stephen_mcateer

@SCL Thanks for that. I think I'll get an Oleson. Just a question of when.

@arthur_gottschalk Thanks Arthur. The Maxwell screens sound good. More expensive than the Oleson ones but maybe you get what you pay for.

@orsetto Thanks for this detailed information. Again, it's very useful. (Or should I say 'Illuminating'?) I have a feeling the £30 I spent on the Chinese screen is probably wasted money, though I can maybe recoup some of it on eBay. I'll have to think hard about the Oleson screen — it gets good reviews but I've spent too much on accessories recently and have to dial it back a bit for a while. Maybe I'll save it for Christmas… The existing screen I have in the Rollei is usable in bright light, though even then seeing clearly what's in the peripheries of the frame is still a bit problematic. I have an RZ67 and its screen is great, as you say. I wonder just how difficult it would be to cut one to fit the Rollei? (Though I noticed someone somewhere said it would be a waste of a scarce Mamiya part. Maybe they have a point.) Anyway, as I said, I'll try to remember to report back here with my findings on the Chinese screen. Cheers.

That's a nice camera Niels.

Thanks for that Niels. Useful information. I'm not expecting much from the Chinese screen — if it's no good I'll put it back on eBay. I can probably live with the existing screen on my Rollei but I'm always looking to improve things and it is a little dark round the edges. Hopefully I won't have to sand this one I have coming from China but we shall see I suppose. The Rick Oleson screen looks good but it's quite expensive — I'll look for other reviews on it and have a think about that one. Cheers.

Thanks very much for that detailed reply. The mirror is clean and intact on this Rollei (It's a 3.5F Type IV). I took the WLF off last night to inspect the focus screen — there are just a couple of tiny spring clips holding the screen in place so I think I should be able to replace it myself. I had forgotten about Rick Oleson until you mentioned him here. However, I saw a Chinese screen for $30 on eBay and decided to take a punt on it. There's not much lost if it turns out to be no good. I'll go now and look at Rick Oleson's website. I think his screens were about $100, though there would be shipping and import taxes for me here in the U.K. Anyway, I'll try to remember to update this thread with results / the Chinese screen. Cheers.

The screen on my Rollei is dim in the corners. [See pic.] I'm wondering if this is normal. When I take the finder off and examine the screen, it doesn't look dirty. Are there brighter screens / are they worth the money? Thanks in advance.

@maris_rusis Thanks for the tips. The Rollei I received in the post today turns out to be (Probably) uneconomical to repair. So I may have to find a good one before I can start looking for attachments. The portraits of his father: he discusses them in a documentary that I skimmed through on YouTube last night. They're powerful images but I think he was conflicted about them — he even talked to his analyst about the rights and wrongs of making them.

Yes. I tend to splurge on equipment at times.

Okay thanks for that @AJG. I was looking at Richard Avedon's portraits of his father and thinking he must have used a Rolleinar of some sort. Those pictures are nice but then he was the master portrait photographer.

Thanks Niels. I'm thinking of doing some pictures of my mother — she doesn't mind being photographed.

I have a Rollei 3.5F coming in the mail in the next few days. I'd like to use it for head and shoulder-style portraits. Will I need a Rolleinar close-up lens? (I believe the nearest focus of Rolleis is about 3 feet.) Thanks for any info.

For reference, £195 = about $250 US at current exchange rates.

I have for sale a hand-written letter written in 1973 from Paul Strand to Dody Weston Thompson. Subject is a bad review from a critic. Price is £195 GBP plus postage from the UK. Letter is in good condition with original envelope postmarked New York City / Address on the letterhead is Orgeval, France. Also included is the newspaper clipping with the unfavorable review. If you can't reach me through this site, mail me though my website: stephenmcateer.co.uk. (Letter is also listed on eBay.)

Looking for a 612 in good condition. I'm in the UK but happy to cover shipping / taxes. Thank you. Stephen McAteer.

Thanks everybody. I think a rain cover looks like the sensible thing to do.

I have in mind to take some pictures in the rain. Will it harm my D850? [The lens I have for it is a Tamron SP 35mm F1.8 Di VC, which is also supposed to be weather-sealed.] I know it's supposed to be weather sealed but I'm a little suspicious of such claims by manufacturers. Thanks for any info.

Yes.

You make some interesting points. I think you're right in saying that film is perceived to be 'Purer'. Also that it requires more skill. Thanks.

Great. Thanks for that. I will go & take a look.

I've been looking at websites like artsy.net, and most of the big-name photographers on there still seem to be using film, not digital. Can anyone say why this is so? [i think film [i]does[/i] look nicer, personally.]

Thanks Jean Phillipe.

I see FotoDiox make adapters that allow you to use, for example, Nikon lenses with the X1D body. Does anyone know of a cheap wide-angle lens that will cover the X1D's sensor? The 21mm XCD lens is what I want but I don't have £3000 to play with. Sigma or Tamron would be okay. Thanks for any info.

Update: It was the aperture focus tab I needed. I found a 3D-printed part on eBay. Vendor is in France. 2 pieces for 20 Euro & postage. [eBay user name: adnanwalina]

Does anyone know where I might find a replacement part for a Mamiya TLR lens? [it's the tab for the focus on an 80mm lens.] I'm in the UK but it's a small part I need so could be posted to me from wherever. Thanks.