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michael_radika

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I have severe short-sight and astigmatism, but never had a problem simply wearing my prescription spectacles or contact lenses with any eye-level camera finder. In fact I preferred the uncluttered view of a plain GG screen over microprism and split-image (yuck!) focusing 'aids'.

 

Modern DSLRs give me no choice but a plain ground screen these days, but I can still focus manually with one when needed.

 

Maybe your eyesight prescription needs updating. Have you tried contact lenses?

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Optometrists have dummy frames that take interchangeable glass lenses, you could take your camera and get the Optometrist to keep changing glass lenses until the right ones are found for your eyesight and sharp focus on the camera screen

 

I had the same predicament with my eyesight, but I already have a pair of glasses that focus to one meter, I had them made for my job, using machinery, my regular bifocals proved inadequate

 

The one meter glasses are now used for viewing through many of my cameras, I tried them one day and was pleasantly surprised when the viewing images became clearer and sharper. I also use those same glasses for the computer. The one camera I don't need them for is the Bronica ETRSi, the diopter focus is adjustable in the AE111 viewfinder and for my failing eyesight, I'm still within it's focus range fortunately

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The choice of diopter for a viewfinder is complicated if the user has astigmatism. While it might be possible to have a lens custom ground for the viewfinder with this correction (cylinder), most optical shops farm the grinding out to specialty shops (or a central location, e.g., Lenscrafters). Astigmatism causes blurred or double vision, even if the diopter is right for that distance. This makes it nearly impossible for me to focus my Leica unless I'm wearing glasses, but with glasses, I can't see the entire frame.

 

For cameras with a high eye point (~20 mm), I find I can wear glasses with astigmatism correction, focus, and see the entire screen within the range of diopter adjustment on the camera. I can use either my reading glasses or driving glasses through this adjustment. If the adjustment is absent, as in older Hasselblad, Rollei or Leica, I'm okay using the standard diopter supplied with these cameras while using my driving prescription.

 

My ophthalmologist completely ignored my request for a 1 m prescription. I'm going blind trying to read my computer scree, or cramping my neck moving within 12".

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Okay I found an optometrist that will do it you you guys have given me a lot of good ideas.

 

The idea of having some glasses made eyeglasses that I can wear that are good for a little bit beyond one meter sounds good but it sounds like it's going to be expensive I'm going to have to buy frames lenses the whole thing.

 

I'm thinking why don't they take the diopter out of my camera go to the optometrist have her put lenses in front of where the diopter goes until I can focus perfectly then I'll just have her make me that diopter what do you guys think?

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I'm thinking why don't they take the diopter out of my camera go to the optometrist have her put lenses in front of where the diopter goes until I can focus perfectly then I'll just have her make me that diopter what do you guys think?

 

Sounds feasible, put the suggestion to the Optometrist, but I'm sure a pair of prescription glasses will be the least expensive way to solve the problem, and the quickest way, and there's a possibility the new glasses can be used for other cameras you might have or acquire in the future

 

To keep the cost to a minimum, the new glasses need not have expensive frames, only the lenses are important, choose cheaper frames

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I really don't see the problem. I tried varifocals and couldn't get on with them. So I just had a pair of distance, and a pair of reading glasses made up. No argument from my optician. After all, there are at least two opticians on every high street in this area, and if one won't co-operate, there are plenty more that will.
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Just an update I'm having my prescription glasses made for everything to be sharp at one meter.

 

Went to my local camera store today they had a used Mamiya RZ Pro 2 with a waist level finder on it I took a look through that and it was incredible I could focus on everything no problem pin-sharp much brighter than my screen it was very interesting.

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Okay I basically got the glasses made the prescription it definitely helps but it's not enough it's just not enough the bronica screen is very dark compared to other screens.

 

Was that my local camera store the other day looking around purchasing some film and they have a Mamiya RZ Pro II in the glass case for sale if I could take a look at it.

 

Wow wow wow what a camera so I flip up the waist level finder and I look through it through the little magnifying diopter and start looking around at people in the store through it and I was like a stone honest it's got to be three stops brighter than my screen and with the little magnifying diopter I could pinpoint nail focus on anything with that thing it have a Split Image in the center with the rule of third lines running vertical and horizontal unbelievable.

 

The back rotate to portrait mode or landscape mode which my camera does not do it's a hassle to have to flip the camera on its side my camera you cannot put a waist level finder on it you can they sell one but the problem is when you go to flip it into portrait mode how do you look through a waist level finder when its flipped off to the side you can't do.

 

After looking at this and doing some studying and reading you're all going to think I'm crazy my bronica system is for sale I I love the Mamiya RZ Pro 2 fabulous I love that you don't have to flip the camera you can just turn the back and that waist level finder with the magnifier and screen unbelievable solves all my problems.

 

My bronica with the three lenses the extension tube everything is for sale on eBay if anybody's interested I want to get rid of it not that I don't like it I love the images it produces it produces beautiful images and it a lot of things I love about it but the focusing issue and have to flip the camera on the side it's a deal-breaker for me.

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The Mamiya RB/RZ screens are great: so good, many Rolleiflex owners use them to replace the dim original Rollei groundglass.

 

The rotating back and bellows focusing are instantly addictive: as long as you don't mind the weight and bulk, its the most versatile 6x7 system ever made. Bonus: the mirror damping is incredibly good! I've seen a couple of comparison tests repeatedly demonstrate the Mamiyas nearly equal the Rolleiflex TLR for handheld camera shake at 1/15th sec.

 

I owned an RB67 Pro-SD for about a year. I loved the results I got with the 140mm macro, but when I added a 65mm wide angle I was very disappointed to discover the focus screen that was so great with the 90mm, 127mm, and 140mm was terrible with the 65mm. It was a drastic night-and-day difference: the screen went from contrasty, easy, "pop-in, pop-out" focus to a dim flat impossible-to-gauge headache. This was very surprising, because my Mamiya C330S TLR employs the same type of screen and is very easy to focus with its slow 55mm and 65mm wides. This bothered me so much I gave up on 6x7 and moved to the 6x6 Hasselblad for my MF SLR: ease of focusing on the Hassy Acute Matte screen does not change significantly from 50mm wide angle to 250mm tele.

 

I still miss the Mamiya RB: its handling in many ways is better for me, and its way quieter than the Hasselblad. But my go-to lens in every format is a moderate wide angle, and I just could not nail consistent focus on wide lenses with the Mamiya RB (or an RZ I borrowed). Every system has pros and cons, which multiply when you need strong prescription eyeglasses.

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Yeah unfortunately I bought all of my bronica stuff and now I got to try to get rid of it which is probably not going to be easy I didn't even really consider this Mamiya RZ Pro 2 in the beginning. I think after looking at that camera and holding it and looking through the screen the back rotate it just does so many more things it's just a no-brainer I wish I would have been on it from the beginning.
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Bronica's specialty was optimizing a Hasselblad-like design for maximum handling convenience and reliable shutter automation at eye level with AE prism finder and dedicated grip, with attractive lens pricing, primarily for fashion pros. They succeeded wildly with the 6x4.5 ETR and 6x6 SQ, but failed spectacularly with the 6x7 GS1. It landed on the market with a resounding thud, mostly because it was too expensive for the Bronica branding and Bronica totally misread the wants/needs of the typical 6x7 shooter. The vast majority were very VERY happy with the rotating back and waist level viewing combo offered by Mamiya (those who weren't opted for the much simpler, "Spotmatic-on-steroids" Pantax 67 and its faster lenses). There weren't nearly as many fashion shooters clamoring for a scaled-up ETR as Bronica expected, so the system just sat on dealer shelves like a zombie until the company folded.

 

This is one key reason why accessories for the GS1 are so difficult to find and expensive today: since hardly anybody bought it, there's not much available used, compounded by dealers limiting their risk exposure by never stocking much of it new to begin with. So supply was always very constrained. It is an interesting system to be sure, with great lenses, but its timing was just all wrong. It came on the market much too long after its competitors had established themselves, and absolute necessity for the larger 6x7 over 6x4.5 had dwindled with the introduction of ever more fine-grained films optimized for studio work. The GS1 was simply the answer to a question nobody asked.

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Yes he takes fabulous pictures the lenses are very very sharp there's a lot of good things about the bronica gs-1 to me to one of its biggest downfalls are dark focusing screens there are notoriously darker than most other manufacturers.

 

Yeah I'm in it for about $1,000 which is not bad I've got free lenses the camera body the S 18 extension tube the speed grip. Yes trying to find Split Image focusing screen for this camera and diopters are needle in the haystack they just don't come up once in a blue moon.

 

You throw the waist level finder on it with a diopter you're going to get a couple stops more of light without the AE prism finder on it but you're screwed when you go to flip the camera in the portrait mode.

 

I can get a screen from Bill Maxwell of Maxwell Optics with Split Image role of third lines gridlines in it about two stops three stops brighter than the AE prism finder which would probably solve my focusing problems it's $385 then I still have to find an L bracket to build a flip my camera on its side into portrait mode where the RZ you just turn the back so there's pluses and minuses for both cameras the RZ just seems more convenient easier to use.

 

To me $385 for a Maxwell focusing screen is a little steep I would love to try it because I spoke with him personally on the phone he's a very nice guy and he claims I'm going to get three four times the brightness of the stock bronica screen andand he can make it the way I want it with a split image in the center whatever I want so that's an option but that's a $400 option.

 

I am struggling with getting rid of it I mean I love looking through that Mamiya RZ Pro II it was fantastic soon as I looked at waist level finder it was just like wow the answer to all of my problems but do love my bronica gs-1 even with its shortcomings that the lenses are in my opinion really really sharp the photos I've taken and looked at our excellent very good contrast very good sharpness what do you do.

 

Lenses are readily available for the gs-1 AE prism finders readily available bodies for the gs-1 readily available everything you can get for this camera the only thing that's extremely hard to find are diopters for the camera and focusing screens they made about 4 or 5 focusing screens finding one other than the stock one that came with them is really hard to find other than that everything else is readily available on eBay.

Edited by michael_radika
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By all accounts, the Maxwell screens are astonishingly good. The only drawback is the breathtakingly steep price: it can only be rationalized if you are absolutely certain you love the camera system you're buying it for, and expect to use that system for at least five years. Resale value is solid and predictable for Maxwells made for popular systems like Mamiya RB/RZ, Hasselblad, Bronica 645/66, or Contax 645. But if you change your mind about the GS1, it may take awhile to find another buyer willing to pay anywhere near $385 for your custom Maxwell screen.

 

The cost of the Maxwell screen is roughly equivalent to the amount of money you would lose selling your GS1 kit on eBay to finance a switch to Mamiya. IOW, the cost will likely be about the same whether you choose to upgrade the Bronica or switch to Mamiya. Average recent selling price for a GS1 with 100mm lens, AE finder and grip is $400-$700 depending on condition and country you live in. The 65mm lens sells for $190-$275, the 200mm for $99-$180. Figure you will lose approx 20% off those prices after paying seller fees and shipping.

 

After running the numbers, return to the dealer who let you handle the Mamiya and see if it still feels significantly more suitable. If so, it is worth the trouble and expense of switching. If not, stick with the GS1 and budget for the Maxwell screen.

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Very very well said very good point to make it may end up costing me actually a little bit more to buy the RZ Pro 2.

 

I wish I could look through that Maxwell screen I hear nothing but good things about those screens and I spoke with Bill Maxwell on the phone for 2 hours and he says it's just night and day difference like basically he's telling me it'll be 4 to 5 times brighter than my current screen which is pretty significant it is a steep price tag and that's obviously what holding me back you're right and when I go to sell if I ever do go to sell the system I'll never recoup that money from that you're right I have to decide that's it I'm a bronica guy for at least the next 5 years.

 

If the bill Maxwell screen made a significant difference like he says it will that solves that portion of it the only thing I see where the Mamiya RZ Pro II has an advantages is the rotating back other than that I don't see an advantage over my bronica if I get the screen issue.

 

My bronica will actually sink faster at one five hundreds of a second vs 1/400 of the Mamiya..

 

There are things I don't like about the Mamiya it is not that much heavier but it's like bulky it's like a big tank and I don't like the way the back goes on the 120 back you basically have to push the two buttons in to get it to click the door closed after you load the film mine you just shut the door and it automatically and gauges so there's pros and cons to both systems.

 

Do I invest $385 in roll the dice and hopefully that solves my issue I can always buy a really stuff or promediagear L bracket and put an L bracket on the bottom of my camera so when I want to flip to portrait mode I just slip it on the bracket in the Tripod not a big deal.

 

I have a tough choice to make basically$385 could solve mostly all my problems, really going to have to think about this one.

 

There is one other advantage that the Mamiya has it has Bellows focusing so you can basically Focus precisely and very close to your subject. The bronica gs-1 the clothes closest you can get with some of these lenses is sort of ridiculous it's very hard to fill the 150 lens with a person's face you just can't get close enough you need to put on the GS 18 extension tube which I have and makes it a tremendous difference but you lose focusing to Infinity. But I guess when you're shooting portraits you don't really need to focus to Infinity so I don't think it's that big of a deal but it's just something else you have to put on the camera it's an extra step.

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It is unfortunately not possible to "audition" the Maxwell screen before purchase: it is essentially a handmade individual custom "artisanal" item produced by one man to special order for each client. They have never been sold commercially in quantity via camera stores. You pretty much have to take a leap of faith based on the 100% positive rep of Bill Maxwell.

 

What you MIGHT be able to do is find a used camera dealer near you that has a decent range of used Hasselblads. For all practical purposes, the increase in brightness of the Maxwell screen to your standard Bronica is roughly equivalent to the improvement seen by switching the standard screen of the Hasselblad to a Hasselblad "Acute Matte" screen. If possible, ask the dealer to attach the 150mm f/4 lens to the Hasselblad, as this would be the closest match to the f/4 lenses common to the GS1. All popular Hasselblad lenses are f/4.0 except for the standard 80mm f/2.8: you don't want to look thru that because f/2.8 is not comparable to your own slower 100mm. If you enjoy looking thru an Acute Matte on the Hasselblad, it is almost certain you will like the Maxwell screen because the Maxwell is even better (more contrasty, more natural for your eye to lock onto).

 

The biggest risk of investing in a Maxwell screen for your Bronica is the chance your specific combination of eyesight, the Bronica viewing system, the screen, and specific lenses may still not quite "click". Some people are highly sensitive to the slightest variation in that interaction. Note the example I gave earlier of how the Mamiya 67 screens work great for me with some lenses but are virtually unusable with others: odds are very VERY good the Maxwell screen would totally solve your Bronica issues, but an outside chance remains it may not. Part of what makes the Mamiya screen impressive is its most often viewed directly thru the high magnification WLF: with the Mamiya prism attached it isn't quite the same impact. Another factor is the bellows focusing: regardless of screen type, many people (myself included) find the rack-and-pinion bellows cameras "snap" into focus much more easily than cameras where you turn a lens focus helical (like your Bronica or my Hasselblad).

 

So its a tough call. Good luck with your decision, either way!

Edited by orsetto
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It's currently on eBay and I've got people bidding on it hopefully I'll get what I would like to get for it and then I'm going to be moving on to the Mamiya RZ Pro 2 if I don't get enough for it I'll probably be keeping it and going with the Maxwell bright screen.
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Well no one's taking my Buy It Now price and my auctions not going near as well as I had planned I'm not going to get what I want to get for the camera so I've actually ended the auction because there's still a couple of days left but it's not going to go where I needed to go so I've been to the auction I've decided to keep the bronica and I've actually and I'v ordered a Maxwell bright screen for my bronica and that's the way I'm going to go and however it turns out that's what I'm going to live with.

 

I'm really not in the mood to keep relisting it and then taking a loss on the camera and then having to find another new Mamiya and go through all of that and order it from Japan and then I've got to order lenses it's just too much trouble I just want to enjoy and start shooting film and get busy instead of wasting my time doing all that I will just make this camera work.

 

Thank you for all of your input that you guys have given me I appreciate everything and I'll let you know how my Maxwell screen turns out.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well I received my Maxwell screen today. It's actually my bronica screen but I sent it to Maxwell and he did a Hilux enhancement of the screen. It's definitely brighter it's definitely a couple Subs right it is definitely more light coming in it's a pretty good Improvement.

 

It's kind of late in the evening so I'm going to play around with it for a couple days and then I'll really report back what my final analysis of it is.

 

But after talking to Bill Maxwell on the phone basically I don't think there's one single screen that's good for everything I don't have a Split Image I kind of prefer a Split Image in the middle but that's not particularly good for everything mine is just a matte screen that you just focus which is good for other things so I have to decide if I really want a split image or if I'm just going to be happy with the matte screen that I have that's been enhanced by Maxwell Optics.

 

Give me a couple days to play around with it shoot a roll develop a roll of film still get the focus comes out and I'll give you my final opinion but it's definitely a pretty good Improvement so far.

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Well I'm kind of reporting back I've been playing around with my screen and I think I'm just going to roll with it I shot a couple rolls of black and white develop them and I pretty much nailed 18 maybe 17 out of the 20 shots of the two rolls which is not bad it makes a pretty significant difference since I've played around with it.

 

I think it was worth $150 that I spent to have the screen fixed by Maxwell Optics he does a very good job is a very nice guy and I think I'm just going to roll with it and start taking pictures it's been i long frustrating Journey for all of this but I'm ready to enjoy my camera.

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