Introduction
Rollei’s medium format single lens reflex camera SL 66 was equipped with a folding finder hood and a bright screen (Helleinstellscheibe) from the year of introduction. Both the finder hood and the focusing screen can be exchanged by the user. A choice of interchangeable finders and focusing screens were available. The screen itself is inserted in a detachable frame. The factory advised users to purchase additional frames when a choice of screens is to be used regularly. It is much quicker to exchange the screen in its frame than the screen alone. The SL 66 shares its focusing screens with the Rolleiflex SLX, System 6000 and modern TLRs like Rolleiflex 2.8 GX, 2.8 GX, 4.0 FT and 4.0 FW. The screens are of the same size and are interchangeable.
Finder systems
Finder components
| Part | Produced | Particulars |
|---|---|---|
| Frame for focusing screen in case | 1967 - ? | Additional frame for focusing screen. |
| Standard folding hood | 1966 - ? | Interchangeable magnifier, magnifier lenses from +3 to -3 diopters. |
| Folding hood with direct view | 1969 - 1986 | Finder hood can be moved backward over the magazine. Masks for 150 mm and 250 mm. |
| Rigid magnifying hood | 1966 - 1993 | Increased viewfinder image brilliance. Adjustable achromatic 2.5× magnifier. Adjustable from +0.6 to -2.1 dioptre. Rubber eyecup folds down and can be removed. |
| Rigid magnifying hood with TTL exposure meter | 1971 - 1979 |
Choice of integral or spot metering (2.8 ° with 80 mm lens). Stop down metering, aperture must be locked on camera. Free pre-set of film speed, shutter speed or aperture. Metered exposure can be internally and externally read. |
| Rotating 45° prism finder | 1968 - ? | Prism lens combination gives a brilliant, upright and laterally correct viewfinder image. An interchangeable eyepiece provides 2½× image magnification. Rubber eyecup folds down and can be removed. The finder rotates on its base and engages in four positions. |
Focusing screens of the SL 66 era
A number of focusing screens was available for the SL 66 line of camera’s. The later Rolleiflex SLX, System 6000 and modern TLRs like 2.8 GX, 2.8 FX, 4.0 FT and 4.0 FW were designed to accept screens of the same size. The screens are interchangeable. The following table lists the screens that were offered in the SL 66 era. I do not know when production ended. It was later than around 1994. Some were continued into the SLX and System 6000 era. Others were replaced for new ones with frame lines rather than grids.
Photo © 2021 F.W. Stutterheim
Bright screens
| Screen type | Produced | Particulars | Screen Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bright matt screen | 1966 - ? | Focusing screen with microfine structure for full-area focusing and unobstructed composition. Also suitable for small-aperture lenses and for depth-of-field monitoring. Grid lines. #560 0401, #560 045 |
56 × 63 mm |
| Finely ground glass screen | 1966 - ? | Finely ground glass screen for ultra-precise focusing at all apertures and with more powerful
focusing magnifiers. Especially aimed atmacro photography. No grid lines. #560 030 |
56 × 63 mm |
| Bright matt screen with split‑image wedge |
1966 - ? | Universal screen for the most demanding focusing requirements, with wedge and matt screen. The split-image wedge gives extremely precise focusing on vertical lines, e.g. for architectural photography. Grid lines. #560 050 |
56 × 63 mm |
| Bright matt screen with micro-prism spot |
1966 - ? | Universal screen for rapid shooting with micro-prism spot and matt screen. Allows trouble-free focusing even in poor light. Sharpest focus is marked by a ‘shimmer-free’ image. Grid lines. #560 060, #560 065 |
56 × 63 mm |
| Bright matt screen with clear-view spot |
1969 - 1988 | Special focusing screen for macro‑photography and photomicrography. Clear‑view spot, measuring scale and matt screen. The clear‑view spot allows parallax‑free aerial image focusing at extremely small apertures. e.g. through a microscope. Reproduction ratio is set on a scale. Grid lines. #560 100 |
56 × 63 mm |
| Bright matt screen with central split-image wedge and micro-prism ring |
1976 - ? | Universal screen with split-image wedge, micro-prism ring and matt screen. Split-image wedge for precise focusing on vertical lines. Micro-prism ring for focusing to a ‘shimmer-free’ image. Matt screen with microfine structure for full-area focusing. Grid lines. #560 180 |
56 × 63 mm |
Super bright screen
| Screen type | Produced | Particulars | Screen Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super bright matt screen with split‑image wedge and micro-prism ring. |
1987 - ? | Special focusing screen for extreme unfavourable light. Grid lines. #560 170 | 56 × 63 mm |
Focusing screens of the SLX and System 6000 era
Focusing screens of the SL 66 and the 6000 models are of the same size. The SLX and the System 6000 used SL 66 screens to start with. The screens also fit in the Rolleiflex 2.8 GX, 2.8 FX, 4.0 FT and 4.0 FW. Some SL 66 screens were updated, mainly with respect to grid lines. Often the grid was omitted or replaced for 4.5×6 cm horizontal and vertical guidelines. In next table only new or updated screens are listed.
Bright screens
| Screen type | Produced | Particulars | Screen Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bright matt screen with micro-fine texture |
1988 - 1992 | Micro-fine structure for focusing anywhere in the frame and easy composition. Also suitable for very low-speed lenses and for checking depth of field. No grid. #97 0522 |
56 × 63 mm |
| Bright matt screen with micro-fine texture |
1993 - ? | Micro-fine structure for focusing anywhere in the frame and easy composition. Also suitable for very low-speed lenses and for checking depth of field. Guidelines for horizontal and vertical-format 4.5×6 cm shots. #64 911 |
56 × 63 mm |
| Bright matt screen with split‑image wedge |
1993 - 1995 | Micro‑fine structure and split‑image wedge for higly precise focusing. Guidelines for horizontal and vertical-format 4.5×6 cm shots. #64 913 |
56 × 63 mm |
| Bright matt screen with micro-prism spot |
1988 - ? | Universal screen for rapid focusing with micro-prism spot and matt screen. For easy and precise focusing even in poor light. Focusing criterion: no image shimmer. Guidelines for horizontal and vertical-format 4.5×6 cm shots. #97 074 |
56 × 63 mm |
| Bright matt LSC screen | 1966 - ? | Special screen for use with Digital Scan Pack. Guidelines for 41.2 ×35 mm shots. #61 396 |
56 × 63 mm |
The brightest screen is the high definition High D screen. The SL 66 was already out of production, but the screen fits that camera line too. Two generations of High D screens have been available. The High D screens also fits the Rolleiflex 2.8 GX, 2.8 FX, 4.0 FT and 4.0 FW. The most recently produced TLRs and System 6000 camera’s had the second generation High D as factory fitted screen. I have a first generation High D screen in my Rolleiflex 2.8 GX (model 1, black series).
High D screen
| Screen type | Produced | Particulars | Screen Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| High D‑screen with split‑image wedge |
1996 - ? | High definition screen for outstanding brightness of viewfinder image. Precise focusing even in critical lighting conditions, such as in twilight or in a portrait studio. A central split-image rangefinder facilitates focusing on vertical lines. Guidelines for horizontal and vertical-format 4.5×6 cm shots. #10 772 (1st generation) |
56 × 63 mm |
Suppliers
Original Rollei finders and focusing screens
All SL 66 finders and most original Rollei focusing screens can only be purchased in ‘used’ state. The present Rolleiflex Hy 6 is equipped with screens of the same size. New screens should be available from the factory and from remaining dealers.
Third party focusing screens
Quality third party screens in several sizes with or without a choice of focusing aids are made by Maxwell Precision Optics and Rick Oleson BrightScreen. Mr Bill Maxwell has no website but he can be found at Facebook. His screens are of the highest quality and he can advise which screen to use. His prices reflect the quality. Expect to pay a few hundred US$. I do not have any of his screens in my Rolleiflex but I do have one in my Linhof. I am very happy. Mr Rick Oleson does have a website. You can order on line, choosing camera brand, type of screen and size. His screens are said to be of high quality and his prices are under US$ 100. I have not yet been a customer. For a comparison between a Maxwell and an Oleson screen read Mr Edward Goodwin’s blog3. His comparison is not entirely valid because he compared a screen without focusing aid with one having a micro-prism focusing aid. Never the less he gives a fair assessment of the two screens and a good view on the differences.