We love our manual focus Nikkor lenses!


I have couple of treasured manual lens but never not got round to using them as I find manual focussing on DSLR slow & difficult. If there's anyway I can improve this e.g. by changing the screen (I didnt know can do that on DSLR), then would use these lens more often as their IQ are quite superb (loved those old lens coatings!). I thought fast & accurate manual focussing depended more than just on these screens alone & on some mechanisms in the camera body.

I use center weighted & matrix but not spot metering. Any recommendations & advice where I can get a very good focussing screen locally for my D700? Thanks!

daredevil123 said:
Those are the not-so-good ones... They are significantly darker and they are the ones that will give you more problems with spot metering. I put one of those into my D40x. Works, but spot metering gets a little whacked sometimes. No problems with large primes though (which is 99% of the time I use spot metering).

On my other camera, I got one from focusingscreen.com. The particular piece I got was cut from old stock of Nikon K3 screens (focusing screen for FM3A). Nice and bright, the screen is such a joy to use! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
 

Last edited:
As I recall Minolta has the very best focussing screens with the exceptionally large & bright "diamonds" or "triangles" that snap into place once focussing is spot on. Better than Nikon which was pathetic in comparison, or any of the other big 5 camera makers then. If you ever get one adapted for use on the Nikon, I would love to have one & pay you for it :)

Ben Ang said:
thats the one tt will go in my d700/d3 when i get one. another one im considering is cutting a minolta acute-matte screen to fit my d200. but haven t gotten one yet.
Click to expand...
 

Last edited:
s1221ljc said:
As I recall Minolta has the very best focussing screens with the exceptionally large & bright "diamonds" or "triangles" that snap into place once focussing is spot on. Better than Nikon which was pathetic in comparison, or any of the other big 5 camera makers then. If you ever get one adapted for use on the Nikon, I would love to have one & pay you for it :)
Click to expand...

thats exactly why im on the look out for one. its a pity to get the whole minolta SLr to take the focus screen though.. i ll update if i get it in.
 

s1221ljc said:
I have couple of treasured manual lens but never not got round to using them as I find manual focussing on DSLR slow & difficult. If there's anyway I can improve this e.g. by changing the screen (I didnt know can do that on DSLR), then would use these lens more often as their IQ are quite superb (loved those old lens coatings!). I thought fast & accurate manual focussing depended more than just on these screens alone & on some mechanisms in the camera body.

I use center weighted & matrix but not spot metering. Any recommendations & advice where I can get a very good focussing screen locally for my D700? Thanks!
Click to expand...

I recommend focusingscreen.com
 

Ben Ang said:
thats exactly why im on the look out for one. its a pity to get the whole minolta SLr to take the focus screen though.. i ll update if i get it in.
Click to expand...

The problem is if the Minolta screens will be big enough to be cut then fitted into a D700. Even the K3 screen is too small for the D700.
 

Hi

Just to check, having the focusing screen installed, does it after anything when you want to use AF?
 

cichlid said:
Hi

Just to check, having the focusing screen installed, does it after anything when you want to use AF?
Click to expand...

Does not affect anything at all. ;) Even all you AF points work the same.
 

Hey guys,

I've purchased the DK-17M eyepiece magnifier. Still waiting for it to arrive. ;)
It fits on the D series DSLR and F slrs. Magnify your view x2. I am hoping this will help make focusing with a manual nikkor more precise :)
 

how much does AIS 50mm F1.2 ... first hand
 

COBALT said:
Hey guys,

I've purchased the DK-17M eyepiece magnifier. Still waiting for it to arrive. ;)
It fits on the D series DSLR and F slrs. Magnify your view x2. I am hoping this will help make focusing with a manual nikkor more precise :)
Click to expand...

The DK-17M magnification is 1.2x. Used to have it on my D2Hs and used it on the F5 and F3HP. It does help with manual focusing but did not life it that much because I found it a bit hard to see the info in the viewfinder.
 

The focus point on the focusing screen is always in the middle of the frame, if I want the focus point at the 1/3 point, I focus then re-compose?

Won't the focus be less inaccurate due to the super thin DOF after re-compose?

How do you all overcome this?
 

cichlid said:
The focus point on the focusing screen is always in the middle of the frame, if I want the focus point at the 1/3 point, I focus then re-compose?

Won't the focus be less inaccurate due to the super thin DOF after re-compose?

How do you all overcome this?
Click to expand...

in most split screens, even the matte area of the screen is optimized for focusing. if you have good focus screen like the one in the F2, the focus will snap in place no matter where you compose on the screen. if you use cheaper screens, it is still possible, but not as easy to see when its in focus.

usually i just focus and recomposed, but when its really crucial, i ll take the time to focus using the matte part of the screen.
 

cichlid said:
The focus point on the focusing screen is always in the middle of the frame, if I want the focus point at the 1/3 point, I focus then re-compose?

Won't the focus be less inaccurate due to the super thin DOF after re-compose?

How do you all overcome this?
Click to expand...

There are a few ways around it...

1. is to lean very slightly back when recomposing,

2. is to stop down slightly so you get more into focus. so when you recompose, still in focus.

This is the old school way of doing it. ;)

Don't forget, you can still select AF point, and use the focus confirmation dot (green dot) to be doubly sure.
 

Last edited:
x0tiq said:
OMfreakinG !!! ... :o
should hv bought while I was at Korea.
Went to local Nikon shop there and they're selling at $550 Sing dollars.
*banging my freakin balls on e wall* ...

- to ngck12 - yes I did. I really like pictures taken with this lens even IQ is soft ... :)
Click to expand...
u need to discount from the RRP.

but if S$550 is for a new 50 f/1.2, its a very good deal!!!
 

narofx said:
but if S$550 is for a new 50 f/1.2, its a very good deal!!!
Click to expand...

its a new glass
I know ... please don't make me bang my balls more ... :cry:
 

Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

RSSNewsFeeder
PetaPixel Nikon Wants 50 Nikkor Z Lenses By Next Spring, So What’s Missing?
Replies
1
Views
175
Davey
D
RSSNewsFeeder
PetaPixel Nikon 35mm f/1.2 S Hands-On First Impressions: Optical Excellence
Replies
0
Views
185
RSSNewsFeeder
RSSNewsFeeder
G
WTSell: Lens - Nikon Various Brand Nikon F Mount Lenses
Replies
0
Views
530
genkro
G
RSSNewsFeeder
LR Tips My “18th Annual Gonzo Holiday Photo Gear Guide” Is Here!
Replies
0
Views
642
RSSNewsFeeder
RSSNewsFeeder
F
WTSell: Lens - Nikon Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR
Replies
1
Views
458
Foong Wei Kit
F
Back
Top