[stevebrot]

Then i might need to put a defunct MZ-M on my list, just to get another screen.

It will likely be too small for the K-1 (92% coverage). Compatible vintage screens would be from a camera with near-100% coverage. Those are relatively rare, particularly with excess material towards the edges. For Pentax, LX screens are the only ones that might come close.


Steve

[AgentL]

Hey folks, can anyone explain the concept of adding shims to the focus screen for my slow brain? I understand that the placement of the screen needs to be adjusted, that's about it. I just got the Nikon microprism screen modded for the K-1 II from focusingscreen.com, and had enough time on my lunch break to install it, but no more. I can tell it's off, but haven't had time yet to see if it's front-focusing or back-focusing.

Am I understanding the cryptic instructions from Taiwan correctly: there is supposed to be a factory shim in the camera, and the way you adjust for front focus vs back focus is removing the factory shim and inserting one of the thinner ones included with the screen, whereas if back focusing, you leave the factory one in and add one of the thin ones? Am I on the right track here?

I also noticed the centering is a little off with my center prism and the camera's guide overlay. There are instructions included to adjust these with what look like tiny single-sided shims, but it didn't make any sense to me what it's asking me to do.

[AgentL]

There must not be many folks currently doing this focusing screen mod to their K-1s! I figured the shims out, sure enough the camera was front focusing with the stock metal shim, so I removed that and added the one thicker and one of two thinner shims included with the new focusing screen.

I've got focus more or less correct now, but the center microprism doesn't sit exactly even with the K-1 viewfinder overlay. There are small adhesive shims which can be added to the outside edge of the focusing screen, I added a couple to the two edges to even them out per instructions. It helped, but it's not quite exact. I may call it good enough, but I suspect it's going to bother my perfectionism unless I adjust it a bit more. Thin strips of tape may provide the tiny extra amount needed to center things.

[gerard_bekking]

I acidently ordered a Canon E type L screen. These come in a metal frame, after the removal of the frame they are a bit smaller than the Pentax screen but can also be used. Unfortunately, I scratched mine because I had no plastic pliers. It focuses very well and seems to be brighter than the original. The autofocus seems to improve also, faster and more precise. But I did not test that extensively. Also, I need to test it in bright light to check the exposure, in low light that seems to be ok.
The biggest drawback is that it seems to be not perfectly centered.
I am very happy with the result for now.

I am planning to collect several Ec screens as they seem to fit correctly according to a post on this site, I just ordered an EC-A, after I removed the tab and placed it in the camera I will add the result to this post.