Who's making aftermarket focusing screens for TLRs these days?

weatherproof

Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2022
Messages
6
Location
sf
Format
35mm
I'm aware of the Olsen Brightscreens, but curious if there's anyone making screens out of glass these days.

Sadly, I missed out on buying a Maxwell screen for my C330f.

Are there any Chinese manufacturers who've stepped up?

Thanks!
 

runswithsizzers

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2019
Messages
1,762
Location
SW Missouri, USA
Format
Multi Format
I see dozens of screens being offered on eBay. But it may be those dozens of sellers are all getting their screens from the same few Chinese manufacturers?

I could be wrong, but I think the Maxwell screens may still be available(?) Apparently, he does not have a website, but if you can find a phone number, I think that may be his preferred way of doing business(?) This email may or may not still be valid: maxwellprecisionoptics@yahoo.com

Magicflex screens can be purchased from Germany: https://magicflexcamera.com/screens -- premium prices.

I just put an Oleson screen on my Rolleicord V, but I have not yet been able to use it enough to say how I like it.
 

wiltw

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
6,452
Location
SF Bay area
Format
Multi Format
OP
OP

weatherproof

Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2022
Messages
6
Location
sf
Format
35mm
Thanks. I actually chatted with Mr. Maxwell over the phone in 2022. He said the C330f screens were difficult to make since they weren't a simple rectangle (compared to Rollei screens). He also mentioned he was starting a new venture completely unrelated to photography.

If I remember, I'll try calling him again this weekend.
 

runswithsizzers

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2019
Messages
1,762
Location
SW Missouri, USA
Format
Multi Format
@weatherproof, Oops! I totallty missed the word "glass" in your question. The Oleson and Maxwell screens are, of course plastic, so I assumed you wanted something in that category. All of the new, third-party screens I am aware of are made of plastic, so my reply was off topic. Sorry.

Maybe less so with Mamiyas, but a lot of people are switching to brighter Fresnel plastic viewing screens for their Rolleis, which means there should be a some used glass screens out there. On the other hand, I am not going to part with the glass screen that came out of my Rolleicord until I'm sure I like the new Oleson, so maybe people are hanging on to the glass ones?

I've only ever used two TLRs in my life, a Mamiya C220 and my Rolleicord V. For me, the Mamiya's factory glass viewfinder screen was acceptable, but the factory Rolleicord V screen was not, because the edges and corners are so dark. Perhaps someone with more experience can say for sure, but I'm guessing it might be hard to find another glass screen which is any better than the one that came in your Mamiya?
 

Dan Daniel

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 4, 2009
Messages
2,902
Location
upstate New York
Format
Medium Format
Isn't the Mamiya screen a two layer? Plastic lower layer with a protective glass on top?

Pieter12 said:
As a side not to your the OP, I don't believe glass focusing screens have been made in ages, if ever.
Click to expand...

I did order a ground glass screen a few years a go, from someone in the Boston area? He was selling borosilicate ground glass screens, somewhat brighter than 'standard' glass. Most people, including me, would combine such screens with a fresnel of some sort for more evenness. I used a book magnifier sheet cut down.
 

Kodachromeguy

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 3, 2016
Messages
2,056
Location
Olympia, Washington
Format
Multi Format
Several companies (or maybe only one?) from China advertise bright Rolleiflex screens on eBay. They state that the plastic is PMMA:

"Optical PMMA, or polymethyl methacrylate, is a transparent, lightweight, and impact-resistant thermoplastic that has excellent optical properties. It's also known as acrylic or plexiglass.
Optical properties
Light transmission: PMMA has a visible light transmittance of 92%, which is higher than glass"

I do not know if the plastic screens from Rollei and other vendors were PMMA. Considering how successfully Chinese specialty companies can make products now, I would not be at all surprised if these are excellent screens.

I am tempted to try one of the screens made for Hasselblad. They come mounted in an aluminum frame for direct drop-in. Genuine AcuteMatte screens (which may have been sourced from Minolta) in good condition are selling in the $400+ range. The Chinese screens are only $40, so it is an inexpensive experiment.
 
Last edited:

blee1996

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 25, 2008
Messages
1,234
Location
SF Bay Area, California
Format
Multi Format
I have used several of these eBay Chinese screens for TLR overhauls, and they are quite good for the price. I still like the Mamiya screen better, but they are harder to come by nowadays.
 

John Wiegerink

Subscriber
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
3,666
Location
Lake Station, MI
Format
Multi Format
blee1996 said:
I have used several of these eBay Chinese screens for TLR overhauls, and they are quite good for the price. I still like the Mamiya screen better, but they are harder to come by nowadays.
Click to expand...
Yes, I used to buy RB67 screens and cut them to size. Great screens at a very good price, but not anymore. Still great screens, but far more than I'm willing to pay now. I have bought several screens from China and they are not bad at all for the money.
 

John Wiegerink

Subscriber
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
3,666
Location
Lake Station, MI
Format
Multi Format
Update! I just ordered a screen from the link Melvin posted. It's the one for Rollei, Minolta etc. Not a big fan of split-image screens, but will give it a try. $17.84 with free standard shipping is pretty fair in my book. We'll see I guess.
 

John Wiegerink

Subscriber
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
3,666
Location
Lake Station, MI
Format
Multi Format
retina_restoration said:
I bought the Oleson screen for my Rolleiflex MX and it's great. I hesitate to try the discount Chinese options.
Click to expand...
Yes, if it sounds too good to be true........was one of my father's favorite sayings. Still, I figured for $17.84 out the door it was worth a try anyway. Oh, I will report my findings when it does arrive. It's going in a Rolleicord III, which certainly needs a screen upgrade.
 

Dan Daniel

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 4, 2009
Messages
2,902
Location
upstate New York
Format
Medium Format

I've tried a few of the low priced recent Chiense screens. There's a lot of variation. The basic item isgood- close fresnel lines that aren't obnoxious, failry full illumination. The problem I had with a couple was a pattern of small blackish dots all over the ground glass side of the screen. Looked like a cooling problem or such from the molding process. I bet this explains the price range on Ebay. And the Magicflex premium, since I've heard that he is using the same source. I assume that he gets first pick of the litter.
 

BrianShaw

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
16,539
Location
La-la-land
Format
Multi Format
I’ve purchased a couple of eTone items. Each has been first class build-and performance-quality. Service has been exceptional, too. In this era it will be interesting to learn if there are tariff implications. Both of my items shipped from a Kentucky fulfillment center even though one indicated shipping from China. Country of origin has not necessarily been an indicator of quality for quite some time.
 

OAPOli

Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2022
Messages
684
Location
Toronto
Format
Medium Format
The screen I got from the Chinese sellers was disappointing. The illumination is even and the screen is reasonably bright, but the pattern of the ground texture is heavy and distracting when viewing with the magnifier.
 

John Wiegerink

Subscriber
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
3,666
Location
Lake Station, MI
Format
Multi Format
Brian,
That's good to hear. If the screen I receive is up to snuff I will order several more just to have on hand for future project cameras. I'm just a little worried that they might need a little trimming as all TLR cameras don't have a 'one size fits all" screen.
 

wiltw

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
6,452
Location
SF Bay area
Format
Multi Format

Did you try calling Maxwell?
 

John Wiegerink

Subscriber
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
3,666
Location
Lake Station, MI
Format
Multi Format

Just got a notice and tracking number from eTone. Looks like mine might be coming from China.
 

runswithsizzers

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2019
Messages
1,762
Location
SW Missouri, USA
Format
Multi Format
The interview with Rick Oleson (post #22) is somewhat difficult to listen to, but he does mention a few interesting details about the manufacture of focusing screens. The BrightScreen molds were apparently made in Japan. Oleson got the molds (used) from the widow of the previous BrightScreen owner, and those molds are still in use by the present owner of the brand, Lance Clark. Oleson is of the opinion that it would be difficult or impossible to have the molds made in the USA. And he says the cost to manufacture a set of molds today would be so high, selling enough screens to justify the cost would be difficult. When the current molds finally wear out (not going to happen soon), Oleson thinks it unlikely more will be made.

The cost and complexity is mostly due to the Fresnel side of the mold. Oleson talks a little bit about how Fresnel lenses work and how they should be designed to work optimally for a given camera format. He says the design of the Oleson screens is state-of-the-art from about 1989, but apparently there have been some advances in focusing screen technology since then. These newer improvements are mostly to the matte side, the details of which I did not quite understand.

Hope I got that right -- but sometimes I get confused, so you have been warned...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…