[Leica] Those pesky R8 focusing screens and other stories....

[Myers Pete <MyersPete@aol.com>]

Hi LUGnuts:

Reporting in on a few items. 

First, my experiment with focusing screens on the R8;
when we last left this episode, Pete (me) was delighted with his R8, but angry
at the camera gods because the stock focusing screen was not very bright and
gritty as all get out.

So, Pete went out and bought himself a Leica 14 345 Microprism Screen. He then
sent it off to Bill Maxwell at Maxwell Precision Optics (404-244-0095) and had
him grid the screen on thirds and then give it the Hi-Lux Brilliant treatment.

When the focusing screen returned, Pete loaded it into the R8 without
incident. To his delight, he found the screen to be much, much brighter then
the stock screen. However, the screen is still "gritty" - even more visable
now that you can see the image so clearly.

Will Pete just stay with this screen or will he have Bill make him a custom
laser matte screen (adopted from another camera company)? Stay tuned and find
out.......

****
In other news, my R35mmf2 ROM is due in on Monday! Its not a Christmas present
as it is for work - but it feels like one!

And, in other, other news, I made some cyanotypes this weekend using Ware's
new formula - in a solution from Bostick and Sullivan. It worked great. The
Dmax is the best I have seen by far and the print time is fast. The only draw
back seems that the formula is very sensitive to paper contamination problems.
The Cranes Platino or what ever its called, the stuff I have been using for
years for platinum prints and Ziatype prints, does not work too well. I am
seeking another type of paper - something smoother, both before and after
coating - and of purer form. Ideally, I would like a polyester backing on a
very thin 1/2 ply of fine cotton fiber. Which sounds good in theory, but no
one makes.

Best wishes for the season to all!

Pete Myers