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This whole story about having enough tolerance for today's digital back systems is blown out proportion. Well processed low ISO film come damn close to digital and at times can be even better overall... the same way digital can be better overall at times.I was told by Mr Maxwell himself during a long telephone conversation when I was considering purchasing a Maxwell screen for my Arca that you will never achieve accurate focus by eye on a GG screen with enought tolerance for todays modern digital backs and that they should be more a composition aid.
Live view is the way to go with Canon's live view cameras, but it is not ideal as you need to zoom in on the live view image due to the low res LCD. This works to still life and landscape, but not for portrait and fashion.....live view or some way of measuring distance is still the most accurate method.
Hey, don't shoot the messenger!This whole story about having enough tolerance for today's digital back systems is blown out proportion.
Using a MFDB on a large format camera is going to be problematic.In my experience the focus tolerance of todays 60MP+ digital backs with LF cameras is very tight and slight focus movements (millimeters) make a large difference.
Sorry, when I refer to GG focusing on a LF camera I mean a specially designed for digital 6x9 view or technical camera that off the option to GG focus (Arca/Alpa).Using a MFDB on a large format camera is going to be problematic.
LF cameras are designed for a 4x5 capture area or larger.
Quite the contrary. When using a specialist 6x9 camera, play in the standards does not come into it likewise the amount the image is going to be enlarged has no bearing either. The problems stems from the fact that the size of the projected usable image area is 40mm x 54mm (or smaller). In other words very small, especially when used with a wide lens. Focusing something that small by eye is very difficult (not impossible) and usually involves a loupe. Regardless of how bright the image is, a small error due to tight focus tolerances means OOF pictures and renders the advantages of LF (6x9) capture useless.The problem is that you are enlarging that small image so much that the play in your large format camera becomes an issue.
I bought brite screens from Bill Maxwell for my Hassy 501C/M, Flexbody and Linhof Technikarden S. they made a world of difference in my ability to focus. Film or digital, ability to see your focal plane better is always desirable. And Bill's a great fellow, but set aside at least an hour when you call him!Does anyone have any experience with the Maxwell focusing screens here?
Anyone using one with a MF digital or larger MF film camera?