K20D double-split focusing screen - what the heck did they send me?

Fallingwater · 11-05-2009, 10:55 AM

I bought a double-split focusing screen for my K20D. It took a month to get here, as everything from HK always does (thank you, italian postal service).
The auction had this picture in it:

But what I received is this:

Should I try snapping/cutting those tabs off? Or should I just try to put this in the camera?

Or was I was sent a screen for a wrong model (despite the small plastic box clearly saying "for K10D/K20D")?

wildlifephotog · 11-05-2009, 10:59 AM

It won't fit with all those tabs sticking out.
Make sure the screen is the right width and length first. If it is, you could carefully cut off the extra tabs.

Or, send it back and wait another two months or so.

Fallingwater · 11-05-2009, 11:01 AM

Size is exactly the same as the one in my camera (I just took it out), even the width is the same.

How do I cut them off without breaking the screen?
Are screens made of glass or plastic?

Edit: I'm wondering what camera this even fits. I just googled for focusing screens for Canon, Nikon, Sony and Olympus, and I wasn't able to find one with tabs like the one I got.

Eruditass · 11-05-2009, 11:20 AM

Yuck, request a new one.

wildlifephotog · 11-05-2009, 11:36 AM

They are plastic. I personally would get a refund and buy locally. Might cost more, but then you don't have the two month turn around.

wildlifephotog · 11-05-2009, 11:40 AM

I shouldn't. But you could use a small belt sander to remove the tabs. I use one to make screens all the time. But it takes a careful touch. And wear latex gloves.

Wheatfield · 11-05-2009, 11:47 AM

I suspect that whatever you do to that screen to make it fit is going to damage it. Send it back and get one that passed quality control.
That one still has the molding tabs on it.

Fallingwater · 11-06-2009, 09:52 AM

Well, I cut the plastic tabs off with a hobby knife, then shaved off the remains with a bench grinder and a lot of care.
The screen survived with minimal damage, and now works as it should. It's not spotlessly clean or defect-free; I don't know if it was like that to begin with, or if I damaged it slightly while I was working with it. In any case, what imperfections it has aren't critical, and the split arrangement works. I'm happier now than I was before, so I consider the whole experience a success.

jlaubza · 11-09-2009, 10:35 PM

Originally posted by Fallingwater

Well, I cut the plastic tabs off with a hobby knife, then shaved off the remains with a bench grinder and a lot of care.
The screen survived with minimal damage, and now works as it should. It's not spotlessly clean or defect-free; I don't know if it was like that to begin with, or if I damaged it slightly while I was working with it. In any case, what imperfections it has aren't critical, and the split arrangement works. I'm happier now than I was before, so I consider the whole experience a success.

Tell us please who you ordered it from so that we can avoid using that company.

11-05-2009, 10:55 AM	#1
Fallingwater New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Trieste, Italy Posts: 24	K20D double-split focusing screen - what the heck did they send me? I bought a double-split focusing screen for my K20D. It took a month to get here, as everything from HK always does (thank you, italian postal service). The auction had this picture in it: But what I received is this: Should I try snapping/cutting those tabs off? Or should I just try to put this in the camera? Or was I was sent a screen for a wrong model (despite the small plastic box clearly saying "for K10D/K20D")?

11-05-2009, 11:01 AM	#3
Fallingwater New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Trieste, Italy Posts: 24 Original Poster	Size is exactly the same as the one in my camera (I just took it out), even the width is the same. How do I cut them off without breaking the screen? Are screens made of glass or plastic? Edit: I'm wondering what camera this even fits. I just googled for focusing screens for Canon, Nikon, Sony and Olympus, and I wasn't able to find one with tabs like the one I got. Last edited by Fallingwater; 11-05-2009 at 11:14 AM.

11-09-2009, 10:35 PM	#9
jlaubza Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: south africa, johannesburg Photos: Gallery Posts: 228	Bad QC screen Originally posted by Fallingwater Well, I cut the plastic tabs off with a hobby knife, then shaved off the remains with a bench grinder and a lot of care. The screen survived with minimal damage, and now works as it should. It's not spotlessly clean or defect-free; I don't know if it was like that to begin with, or if I damaged it slightly while I was working with it. In any case, what imperfections it has aren't critical, and the split arrangement works. I'm happier now than I was before, so I consider the whole experience a success. Tell us please who you ordered it from so that we can avoid using that company.

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11-05-2009, 10:59 AM	#2
wildlifephotog Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 924	It won't fit with all those tabs sticking out. Make sure the screen is the right width and length first. If it is, you could carefully cut off the extra tabs. Or, send it back and wait another two months or so.

11-05-2009, 11:20 AM	#4
Eruditass Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	Yuck, request a new one.

11-05-2009, 11:36 AM	#5
wildlifephotog Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 924	They are plastic. I personally would get a refund and buy locally. Might cost more, but then you don't have the two month turn around.

11-05-2009, 11:40 AM	#6
wildlifephotog Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 924	I shouldn't. But you could use a small belt sander to remove the tabs. I use one to make screens all the time. But it takes a careful touch. And wear latex gloves.

11-05-2009, 11:47 AM	#7
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	I suspect that whatever you do to that screen to make it fit is going to damage it. Send it back and get one that passed quality control. That one still has the molding tabs on it.

11-06-2009, 09:52 AM	#8
Fallingwater New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Trieste, Italy Posts: 24 Original Poster	Well, I cut the plastic tabs off with a hobby knife, then shaved off the remains with a bench grinder and a lot of care. The screen survived with minimal damage, and now works as it should. It's not spotlessly clean or defect-free; I don't know if it was like that to begin with, or if I damaged it slightly while I was working with it. In any case, what imperfections it has aren't critical, and the split arrangement works. I'm happier now than I was before, so I consider the whole experience a success.