Mamiya C330s focusing screen

I will get a 55mm lens for the C330s and wanted to know if I need the
special wide angle focusing screen for it. And if I do, what does this
screen do differently than the standard screen?

Jimbo

Jimbo--
I used a 55mm lens on a C330 for years and never changed screens. (Have
since sold the outfit.) I didn't even know there WAS a special screen.
Try the lens with the normal screen first, anyway, before you buy a special
one.

Dick (RB67 driver now)


"Jimmy Martin" wrote in message
...
I will get a 55mm lens for the C330s and wanted to know if I need the
special wide angle focusing screen for it. And if I do, what does this
screen do differently than the standard screen?

Jimbo

R.W. Behan wrote:

Jimbo--
I used a 55mm lens on a C330 for years and never changed screens. (Have
since sold the outfit.) I didn't even know there WAS a special screen.
Try the lens with the normal screen first, anyway, before you buy a
special one.


I wonder, is it something to do with the paralax / exposure compensation
scale on the left hand side of the screen?

--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk

"Peter Chant" wrote in message
...
R.W. Behan wrote:

Jimbo--
I used a 55mm lens on a C330 for years and never changed screens. (Have
since sold the outfit.) I didn't even know there WAS a special screen.
Try the lens with the normal screen first, anyway, before you buy a
special one.


I wonder, is it something to do with the paralax / exposure compensation
scale on the left hand side of the screen?

--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk

Peter, could be. I sold my 330 about 5 years ago, and don't recall. I do
remember, I think, a small arm or lever that stuck into the side of the
viewing area at varying distances from the bottom of the screen, according
to the focal length of the lens in use. It would rise and fall with the
focusing mechanism, and if you placed anything in the image below that line,
it would not show up on the negative. No, I don't recall ANY difficulty
using the normal focussing screen with the 55mm lens--or any of the others,
for that matter.

Best,

Dick

Peter Chant wrote:
R.W. Behan wrote:

Jimbo--
I used a 55mm lens on a C330 for years and never changed screens. (Have
since sold the outfit.) I didn't even know there WAS a special screen.
Try the lens with the normal screen first, anyway, before you buy a
special one.


I wonder, is it something to do with the paralax / exposure compensation
scale on the left hand side of the screen?

Yep. The differences between a normal screen and the WA screen for the
Mamiya C cameras are the markings for parallax and exposure
compensation. I have this screen and have yet to use it... I guess I
will need it when the normal screen wears out ;-)

Martin

Martin Jangowski wrote:

Yep. The differences between a normal screen and the WA screen for the
Mamiya C cameras are the markings for parallax and exposure
compensation. I have this screen and have yet to use it... I guess I
will need it when the normal screen wears out ;-)

Apparently if you are careful and only use gentle eye movements when looking
at them they last a lot longer...

--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk

Jimmy Martin a écrit :
I will get a 55mm lens for the C330s and wanted to know if I need the
special wide angle focusing screen for it. And if I do, what does this
screen do differently than the standard screen?

As said below, the wide angle screen changes only the parallax marks. It
is indeed not a replacement screen, but an addition that goes on top of
the standard screen. It is a clear screen with only the parralax marks
painted on it.

I nevertheless highly recommend changing the C330 screen. The Mamiya one
is very dim and you will have strong vignetting in the viewfinder with
the 55mm (but not on the shot, the 55 is a delight). I bought a Beattie
Intenscreen from B&H (about $150) with a split-image rangefinder and it
is really night and day compared tio the Mamiya screen. I measured a
gain of 2.5 stops (that is 6 to 7 times more light) in the viewfinder's
brightness, making it much more comfortable to use and focus,
particularly in low light.

Regards,
--
Vincent Becker
Photographie et appareils anciens - Photography and classic cameras
http://www.lumieresenboite.com
Contact direct : http://www.lumieresenboite.com/contact.php

"Vincent Becker" wrote in message
...
Jimmy Martin a écrit :
I will get a 55mm lens for the C330s and wanted to know if I need the
special wide angle focusing screen for it. And if I do, what does this
screen do differently than the standard screen?

As said below, the wide angle screen changes only the parallax marks. It
is indeed not a replacement screen, but an addition that goes on top of
the standard screen. It is a clear screen with only the parralax marks
painted on it.

I nevertheless highly recommend changing the C330 screen. The Mamiya one
is very dim and you will have strong vignetting in the viewfinder with the
55mm (but not on the shot, the 55 is a delight). I bought a Beattie
Intenscreen from B&H (about $150) with a split-image rangefinder and it is
really night and day compared tio the Mamiya screen. I measured a gain of
2.5 stops (that is 6 to 7 times more light) in the viewfinder's
brightness, making it much more comfortable to use and focus, particularly
in low light.

Regards,
--
Vincent Becker
Photographie et appareils anciens - Photography and classic cameras
http://www.lumieresenboite.com
Contact direct : http://www.lumieresenboite.com/contact.php

As said below, the wide angle screen changes only the parallax marks. It
is indeed not a replacement screen, but an addition that goes on top of
the standard screen. It is a clear screen with only the parralax marks
painted on it.

I nevertheless highly recommend changing the C330 screen. The Mamiya one
is very dim and you will have strong vignetting in the viewfinder with the
55mm (but not on the shot, the 55 is a delight). I bought a Beattie
Intenscreen from B&H (about $150) with a split-image rangefinder and it is
really night and day compared tio the Mamiya screen. I measured a gain of
2.5 stops (that is 6 to 7 times more light) in the viewfinder's
brightness, making it much more comfortable to use and focus, particularly
in low light.

Regards,
--
Vincent Becker
Photographie et appareils anciens - Photography and classic cameras
http://www.lumieresenboite.com
Contact direct : http://www.lumieresenboite.com/contact.php

Thanks for the info. I thought the original C330 screen was very dim but the
Beattie screens were high price. I would have already bought a Beattie if I
knew it really brightened up the viewfinder. Now though it seems to do just
what I was hoping. A +2.5 stops would be worth the $150. The C330 is really
going to be fun to shoot with now.

Jimbo

Thanks for the info. I thought the original C330 screen was very dim but the
Beattie screens were high price. I would have already bought a Beattie if I
knew it really brightened up the viewfinder.

Well, I took the chance ;-) It is really, really worth it. I've heard
very good coments on Maxwell screens too, but from overseas (France) the
Beattie seemed more convenient to buy.

The C330 is really
going to be fun to shoot with now.


It is indeed much more fun with a bright screen!

--
Vincent Becker
Photographie et appareils anciens - Photography and classic cameras
http://www.lumieresenboite.com
Contact direct : http://www.lumieresenboite.com/contact.php

Vincent Becker wrote:

is really night and day compared tio the Mamiya screen. I measured a
gain of 2.5 stops (that is 6 to 7 times more light) in the viewfinder's
brightness, making it much more comfortable to use and focus,
particularly in low light.

Lack of practice and skill here. How are you using your C330 in anything
approaching low light? I usually don't have a tripod and I note that
compared to 35mm the slightest hint of a wide aperture lends to very
shallow depth of field.

Is there something I'm missing?

Pete


--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk