Maxwell Hi-Lux Focusing Screens: A physicist’s brilliant invention!They’ll turn your vintage film camera into a bright, fast-focusing classic

Maxwell Hi-Lux Focusing Screens: A physicist’s brilliant invention!
They’ll turn your vintage film camera into a bright, fast-focusing classic

By Jason Schneider

William (Bill) Maxwell of Atlanta Georgia is a jack of all trades and master of most of them. After studying theoretical and applied physics for nearly eight years (at both undergraduate and graduate levels) he walked away from academia and returned to his first loves, photography and optics. He worked successfully as a commercial photographer for a while, but then his passion for optics kicked in big time, and in 1974 he started a business, Scientific Camera, Inc., designing and building custom optical instruments for the scientific, industrial, law enforcement, and technology markets.

Enter the Maxwell HI-LUX screen!

By the 1980s, 35mm SLRs, medium-format SLRs, and twin-lens reflexes (TLRs) were dominating the market, and the quest for better focusing screens was on in full swing. A few innovative companies developed custom screens that provided brighter viewing, but none of them were any easier to focus than the screens that originally came with the cameras. That’s what inspired Bill Maxwell to develop an entirely new kind of focusing screen based on scientific principles that was not only brighter, but also much easier to focus.


Maxwell HI-LUX Micro/ Split RF (Diagonal) screen for Contax 645

It took Bill more than a year of experimentation to develop his proprietary HI-LUX Process, but the result was transformational. What makes Maxwell HI-LUX screens different is that they provide the right combination of (1) brightness, (2) optical contrast, and (3) optical clarity (the ability to see fine detail). As a result, HI-LUX screens exhibit a crucial optical property commonly known as “Pop” or “Snap,” the ability to snap into focus decisively. Technically this means that there’s a sudden spike in the optical contrast at the point the image comes into focus. Indeed, this is the defining property of all Maxwell HI-LUX screens although they’re also noticeably brighter than the original manufacturers’ (OEM) screens supplied with the camera. HI-LUX screens are sold by Maxwell Precision Optics Inc. (maxwellprecisionoptics@yahoo.com; 1+404-317-6825)


Maxwell HI-LUX Micro/Split RF screeen with Rule of Thirds lines mounted for Pentax 67II

The backstory and future developments.

Articles on Maxwell HI-LUX screens were published in major photography magazines, including Popular Photography and Modern Photography during the 1980s and 1990s with very favorable reviews. As a result, Bill Maxwell was able to supply screens with these optical properties for a wide variety of cameras of all formats, especially medium format cameras. After the turn of the millennium and the introduction of DSLRs and professional grade large format digital cameras, Maxwell continued to supply custom tailored HI-LUX screens for virtually any camera that relies on optical viewing and focusing.

In response to the current resurgence in classic (analog) photography and shooting with vintage cameras. Maxwell Precision Optics Inc. is continuing to turn out HI-LUX screens for a wide variety of cameras from all time periods. And because Bill Maxwell is now collaborating with a new, better-than-ever, U.S.-based raw materials supplier, he’s now turning out some of the best HI-LUX screens he’s ever made, including a new HI-LUX Ultra Brilliant series. All these new screens are available with larger diameter, more sensitive split image rangefinders, microprisms, and a variety of linear composition aids. Also available: a classic all-matte Ultra Brilliant screen. Bill Maxwell is currently developing am exciting new line of HI-LUX Ultra Brilliant screens for Large Format cameras.


Maxwell HI-LUX Ultra Brilliant Matte screen for Mamiya RZ 67


Maxwell Hi-LUX Micro/ Split RF screen with Rule of Thirds lines for Hasselblad.

Reviews of Maxwell Hi-LUX screens: What do users say?

Maxwell Hi-Lux (including Brilliant Matte) focusing screens are highly regarded for significantly increasing screen brightness, contrast, and clarity in medium-format cameras such as Pentax 67, Rolleiflex, and Mamiya RZ. Users report they are much brighter than stock screens, making low-light focusing much easier.

Key Takeaways:

Brightness & Clarity: Users describe them as "the difference between night and day" compared to stock screens, noting that they eliminate “grainy/darker images.”

Focusing Performance: They improve focusing accuracy, particularly with wide-aperture lenses (f/2.4 to f/4) due to superior contrast, sharpness, and snap.

Installation: Generally easy, but some models (e.g., Pentax 67) may require professional installation.

Cost: Considered expensive (ranging from $450-$550 in some reports), but often described as a necessary upgrade for critical, professional work, and well worth it.

Overall, Maxwell screens are considered a premium, high-performance, and "worth it" investment by many film photographers, especially professional and advanced shooters seeking to upgrade their overall viewing and focusing experience.


Maxwell HI-Lux Micro/ Split RF screen for interchangeable-screem Rollei TLRs.

Types of Maxwell HI-LUX screens available:

(1) HI-LUX Micro/ Split RF - large 6mm diameter split image rangefinder surrounded by large 13mm diameter microprism collar surrounded by HI-LUX Ultra Brilliant matte field

(2) HI-LUX Microprism - large 13mm diameter central microprism spot surrounded by HI-LUX Ultra Brilliant matte field

(3) HI-LUX Ultra Brilliant Matte - entire screen is HI-LUX Ultra Brilliant matte field with no focusing aids,

These three screen types (with composition line options) are available for all cameras that are supported.

Current price ranges of Maxwell HI-LUX screens:

All Rollei/Rolleiflex medium format cameras (TLR and SLR) ever made are $450 (composition line options at additional cost)

Pentax 6x7, 67 are $450. Pentax 67II screens $550 (if you supply frame) or $775 (complete with frame) - line options at additional cost.

Mamiya RZ67 (series) screens $550 (you supply frame) or $750-$775 (complete with frame, depending on type of frame) - line options at additional cost.

Hasselblad (“V” system) screens are $600 - $650 (mounted in like new refurbished Hasselblad metal frames).

Contax 645 - HI-LUX Enhancement $450 (to customer supplied screens). Complete screens at additional cost. Specialty screens with large focus aids also available at extra cost.

Most unmounted screens are $450 apiece (line options available at additional cost).

Note: These screens are also available for many, many more types of classic and recent medium format cameras.

The bottom line: Some experts say that Maxwell HI-Lux screens are the best focusing screens ever made. Based on our experience we wouldn’t go out of our way to disagree with them.

 

[santino]

As always, very interesting!

How do they compare to Minolta‘s acute matte d screens (for a Hasselblad 500 eg)?

 

[Godfrey]

As always, very interesting!
How do they compare to Minolta‘s acute matte d screens (for a Hasselblad 500 eg)?

Bill Maxwell has been around a good while, and I worked with him on a few projects. He made (and installed) screens for me when I was shooting with early 1950s Rolleiflex cameras. It was a binary experience: the old screen was nearly impossible to see well enough to focus with, and his new screen popped and made my old Rolleiflexes into modern cameras.

The same is not true of my 1978 Hasselblad 500CM cameras. The Acute Matte screens (possibly newer than the bodies) they came with when I got them are very good ... trying a Maxwell screen produced a small difference, whether better or worse is more in the eye of the individual. I switched both my 500CMs to the newest Acute Matte screens they sold with markings for the CFV50c back sensor format, and those do better for me than any of the others.

I would say if you have an older Hassy with the original screen, or certainly any older Rolleiflex TLR, it's a no-brainer to use a Maxwell screen for a better focusing/viewing experience. But if you have an Acute Matte screen in your Hasselblad, the differences become smaller and it might not be "the best" for your eyes. The only way to know for sure is to try them.

G

 

[Richard G]

Have been thinking of one of these for my Automat. I read about removing the viewfinder hood. Great article.

 

[Richard G]

Bill Maxwell has been around a good while, and I worked with him on a few projects. He made (and installed) screens for me when I was shooting with early 1950s Rolleiflex cameras. It was a binary experience: the old screen was nearly impossible to see well enough to focus with, and his new screen popped and made my old Rolleiflexes into modern cameras.

The same is not true of my 1978 Hasselblad 500CM cameras. The Acute Matte screens (possibly newer than the bodies) they came with when I got them are very good ... trying a Maxwell screen produced a small difference, whether better or worse is more in the eye of the individual. I switched both my 500CMs to the newest Acute Matte screens they sold with markings for the CFV50c back sensor format, and those do better for me than any of the others.

I would say if you have an older Hassy with the original screen, or certainly any older Rolleiflex TLR, it's a no-brainer to use a Maxwell screen for a better focusing/viewing experience. But if you have an Acute Matte screen in your Hasselblad, the differences become smaller and it might not be "the best" for your eyes. The only way to know for sure is to try them.

G

I reckon very good advice. Just as with good eyes, say of a 25 year old, you need to learn to see through a microscope, telescope, ophthalmoscope, focussing with the acute matte D of a Hasselblad is not quite so easy as the first wonderful view through that camera might suggest. Your brain does some work to accommodate to the focussing system precisely. A Hasselblad owner who divests and some time later reinvests in exactly the same set up, is shocked to find how difficult it is to focus without enormous effort. In time he regains his former facility. For a regular user changing to a slightly “better” screen could be a step backwards, because it is different. I’ve never got to any fine accommodation with my dim Automat, so having to get in sync with a Maxwell screen would be a gross improvement from the start.

 

[yossi]

Out of curiosity but not sure if it is okay to ask here. So apology if not.

Has anyone got personal experience on the performance of Maxwell screen vs. those by Magicflex? Price difference is quite substantial.

(I have got a few Rolleiflex TLR's installed with Maxwell screens. My experience is they are very good, better than many other similar products, but too costly for its worth. For Hasselblad, I prefer the Acute Matte screen. I haven't tried this one from Magicflex though.)

 

[Duofold RF]

Maxwell’s screen is hands-down the best—crisp, bright, like swapping your old bifocals for laser vision. But the price! It’s tough to justify dropping that kind of cash on a cheap Rolleicord. Then the Chinese makers crashed the party with their ultra-bright screens for peanuts, and suddenly everything changed. Now even grandpas can focus without squinting or selling a kidney. Game over, Maxwell—welcome to the affordable golden age!

 

[Jason Schneider]

Maxwell’s screen is hands-down the best—crisp, bright, like swapping your old bifocals for laser vision. But the price! It’s tough to justify dropping that kind of cash on a cheap Rolleicord. Then the Chinese makers crashed the party with their ultra-bright screens for peanuts, and suddenly everything changed. Now even grandpas can focus without squinting or selling a kidney. Game over, Maxwell—welcome to the affordable golden age!

As we’ve pointed out, anyone can make a bright screen, but making one that combines brightness, the ability to smoothly resolve fine detail, and that also snaps into focus decisively is quite another matter. None of the dozen or so inexpensive Chinese-made screens we’ve examined has all these qualities and the ones that were noticeably brighter were actually more difficult to focus precisely than the original screen that came with the camera. A few also had physical defects such as warpage. There are other good screens, such as the out-of-production Accu-Matte D screen for Hasselblads, but we have not found any inexpensive screen that approaches the overall quality of the (admittedly expensive) Maxwell HI-LUX series.

 

[rick oleson]

I'm very reluctant to get into this conversation, and I'll begin my acknowledging that I'm not a disinterested observer. But have you happened to look at the BrightScreen? I wouldn't claim it to be a match for the Maxwell, but users seem to be consistently pleased with it and there is a substantial cost difference. Replacement Focusing Screen

OK, that's all, I promise I'll shut up now.

 

[MISH]

I have a Rollieflex MX-EVS, not one of the newer models that had interchangeable screens. My question would be is putting one of these screens in something that would be easy for me to do or would I need a repair professional to install it?

 

[rick oleson]

I have a Rollieflex MX-EVS, not one of the newer models that had interchangeable screens. My question would be is putting one of these screens in something that would be easy for me to do or would I need a repair professional to install it?

You can do it yourself, but in that camera it’s not just a drop in and forget it… focus is affected by the screen’s thickness, so you might have to do some shimming to adjust if the new screen isn’t identical to your original groundglass. Here’s a copy of the instructions for the BrightScreen (the procedure will be there same for any other brand as well):


If you’re planning to have a CLA done, though, I’d have the technician install the screen at the same time. Saves you some trouble, doesn’t add much work for the tech, and he can adjust focus while he has the camera open for the CLA.

One other thing if you're planning to do it yourself: since you will need to check and possibly adjust focus, this is easier to do if you buy a screen that has a focus aid on it. A split image prism will be the easiest to adjust, microprism isn't difficult; a plain matte screen can take some time fiddling before you're confident that you have it adjusted precisely correct.

 

[rulnacco]

Is Bill still with us? I thought I'd read that he had passed away not long ago. I hope he's still doing his thing--I'd love to get a screen for my Rolleiflex from him!

 

[CMur12]

I have a Maxwell screen in my Minolta Autocord CdS-III, and I've really been happy with it. Mine is a simple screen with a grid and no central focusing aid.

I have used my TLRs almost exclusively on a tripod, so a central focusing aid often doesn't line up with the subject. With a little effort, I'm able to focus from any part of the screen.

- Murray

 

[CameraQuest]

Is Bill still with us? I thought I'd read that he had passed away not long ago. I hope he's still doing his thing--I'd love to get a screen for my Rolleiflex from him!

Yes indeed

 

[teresap]

Is Bill still with us? I thought I'd read that he had passed away not long ago. I hope he's still doing his thing--I'd love to get a screen for my Rolleiflex from him!

I have been talking with him over the last couple of weeks. Probably best to give him a call or text, rather than e-mail.

 

[38Deardorff]

I've been using a Maxwell screen in my Rolleiflex since it was serviced by Harry Fleenor in 2011.
It is a game changer in my opinion!

 

[rick oleson]

As we’ve pointed out, anyone can make a bright screen, but making one that combines brightness, the ability to smoothly resolve fine detail, and that also snaps into focus decisively is quite another matter. None of the dozen or so inexpensive Chinese-made screens we’ve examined has all these qualities and the ones that were noticeably brighter were actually more difficult to focus precisely than the original screen that came with the camera. A few also had physical defects such as warpage. There are other good screens, such as the out-of-production Accu-Matte D screen for Hasselblads, but we have not found any inexpensive screen that approaches the overall quality of the (admittedly expensive) Maxwell HI-LUX series.

: ) =

 

[trix4ever]

I'm very reluctant to get into this conversation, and I'll begin my acknowledging that I'm not a disinterested observer. But have you happened to look at the BrightScreen? I wouldn't claim it to be a match for the Maxwell, but users seem to be consistently pleased with it and there is a substantial cost difference. Replacement Focusing Screen

OK, that's all, I promise I'll shut up now.

I have one of your screens in my Bronica EC, I am a very happy bunny indeed, great product and great service. Thank you.