Rolleiflex K4B2 Focusing Screen Swap

[@phdep3374]

Merci beaucoup, cela m'a permis de changer le mien sur mon Rolleiflex de 1953 ! la différence est énorme, c'est vraiment beaucoup plus clair et en plus avec un stigmomètre ! super, merci

[@Ufphotography]

De rien 😁

[@TbirdMan]

It was so nice to see someone who appreciates the magic of film photography and equipment. I was a photographer and photography instructor from the early 80s until 2010 when interest in the 'dark' arts of photography gave way to the digital mediocracy that we have today. I used to live for each new advance that came out on new camera models and collected lenses like fine jewelry. Keep up the good work. BTW, the medium format that I owned and loved was the Mamiya RB 67 - that was a tank!

[@Ufphotography]

Thanks so much for the reply Tim! You're totally right - analog photography is very special. Sadly two years ago when moving, I had to leave my analog equipment but I plan on taking my Rolleiflex with me the next time I go home to my parents. 😁 I don't know the Mamiya though - is it good?

[@TbirdMan]

@@Ufphotography I kept a few film cameras and I have a Nikon DSLR, but I actually made a nearly clean break and started painting - watercolors, acrylic, mixed media. Mamiya made a couple of TLR cameras and the 6 x 4.5 and 6 x 7 SLRS. The RB 67 was not for anyone in a hurry, more of a studio camera. It was several pounds and a little clunky, but it did beautiful work. There was an electronic shutter/meter version called the RZ 67. I'm glad to hear that folks like you are keeping the art alive.

[@shinichihayakawa7619]

Nice video! There"s one small thing I have noticed, though. The included shims are for adjusting the distance between the viewing lens and the matte surface of the new screen which becomes sometimes necessary when the thickness of the old and new screens differ. The way you used them--between the screen and the clips--does no harm, but does no good either because it does not alter the distance between the lens and the matte surface. These shims are supposed to be placed either between the focusing hood assembly and the camera body, or between the focusing hood assembly and the screen, depending on how much thicker/thinner your new screen is compared to the old screen. These things are explained in "Focusing Screen Installation Guide - Rick Oleson".

[@lensman5762]

I think he had to first obtain critical focus on an object with the camera on a solid tripod, then change the focusing screen and then examine if the focus was still correct, if not he then had to use the shims to alter the height. I am still a bit unsure why all this would be necessary as the image from the viewing lens forms on the underside of the screen and not on the topside, so the thickness of the screen should not make a difference so long as the difference is small, unless by design Rolleiflex usus the top of the screen for focusing. I stand to be corrected ofcourse.

[@shinichihayakawa7619]

@@lensman5762 Rolleiflex TLRs prior to model E2 had (officially) non-interchangeable focusing screens which were pressed against the underside of the hood assembly by a pair of springs with matte surface facing down. That’s why the lens-screen distance changes depending on the thickness of the focusing screen.

[@Ufphotography]

I haven't noticed any focus failures or problems to be honest. I however couldn't tell you now, how the two screens vary in thickness. I believe that they were pretty equal. But yeah - you could be right about the shims. Mine didn't come with any, so I didn't think about it.

[@mitHundundRad]

Thanks for the video. I think I will try this on my Seagull, because during the day with sun the view finder is great for me, but in the shade or in the evening it is difficult to see something that is not in the middle of the frame.

[@Ufphotography]

You're welcome! I don't know much about Seagulls but I figure it can't be too different or complicated. In the end it's just mechanics 😀

[@Andrew-cp6ko]

@mitHundundRad - how’d it go? I’m thinking of replacing my seagulls focusing screen also

[@thewhiteapparation]

Thank you for this super informative video! Is the shim necessary? Or optional?

[@Ufphotography]

I didn't need any shims and it worked perfectly. 😄

[@Eyeamsurreal]

Thank you for this very helpful video!!

[@Ufphotography]

@@Eyeamsurreal you're very welcome! 😁

[@ToddB987]

Thanks for posting.. I have a 3.5f and a T model and their both my pride and joy. So tinkering with these cameras, I proceed with extreme caution. After viewing your vid on up grading viewing screen, it looks pretty straight forward with no issues or an expensive "Oops.. I f'd up my camera"! repair to Oceanside camera.

[@Ufphotography]

Hey Todd! Yeah - don't worry. It's super simple and you can't really damage anything. Just handle the original glass with care in case you ever wanna go back to the original screen. Thanks for your comment!

[@ToddB987]

Yes.. I took a look at my 3.5f. This camera has a flip over ground glass . So I don’t have to in screw those screws to take it out. I believe it’s as simple as just sliding it out.

[@John_Krone]

Great video. Mines is cracked and was putting off replacing it but your video has given me courage to change it. Thanks!

[@Ufphotography]

you're welcome. I hope you could fix it. 😊

[@cg3049]

Thanks for the video! This is exactly my Rolleiflex model and I am thinking of getting Rick Oleson screen too. Did you get to check if the focusing is still okay? Some people are saying replacing a focusing screen can mess up the camera's focusing, so this makes me hesitate to do it myself. BTW which focusing screen did you get? I am confused which one to get from Rick. I am still a beginner in film.

[@Ufphotography]

Hi Ciela! Thanks so much for your comment. I always appreciate it when people tell me my video helped. The focusing is fine - i didn't have any inconsistencies after changing it. I'm not sure what you mean by which one. Are you talking about the guidelines? I got the one matching my camera with the thirds engraved into it. I hope that's what you were asking. 😁

[@cg3049]

@@Ufphotography Yes it was that :) Good to know coz I just ordered mine! Rick was very helpful with all my inquiries and within an hour I got the shipping label for tracking already. Can't wait to change my screen. I find that in bright conditions it's difficult to see well (if it makes sense). Will be watching your video again when I change my screen. Thank you so much for taking time to explain the procedure step by step :)

[@Ufphotography]

@@cg3049 you're very welcome 😊 enjoy doing it and seeing the result

[@ABZO753]

Thanks for your great tutorial. Can you please say where you’ve got this nice multicolor strap for your « zwei Augen » ?

[@Ufphotography]

Hey Philippe! 😊 I got in in Seoul South Korea in a camera store 😅

[@ABZO753]

@@Ufphotography In fact I guess you can fit any vintage strap made for Nikon, Canon DSLR on your Rollei, isn’t it ?

[@Ufphotography]

@@ABZO753 I think you can if you're a little inventive 😄

[@davidoquias6061]

Just got back my dads rollei, still works Having it reconditioned but Where to get a new rolleiflex screen?

[@Ufphotography]

Hey 😊 The link is in the description

[@jefflamb4755]

Thank you for making this vid - I have the confidence to change my screen without swearing profusely. ✌🏼

[@seanyonstreet4260]

hi, thanks for the video. Is the process same as for Rolleiflex 2.8E models?

[@Ufphotography]

Hey 😊 I couldn't tell you - i don't know the specific model but I would imagine it's either pretty similar or the same. If you have a little technological understanding, these cameras are not really hard to understand and take apart/put together. That's the beauty of it. 😁

[@seanyonstreet4260]

@@Ufphotography I think it will be very similar but just wanted to make sure. I will give it a try. thanks for the video again!!!

[@Ufphotography]

@@seanyonstreet4260 you're more than welcome!

[@marcuslow3290]

i have problem removing those 4 screws on the metal hood down, what exact screw driver size is needed?

[@Ufphotography]

Hey Marcus! I'm really sorry but I don't remember exactly. It was a small Phillips I think. I can't try right now as I don't have my camera on me right now but if you have a little patience, I'll have it back in 10 days and I could check. 😅

[@MrJgallegos3]

Did you ever check? Wanting the same info. The flat heads I have are either too think or too skinny

[@carbonejack]

Excellent! Very helpful.

[@martinmcchesney315]

Do you know if it is possible to change the glass on a flexaret vii My veiwfinder is pretty dim and it's kinda a shame to chuck it away

[@Ufphotography]

Unfortunately I don't have any experience with that camera so I really couldn't tell you 😅

[@martinmcchesney315]

@@Ufphotography ok thank you friend, 👍

[@Socman86]

Can u make a video with fixing the back focus on the camera? Mine doesn’t focus all that great

[@Ufphotography]

Hey there! Thanks for your comment. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by backfocus and how is it not focusing?

[@slothsarecool]

Helpful thanks! I just changed mine, wasn’t too painful 😊

[@emanuelschi]

hallo, bist du immer noch zufrienden mit deiner mattscheibe? :)

[@Ufphotography]

Hallo Emanuel! Ja voll und ganz - der Unterschied ist enorm und ich kann es jedem nur empfehlen. 😄

[@brokenoutline]

Great video thank you !

[@Ufphotography]

Taylor Herron thanks so much! I’m glad it was helpful!

[@bluescreenmod]

Nice Video but, it is very importent with every focusing screen that you put it in the right way. Otherwise you wind up with a bunch of unsharp pictures. It does matter! I had to learn that painfully with my Nikon Bodies. Greatings from Berlin

[@Ufphotography]

bluescreenmod Thanks for pointing it out. I thought I had mentioned it in the video but maybe I forgot. Anyhow - we’ll see how the first rolls of film turned out. It seems to be all right but I’ll give an update on that. :-) Lieben Gruß aus München

[@bluescreenmod]

Ah nice. Habe mir auch eine Rolleiflex F 3.5 Xenotar geleistet. Falls mir die Mattscheibe zu dunkel wird komme ich auf deinen Link zurück. THX

[@andrepgplaygame9532]

witch one its the right side? witch one should be on top?

[@pcls-tech]

Thank you very much for this tutorial!

[@Ufphotography]

my pleasure! I'm glad it was useful. 😄

[@bloubear2557]

Springs inside the shutter are worse when lost than those springs holding the screen

[@Ufphotography]

Blou Bear I guess you’re right. But I didn’t open the shutter so no worries there :-)

[@user-ti9zc1xv2b]

Thank you!

[@Ufphotography]

Pleasure :-)

[@subhi7777]

Thanks So who is the manufacturer of the ground glass ?

[@Ufphotography]

subhi Guston Ghussain hey - it’s the guy from the first link in the description

[@biopic8534]

Thanks for the video man ! (Just a remark : It's not a K4B2, but the last K4B model)

[@Ufphotography]

Sure - no problem. :-) Well that was what I have been told about my camera. But thanks for clearing it up :-)

[@ray-sattler]

100 $ for a piece of plastic... That's what i paid for my whole camera last week...