Swapping the focus screen on the K100D ... - Page 2

Deni · 07-15-2007, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by schmikey

Deni:

When I was asking about which side is up - I was not referring to the camera but the actual split screen focusing 'grid' itself - you mentioned that you initially 'installed it on the wrong side' How can you determine which side is correct when installing?

Understood ya. The small tab on the screen should be on the right side of the camera (when the camera is correct way up). I had it the other way, that is the little tab was on the left side (when the camera is correct way up).

schmikey · 07-23-2007, 08:41 PM

I received my split image focusing screen in the mail this morning! I reread this thread before performing this 'delicate operation'... I prepared the operating room, tools, patient (ie camera) and calmed my nerves... my first challenge was to open the retention bracket - I couldn't seem to get it to co-operate - after several minutes of trying and growing frustration it finally 'gave way'. I removed the exiting screen and 'installed' the split image screen. So far so good - then the next 'problem' I could not get the retention bracket to close - again after several minutes of trying and increasing frustration it finally 'decided' to close. Because of your experience Deni, I put a folded piece of lens paper in front of the mirror and no damage was done - but in the prolonged attempts to close the retention bracket a fair bit of dust and fibre attached itself to the split image focusing screen! It is very frustrating but what is done is done... I must have done all the steps correctly (if not efficiently), after testing the new screen it works although more 'dirty' than I hoped it would be...

I put on my newly acquired Kiron 28mm f2.0 and went for a walk to test the new focusing screen. I was expecting a bigger difference than what I experienced. In certain circumstances it helps quite a bit, in other situations it is hard to see the actual 'focusing part of the screen' I guess the bottom line is that between the split image focusing screen and help of the camera itself manual focusing is achieved - it may be that I just have to use it more to become more proficient with it...

Any other comments from you out there with a split image focusing screen would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Mike

FotoPete · 07-23-2007, 08:54 PM

Yep I have a split screen for my GX-1L and it works great. Just like the film days except the split image and microprism aids are a bit big and dominate the centre. (Remeber with the film SLRs, the viewfinders were much bigger). It allows for quick aquisition and focusing of the subject and drops MF times significantly.

Sometimes though, one of the spilt halves goes totally dark when focusing in dimly lit environments. (Can also happen with Macro, slow telephoto lenses and during teleconvertor usage) Then you much rely on the matte edges to check focus and its a bit of a pain. All that squinting. But all in all a good investment of $40. (The shipping cost from China was not pretty..especially when the seller decides to charge British Pounds...)

Deni · 07-24-2007, 12:55 AM

Glad all things went smooth, dirt apart.

My screen also got dirty in the process. I removed, wrapped it in the adhesive wrapper it came with and that removed some of the dirt, but not all. I ordered a Pentax official sensor cleaning kit and I'm still waiting for it. Once I get it, I'll remove the screen again and try to clean it with the sensor cleaning kit.

Focusing is not as easy as I had hoped for but still better than the "stock" screen. I'm also waiting for a magnification eye cup and hope that might help a little bit more.

Will keep you posted.

Deni

Mike Cash · 07-24-2007, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by schmikey

I put on my newly acquired Kiron 28mm f2.0 and went for a walk to test the new focusing screen. I was expecting a bigger difference than what I experienced.

Put on your longest lens and you'll more readily notice the difference.

vinzer · 08-02-2007, 09:59 AM

Just got my screen earlier today. Deni, Mike, Peter, and to everyone else who shared their experiences in this thread, MUCH THANKS! I'm really into manual lenses, so getting the screen and installing it properly was really big for me.

I actually feel like a kid on Christmas day.

I got mine from China also, and the screen looks to be well-made. And it's a bargain at $25, too! I still cringe at the price of the Katz Eye. No doubt it's a good screen, but I haven't the budget for one (this also goes for Haoda screen).

To everyone else who still hasn't a split focus screen, I encourage you to try one. Not only would it help with manual lenses, it's also a good thing to have for macro photography. Another possible benefit for this is to have another form of checking for AF lens focusing errors.

Deni · 08-02-2007, 03:54 PM

I just received the Pentax magnifying eyecup today. That also does help in manual focusing. For $50 delivered it ain't bad.

I was first worried from the other people's experiences as it produces a "look through a tunnel" view, but I didn't even notice it.

sunglint · 02-11-2008, 09:40 PM

THANK YOU DENI! I got my chinese screen in last weekend, and waited, which had no instructions. You pics were invaluable! And focussing both manual and auto are spot on. Also, if you move the camera slightly right/left with respect to your eye you can compensate for one side darkening, but only to a point.

geowoo · 02-12-2008, 11:17 AM

I'm new to the forum so first let me say - nice to meet you all

I've been using a 100d super for the past 3-4 months and really like the camera but coming from 35mm SLR's the fewvider did take some getting used to. I have made the diopter adjustment and added the 1.2 magnifier but I could still use some help with critical manual focusing when doing macros.

Can you provide a little more information on which model screen you tried and how much you think it helped? I am also very curious about the effect on viefinder brightness and metering accuracy.

Thanks in advance for any feedback and again- nice to meet you all

*G_Money* · 02-24-2008, 10:34 AM

I'd like to ask if anyone else has had this issue. I replaced my screen with one of the Ebay screens and I liked it much more than the stock screen. I ran a test with my macro lens and focus was right on the money. BUT, now my auto-focus was off. I remembered to put the thin plastic shim between the screen and the prism, so that's not the problem. And as I said, the macro test was fine. I don't really understand how the auto-focus mechanism works, but I know that when it would think it's in focus the split image would show otherwise. Exposures were off by about a full stop but that was to be expected. I'd like to know if anyone else can confirm this. I've had to go back to my stock screen in the meantime, and it makes me wonder if a Katz-Eye would be any different.

*TourDeForce* · 02-24-2008, 11:28 AM

Though these tools sufficed for the job, you folks might try to find some plastic substitutes when working in the camera. Far less likely to damage components.

Kguru · 03-07-2008, 07:36 AM

Received my focus screen today (thanks "mummy"), Chinese one for K100D. It comes with a U-shaped plastic shim, so a quick question to folks in this thread: did you receive this shim and did you install it? I'm asking because it didn't get mentioned in your posts. Thanks.

Fritz · 03-07-2008, 09:19 AM

I used the shim. The focus was off without it.

Deni · 03-10-2008, 01:23 AM

Originally Posted by Kguru

Received my focus screen today (thanks "mummy"), Chinese one for K100D. It comes with a U-shaped plastic shim, so a quick question to folks in this thread: did you receive this shim and did you install it? I'm asking because it didn't get mentioned in your posts. Thanks.

I didn't get any shim. I think it is included in case you loose the original brass/copper one.

Btw. it's been a while that I don't use the focusing screen anymore. It was a pain using slow lenses and go used to focus with the mated screen.

Maybe I'll give it a try again since my main lens now is the sigma 28-70 f/2.8 .