[Leica] Brighter Focusing Screens

[Doug Herr <Telyt@compuserve.com>]

On Wed, 19 May 1999, Peter Kotsinadelis wrote:
 

>In my previous post I mentioned Maxwell screens being a good choice for R
>users.  I this opinion on personal experience from several years ago.  I
>tested the various (alleged) brighter screens on medium format and 35mm
>cameras and compared.  My findings were published in an article in The
>Rangefinder Magazine in 1995.  Basically, the Brilliant Matte screen made
by
>Maxwell Precision optics was the clear winner.  
>For the record, this was not a scientific test but a more subjective one
>that involved real use of each camera in several lighting situations.  I
>also spoke with several pro photographers who had installed the various
>screens to gain opinions for the article.  One in particular, a stock
>photographer who use Pentax 67s, had experienced a tunneling effect when
>using WA lenses with the Brightscreens installed.  This problem went away
>when Hi-Lux screens were installed in her P67s. 
>
>It was interesting to find Pop Photo do a similar, but far more scientific
>analysis, when they did a  comparison of brighter focusing screens.  Their
>conclusion was the Minolta made Hasselblad screen and Maxwell Hi-Lux were
>the top choices.
>
>Why I am saying this?  Because for those R users currently using slower
>lenses (F4 or slower), macro lenses, or extensions/bellows, A Hi-Lux
screen
>makes an incredible difference.  There is also a way of having the Hi-Lux
>processing applied to your existing R focusing screen (around $70 if
memory
>serves).  For those interested call Bill Maxwell at 404-244-0095. He is
also
>quite a Leica Aficionado and does much of the Leicas repairs (Ms and Rs)
for
>KEH, so if nothing else it will be a good conversation.
>
>Peter K

Peter,

Thanks for the info; you got my curiosity up.  I'll give Bill a call.


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