Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/05/18

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Beattie Intenscreen for Leica R4-7
From: Doug Herr <Telyt@compuserve.com>
Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 22:21:58 -0400

On Tue, 18 May 99, Andrew Nemeth wrote:

>Just got one of these focus screens to augment the standard 
>screen which came with my R6.2.

<SNIP>


>o  Because it transmits (slightly) more light, the instructions 
>   which come with the screen warn you that with an R4, you
>   will have to make EV allowances when using the camera exposure
>   meter on manual.  You won't have to do so however when you
>   use the camera on auto as this is metered through the mirror
>   in the camera body (and not the pentaprism).  This switcheroo
>   would be a real pain for R4 users!
>


uhh.. I don't think so.  As far as I know the R4's only meter cell is in
the bottom of the mirror box, and it receives it's light via the secondary
mirror behing the viewfinder mirror.  The R3, if it had interchangable
viewscreens, would have required adjustment for spot vs. center-weighted
metering.  If the R4 is anything like my R4sP (and the R4s I used to use)
the single meter cell is used for all modes.

FWIW, I found the Brightscreen more useful.  With my 400 f/6.8 the Beattie
produced a "tunnel vision" effect in the viewfinder and the area outside
the central spot metering area was more difficult to focus.  This combined
with the tunnel effect persuaded me to return it after about 5 minutes'
use.  I like the Brightscreen (www.brightscreen.com) much better.

Doug Herr
Sacramento
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/telyt