K5 ideal manual focus screen

billy moon · 09-27-2011, 01:53 PM

what would be an ideal screen for manual focus using FA limiteds? a screen without micro prism center in fact nothing on the screen.

dlacouture · 09-27-2011, 02:05 PM

If you are Plakanina from DPReview, then you already have an answer over there...
If not, then the Canon EE-S screen, without doubt! Do a search on this forum for it.
You can either cut it down yourself, or buy it at FocusingScreen (seems like they do offer it sometimes for K5/K7).

les3547 · 09-27-2011, 02:20 PM

Originally posted by billy moon

what would be an ideal screen for manual focus using FA limiteds? a screen without micro prism center in fact nothing on the screen.

I think it depends on if you can "see" focus without aid, which is an easy thing to test with the K5 and its focus indicator light/beep. I want to keep my eye on my subject and also see the composition of the whole screen clearly. So I find anything at all in my screen interferes with my sense of what the picture looks like, and also my ability to recognize focus when I finally do dial it in (plus I can also "see" perfectly well what amounts to the 2/3 rule or the center of the screen, so I don't need either of those aids on my focus screen either) -- I therefore like a blank screen. Others have said they prefer, or even need, help focusing manually, such as the help a split prism gives, and find other markers available on screens useful too.

Smeggypants · 09-27-2011, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by les3547

I think it depends on if you can "see" focus without aid, which is an easy thing to test with the K5 and its focus indicator light/beep. I want to keep my eye on my subject and also see the composition of the whole screen clearly. So I find anything at all in my screen interferes with my sense of what the picture looks like, and also my ability to recognize focus when I finally do dial it in (plus I can also "see" perfectly well what amounts to the 2/3 rule or the center of the screen, so I don't need either of those aids on my focus screen either) -- I therefore like a blank screen. Others have said they prefer, or even need, help focusing manually, such as the help a split prism gives, and find other markers available on screens useful too.

Certainly if you're using apertures wider than around f/2.0 then it's worth considering the Canon EE-S screen. the standard issue screen cant' resolve DOFs narrower than about F/2.0. I have to use LV to focus when shooting with my 50/1.2

les3547 · 09-27-2011, 02:49 PM

Originally posted by Smeggypants

Certainly if you're using apertures wider than around f/2.0 then it's worth considering the Canon EE-S screen. the standard issue screen cant' resolve DOFs narrower than about F/2.0. I have to use LV to focus when shooting with my 50/1.2

True, and I have trouble with my 20mm too (so it is nice to have that focus indicator sometimes).

DogLover · 09-27-2011, 06:44 PM

Originally posted by dlacouture

If you are Plakanina from DPReview, then you already have an answer over there...
If not, then the Canon EE-S screen, without doubt! Do a search on this forum for it.
You can either cut it down yourself, or buy it at FocusingScreen (seems like they do offer it sometimes for K5/K7).

He's right. Don't even question it. Just get one.

Smeggypants · 09-27-2011, 09:26 PM

Originally posted by les3547

True, and I have trouble with my 20mm too (so it is nice to have that focus indicator sometimes).

unfortunately my A 50/1,2 needs an AF adjustment beyond the allowed +/-10 and the global adjustment isn't cumulative. So it's down to Live View magnified for manual focus confirmation. Great on static subejcts, but once yiou get people or other moving subjects in the frame it aint' so easy

dlacouture · 09-27-2011, 11:39 PM

Yep, Liveview is simply pathetic on the Pentax K line... I have a Samsung NX100 (based on the K7 sensor!), and man, its liveview is like instantaneous... I wonder how Pentax could botcher its liveview implementation so much, given the same material to start with.

billy moon · 09-28-2011, 04:43 AM

It seems to come highly recommended. do you use one of these? if so does it effect exposure readings?
thank you

dlacouture · 09-28-2011, 05:23 AM

It has indeed an effect on exposure readings : they become perfect...

No kidding here: this screen has a near perfect linear response against apertures, meaning that stop-down metering now works flawlessly.

Moreover, using several lenses (see my signature) at different apertures, I compared metering between Liveview and viewfinder, and values were exactly the same (except for the notable exception of the 18-55, don't know why), so the EE-S screen does not throw metering off.

I even suspect it improves metering coherency between lenses, as a f/2.8 lens will now meter exactly as a f/1.4 (same focal length, of course), which was not the case before.

billy moon · 09-28-2011, 10:07 AM

Good! one other. did you have to mess with shims?

DogLover · 09-28-2011, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by billy moon

Good! one other. did you have to mess with shims?

I just installed one of these screens and did, in fact, have to re-calibrate it with a different size shim (had a Katzeye in there before). I already had some Pentax shims so I used one of those, but if you order from focusingscreens.com, they include some plastic shims. It's a little more tedious than just changing the screen, but not too bad. I recommend using a tiny, flathead screwdriver or something similar to hold the retaining clip up as you place the shim in place.

09-27-2011, 01:53 PM	#1
billy moon Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast Posts: 45	K5 ideal manual focus screen what would be an ideal screen for manual focus using FA limiteds? a screen without micro prism center in fact nothing on the screen.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Best screen ever for manual focus : Canon ee-S!!!	dlacouture	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	769	11-07-2015 09:12 AM
Focus screen from manual camera on K-x?	gibikote	Pentax DSLR Discussion	15	05-29-2011 11:25 PM
For Sale - Sold: White Pentax K-X with kit lens, remote, manual focus screen, OBO (Worldwide)	spystyle	Sold Items	16	05-12-2011 07:39 PM
Manual Focus on Pentax DSLRs - I want my split prism screen	PentHassyKon	Pentax DSLR Discussion	17	02-22-2009 04:42 PM
Do we require split screen for manual focus?	madhurvyas	Pentax DSLR Discussion	32	07-23-2008 03:51 PM

09-27-2011, 02:05 PM	#2
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	If you are Plakanina from DPReview, then you already have an answer over there... If not, then the Canon EE-S screen, without doubt! Do a search on this forum for it. You can either cut it down yourself, or buy it at FocusingScreen (seems like they do offer it sometimes for K5/K7).

09-27-2011, 02:20 PM	#3
les3547 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sebastopol, California Photos: Albums Posts: 2,020	Originally posted by billy moon what would be an ideal screen for manual focus using FA limiteds? a screen without micro prism center in fact nothing on the screen. I think it depends on if you can "see" focus without aid, which is an easy thing to test with the K5 and its focus indicator light/beep. I want to keep my eye on my subject and also see the composition of the whole screen clearly. So I find anything at all in my screen interferes with my sense of what the picture looks like, and also my ability to recognize focus when I finally do dial it in (plus I can also "see" perfectly well what amounts to the 2/3 rule or the center of the screen, so I don't need either of those aids on my focus screen either) -- I therefore like a blank screen. Others have said they prefer, or even need, help focusing manually, such as the help a split prism gives, and find other markers available on screens useful too.

09-27-2011, 02:43 PM	#4
Smeggypants Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,536	Originally posted by les3547 I think it depends on if you can "see" focus without aid, which is an easy thing to test with the K5 and its focus indicator light/beep. I want to keep my eye on my subject and also see the composition of the whole screen clearly. So I find anything at all in my screen interferes with my sense of what the picture looks like, and also my ability to recognize focus when I finally do dial it in (plus I can also "see" perfectly well what amounts to the 2/3 rule or the center of the screen, so I don't need either of those aids on my focus screen either) -- I therefore like a blank screen. Others have said they prefer, or even need, help focusing manually, such as the help a split prism gives, and find other markers available on screens useful too. Certainly if you're using apertures wider than around f/2.0 then it's worth considering the Canon EE-S screen. the standard issue screen cant' resolve DOFs narrower than about F/2.0. I have to use LV to focus when shooting with my 50/1.2

09-27-2011, 02:49 PM	#5
les3547 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sebastopol, California Photos: Albums Posts: 2,020	Originally posted by Smeggypants Certainly if you're using apertures wider than around f/2.0 then it's worth considering the Canon EE-S screen. the standard issue screen cant' resolve DOFs narrower than about F/2.0. I have to use LV to focus when shooting with my 50/1.2 True, and I have trouble with my 20mm too (so it is nice to have that focus indicator sometimes).

09-27-2011, 06:44 PM	#6
DogLover Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2,054	Originally posted by dlacouture If you are Plakanina from DPReview, then you already have an answer over there... If not, then the Canon EE-S screen, without doubt! Do a search on this forum for it. You can either cut it down yourself, or buy it at FocusingScreen (seems like they do offer it sometimes for K5/K7). He's right. Don't even question it. Just get one.

09-27-2011, 09:26 PM	#7
Smeggypants Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,536	Originally posted by les3547 True, and I have trouble with my 20mm too (so it is nice to have that focus indicator sometimes). unfortunately my A 50/1,2 needs an AF adjustment beyond the allowed +/-10 and the global adjustment isn't cumulative. So it's down to Live View magnified for manual focus confirmation. Great on static subejcts, but once yiou get people or other moving subjects in the frame it aint' so easy

09-27-2011, 11:39 PM	#8
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	Yep, Liveview is simply pathetic on the Pentax K line... I have a Samsung NX100 (based on the K7 sensor!), and man, its liveview is like instantaneous... I wonder how Pentax could botcher its liveview implementation so much, given the same material to start with.

09-28-2011, 04:43 AM	#9
billy moon Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast Posts: 45 Original Poster	It seems to come highly recommended. do you use one of these? if so does it effect exposure readings? thank you

09-28-2011, 05:23 AM	#10
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	It has indeed an effect on exposure readings : they become perfect... No kidding here: this screen has a near perfect linear response against apertures, meaning that stop-down metering now works flawlessly. Moreover, using several lenses (see my signature) at different apertures, I compared metering between Liveview and viewfinder, and values were exactly the same (except for the notable exception of the 18-55, don't know why), so the EE-S screen does not throw metering off. I even suspect it improves metering coherency between lenses, as a f/2.8 lens will now meter exactly as a f/1.4 (same focal length, of course), which was not the case before.

09-28-2011, 10:07 AM	#11
billy moon Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast Posts: 45 Original Poster	Good! one other. did you have to mess with shims?

09-28-2011, 10:21 AM	#12
DogLover Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2,054	Originally posted by billy moon Good! one other. did you have to mess with shims? I just installed one of these screens and did, in fact, have to re-calibrate it with a different size shim (had a Katzeye in there before). I already had some Pentax shims so I used one of those, but if you order from focusingscreens.com, they include some plastic shims. It's a little more tedious than just changing the screen, but not too bad. I recommend using a tiny, flathead screwdriver or something similar to hold the retaining clip up as you place the shim in place.