Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: benedmonson on January 22, 2007, 04:27:41 pm

Title: Contax 645 focusing Screen Replacement?
Post by: benedmonson on January 22, 2007, 04:27:41 pm

Just got my Contax 645 and the P30 will be here tomorrow. I'm in need of replacing the stock screen in my camera, its very dim and I shoot wide open alot. Just got off the phone with Bill Maxwell at Maxwell Precision Optics and am thinking seriously of ordering a custom screen from him.
Do any others use the camera with an other than stock screen, comments? I realize there will be a steep learning curve to shooting this combo wide open or near there, but I've got time to learn.

Cheers,
Ben Edmonson
www.benedmonson.com

Title: Contax 645 focusing Screen Replacement?
Post by: rainer_v on January 22, 2007, 05:12:50 pm

please tell about the experience you will have with the custom made screens. i am not uncontent with the standard screen of the 645, but brighter is better.... so if possible i will buy also a brightscreen.

Title: Contax 645 focusing Screen Replacement?
Post by: vgogolak on January 23, 2007, 10:48:18 am

Quote

please tell about the experience you will have with the custom made screens. i am not uncontent with the standard screen of the 645, but brighter is better.... so if possible i will buy also a brightscreen.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=97058\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I have Bill Maxwell's custom screen for my Contax 645, and they are great (he even did the cropf or the earlier Kodak back I used.)I use a FF P45 now
I have had him do M8 screens as well.

Top quality, and 2 stop brighter is appears. Split gets dark at higher f lenses though (with ALL the enhancers. I have Brightscreens as well. Maxwell's seem better.)

Victor

Title: Contax 645 focusing Screen Replacement?
Post by: benedmonson on January 23, 2007, 11:12:15 am

thanks for the comments. I'm going ahead and having him do mine this week. He is putting in the crop lines for the P30 and lines in a grid of thirds based on the sensor size. I'll report back once I get it.

Ben

Title: Contax 645 focusing Screen Replacement?
Post by: mikeseb on January 23, 2007, 02:11:40 pm

You've got me interested, Ben. I have not found the Contax's screen to be overly dim (compared to my poor D-70!) but as someone said, brighter is better.  

Biggest problem might be finding a finder screen for him to convert--unless he is making them entirely from scratch.

I'd like to get that #3 finder screen with its grid lines, and also have my creaking old ProBack's crop lines inscribed....never found the microprism screens of much use.

Title: Contax 645 focusing Screen Replacement?
Post by: benedmonson on January 23, 2007, 05:20:30 pm

Quote

You've got me interested, Ben. I have not found the Contax's screen to be overly dim (compared to my poor D-70!) but as someone said, brighter is better. 

Biggest problem might be finding a finder screen for him to convert--unless he is making them entirely from scratch.

I'd like to get that #3 finder screen with its grid lines, and also have my creaking old ProBack's crop lines inscribed....never found the microprism screens of much use.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=97198\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Michael,
I'm having to send in my screen for him to finish process. the deal is under $300.00. It's only $225.00 if you don't want the extra lines, that's a good deal in my book!
Bill has said to me that the Contax 645 is his most requested mf screen, not bad for a dyeing system as most folks say!

Ben