Ever made plexi ground glass?

[Ty G]

Has someone made a plexi or lexan ground glass viewing screen? Does it "grind" like real glass? How is the image quality?

[JRFrench]

Considering making one for a super light weight camera, if you still want to know in a month or two, I will report.

[vinny]

wehman cameras come with a plexi gg installed. image quality is good. I haven't made one myself.

[Doremus Scudder]

My Wista ground glass/Fresnel sandwich is plex and works just fine, so I would imagine a plain gg would as well. If I'm not wrong, lots of factory Fresnel sandwiches are plastic of some sort.

There might be issues with flatness on a thin, large piece of plex, but a 3/16 piece for 4x5 should stay flat. Maybe even 1/8 would be alright.

You've got me interested now... Being able to carry a lightweight, virtually unbreakable spare in the field seems a real advantage. Heck, it might shave an ounce or two off the camera weight as well.

I'm looking forward to other replies.

Best,

Doremus Scudder

[GPS]

...
Does it "grind" like real glass? ...

No. Much easier...

[Bruce Barlow]

Richard Ritter now used plexi for his ULFs. "Why have glass shatter and poke holes in expensive bellows?" he says. Alice, my 8x10, has plexi, and it's wonderful. No to mention lighter.

Richard showed me a comparison of his plexi and a famous-maker glass side-by-side. Richard's was brighter.

So it can be done, and it's a good idea, methinks.

[catshaver]

I once fabricated a plexi gg for an emergency. Just coated one side with Scotch Tape. Worked fine. Kind of bright, actually.

[Paul O]

I'm 99.9% sure that Mike Walker uses acrylic/plexiglass for the screens in his cameras? They are very bright! I am speaking with him this week so I'll double check this fact!

[sanking]

I have one of RRs ULF cameras with an acrylic ground glass. Pexi is a very good choice IMO for ULF cameras. It is lighter than glass, and will not break. Just be careful what you use to clean it because some solvents, acetone for example, will ruin a plexi ground glass. Plexi will also scratch easily, but that is much better than breaking.

A plexi ground glass can be made to be just as bright as a glass ground glass. It is a matter of the technique use to make it, not the material.

Sandy King

[David McNiven]

I often had to make GG's for quick checks of focus on cameras & lenses in for repair and still have the remainder of a 6' x 3' sheet of 1/8 plexi.
I used a grit blaster at very low pressure and some fine sand hammered almost to dust. Nice even results, very effective & quick, quite bright but haven't measured this.
Always meant to try one as a user screen but haven't yet.