[Leica] Bossscreen and Stabilix

[Myers Pete <MyersPete@aol.com>]

Dear LUGnuts:

Thank you for the thought about the Bossscreen from Stabilix. I am unfamiliar
with their work. Is the 'wax' layer a real wax layer subject to melting or is
it of some other type?

Are these screens available for an R8 with the proper optics (the R8 screen
has a focal lenght in the Fresnel formation - its a lens and a screen (this is
my understanding explained by Maxwell)). Or is this just a type of 'screen'
used to replace ground glass in more conventional applications?

The modern "laser-matte" type screens are suppose to have microprism type
charictoristics. All this is rather ironic in that Leica is suppose to have
had a jewel of a screen in the Leica SL.  - a micro, micro prism screen with
coarser microprisms for a focusing aid.

I have not shot an SL, nor have seen through one. It would be most interesting
to hear from some of you folks that have an SL and an R8 or have access to
both and take a look. LET US KNOW!

I enjoyed the report from ___________ (sorry, I didnt catch your name) on the
comparison of the F5 screen with the R8. The F5 screen is a 'laser matte' type
screen. I'm sure the screen "as is" in the camera could benifit for treatment
for brighness. Then, the quality of the rest of the optics and the viewfinder
vs the the R8 optics are a different matter.

Here is the challenge for Leica: with all the wonderful things that can be
done in manufactoring optics today - such as computer aided design, diamond
turning, molded precision glass optics, etc. etc. - why not challenge forward
on a new screen design for the R8?????! It would have a profound effect on the
image quality in the otherwise superb finder. As it is, its like taking a nice
M35mm f2 aspheric and rubbing the front element with a good coat of greese!
The whole camera is well thought out and has purpose in supporting some of the
very best optics in 35mm  technology. Why then have a cheap little plastic
screen/lens spoil the fantastic view through those lenses???? Its possible to
do a lot better without spending a lot of money to get there. If you want a
huge return in price to performance improvments, look no further then the R8
screens!

Pete Myers