I take landscapes and architecture/interiors photos with Linhof Technikardan 45S. I don't have any problem composing an image with 135 lens. But it becomes almost "blind photography" when I use 75 and 55 lenses. So I looked at bright screens. B&H has Beattie intenscreens in stock and also there's Linhof fresnel ground glass. But is one of these going to help? And which one is better?
Thank you.
The Linhof fresnel will make a big difference. And, if your camera is more then 10 years old, the latest Linhof ground glass will also help.
Every one has their favourites. I have a Beattie screen on one of my 10x8's and it's excellent, I can easily focus an f16 Ross Protar in average room lighting.
I use a Crown Graphic hand-held and even with a good plain screen it's almost impossible to focus with wider lenses, even a 90mm f6.8 Angulon. But when I fitted a fresnel to the rear of the screen the difference was a gain in over 2 stops in brightness. Now I can easily focus my 90mm Angulon and a 75mm f8 Super Angulon, even indoors.
About 18 months ago I compared the screens I had and measured the brightness Ifound over 3 stops difference between the integral one piece screen/fresnel of my Wista and the plain screen in my Crown Graphic, the screen in my Cambo was just over 2 stops brighter, this it's a screen with added fresnel.
If you don't mind paying the far higher rice for a Beattie or Maxwell screen then these are the best option, but adding a fresnel to your current screen isn't far behind and significantly cheaper.
Ian
I have both and there is no major difference to my eye between them.
The Beattie has had some comments about hot weather or cold weather extreme peformance issues, but I haven't had any problems.
Thats not the Beattie, thats the Bosscreen.Originally Posted by RPNugent
There's something "special" about TK, or maybe cameras with small lens boards overall, I see quite a lot of posts from people with cameras with small lens boards asking same questions. Most of the times I use Sinar (F2 & P2) with Sinar GG & Fresnel& Bino Viewer. I have absolutely no problems focusing 72mm + Center filter+ample shifts in dim environments using Sinar binocular viewer, biggest advantage I presume is variable mirror angle adjustment.
With TK45S, I used stock GG, stock Fresnel, some kind of fancy plastic Fresnel/GG combo, Linhof Monocular viewer - just nowhere close. I ended up having Sinar GG+Fresnel+dark velcro'ed "bellows" between Mono viewer & camera to be able to swing whole Mono viewer assembly to cover image, but that's unpretty.
Attaching sliding digital back assembly on TK does simplify composing/focusing but ruins a the whole idea of field/lightweight setup.
Lenses 120mm+ no problem.
PS. Sinar used to have Linhof adapter plate for bino viewer, if anybody has drawings or molds - please post.
Arne
You are right it was teh Bosscreen with the wax issue. My mistake. Getting older and more forgetful I guess.
It's 7 years old now... Time flies!
Thank you all. So, the Beattie would be my choice. And I will also look at Linhof 45 Focus/Metering Bellows.
Only a rough montage of two shots I took while trying a fresnel on my Crown Graphic, the right side is with the fresnel, the srceen was on I bought from Steve Hopf.
As Bob Salomon says adding a fresnel should make a big diference to overall screen brightness.
Ian
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