[Sodbuster]

It would be good to have confirmation on this. What improves front focus (which I have on my K200d with the Sigma 28-200), what improves back focus, and so on. Techniques for placement would be good, too. I don't think I have a surgeon's fingers.

Shim on top like the one that came with the camera and I didn't use when I put it back together with the jinfinance cats-eye (which hopefully is the full problem in my case?), or do you put it under the focussing screen, and so on.

Then maybe it can be written up clearly into an FAQ.

[sinus007]

Hi Riktar,
I think you're correct about FF=thick/BF=thin. I don't know about k20d but for k200d it is true.
You can buy shims from Pentax (in CO) as I did. I was guided by Rachael Katz when I discovered FF w/katzeye on my k200d. I found that the original shim in my camera was 0.40mm. I put 2x0.15mm to correct focus in MF mode.
Again, I don't know about k20d but for k200d the 0.15mm shims are default and available for shipment. The other sizes (0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.40) are coming from Japan.

Sodbuster,
In k200d the shim is placed between the body and the focusing screen. it's not a big deal to put it (them) in: I managed to do it many times with my really shaky hands. Just make sure you have proper tool ( I believe when you buy the chineese screen they're included) and wear gloves and have good lighting.
In order to test the correct focusing you'd better off with as faster lens as possible (I used FA 50 f/1.4) wide open.
Good luck.

[dkittle]

I got these part numbers from KatzEye. You can order these parts from Pentax Service US, but they only ship in the US. I had to order my shims from KatzEye :-(

The part numbers for the K10D/K20D shims are as follows:

76830.M02200A - 0.15mm
76830.M02200B - 0.20mm
76830.M02200C - 0.25mm
76830.M02200D - 0.30mm
76830.M02200E - 0.35mm
76830.M02200F - 0.40mm

Either the 0.25mm or 0.30mm is the standard and correcting a front focus problem will require a thinner shim.

My K20D required a 0.20mm shim and it was out by about an inch at close focus (3') distances with a 50mm lens.

[smigol]

I ended up calling Pentax Support/Sales in the US directly and getting the metal shims. I ordered the whole range of sizes A-F and used size D. I believe that my camera was shipped with size C. So now I have 2 of these sizes.

After more than a year of not trusting the view through the eyepiece, I'm slowly getting used to knowing that what I see is correct. The paper shims worked OK for a wile, but they did have humidity changes and they were noticeably different from one side of the frame to another.

For what it's worth, I called Katz Eyes and talked with them for a bit. Regarding the dust bunnies, she suggested a few techniques to clearing the dust which have worked well for me, including using a nylon brush to lift the particles with static cling and using gentle humid air to help "unstick" a dust mote.

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Last edited by smigol; 04-08-2009 at 12:37 PM.

[Sodbuster]

So, the shim goes 'on top' of the screen when the screen is in the popped-down position?

I got two tweezers, one plastic, but not the 'proper tools' such as I've seen demonstrated with poor camera angle and zoom on youtube.

[Sodbuster]

I get front focus with -no- shim. . . Does that mean I should put the shim on the bottom side?

[Riktar]

Thanks for all the replies! You folks on this forum ROCK!

Sodbuster: I may be incorrect but I think that will not help since the critical distance is between the focus screen and the upper plate where the shim sits.

Perhaps you could reduce the thickness of the focus screen? Or could you return it to the seller and exchange it for a thinner one?

[sfd101]

I didn't want to start a new thread so I'll post my question here. With a split screen from e-bay, I have to turn my focus ring, on all my lenses, away from infinity in order to get focus confirmation on the K10D. Do I have to increase or decrease the shim thickness to correct this?

Edit: Never mind, I took out the shim already in the camera and I had to turn away from infinity even more so it looks like I have to increase the thickness of the shim.