[tibbitts]

On K5 it was straight forward to use Katzeye screen, typically requiring shimming as well. On K1 manual focus control on the screen is everything but fast or precise. With 200 mm lens and MF camera just practice and focus will work. High Iso and fast shutter speeds were more of a problem back at that time.

Well, shimming and trivial don't necessarily go hand-in-hand. But even with full-frame 35mm screens (I had microprisms and split image both on various bodies), focus for 200mm on action was entirely hit or miss, and K5 with Katzeye was not better than good 35mm finders and screens. And practice with film was too expensive for ordinary purposes. Some things are simply a matter of ability - some people ruin a clutch or two learning to drive stick shift; some don't.

[zapp]

Well, shimming and trivial don't necessarily go hand-in-hand. But even with full-frame 35mm screens (I had microprisms and split image both on various bodies), focus for 200mm on action was entirely hit or miss, and K5 with Katzeye was not better than good 35mm finders and screens. And practice with film was too expensive for ordinary purposes. Some things are simply a matter of ability - some people ruin a clutch or two learning to drive stick shift; some don't.

With K5 these things were at least possible. For K1 there are no dedicated screens available. You are right there should be a warning sticker in front of shimming. 200mm action was possible with film, but focusing on film was much more forgiving and newspaper print raster made life also less demanding. The problem with AF is that when it loses focus, it often hunts and can be completely of in a split second. With manual focus 25m is still close enough to 30m distance.

[johnjbloomfield]

Pentax Lens Review: HD Pentax-D FA* 70-200 f2.8 ED DC AW - YouTube

Thanks for sharing this....appreciate it.

[tibbitts]

With K5 these things were at least possible. For K1 there are no dedicated screens available. You are right there should be a warning sticker in front of shimming. 200mm action was possible with film, but focusing on film was much more forgiving and newspaper print raster made life also less demanding. The problem with AF is that when it loses focus, it often hunts and can be completely of in a split second. With manual focus 25m is still close enough to 30m distance.

That is an excellent point. Lots of my (mostly 135mm actually) action photos were a little off, but absolutely when AF loses lock, you can end up at the other extreme of the focusing scale in a short time (or with some lenses, a long time.)