1. Can you make a screen that will fit my camera? –Yes. Hopfglass screens are individually precision cut by hand. A +or-.25mm tolerance is guaranteed. Screens can be made as small as a postage stamp or up to 20×24″. Larger sizes are invited, but no one seems to have bigger cameras.
2. Can you put a grid on my screen? –Yes. Grids are hand applied using permanent ink on the ground side of the glass. The grids can be left solid black or more typically they are reduced to transparency.
3. Will a Hopfglass screen be brighter than my old dirty screen. –Yes. It is safe to say that a Hopfglass screen will be brighter than just about any other old dirty screen. However, without a side by side comparison it is impossible to guarantee that a Hopfglass screen will be brighter than the clean stock screen that came with the camera. But, the vast majority of customers have reported that they are impressed with the improvement in brightness, contrast and clarity of a new Hopfglass focusing screen.
4. Could you please make sure to pack the glass carefully? –Yes. Absolutely. I learned early on that I really dislike having to remake a screen that has been damaged in transit. So I thought about it, and I developed a lightweight/strong packaging system. I hate to tempt fate but after shipping thousands of packages, I have not had a single broken screen in nearly five years!
BTW –I use as much recycled material as possible for packaging. Your screen will arrive in a Priority Mail box that is stuffed with plastic grocery bags –inwhich you will find your new screen sandwiched between cardboard. It may not be pretty, but it is very effective. ULF screens may require a wooden shipping crate.
5. Can you apply format markings to my screen? –Yes. It took a while to develop a good system, but now I am equipt to make box shaped format markings. The most common sizes requested are 6×7 and 6x9cm. If both sizes are required, the end result will be a box within a box.
6. Will you please make sure to remove the sharp edges? –Yes. Absolutely. After cutting the glass, the next step in the process of making a screen is to bevel the edges. I used to do this all by hand with a wetstone, but after years of abuse my arm began to give out. Now I use an electric edge router with a diamond grinding stone. This leaves smooth clean, professional looking edges –safe for handling and helpful to prevent edge chipping, cracks etc when handing the glass.
7. What thickness of glass do you use? I have several thicknesses in stock, but for the typical screen I will use glass that is about 2.15mm thick after grinding. The reason for this is that I found a local source for some nice lower lead glass that has a light bluegreen edge color. It is quality glass, and it makes fine screens. Occasionally customers ask for thinner glass to match their original screen. In some cases, it may be required to match the thickness of the glass to accomodate Fresnel screens etc. Typically a specific thickness is requested –usually about 1.5mm. Occasionally we can get an exact match, but often a close match may be the only option. For example, we might use glass that is 1.65mm thick to replace a screen that was originally 1.5mm thick.
8. This might sound like a dumb question, but what side of the ground glass goes towards the lens? Its not a dumb question…lots of customers have asked it over the years. The ground side goes towards the lens. The smooth shiney side should be facing the back of the camera.
9. Will using a thicker screen throw off the camera’s focus? –No. As long as the ground side of the glass is on the focal plane –as it should be– the focusing will be the same. The thickness of the glass doesn’t really matter, but it is critical that the ground side be on the focal plane.
10. If I order more than one screen, can I get a discount? –Yes. I will do a modest discount for two screens. If you buy three screens, I’ll do a little better. If you are a camera manufacturer and you need dozens of screens –talk to me!
11. Is there a charge for clipped or rounded corners? –No. At this time clipped and rounded corners are still free.