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Fotokor focusing screen

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Printed on: 5/7/2026 3:52:15 PM


Topic

Topic author: Jo Lund

Posted on: 20120621013446

Hello to you all,

I don´t know where,in which thread, to put this question I have. Sorry.

I acquired a rather maltreated Fotokor. (nr.65507) Since the focusing screen was missing I made one myself. So far so good. What I would like to know which side of the screen has to face forward, in the direction of the lens I mean. Furthermore years ago there was a discussion about several types of fotokor cameras on this forum.
One of the photos shown depicted a man with a camera. It might not be of interest to someone collecting cameras, but I think I have seen the picture before. I could be terribly wrong but the man in the picture could be the famous Dutch photographer Joris Ivens.
I am just being curious. But it would be nice to know if I am wrong or not. Does anyone have a clue?

Thanks a lot

Henk

Replies

Reply author: ZorkiKat

Replied on: 20120621155403

Henk, the rough side of the screen should face the lens. When you focus, you should be looking at the glossy side. The original screen on my Fotokor also broke, and I replaced it with a DIY screen, ordinary glass with one of the sides finely ground with grinding grit. One easy procedure to make a substitute is to use a stick-on translucent film on the glass. This stick on film is used to make window and door glass "private" by making it non-see through, but still let light in.
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Reply author: Jo Lund

Replied on: 20120621161409

Hello Jay,

Thank you for your reply, ok I´ll mount the screen as you advised.
I made the screen myself using valve grinding paste that obviously had been waiting for this occasion for over twenty years in the shed.
Thanks again.

Henk