Inexpensive focusing screen well worth $29

Squier · 05-07-2009, 03:34 AM

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Mike - does the K10 have shims ? Mine didnt, as far as i can tell. I 've had the screen out for cleaning and never noticed a shim

mikeSF · 05-07-2009, 07:42 AM

Originally posted by Squier

Mike - does the K10 have shims ? Mine didnt, as far as i can tell. I 've had the screen out for cleaning and never noticed a shim

at first, i didn't see them but my K10D had two shims, a thin copper one affixed to the secondary shim keeper tab between screen and viewfinder, and then also a thicker steel one behind the screen in the screen bracket. after experimenting for quite awhile (it was REALLY not fun at all), my trial and error led me to deduce that only the front shim has any effect on plane of focus of the screen. I am guessing my steel shim was in place as a spare. i ended up putting both shims together and locking them into the shim locking tab (next to the main screen bracket latch - ya gotta look closely.

at any rate, i tried and tried and took test shots in between and in some cases made the BF problem worse and in other situations i caused a FF situation. finally got it within an acceptable level of BF that i can reasonably correct for by eye until i can afford the Katzeye and have them install it perfectly.

I had contacted the seller to ask to return it but he charges a restocking fee and i's also be out shipping and paypal fees both ways, so in the end, i would lose by trying to return it.

lesson learned.

Squier · 05-07-2009, 07:48 AM

I need to go check mine a bit closer - but for now, shim or no shim, i'm going to wait till my new focus screen turns up and see what happens to focusing when its installed.

If i still get problems, i'll need to do this shim check thing

yeatzee · 05-07-2009, 10:57 AM

Perfect! Now im off to buy the focusing screen and the O-ME53

AV6NHBP6SPD · 05-13-2009, 12:33 PM

so anybody ordered one for k200d? i didnt find one described here on ebay. anybody got link?
Diagonal Split Image Focus Screen Pentax K100D K200D DL - eBay (item 110322466382 end time Jun-03-09 20:23:36 PDT)

is this it?

OregonJim · 05-14-2009, 06:25 PM

Originally posted by AV6NHBP6SPD

so anybody ordered one for k200d? i didnt find one described here on ebay. anybody got link?
Diagonal Split Image Focus Screen Pentax K100D K200D DL - eBay (item 110322466382 end time Jun-03-09 20:23:36 PDT)

is this it?

Yes, that's it. In fact, that's the exact link I purchased two of them from.

I love having this in my K200D and *ist DL (same screen). No issues whatsoever. I didn't have to mess with any additional shims - they both simply replaced the stock screens.

Jewelltrail · 05-14-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

OregonJim: Yes, that's it. In fact, that's the exact link I purchased two of them from.

I love having this in my K200D and *ist DL (same screen). No issues whatsoever. I didn't have to mess with any additional shims - they both simply replaced the stock screens.

Yes, I bought mine form jinfinance--mine is awesome too, though it is on the K20d. But the link posted by AV6NHBP6SPD is clearly for the K200d--best of luck to you!

AV6NHBP6SPD · 05-15-2009, 04:28 AM

thanks. ill get it when i get home. ill need this for k20d later on as well

jezza323 · 05-20-2009, 05:24 AM

i received my jinfinance diagonal split focusing screen for my K200D today. So the first thing i did was put it in (took me a while to work it out), print out a focus chart, setup the chart @ 45 degrees, tripod pointed at it, and took some shots with each of my lenses, to check it out

Seems to be pretty good IMO

Here is my fastest lens, wide open (M 50mm 1:2 @ f2.0) - focused as best i could, seems to be slightly front focusing with the screen.

And this is the kit DA 18-55 @ 55mm f5.6 Auto Focused 1st, Manual Focus 2nd

yeatzee · 05-21-2009, 11:34 AM

What do you guys do with your old one...how do you store it?

Jewelltrail · 05-21-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

yeatzee: What do you guys do with your old one...how do you store it?

I put the original Pentax screen in the packaging which came with the jinfinance screen and stored it with all the camera/lens boxes and paperwork.

yeatzee · 05-21-2009, 10:42 PM

so they cheap plastic wont scrap the bare screen?

Squier · 05-22-2009, 04:47 AM

My Focusing Screen arrived today, and it really is a quality piece of kit, and i set it up, as per the Nikon test, tripod, mirror lock up, remote, 45 degree angle on the focus sheet. 50mm SMC A @ f1.7 + f2 + f2.5

The results to me look like back focus between 5 to 10mm. The split screen comes with 2 plastic shims ( really thin ) which stick to the screen, but it doesnt say whether they go on the front of the screen or the back of the screen. Presumably it depends on whether you have front or back focus issues.

Reading Mike SF's test above, and only front of screen shims having any effect, i guess they stick to the front of the screen, but you'd think it would depend on front or back focus issues.

Now thoroughly confused.

Squier · 05-22-2009, 09:50 AM

Ooops - user error.

Just re-took my tests and everything is brilliant. This Focusing Screen . Com split image screen is fabulous quality. The kit comes with latex finger tips, tweezers, and 2 shims. All well protected in sealed bags in a case.

Recommended

HermanLee · 05-22-2009, 11:40 AM

I have some questions,

Will this focusing screen help us to use regular zoom like 16-50 or 50-135 in a very dim light?
or does it just work well with old manual lenses?

Also how accurate is the AF after replacing with this focusing screen?

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05-07-2009, 03:34 AM	#151
Squier Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxfordshire UK Photos: Albums Posts: 706	Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Mike - does the K10 have shims ? Mine didnt, as far as i can tell. I 've had the screen out for cleaning and never noticed a shim

05-07-2009, 07:42 AM	#152
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	Originally posted by Squier Mike - does the K10 have shims ? Mine didnt, as far as i can tell. I 've had the screen out for cleaning and never noticed a shim at first, i didn't see them but my K10D had two shims, a thin copper one affixed to the secondary shim keeper tab between screen and viewfinder, and then also a thicker steel one behind the screen in the screen bracket. after experimenting for quite awhile (it was REALLY not fun at all), my trial and error led me to deduce that only the front shim has any effect on plane of focus of the screen. I am guessing my steel shim was in place as a spare. i ended up putting both shims together and locking them into the shim locking tab (next to the main screen bracket latch - ya gotta look closely. at any rate, i tried and tried and took test shots in between and in some cases made the BF problem worse and in other situations i caused a FF situation. finally got it within an acceptable level of BF that i can reasonably correct for by eye until i can afford the Katzeye and have them install it perfectly. I had contacted the seller to ask to return it but he charges a restocking fee and i's also be out shipping and paypal fees both ways, so in the end, i would lose by trying to return it. lesson learned.

05-07-2009, 07:48 AM	#153
Squier Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxfordshire UK Photos: Albums Posts: 706	I need to go check mine a bit closer - but for now, shim or no shim, i'm going to wait till my new focus screen turns up and see what happens to focusing when its installed. If i still get problems, i'll need to do this shim check thing

05-07-2009, 10:57 AM	#154
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	Perfect! Now im off to buy the focusing screen and the O-ME53

05-13-2009, 12:33 PM	#155
AV6NHBP6SPD Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Near Philly, PA Posts: 8	so anybody ordered one for k200d? i didnt find one described here on ebay. anybody got link? Diagonal Split Image Focus Screen Pentax K100D K200D DL - eBay (item 110322466382 end time Jun-03-09 20:23:36 PDT) is this it?

05-14-2009, 06:25 PM	#156
OregonJim Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon Posts: 1,327	Originally posted by AV6NHBP6SPD so anybody ordered one for k200d? i didnt find one described here on ebay. anybody got link? Diagonal Split Image Focus Screen Pentax K100D K200D DL - eBay (item 110322466382 end time Jun-03-09 20:23:36 PDT) is this it? Yes, that's it. In fact, that's the exact link I purchased two of them from. I love having this in my K200D and *ist DL (same screen). No issues whatsoever. I didn't have to mess with any additional shims - they both simply replaced the stock screens.

05-14-2009, 11:47 PM	#157
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Quote: OregonJim: Yes, that's it. In fact, that's the exact link I purchased two of them from. I love having this in my K200D and *ist DL (same screen). No issues whatsoever. I didn't have to mess with any additional shims - they both simply replaced the stock screens. Yes, I bought mine form jinfinance--mine is awesome too, though it is on the K20d. But the link posted by AV6NHBP6SPD is clearly for the K200d--best of luck to you!

05-15-2009, 04:28 AM	#158
AV6NHBP6SPD Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Near Philly, PA Posts: 8	thanks. ill get it when i get home. ill need this for k20d later on as well

05-20-2009, 05:24 AM	#159
jezza323 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,421	i received my jinfinance diagonal split focusing screen for my K200D today. So the first thing i did was put it in (took me a while to work it out), print out a focus chart, setup the chart @ 45 degrees, tripod pointed at it, and took some shots with each of my lenses, to check it out Seems to be pretty good IMO Here is my fastest lens, wide open (M 50mm 1:2 @ f2.0) - focused as best i could, seems to be slightly front focusing with the screen. And this is the kit DA 18-55 @ 55mm f5.6 Auto Focused 1st, Manual Focus 2nd

05-21-2009, 11:34 AM	#160
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	What do you guys do with your old one...how do you store it?

05-21-2009, 09:32 PM	#161
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Quote: yeatzee: What do you guys do with your old one...how do you store it? I put the original Pentax screen in the packaging which came with the jinfinance screen and stored it with all the camera/lens boxes and paperwork.

05-21-2009, 10:42 PM	#162
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	so they cheap plastic wont scrap the bare screen?

05-22-2009, 04:47 AM	#163
Squier Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxfordshire UK Photos: Albums Posts: 706	My Focusing Screen arrived today, and it really is a quality piece of kit, and i set it up, as per the Nikon test, tripod, mirror lock up, remote, 45 degree angle on the focus sheet. 50mm SMC A @ f1.7 + f2 + f2.5 The results to me look like back focus between 5 to 10mm. The split screen comes with 2 plastic shims ( really thin ) which stick to the screen, but it doesnt say whether they go on the front of the screen or the back of the screen. Presumably it depends on whether you have front or back focus issues. Reading Mike SF's test above, and only front of screen shims having any effect, i guess they stick to the front of the screen, but you'd think it would depend on front or back focus issues. Now thoroughly confused.

05-22-2009, 09:50 AM	#164
Squier Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxfordshire UK Photos: Albums Posts: 706	Ooops - user error. Just re-took my tests and everything is brilliant. This Focusing Screen . Com split image screen is fabulous quality. The kit comes with latex finger tips, tweezers, and 2 shims. All well protected in sealed bags in a case. Recommended

05-22-2009, 11:40 AM	#165
HermanLee Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern California, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 729	I have some questions, Will this focusing screen help us to use regular zoom like 16-50 or 50-135 in a very dim light? or does it just work well with old manual lenses? Also how accurate is the AF after replacing with this focusing screen?