New Member Registered: February, 2013 Posts: 24 | | Review Date: April 9, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Allows quicker focusing | | Cons: | Poor availability and crazy cost | |
I’m using the screen on the 645Z
Ok. I’m the crazy person who spent the $300 on this screen on eBay. I kind of mulled over it for about a year, but the logic came down to…. It’s an $8000 camera (at the time I got it, it was actually $3000 used), what’s $300 if I can more comfortably use my manual focus lenses?
I tried the $30 split focus screen. It was too dark but it worked. I didn’t find it useful because although it DID allow precision focusing, what I realized is what I needed was to be able to get into the “ballpark” faster. Essentially getting focus into the zone where the focus assist lamp and beep take over.
This screen does the trick. I now realize thats also how I shoot with the microprism/split focus aids on most film cameras. I use the microprism to quickly focus to *approximately* in focus, then fine focus with the split screen. Same thing now, except its microprism focus…. BEEP… snap the photo. I get close to a 99% hit rate.
Although I wish it were less expensive I would say that $300 is a fair, but high price for the screen. But its hard to complain when I can now easily use all my manual focus lenses on the Z. Why the heck Pentax didn’t release a second set of screens when they introduced the 645D is beyond me.
I’m not sure I’d go through this expense for a 645n or nii though.
Edit: so some time has gone by and I think I need to make a few clarifications. The split image screen I tried was one of the eBay cheap fresnel ones. It worked, but was very dark. Second, when I said I wouldn’t bother for a 645n that is because on the crop sensor and 51MP of the 645Z, focus can be crazy critical. I really haven’t had a focusing issue on the 645 classic’s darker screen even when speed focusing and ignoring the split screen. I would imagine that the n and nii standard screens work even better. It would probably be nice though if you can find one and it’s not crazy expensive. Still love using it on the Z though.
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Veteran Member Registered: August, 2009 Posts: 417 | | Review Date: February 20, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $140.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Makes manual focus a breeze. | | Cons: | None. | |
As rare as hen's teeth it would appear. I picked this up on an auction in the UK, its the only one I have ever seen in the UK, let alone for a reasonable price. I have a 645N and used to have a 645. In comparison, the 645N just does everything better than the 645, with the only downside being that the focus screen had no split screen, focus aid. This is no longer the case. Its a wonderful addition to the camera, when using the A series 645 lenses, which I prefer to the FA series. Note, this is the fractal screen, with a broken image which disappears when in focus. I have never seen the split screen version.
For anyone longing for one of these, I hopef its good for you to know that it not really necessary. The depth of field is so much shallower than smaller formats, that you dont really need one of these. In fact, in my MX, I've got both the G (matt grid) and E (plain spot) focus screens, doing away with the split screen altogether!
For the price these are offered at in Japan, I would say they are not worth it. Nevertheless, it is pretty epic to have this installed, both knowing how rare it is, and combining the A series lenses with the 645N.
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