Questions   Answers

Why are Brightscreen® screen products so expensive?

Actually they are not, when compared to many of the imitation products that are showing up on the market that are costing consumers much more in poor performance, damage to cameras and voidance of the manufacturer's warranty.  Over the past two and 1/2 decades we have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in design, tooling, parts, molds, machining, proprietary and patent pending developments, legal fees, optical coatings, research and development, testing, advertising, and much more. Consumers who choose to purchase and utilize our products are not simply paying for raw material costs. A good comparison of the perceived value of our products could be made with a software program sold on a CD. Consumers know and understand the cost of a blank CD and the majority of them understand that they are not paying the material costs but the production cost of what is contained on the CD. More price verses  quality in imitation product comparisons can also be made with look-alike products such as watches and jewelry.                

How do Brightscreens® differ from other after-market focusing screens?

There are several advantages to using our products. Unlike other types of after- market screens, Brightscreen^® 20/20^tm focusing screens are available in a large variety of styles and combinations. Also unlike other products, we use real camera focusing screens, and when possible our screens are made with an optical glass cover to protect the screen. Our Brightscreens^® are as bright as possible without giving up or suffering a lack of contrast.  Maintaining a high level of contrast with increased brightness, combined with superior durable optics makes for quality products with easier and more accurate focusing.  In addition there is no loss of light gain, dissolving surfaces, or warpage resulting from  temperature changes or age.  Our screens are offered with a ten day unconditional satisfaction guarantee and a limited lifetime warranty.

Beware of copycat screen services. Some newcomers to the industry are charging more to add cut lines to users own screens than the price of some of our new screens. Cut lines, as some are doing, also releases tiny particles to temporarily lodge into screens tiny groves to be later released inside cameras.  In addition  the crop marks are often not in the correct proportion due to the lack of ability to hand cut with any consistent degree of accuracy.

Screens are also being produced by copycat companies with inferior materials, who claims brighten enhanced techniques they are attempting with no experience or proven results are actually charging more for these inferior products than our originals.

Are your Brightscreens^® and Proscreens^tm brighter than the other "bright" screens on the market?

There is usually little difference as far as the "brightness" between our products and the imitation "brighter" screens on the market.  However, the technology we use to obtain the gain in light transmission without the loss of contrast, makes our screens much easier to focus.   We are capable of producing brighter screens than we market but do not due to the declining contrast.

How much brighter are Brightscreens^® than the stock screens that come with my cameras?

The amount of light gain differs from camera to camera.  Our goal is to peak all camera screens to maximum brightness without sacrificing performance. Increases in viewing brightness normally range from one to four f-stops.  Gains in brightness are dependent upon the individual camera type, view finder, lens, and individual lighting conditions.

"Contrast" levels in screens.  Why is that so important to have?

Contrast is what we really use to focus our subjects, determine depth of field and allows us to see filter and vignette effects. Without it one is unable to focus with any degree of accuracy no matter how well one can "see" the subject with a brighter screen.  When the subject is out of focus, when viewed through a good contrasting screen, there is a soft blur effect.   This blur disappears and reveals the sharp edges of the subject as it is brought into focus.  In addition the contrast in the screen helps significantly in seeing and using the focusing aids that are present in our most popular screen styles such as the split image / microprism collar combinations.

Do your screens fade or deteriorate with age?

With proper use and handling , there is no loss of light gain or performance over time.  Since we have been in this business for almost 25 years now, and have always offered a limited lifetime guarantee, you can be assured that our guarantee comes with much experience.

My camera doesn't have an interchangeable type screen.  Where do I get your Brightscreen^® or Proscreen^tm installed?

Our technicians are fully qualified to do installations.  We guarantee that the screens are handled properly and correctly installed with any necessary calibrations performed as well.  In the case of most cameras, the only part of the camera we require is the camera body.  All other lenses and necessary equipment are available in our shop(s) to perform the installations and calibrations. We also allow some specially qualified technicians to perform installations as well. Note: we do not offer our screens to consumers for cameras designed to be non-user interchangeable. We will however be more than happy to install these for consumers. Beware of other companies offering or encouraging this which often damages screens, cameras and images.  

Will the Brightscreen^® interfere with my metering system?

Because most modern cameras meter at the film / image plane or through the screen in most instances there is usually no need for meter compensation.  We do, however, enclose instructions with each screen to explain how to check each individual camera before and after, to determine any difference, and how to compensate if necessary.  In the few cases where some compensation is necessary, it will be very slight and can easily be dialed in by the ISO speed or plus-and-minus exposures adjustments. Newly developed optical coatings have also allowed us to minimize, reduce or eliminate metering compensations.   

I shoot outdoors as well as in the studio.  Will the Brightscreen^® be too bright in the sun?

Although this can be a problem with some of the other screens on the market, that is not the case with our Brightscreens^®.  They are just as beneficial in bright light situations as they are in darker locations.

What is the difference between a Brightscreen^® and a Proscreen^tm?

Brightscreens^® are original camera factory focusing screens that we process to allow greater light transmission.  When ordering these screens, the style you request will have all of the original factory etchings, focusing aids and crop patterns as produced by the individual camera manufacturers.  Proscreens^tm are custom-made screens produced by Brightscreen^® to replace the factory screen. These screens are designed both for use in cameras whose manufacturers either do not supply replacement screens, or for those instances where the manufacturer's stock screens are of less than desirable quality and design.  Many of our screens are also available in styles that are not offered by any other source in the world.  All custom screens we produce are referred to as Proscreens^tm .

Are you the original company to introduce enhanced camera focusing screens?

Brightscreen^® is the originator of enhanced focusing screens.  Although there are other companies now attempting to imitate our line of products, none of them have the technology to accurately reproduce them.

I purchased a screen from my local dealer and didn't like it.  I thought at the time that I was getting the original Brightscreen^® product, but now I am not sure.

It is unfortunate that our company trademark and product name have been used as generic terms by many people to describe any enhanced focusing screen.  To date, we have not allowed  camera stores to stock our products due to the wide varieties of styles and combinations. You  may order our products direct or through our selected dealers.  Insist on a Brightscreen^® 20/20^tm .  The trademark "20/20" was created and added to all of our screens produced after March 1993 as a means of identifying our products from others.

How large is the split image / microprism in your new #5 Proscreen^tm?

The split image is 6mm in diameter, which is slightly smaller than a pencil eraser. The microprism collar is 13mm, which is approximately 80% the size of a dime.

I've heard complaints about enhanced focusing screens being very bright in the middle, but dark in the corners and hard to focus.  Is that a problem with your screens?

While this is true of some of the other screens on the market, the Brightscreens^® and Proscreens^tm offer equal light transmission throughout the entire viewing surface. An exception to this is our optically clear focusing aids which will always be clear and bright. 

What if I don't like your product after I have received it?  Do you have a return policy or any kind of guarantee?

All of our screen products have a 10 day money back satisfaction guarantee when purchased direct.  If you are not completely satisfied within 10 days after you receive it, you may return it to us for a complete refund less the shipping charges.  In addition, only Brightscreen^® offers a limited lifetime warranty.  Items purchased from dealers are subject to the individual dealer's return policies.

Do I need a particular kind of screen in order to use the Accurfocus^tm magnifier?

The most popular style screen available is the # 4 or #5 split image microprism collar, and the magnifier does perform better if using a screen with a focusing aid. You can however use the Accurfocus^tm with any screen.

Do I need to use my glasses to focus if I am using the Accurfocus^tm?

^{This is entirely up to each individual user.  Some users find it necessary or more comfortable to continue using glasses while others do not.  The built in adjustable diopter has a range of approximately plus to minus 4 for vision corrections.  It flips down over the eyepiece of the prism for critical focusing, and flips out of the way for normal image viewing and composing.  There is a rubber eye glass cushion for protection of eye glass wearers in both the "in use" and "out of use" positions.}

^{If I can only purchase one product for now, do you recommend the camera focusing screens or the magnifier?}

^{We will almost always recommend the camera focusing screens simply because they are  going to benefit you at all times when you use your camera.  The  magnifier is designed for occasions when critical focusing is essential.  It is particularly beneficial when used with a wide angle lens, and in close up and copy work.}

If I buy an Accurfocus^tm, can I use it on different cameras?

You would need to purchase an adapter when you wish to use an Accurfocus^tm on a different model camera.  The Accurfocus^tm is currently designed for use with medium-format cameras and some long-roll cameras.

^{Where can I see your products?}

^{Our products are demonstrated at a variety of major trade shows throughout the USA.  Several importers of our products also demonstrate them outside the USA.  Our products are available for ordering direct or through many camera stores nationwide.  To go to our list of conventions and trade shows click on here}

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