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

[weatherproof]

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]

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]

Maxwell Precision Optics has a Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/p/Maxwell-Precision-Optics-100057434800308/

On that Facebook page a post from 2012(!) says to email maxwellprecisionoptics@yahoo.com or talk/text 1-404-317-6825, and someone posted in 2020 that they had a good conversation with him.

Bill Maxwell resided in Decatur GA at one time, but if this is the same person ...

"William H. “Bill” Maxwell, 73, of Decatur, died August 20, 2021 "​

 

[weatherproof]

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.

 

[Pieter12]

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

 

[runswithsizzers]

@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]

Isn't the Mamiya screen a two layer? Plastic lower layer with a protective glass on top?

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

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]

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.

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

I'm tempted to try this supplier.

Ground Glass/Focusing Screen

Medium & large format camera's ground glass & focusing screen.

www.etonephoto.com

At his pricing it's worth the chance.

 

[blee1996]

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]

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.

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]

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.

 

[retina_restoration]

I bought the Oleson screen for my Rolleiflex MX and it's great. I hesitate to try the discount Chinese options.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I bought the Oleson screen for my Rolleiflex MX and it's great. I hesitate to try the discount Chinese options.

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]

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.

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]

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]

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]

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.

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.

 

[plimsoll1]

I recently bought a brightscreen for my c330 pro s - it works great!

Products – Bright Screen

bright-screen.com

 

[blee1996]

I recently bought a brightscreen for my c330 pro s - it works great!

Products – Bright Screen

bright-screen.com

I suppose this company is by Rick Oleson?

 

[retina_restoration]

I suppose this company is by Rick Oleson?

Yes, that is Rick Oleson.

 

[runswithsizzers]

In this interview from March 2024, Rick Oleson says he still occasionally provides technical support, but the BrightScreen business was turned over to Lance Clark in April 2022


It's a long podcast, Rick comes on at about 9:00.

 

[wiltw]

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.

Did you try calling Maxwell?

 

[John Wiegerink]

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.

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

 

[runswithsizzers]

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...