Is focusing screen for K-x worth it?

Karellen · 02-09-2010, 08:27 PM

Hello everyone,

I am new to Pentax, and I've heard of some focusing issues with beginners cameras like K-m and K-x. While I'm waiting for my K-x & FA31 to arrive, and can't check it for myself, I'd be grateful for any opinion on if dedicated focusing screen like Ec-B or K3 really helps in everyday street and indoor amateur shooting.

Thanks!

jezza323 · 02-09-2010, 09:14 PM

if you are using autofocus, not at all

i have quite a few manual focus primes, and thats when it does help

PentaxPoke · 02-09-2010, 09:15 PM

Originally posted by Karellen

Hello everyone,

I am new to Pentax, and I've heard of some focusing issues with beginners cameras like K-m and K-x. While I'm waiting for my K-x & FA31 to arrive, and can't check it for myself, I'd be grateful for any opinion on if dedicated focusing screen like Ec-B or K3 really helps in everyday street and indoor amateur shooting.

Thanks!

I have not heard too many complaints about accuracy. Mainly speed. In which case the Katzeye won't help you. It is an excellent product though, if you do any MF.

**Just1MoreDave** · 02-09-2010, 09:31 PM

I got one after owning the camera a year. I think it's great, and I mentally add the cost of a split-prism screen to my next camera (then decide not to buy the camera). But it's possible to get along without one just fine, too.

I would not order one until you've used the camera for a while with the stock screen. The split-prism screens are not perfect for everyone, even if you become dedicated to manual focus. They also have drawbacks. I think it will be easier to decide what's important to you after using the camera.

deejjjaaaa · 02-09-2010, 11:32 PM

Originally posted by jezza323

if you are using autofocus, not at all

it will, because you can see whether Safox hit the target or not...

Karellen · 02-10-2010, 02:55 AM

Thanks everyone for your answers!

I really hope K-x+FA31 autofocus performance would impress me, but a bit scared by Canon-people (and I am the ex-one) about Pentax focus.

Am I getting it right that focusing screen is mainly usable for "focus & recompose" type of shooting (because the split-prism is in center)?

RioRico · 02-10-2010, 07:33 AM

Back in Ye Goode Olde Days, most good and wannabe-good film SLRs had split-image reticules. I got a Katzeye after owning my K20D a couple months, and find it VERY helpful in certain MF situations (whether recomposing or not), especially with wide apertures on lenses longer than 'normal' -- on an APS-C camera, true 'normal' is 28mm.

Of course, the point you're focusing on must have distinct features, or your split image remains ambiguous. That point must be adequately lit. Trying to split-image focus on a dark and/or nebulous point can be frustrating, or worse. And the bigger and brighter the finder window, the easier it is to split-image focus. IMHO a Katzeye or equivalent is a good investment; just don't expect miracles.

**Canada_Rockies** · 02-10-2010, 02:28 PM

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

I got one after owning the camera a year. I think it's great, and I mentally add the cost of a split-prism screen to my next camera (then decide not to buy the camera). But it's possible to get along without one just fine, too.

I would not order one until you've used the camera for a while with the stock screen. The split-prism screens are not perfect for everyone, even if you become dedicated to manual focus. They also have drawbacks. I think it will be easier to decide what's important to you after using the camera.

The main drawbacks to the screens with focus assistance are unreliable exposure metering and clutter in the view screen. I dislike having to peer through microprisms and/or split images focusing aids to see my subject. I dislike even more not being able to use the spot metering at all, and the other metering modes are affected as well. I do use manual exposure a lot, and generally use "sunny 16" metering, but in tricky lighting, I will meter the palm of my hand or the subject. Having a meter which just does not work with my M 400/5.6 lens (it's the f/stop that's the problem - it blacks out half the split image most of the time) is not particularly to my taste. Your taste may vary. I used a camera without focusing aids and manual everything (an original Asahi Pentax) for 15 or 16 years, so perhaps I had enough practice without the aids.

tokyoso · 02-11-2010, 05:24 AM

IMHO, you don't need the focusing screen, probably not with the FA31.

Karellen · 02-11-2010, 07:22 AM

Ah, thanks all for answers, think I'll try to live without it, and if I will miss my canon red dots too much, I will give the screen a try.

Now another question bothers me... also in viewfinder department.

Does viewfinder magnifier (e.g. 1.36x) worth it? I do wear glasses.

Littlejohn · 02-11-2010, 08:58 AM

Originally posted by Karellen

Hello everyone,

I am new to Pentax, and I've heard of some focusing issues with beginners cameras like K-m and K-x. While I'm waiting for my K-x & FA31 to arrive, and can't check it for myself, I'd be grateful for any opinion on if dedicated focusing screen like Ec-B or K3 really helps in everyday street and indoor amateur shooting.

Thanks!

could someone direct me to a focusing screen for the k-x?

Karellen · 02-11-2010, 09:38 AM

I saw them here: Focusing Screen

stevebrot · 02-11-2010, 06:57 PM

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

I got one after owning the camera a year. I think it's great, and I mentally add the cost of a split-prism screen to my next camera (then decide not to buy the camera). But it's possible to get along without one just fine, too.

I would not order one until you've used the camera for a while with the stock screen. The split-prism screens are not perfect for everyone, even if you become dedicated to manual focus. They also have drawbacks. I think it will be easier to decide what's important to you after using the camera.

1+ to this testament and advice

Steve

(Owns the Katzeye...)

stevebrot · 02-11-2010, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

The main drawbacks to the screens with focus assistance are unreliable exposure metering and clutter in the view screen...

To qualify Rockies comment:

There are issues with spot metering and split-image screens with some lenses at some apertures. Center-weighted and Matrix metering is equivalent to the stock screen.
The focus aids are a pain in the rear when doing macro work.

Steve

(Tested the metering myself for both Optibrite and non-Optibrite versions of the Katzeye product vs. the stock screen on my K10D...)

stevebrot · 02-11-2010, 07:07 PM

Originally posted by tokyoso

IMHO, you don't need the focusing screen, probably not with the FA31.

Probably more so with the FA 31 than with a slower lens. The main issue with the stock screen is that despite its brightness, the apparent DOF is about the same as if the lens is at f/4. The result is badly missed focus much of the time at wide apertures. Unfortunately, the AF system is not much better when DOF is thin.

Steve

02-09-2010, 08:27 PM	#1
Karellen Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: China, Shenzhen Posts: 33	Is focusing screen for K-x worth it? Hello everyone, I am new to Pentax, and I've heard of some focusing issues with beginners cameras like K-m and K-x. While I'm waiting for my K-x & FA31 to arrive, and can't check it for myself, I'd be grateful for any opinion on if dedicated focusing screen like Ec-B or K3 really helps in everyday street and indoor amateur shooting. Thanks!

02-11-2010, 05:24 AM	#9
tokyoso Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 723	IMHO, you don't need the focusing screen, probably not with the FA31. Last edited by tokyoso; 02-11-2010 at 05:35 AM.

02-11-2010, 07:03 PM	#14
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies The main drawbacks to the screens with focus assistance are unreliable exposure metering and clutter in the view screen... To qualify Rockies comment: There are issues with spot metering and split-image screens with some lenses at some apertures. Center-weighted and Matrix metering is equivalent to the stock screen. The focus aids are a pain in the rear when doing macro work. Steve (Tested the metering myself for both Optibrite and non-Optibrite versions of the Katzeye product vs. the stock screen on my K10D...)

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02-09-2010, 09:14 PM	#2
jezza323 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,421	if you are using autofocus, not at all i have quite a few manual focus primes, and thats when it does help

02-09-2010, 09:15 PM	#3
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	Originally posted by Karellen Hello everyone, I am new to Pentax, and I've heard of some focusing issues with beginners cameras like K-m and K-x. While I'm waiting for my K-x & FA31 to arrive, and can't check it for myself, I'd be grateful for any opinion on if dedicated focusing screen like Ec-B or K3 really helps in everyday street and indoor amateur shooting. Thanks! I have not heard too many complaints about accuracy. Mainly speed. In which case the Katzeye won't help you. It is an excellent product though, if you do any MF.

02-09-2010, 09:31 PM	#4
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	I got one after owning the camera a year. I think it's great, and I mentally add the cost of a split-prism screen to my next camera (then decide not to buy the camera). But it's possible to get along without one just fine, too. I would not order one until you've used the camera for a while with the stock screen. The split-prism screens are not perfect for everyone, even if you become dedicated to manual focus. They also have drawbacks. I think it will be easier to decide what's important to you after using the camera.

02-09-2010, 11:32 PM	#5
deejjjaaaa Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: steel city / rust belt Posts: 2,043	Originally posted by jezza323 if you are using autofocus, not at all it will, because you can see whether Safox hit the target or not...

02-10-2010, 02:55 AM	#6
Karellen Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: China, Shenzhen Posts: 33 Original Poster	Thanks everyone for your answers! I really hope K-x+FA31 autofocus performance would impress me, but a bit scared by Canon-people (and I am the ex-one) about Pentax focus. Am I getting it right that focusing screen is mainly usable for "focus & recompose" type of shooting (because the split-prism is in center)?

02-10-2010, 07:33 AM	#7
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Back in Ye Goode Olde Days, most good and wannabe-good film SLRs had split-image reticules. I got a Katzeye after owning my K20D a couple months, and find it VERY helpful in certain MF situations (whether recomposing or not), especially with wide apertures on lenses longer than 'normal' -- on an APS-C camera, true 'normal' is 28mm. Of course, the point you're focusing on must have distinct features, or your split image remains ambiguous. That point must be adequately lit. Trying to split-image focus on a dark and/or nebulous point can be frustrating, or worse. And the bigger and brighter the finder window, the easier it is to split-image focus. IMHO a Katzeye or equivalent is a good investment; just don't expect miracles.

02-10-2010, 02:28 PM	#8
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by Just1MoreDave I got one after owning the camera a year. I think it's great, and I mentally add the cost of a split-prism screen to my next camera (then decide not to buy the camera). But it's possible to get along without one just fine, too. I would not order one until you've used the camera for a while with the stock screen. The split-prism screens are not perfect for everyone, even if you become dedicated to manual focus. They also have drawbacks. I think it will be easier to decide what's important to you after using the camera. The main drawbacks to the screens with focus assistance are unreliable exposure metering and clutter in the view screen. I dislike having to peer through microprisms and/or split images focusing aids to see my subject. I dislike even more not being able to use the spot metering at all, and the other metering modes are affected as well. I do use manual exposure a lot, and generally use "sunny 16" metering, but in tricky lighting, I will meter the palm of my hand or the subject. Having a meter which just does not work with my M 400/5.6 lens (it's the f/stop that's the problem - it blacks out half the split image most of the time) is not particularly to my taste. Your taste may vary. I used a camera without focusing aids and manual everything (an original Asahi Pentax) for 15 or 16 years, so perhaps I had enough practice without the aids.

02-11-2010, 07:22 AM	#10
Karellen Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: China, Shenzhen Posts: 33 Original Poster	Ah, thanks all for answers, think I'll try to live without it, and if I will miss my canon red dots too much, I will give the screen a try. Now another question bothers me... also in viewfinder department. Does viewfinder magnifier (e.g. 1.36x) worth it? I do wear glasses.

02-11-2010, 08:58 AM	#11
Littlejohn New Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 20	Originally posted by Karellen Hello everyone, I am new to Pentax, and I've heard of some focusing issues with beginners cameras like K-m and K-x. While I'm waiting for my K-x & FA31 to arrive, and can't check it for myself, I'd be grateful for any opinion on if dedicated focusing screen like Ec-B or K3 really helps in everyday street and indoor amateur shooting. Thanks! could someone direct me to a focusing screen for the k-x?

02-11-2010, 09:38 AM	#12
Karellen Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: China, Shenzhen Posts: 33 Original Poster	I saw them here: Focusing Screen

02-11-2010, 06:57 PM	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Just1MoreDave I got one after owning the camera a year. I think it's great, and I mentally add the cost of a split-prism screen to my next camera (then decide not to buy the camera). But it's possible to get along without one just fine, too. I would not order one until you've used the camera for a while with the stock screen. The split-prism screens are not perfect for everyone, even if you become dedicated to manual focus. They also have drawbacks. I think it will be easier to decide what's important to you after using the camera. 1+ to this testament and advice Steve (Owns the Katzeye...)

02-11-2010, 07:07 PM	#15
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by tokyoso IMHO, you don't need the focusing screen, probably not with the FA31. Probably more so with the FA 31 than with a slower lens. The main issue with the stock screen is that despite its brightness, the apparent DOF is about the same as if the lens is at f/4. The result is badly missed focus much of the time at wide apertures. Unfortunately, the AF system is not much better when DOF is thin. Steve