Focusing Screens

figmental1978 · 07-16-2007, 08:09 PM

Hi all,

I want to shoot with my old Takumar lenses on my K10D but find manual focusing a little hit and miss. I have been following some threads about alternative focusing screens, and the LL-60 was highly recommended.

Before i purchase, can anyone tell me the difference between the LL-60 made for the *ist and the LL-80, LF-80 & the LI-80 made (i think specifically) for K10D and which one is the best for manual focusing?

cheers

jeffkrol · 07-16-2007, 09:23 PM

Originally posted by figmental1978

Hi all,

I want to shoot with my old Takumar lenses on my K10D but find manual focusing a little hit and miss. I have been following some threads about alternative focusing screens, and the LL-60 was highly recommended.

Before i purchase, can anyone tell me the difference between the LL-60 made for the *ist and the LL-80, LF-80 & the LI-80 made (i think specifically) for K10D and which one is the best for manual focusing?

cheers

Some think the LL-60 (DS type screen, there are others in the 60's series ) is better for focusing AND exposure w/ manual lenses.
the 80 series (IF K10 originals) are probably all the same regarding MF. Only differs for composition aides I believe...

figmental1978 · 07-16-2007, 10:46 PM

thanks, LL-60 it is then.

RussellW · 07-17-2007, 05:36 PM

I understand that the 60 will not fit the K10d. you may want to check this before buying.

borno · 07-17-2007, 05:54 PM

I have an LL-60 in my k10d and it works great for me. I was getting exposure errors with manual lenses with the std. screen. I got mine from B&H for about $40 I think.

Entropy · 07-17-2007, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by RussellW

I understand that the 60 will not fit the K10d. you may want to check this before buying.

It has been confirmed multiple times that the 60-series are physically compatible with the K10D.

They are not as bright, so will make the camera overexpose compared to its normal exposure, but the K10D is notorious for slightly underexposing in most situations and severely underexposing in some (manual lenses stopped down being one of these cases), so the LL-60 compensates well for this tendency in many people's experience. I'm on the verge of ordering an LL-60 myself.

borno · 07-17-2007, 06:33 PM

Actually mine was overexposing with the stock screen 1-1.5 stops (1.5 @ f8), I'm happy as a clam now and got a couple more nice old manual lenses to play with. It does seem a little easier to focus too

YMMV

**mtngal** · 07-17-2007, 08:05 PM

Mine was significantly overexposing with the focusing screen that came with the camera, and I also changed it for the LL-60. When I first did it I was very happy because it was either right on, or would slightly underexpose (maybe half a stop). This past week I installed 1.30 firmware and now I notice more underexposure than before (full stop) - I've been thinking of switching back to the original screen and see if the under-exposure continues (in which case there's something else going on). The underexposure isn't so much that it isn't fixable with software, I just think the camera is metering differently (or it could be operator headspace - I'm good at that!).

Has anyone else with an *ist screen had that experience since they installed the latest firmware?

RussellW · 07-18-2007, 12:01 AM

now that's different from what the local pentax rep said here in Sydney.
Thanks anyway.

figmental1978 · 07-18-2007, 05:30 AM

is it better to switch back to the original screen if using an AF lens? is it easy to remove?

Deni · 07-18-2007, 05:38 AM

Originally posted by figmental1978

is it better to switch back to the original screen if using an AF lens? is it easy to remove?

If you do it once, it's easier the other times, but certainly it's not the same as swapping lenses. Just install the new screen and forget about it.

jeffkrol · 07-18-2007, 05:41 AM

Originally posted by RussellW

now that's different from what the local pentax rep said here in Sydney.
Thanks anyway.

Maybe he's confusing it w/ the LL-90 (Which is a DL screen)

pschlute · 07-19-2007, 04:11 AM

Originally posted by figmental1978

is it better to switch back to the original screen if using an AF lens? is it easy to remove?

The AF mechanism is behind the mirror, so the focussing screen has no affect whatsoever, on autofocussing. No need to switch focus screens more than once (thank god).

In my experience, using a DS screen on the K10D, gives me correct exposure for the K and M lenses, while retaining the same (correct) exposure for the modern FA;DA lenses.

Deni · 07-19-2007, 04:34 AM

One sort of off-topic question. What will happen I try to use the camera without a focusing screen?

**Eaglerapids** · 07-19-2007, 06:35 PM

Originally posted by pschlute

The AF mechanism is behind the mirror, so the focussing screen has no affect whatsoever, on autofocussing. No need to switch focus screens more than once (thank god).

In my experience, using a DS screen on the K10D, gives me correct exposure for the K and M lenses, while retaining the same (correct) exposure for the modern FA;DA lenses.

Now that is the info I've been hoping for, going to order the screen:-). Thank you pschlute.

07-16-2007, 08:09 PM	#1
figmental1978 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 789	Focusing Screens Hi all, I want to shoot with my old Takumar lenses on my K10D but find manual focusing a little hit and miss. I have been following some threads about alternative focusing screens, and the LL-60 was highly recommended. Before i purchase, can anyone tell me the difference between the LL-60 made for the *ist and the LL-80, LF-80 & the LI-80 made (i think specifically) for K10D and which one is the best for manual focusing? cheers

07-17-2007, 05:54 PM	#5
borno Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: md-usa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,580	Ll60 I have an LL-60 in my k10d and it works great for me. I was getting exposure errors with manual lenses with the std. screen. I got mine from B&H for about $40 I think.

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07-16-2007, 09:23 PM	#2
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434	Originally posted by figmental1978 Hi all, I want to shoot with my old Takumar lenses on my K10D but find manual focusing a little hit and miss. I have been following some threads about alternative focusing screens, and the LL-60 was highly recommended. Before i purchase, can anyone tell me the difference between the LL-60 made for the *ist and the LL-80, LF-80 & the LI-80 made (i think specifically) for K10D and which one is the best for manual focusing? cheers Some think the LL-60 (DS type screen, there are others in the 60's series ) is better for focusing AND exposure w/ manual lenses. the 80 series (IF K10 originals) are probably all the same regarding MF. Only differs for composition aides I believe...

07-16-2007, 10:46 PM	#3
figmental1978 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 789 Original Poster	thanks, LL-60 it is then.

07-17-2007, 05:36 PM	#4
RussellW Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 198	I understand that the 60 will not fit the K10d. you may want to check this before buying.

07-17-2007, 06:13 PM	#6
Entropy Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 976	Originally posted by RussellW I understand that the 60 will not fit the K10d. you may want to check this before buying. It has been confirmed multiple times that the 60-series are physically compatible with the K10D. They are not as bright, so will make the camera overexpose compared to its normal exposure, but the K10D is notorious for slightly underexposing in most situations and severely underexposing in some (manual lenses stopped down being one of these cases), so the LL-60 compensates well for this tendency in many people's experience. I'm on the verge of ordering an LL-60 myself.

07-17-2007, 06:33 PM	#7
borno Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: md-usa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,580	Actually mine was overexposing with the stock screen 1-1.5 stops (1.5 @ f8), I'm happy as a clam now and got a couple more nice old manual lenses to play with. It does seem a little easier to focus too YMMV

07-17-2007, 08:05 PM	#8
mtngal Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever I’m Parked Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,003	Mine was significantly overexposing with the focusing screen that came with the camera, and I also changed it for the LL-60. When I first did it I was very happy because it was either right on, or would slightly underexpose (maybe half a stop). This past week I installed 1.30 firmware and now I notice more underexposure than before (full stop) - I've been thinking of switching back to the original screen and see if the under-exposure continues (in which case there's something else going on). The underexposure isn't so much that it isn't fixable with software, I just think the camera is metering differently (or it could be operator headspace - I'm good at that!). Has anyone else with an *ist screen had that experience since they installed the latest firmware?

07-18-2007, 12:01 AM	#9
RussellW Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 198	now that's different from what the local pentax rep said here in Sydney. Thanks anyway.

07-18-2007, 05:30 AM	#10
figmental1978 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 789 Original Poster	is it better to switch back to the original screen if using an AF lens? is it easy to remove?

07-18-2007, 05:38 AM	#11
Deni Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tirana, Albania, South Europe, Planet Earth Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 621	Originally posted by figmental1978 is it better to switch back to the original screen if using an AF lens? is it easy to remove? If you do it once, it's easier the other times, but certainly it's not the same as swapping lenses. Just install the new screen and forget about it.

07-18-2007, 05:41 AM	#12
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434	Originally posted by RussellW now that's different from what the local pentax rep said here in Sydney. Thanks anyway. Maybe he's confusing it w/ the LL-90 (Which is a DL screen)

07-19-2007, 04:11 AM	#13
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,211	Originally posted by figmental1978 is it better to switch back to the original screen if using an AF lens? is it easy to remove? The AF mechanism is behind the mirror, so the focussing screen has no affect whatsoever, on autofocussing. No need to switch focus screens more than once (thank god). In my experience, using a DS screen on the K10D, gives me correct exposure for the K and M lenses, while retaining the same (correct) exposure for the modern FA;DA lenses.

07-19-2007, 04:34 AM	#14
Deni Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tirana, Albania, South Europe, Planet Earth Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 621	One sort of off-topic question. What will happen I try to use the camera without a focusing screen?

07-19-2007, 06:35 PM	#15
Eaglerapids Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho,USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,619	Originally posted by pschlute The AF mechanism is behind the mirror, so the focussing screen has no affect whatsoever, on autofocussing. No need to switch focus screens more than once (thank god). In my experience, using a DS screen on the K10D, gives me correct exposure for the K and M lenses, while retaining the same (correct) exposure for the modern FA;DA lenses. Now that is the info I've been hoping for, going to order the screen:-). Thank you pschlute.