Does anybody have experience with the Brightscreen or the Beattie Intenscreen focusing screens for the 6x7?

The Brightscreen people tout this product as being far superior to the Beattie product, and give what appears to be valid proof for their argument.

I'd like to hear from owners of the Brightscreen. I'm considering this make for both my 6x7 and Mamiya C330f bodies. The screens are very pricey, and I don't want to leap into something that turns out to be less than promised. Brigthscreen apparently does not allow their dealers to stock inventory, so try and buy is not possible.

-- Bruce Gavin (doc@compudox.com), June 20, 2000

Answers

I bought a Beattie Intenscreen for my Pentax 67 pentaprism viewfinder (non-TTL) about a year ago, but sent it back because while it was very bright in the center of the viewfinder, there was significant light fall off around the edges of the finder. Also the contrast was less than the original Pentax viewfinder, which made focusing more difficult in some situations. I then purchased the Brightscreen 20/20, which was not as bright in the center of the finder as the Beattie, but was still signicantly brighter than the original Pentax screen. The Brightscreen also exhibited no light fall off around the edge of the viewfinder, and had more contrast than the Beattie or original Pentax screen, which made the image pop into focus better in the viewfinder. The Brightscreen has improved my focusing accuracy over the original Pentax screen, especially in low light situations or with extension tubes. I made the purchases about a year ago, and don't know if Beattie has improved their product within the past year.

-- (rodgersj@exis.net), June 20, 2000.

How do either of these compare to the standard Pentax screen in the 67II, which is supposed to be significantly brighter than the older 67 screens? I had problems focussing off the frame center recently during a semi-low light setup with my 165mm f/4 using the OEM 67II screen and I'm intrigued by the Brightscreen. The split image with prism collar screens look very handy, but cost so much I'd want to see a significant improvement in brightness over the Pentax screen.

Bruce, if you're in Sacto you must be having the same problems I do with shopping Pentax 67 gear: only two pro shops that stock 67 stuff, Pardees and Action, and only the latter is an authorized dealer (and * really* expensive). Where would one go in the Bay Area to sight test a Brightscreen in a MF body? Not Gasser's or Pro Camera. Calumet? Keeble & Suchet?

-- Bill Baker (wab@well.com), June 23, 2000.

In San Francisco, check out Adolph Gasser, probably still on 2nd street just a couple blocks south of Market. I used to stop in there and be amazed at how much they could charge folks, and get away with it. They are still in business, and have lots of stuff.

Check out the Brightscreen website, and look for authorized dealers: not many of them listed.

I only go to Pardee's and Action when absolutely necessary. The prices are heinously expensive. I like to support my local dealers when possible, but have simply walked out of Pardees after awhile.. too expensive. Miles too expensive.

-- Bruce Gavin (doc@compudox.com), June 23, 2000.

The focusing screen in the Pentax 67II is very good. It is a little brighter than the Intenscreen 20/20 that I use in my Pentax 67. However, the Intenscreen has more contrast, and provides more "pop" to the focusing when adjusting focus outside the microprism center area. I'm happy with the standard screen in the TTL pentaprism of my Pentax 67II, and don't feel a change to the Intenscreen is worth the cost. But the Intenscreen is a big improvement over the standard microprism screen in the Pentax 67.

-- (rodgersj@exis.net), June 24, 2000.

Sorry, its been a long day. Please substitute the Brightscreen 20/20 product where I mentioned Intenscreen in my prior email above. I didn't like the Beattie product when I tried it a year ago. I've been very happy with the Brightscreen 20/20 in my Pentax 67, and the standard Pentax screen in the TTL pentaprism of the Pentax 67II is a fine performer for the kind of shooting I do.

-- (rodgersj@exis.net), June 24, 2000.

I tried the Beattie Intenscreen several years ago and didn't care for it. Like someone else mentioned, it produced a lot of light fall off in the corners, which made composition difficult. With some lenses or perhaps it was at some apertures (it's been a while and I only used it briefly so I've forgotten the details) the fall off was so great that it looked like vignetting was occuring. There was no vignetting on the film but it looked like there would be when you looked through the viewfinder (hope this is clear). I went back to the standard Pentax screen and then replaced that a year or so ago with a Pentax grid screen. Both of these have seemed plenty bright to me.

-- Brian Ellis (bellis@tampabay.rr.com), July 08, 2000.

Can someone tell me if I really need to send my camera into Pentax if I want to change my focusing screen? It seems like it would be an easy removal if I remove a couple of phillips head screws. Has anyone tried this with success? I ask with the purpose of removing my screen and switching it with a Brightscreen 20/20.

Related question. I do have the TTL finder (though I think I need to breakdown and get one of the waist-level finders). Can I make the adjustment to the meter myself? I am pretty handy, so I am up to the challenge if I know that someone has done it without a glitch.

-- Deron (dchang@choate.edu), July 31, 2000.