Very Last Chance for KatzEye Focusing Screens ("Final Production Run")

fwcetus · **1 Like**

See KatzEye Optics - Custom Focusing Screens

Quote:

Going Out of Business
Final Production Run!
[...] As of May 9, 2016, we have a very limited amount of remaining material and are preparing to produce our final batch of screens, before closure of the business. What this means is that we will take orders until the final batch is sold out, and then begin to produce the screens to fill those orders. Until the batch is sold out, your order will be held in queue, to be processed in sequence, once production begins. [...]

It would be nice to have most of the last ones going to Pentaxers, and not to all the "riff-raff".

excanonfd · 05-12-2016, 12:58 PM

Originally posted by fwcetus

I think that the Optibrite treatment affects only the matte area of the screen, making it brighter in appearance at smaller apertures (than it would otherwise appear at smaller apertures) -- I do not think it affects the central focusing aids. [Someone please correct me if I am wrong.]

I think that the Optibrite treatment may also exaggerate the metering error a bit more than the standard screen does. [Someone please correct me if I am wrong.]

I ordered mine this time without the Optribrite treatment (partly to same money, and partly to minimize metering errors). Some of my lenses are fast (some MF, some AF), while some of them are slower (some MF, some AF), but I'm not expecting a significant problem with dark screens... [I may be proven wrong, of course.]

Spot metering with any split prism focus screen is unreliable on a DSLR - which is a given - but centre-weighted and matrix metering work just fine with or without Optibrite treated screens. I always chimp the first shots to check and adjust the exposure with exposure compensation regardless of the lens used, the shots following thereafter are mostly consistent.

Optibrite treatment does noticeably increase the brightness of the focus screen over the focus screen without the Optibrite treatment. I was fortunate enough to acquire KatzEye focus screens with Optibrite treatment for both of my Pentax DSLR (K10D, K-5 - K10D already had a KatzEye screen without Optibrite treatment).

Having a brighter focus screen means that whether you use fast lenses or not, you can start shooting earlier in the dawn and finish later into the dusk. And as any photographer knows, truly magical lighting conditions occur in the early dawn or late dusk hours - I am just too lazy to go out and shoot in those wee hours.

gatorguy · 05-12-2016, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by excanonfd

Optibrite treatment does noticeably increase the brightness of the focus screen over the focus screen without the Optibrite treatment. I was fortunate enough to acquire KatzEye focus screens with Optibrite treatment for both of my Pentax DSLR (K10D, K-5 - K10D already had a KatzEye screen without Optibrite treatment).

Having a brighter focus screen means that whether you use fast lenses or not, you can start shooting earlier in the dawn and finish later into the dusk. And as any photographer knows, truly magical lighting conditions occur in the early dawn or late dusk hours - I am just too lazy to go out and shoot in those wee hours.

That's a point I hadn't even considered. It makes me feel even better about choosing it as an option. Thanks for your posting your experience with KatzEye screens.

fwcetus · 05-12-2016, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by excanonfd

Having a brighter focus screen means that whether you use fast lenses or not, you can start shooting earlier in the dawn and finish later into the dusk

Originally posted by gatorguy

That's a point I hadn't even considered. It makes me feel even better about choosing it as an option. Thanks for your posting your experience with KatzEye screens.

Ah, I hadn't thought of that. I just emailed Rachel and upgraded to OptiBrite Treatment. Thanks for the input.

fwcetus · 05-12-2016, 05:30 PM - **1 Like**

When I emailed Rachel to "upgrade" my order to OptiBrite treatment, I mentioned to her that I had started this thread in the PF "Price Watch" forum to make fellow Pentaxers aware of the "Last Roundup" of KatzEye screens, and she noted,

Quote:

That explains why the final batch is almost all Pentax screens!

And so, as I hoped for in the original post,

Quote:

most of the last ones [~did~ go] to Pentaxers, and not to all the "riff-raff".

gatorguy · 05-12-2016, 05:59 PM

Originally posted by fwcetus

When I emailed Rachel to "upgrade" my order to OptiBrite treatment, I mentioned to her that I had started this thread in the PF "Price Watch" forum to make fellow Pentaxers aware of the "Last Roundup" of KatzEye screens, and she noted,

And so, as I hoped for in the original post,

You did good grasshopper

Topsy · 05-12-2016, 06:18 PM

Haha!
Earlier this evening, as I wrote her an email to thank her for my screen and tell her that it arrived safely (you reminded me, thanks!), I wondered what percentage of the last batch are pentax screens..
Cool

p38arover · 05-12-2016, 07:23 PM

Originally posted by Topsy

Haha!
Earlier this evening, as I wrote her an email to thank her for my screen and tell her that it arrived safely (you reminded me, thanks!), I

Heck, that was quick.

I wonder if I'm too late to add focus lines to mine? Should I add others?

Topsy · 05-12-2016, 07:38 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by p38arover

Heck, that was quick.

I wonder if I'm too late to add focus lines to mine? Should I add others?

Quick? No, I forgot to thank her for about a month, I ordered mine when the other 'final' batch was announced back in September.
But don't worry, that delay was caused by them waiting for enough pre orders, relocating the machines and setting up again. It shouldn't take as long this time round.

I shouldn't have forgotten this detail in my post above..

Anyways, it's worth any wait!

p38arover · 05-12-2016, 07:56 PM

I've emailed asking for Pentax AF brackets and the architectural grid.

**Tony Belding** · 05-12-2016, 08:26 PM

Yeargh! I just now stumbled across this thread. It looks like I missed the boat by a matter of *hours*. A screen for my brand new K-S2 would have been the final thing it needed to be perfect. . .

**UncleVanya** · 05-12-2016, 08:42 PM

Originally posted by Tony Belding

Yeargh! I just now stumbled across this thread. It looks like I missed the boat by a matter of *hours*. A screen for my brand new K-S2 would have been the final thing it needed to be perfect. . .

Me too. The real irony is that I went to their site today for nostalgia and saw that they had recently done another run (I didn't realize HOW recently) and I was even sadder. Then I found this thread. Now I'm super bummed.

Sigh.

gatorguy · 05-13-2016, 04:51 AM

Originally posted by Tony Belding

Yeargh! I just now stumbled across this thread. It looks like I missed the boat by a matter of *hours*. A screen for my brand new K-S2 would have been the final thing it needed to be perfect. . .

I'll let you know how it does on my KS2...

I was lucky to read the thread when it popped up here a couple days ago. I normally wouldn't have bothered as I figured it was just some old news. Even when I clicked the link for the heck of it I expected the previous"sorry out of business" statement. Surprise! Big thanks to the OP.

**reduno** · 05-13-2016, 06:09 AM

I was just wondering what the yield is on manufacturing the screens? Unless it's 100%, I would think that not all the remaining material would be committed to a customer order. Is it possible they are running a couple of extra pieces in parallel (just in case)?

**southlander** · 05-13-2016, 06:14 AM

Originally posted by p38arover

I'll be dead when my wife finds I've ordered one with OptiBrite - A$256 - that's half what I paid for the K-5.

I suppose it will be easy to sell if I don't like it.

You'd better not start lusting over a K-1 anytime soon!

p38arover · 05-13-2016, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by southlander

You'd better not start lusting over a K-1 anytime soon!

I've already tried that but to no avail!

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05-12-2016, 12:58 PM	#31
excanonfd Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,421	Originally posted by fwcetus I think that the Optibrite treatment affects only the matte area of the screen, making it brighter in appearance at smaller apertures (than it would otherwise appear at smaller apertures) -- I do not think it affects the central focusing aids. [Someone please correct me if I am wrong.] I think that the Optibrite treatment may also exaggerate the metering error a bit more than the standard screen does. [Someone please correct me if I am wrong.] I ordered mine this time without the Optribrite treatment (partly to same money, and partly to minimize metering errors). Some of my lenses are fast (some MF, some AF), while some of them are slower (some MF, some AF), but I'm not expecting a significant problem with dark screens... [I may be proven wrong, of course.] Spot metering with any split prism focus screen is unreliable on a DSLR - which is a given - but centre-weighted and matrix metering work just fine with or without Optibrite treated screens. I always chimp the first shots to check and adjust the exposure with exposure compensation regardless of the lens used, the shots following thereafter are mostly consistent. Optibrite treatment does noticeably increase the brightness of the focus screen over the focus screen without the Optibrite treatment. I was fortunate enough to acquire KatzEye focus screens with Optibrite treatment for both of my Pentax DSLR (K10D, K-5 - K10D already had a KatzEye screen without Optibrite treatment). Having a brighter focus screen means that whether you use fast lenses or not, you can start shooting earlier in the dawn and finish later into the dusk. And as any photographer knows, truly magical lighting conditions occur in the early dawn or late dusk hours - I am just too lazy to go out and shoot in those wee hours.

05-12-2016, 02:02 PM	#32
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	Originally posted by excanonfd Optibrite treatment does noticeably increase the brightness of the focus screen over the focus screen without the Optibrite treatment. I was fortunate enough to acquire KatzEye focus screens with Optibrite treatment for both of my Pentax DSLR (K10D, K-5 - K10D already had a KatzEye screen without Optibrite treatment). Having a brighter focus screen means that whether you use fast lenses or not, you can start shooting earlier in the dawn and finish later into the dusk. And as any photographer knows, truly magical lighting conditions occur in the early dawn or late dusk hours - I am just too lazy to go out and shoot in those wee hours. That's a point I hadn't even considered. It makes me feel even better about choosing it as an option. Thanks for your posting your experience with KatzEye screens.

05-12-2016, 04:36 PM	#33
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286 Original Poster	Originally posted by excanonfd Having a brighter focus screen means that whether you use fast lenses or not, you can start shooting earlier in the dawn and finish later into the dusk Originally posted by gatorguy That's a point I hadn't even considered. It makes me feel even better about choosing it as an option. Thanks for your posting your experience with KatzEye screens. Ah, I hadn't thought of that. I just emailed Rachel and upgraded to OptiBrite Treatment. Thanks for the input.

05-12-2016, 05:30 PM - 1 Like	#34
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286 Original Poster	When I emailed Rachel to "upgrade" my order to OptiBrite treatment, I mentioned to her that I had started this thread in the PF "Price Watch" forum to make fellow Pentaxers aware of the "Last Roundup" of KatzEye screens, and she noted, Quote: That explains why the final batch is almost all Pentax screens! And so, as I hoped for in the original post, Quote: most of the last ones [~did~ go] to Pentaxers, and not to all the "riff-raff".

05-12-2016, 05:59 PM	#35
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	Originally posted by fwcetus When I emailed Rachel to "upgrade" my order to OptiBrite treatment, I mentioned to her that I had started this thread in the PF "Price Watch" forum to make fellow Pentaxers aware of the "Last Roundup" of KatzEye screens, and she noted, And so, as I hoped for in the original post, You did good grasshopper

05-12-2016, 06:18 PM	#36
Topsy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 625	Haha! Earlier this evening, as I wrote her an email to thank her for my screen and tell her that it arrived safely (you reminded me, thanks!), I wondered what percentage of the last batch are pentax screens.. Cool

05-12-2016, 07:23 PM	#37
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	Originally posted by Topsy Haha! Earlier this evening, as I wrote her an email to thank her for my screen and tell her that it arrived safely (you reminded me, thanks!), I Heck, that was quick. I wonder if I'm too late to add focus lines to mine? Should I add others?

05-12-2016, 07:38 PM - 1 Like	#38
Topsy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 625	Originally posted by p38arover Heck, that was quick. I wonder if I'm too late to add focus lines to mine? Should I add others? Quick? No, I forgot to thank her for about a month, I ordered mine when the other 'final' batch was announced back in September. But don't worry, that delay was caused by them waiting for enough pre orders, relocating the machines and setting up again. It shouldn't take as long this time round. I shouldn't have forgotten this detail in my post above.. Anyways, it's worth any wait!

05-12-2016, 07:56 PM	#39
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	I've emailed asking for Pentax AF brackets and the architectural grid.

05-12-2016, 08:26 PM	#40
Tony Belding Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hamilton, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 779	Yeargh! I just now stumbled across this thread. It looks like I missed the boat by a matter of hours. A screen for my brand new K-S2 would have been the final thing it needed to be perfect. . .

05-12-2016, 08:42 PM	#41
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Originally posted by Tony Belding Yeargh! I just now stumbled across this thread. It looks like I missed the boat by a matter of hours. A screen for my brand new K-S2 would have been the final thing it needed to be perfect. . . Me too. The real irony is that I went to their site today for nostalgia and saw that they had recently done another run (I didn't realize HOW recently) and I was even sadder. Then I found this thread. Now I'm super bummed. Sigh.

05-13-2016, 04:51 AM	#42
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	Originally posted by Tony Belding Yeargh! I just now stumbled across this thread. It looks like I missed the boat by a matter of hours. A screen for my brand new K-S2 would have been the final thing it needed to be perfect. . . I'll let you know how it does on my KS2... I was lucky to read the thread when it popped up here a couple days ago. I normally wouldn't have bothered as I figured it was just some old news. Even when I clicked the link for the heck of it I expected the previous"sorry out of business" statement. Surprise! Big thanks to the OP.

05-13-2016, 06:09 AM	#43
reduno Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central NY, USA Posts: 965	I was just wondering what the yield is on manufacturing the screens? Unless it's 100%, I would think that not all the remaining material would be committed to a customer order. Is it possible they are running a couple of extra pieces in parallel (just in case)?

05-13-2016, 06:14 AM	#44
southlander Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Adelaide Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,364	Originally posted by p38arover I'll be dead when my wife finds I've ordered one with OptiBrite - A$256 - that's half what I paid for the K-5. I suppose it will be easy to sell if I don't like it. You'd better not start lusting over a K-1 anytime soon!

05-13-2016, 02:47 PM	#45
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	Originally posted by southlander You'd better not start lusting over a K-1 anytime soon! I've already tried that but to no avail!