Who among you is dexterous in cutting glass ?

[ruben]

Hey folks,
A very good solution for bringing alive pale yellow patches is to add at the outer side of the viewfinder a low level neutral density filter. This will somehow darken the overall image, but produces wonders in bringing a contrasty, clearly visible yellow patch.

My problem is that after several triyals with a glass cutter, I am far from being up to the task. So if any of you is dexterous in the matter, kindly PM.

Thanks in advance,
Ruben

 

[rover]

Cutting such a small section of glass must be very difficult. My father creates and repairs stained glass as a hobby and for pieces this small he uses an automatic cutter I think, or maybe it is a grinder. It is a water cutter or grinder thingy.

 

[Sparrow]

A motorised diamond tile cutter, the water cooled ones will cut and grind glass, but chips the edges a bit, a lot at first until you get used to it. I’ve not made anything that small it would be difficult to hold accurately and safely, it’s a bit scary to use without the guard down

 

[Sparrow]

PS

Just a thought, if you photographed a grey card you could use the neg to do the same thing if it was fitted internally

 

[Screwy]

I used to be a glass worker , mainly architectural work which is the hand and machine finishing of the edges of plate glass plus the drilling of holes and cutting of notches etc but I did learn to cut glass . What size and thickness or we talking about ? and is there not a local glass shop or even handyman or picture framer you can approach to cut the filter ?




Paul

 

[rbiemer]

Ruben,
Sounds like a good idea, but what about using an ND gel filter? Easier to work with I'd think. A moderate size sheet would give lots of VF sized pieces so you'd have spares for when it gets scratched/finger printed(if you put it on the outside of the VF window).
Rob

 

[ferider]

Sent you a PM, Ruben. Maybe I'll try the same thing with a Pol filter on the M6 frame window ....

Roland.

 

[zuikologist]

Ruben, as suggested above, I have used gel filters, cut to the correct height and just oversize on either side (in this case on a Canonet GIII). The filter slips between the front of the forward VF glass and the metal top plate. Stays in place very well. A blue or green works well with a yellow patch. If I can find some left over, I'll happily send it to you.

 

[Stu W]

Reading this post got me thinking. I have 2 M3's, one with an incredibly bright finder and one with a good one. I had the good one cla'd, and the optics are reported back to me as being fine. Looking through everything with a penlite and it seems to be true. They are crystal clear. Anyway, I just tried Rick Oleson's trick for brightening up a rangefinder. Let me tell you. Even a legally blind person can probably use it. http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-165.html

Stu

 

[BrianShaw]

Using ND glass is the most difficult way to perform a very simple task - as said before, gel/polyester filter is the ONLY way to go.

 

[ruben]

OK, I will give the gel filters a try. I never knew them and I assume they should be something like the plastic filters for darkroom contrast control, which I have used for viewfinders, but they add undesirable color. Any further specification about what kind of gel to pick and what not, will be welcome.

ROLAND: I didn't get your PM, but I will try the gel firs. BTW a polarizer filter is too too dark for the task.

 

[BrianShaw]

One suggestion, Ruben... try to get a "sampler set" from Lee filters. I got one many years ago. The sampler is a 1 inch by 3 inch piece of every gel/polyester filter they offer. Rosco (cine gels) might have something similar. I've used these samples for lots of experimentation where small pieces are all that is needed.

 

[dpetrzelka]

Ruben,

I worked as a custom stained glass artist for a number of years - if you are still set on using glass let me know.

 

[Tim Gray]

One suggestion, Ruben... try to get a "sampler set" from Lee filters. I got one many years ago. The sampler is a 1 inch by 3 inch piece of every gel/polyester filter they offer. Rosco (cine gels) might have something similar. I've used these samples for lots of experimentation where small pieces are all that is needed.

You can usually get these from B&H for $.01 if you order something else as well.

 

[MartinP]

Hmmmm, it seems like my cunning plan is the same as everyone else has already had. . . My Zorki has a bright view window but a faded yellow rf spot - I tried dangling a tungsten correction filter (blue, I forget the number) in front and it really improved the contrast. This was based on the same idea as they have in the FED with the green, but maybe FED's are a bit too dark in colour.

I never got as far as pulling the top off or sacrificing a filter. Doesn't the gel sort of thing attract finger prints etc ? Has anyone used this long-term ?