · Aug 18, 2019

I have a Maxwell screen for my 8x10. It's hard to imagine composing without it.

-Jarin

gregory belle · Oct 12, 2019

KenS said:
Funnily enough..about an hour after reading this thread this afternoon, I was down in the darkroom to do some much needed 'cleaning up'. At the very back of one of the shelves under one of my 'bench-tops" I came across a couple of items that I had forgotten all about.. and for which I have no near future use....
1) Two unopened boxes of 12, 5x7" Kodak "Fine ground glass" (cat # 156 3899) and (what looks to be a 5x7 Back' for a Burke and James (the grey paint has been 'removed' and it seems as if it has had a coating of a clear 'matte varnish'

Anyone 'out there' in "Need"

Ken

Do you still have the 5x7?

removed account4 · Oct 12, 2019

jtk
when looking for ground glass improvers aside from the maxwell product look for ground glass
made by "satin snow" while i never needed to buy ground glass, from all reports david parker's ground glass
was top notch, i only heard great reports.
if you have 28dollars on hand and don't mind getting your hands dirty why not try to make your own
https://www.photrio.com/forum/resources/making-a-ground-glass-focus-screen.54/
it is not hard and at least as good as commercially made ground glass.
i've made my own ground PLEXIglass using oblique sander. it worked OK but wasn't ideal.
I've used waxed paper ( ok in a pinch but not ideal ) and i've used plexiglass i scuffed by dragging it on pavement all different directions
it worked OK... never made it using the method spelled out in the video but know people who have and they are very happy they did.

KenS · Oct 16, 2019

gregory belle said:
Do you still have the 5x7?

yes.. But i'd have to 'find' a container of some sort in which to 'get it to you' in its 'pristene condition'
I will 'cut down' most readily..... I might suggest an 'art supply store' 9or a place that sells wall mirrors and see if they will cut it down to your needed size. Other than that your $ cost will be that of packaging and getting it to you

Ken

Ray Morgenweck · Oct 18, 2019

If you want to grind your own ground glass, 500 grit lapidary abrasive is perfect. Nice bright and uniform it stands close loupe examination without “pits” like larger grits give.

Rolf Schmolling · Dec 13, 2019

well, I can fully recommend from experience borosilicate grounds glasses by Steve Hopf, offer a very very good compromise between brightness, sharpness, resolution and general usability.

Cary Lee · Dec 24, 2019

I made 3 ground glass after having them cut for me at local glass shop and they worked for me.

Source for very bright ground glass?

Attachments

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency