Df Micro Prism Screen

[miatab]

I am contemplating purchasing and fitting a non-Nikon screen with a micro prism in my Df. Does anyone know if I will still be able to use the grid if I fit this micro prism screen? I assume that the grid is electronic rather than part of the screen presently fitted.

[miatab]

Well, no replies, despite about eighty views, so I assume everybody else uses auto focus lenses, or nobody else has a Df, or those who do want to change screens, or and every other Df owner is perfectly happy with the highly accurate electronic focus indicator in the viewfinder. I am one who is perfectly happy with the electronic focus indicator, but I do wonder about that Canon screen with micro prism that some owners have fitted, and guess it's a case of monkey see, monkey do. And all my Nikon lenses are manual only heritage F models.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I'd suspect you'd get an answer on a more hardware centric site than here. Maybe Nikonians?

[miatab]

Thanks Alan, I'll check that out. I tried to join a Df forum, but it required, then rejected my telephone number, so i couldn't ask my question. I can read but not submit questions, and the closest I got was one forum member who said he wished the micro prism screen came with a focusing grid, like the old Nikon F.

[tao2]

I am contemplating purchasing and fitting a non-Nikon screen with a micro prism in my Df. Does anyone know if I will still be able to use the grid if I fit this micro prism screen? I assume that the grid is electronic rather than part of the screen presently fitted.

Hi Ken,

The grid in the majority of DSLRs is an LCD overlay. Whether it'll work in yer camera, ah don't know - other Nikon users might. Ah think it would be extremely messy trying tae look through a split-screen and a grid...and be prepared for a lot darker screen, microprisms do that,making low-light photography difficult.

If ye shoot a lot of macro, again, the microprism/split image will probably black out altogether in the centre.

Ah was given a Leica screen, which after careful trimming and buffing, fitted my Minolta XD. It was nowhere near as good as the Minolta screen. Ah contacted Beattie, asking if they made screens for Minoltas. They said "NO" - why? "We cannot improve on Minolta screens, they are/were an industry standard". The grass is not always greener...even on a different screen...

here's a coupla websites ah uncovered when looking for different screens for ma Minoltas. The first one, Beattie, is a highly reputable company who will advise ye (or not) on yer plans... These are modern versions and ah'd recommend a thorough research if yer determined tae go down this route...

http://www.intenscreen.com/products_35mm-format.htm

http://www.focusingscreen.com/

http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/

[miatab]

Thank you Boab for your comments and the links. I'll mark time for a bit, I think, and try to comfort myself on memories of the stack of F2 screens I still have somewhere!

[Ecinmilo0]

I wanna but a new one. Your question helped me a lot.

[rpcrowe]

I was looking, yesterday, at a selection of overlays for various DSLR camera viewfinders which added a diagonal split image spot in the center of the viewfinder.

I was used to this type of spot when I shot with non A/F Canon DSLR film cameras but, decided that with the excellent autofocus capability of my Canon 7D2 and only slightly less excellent A/F in my 7D DSLR, I didn't need the split image.

Here is a link to the selection of screens for various DSLR cameras. I have no idea how well they work or if they cut down on light in the viewfinder. Apparently, they just "drop-in, with no camera conversion needed.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...een&_sacat=625

The split image focusing was handy with the non-autofocus DSLR cameras I used before I converted to digital and I would think that this system "might" be handy when using non-autofocus lenses or lenses that don't have an electrical connection to the camera body.

My wife says that she really liked the split image focusing from the days of the Canon non-EOS film DSLR cameras. I might get this screen for the 40D that she occasionally uses with a 40mm pancake lens to shoot dog adoption images.

[miatab]

Thank you, Richard, for your efforts my behalf. I've decided simply to be satisfied with my Df as it came out of the box. When Nikon steps in with a factory mod for simple, accurate split screen replacement, I might get in line, but presently, I have no problems using my old Nikkors with the "green spot" system. Actually, having suffered a major heart attack two weeks ago has made split screen mods rather back burner important. Just picking up, carrying, operating/holding my Df and the f1.4 is quite enough, presently.

[rpcrowe]

Ken, here's hoping everything goes well health wise with you!

[andersbq]

I have installed a resized Canon matte focusing screen from www.focusingscreen.com. It works well, and the biggest benefit is that I can judge the focus with lenses faster than f/2.8. The grid can still be used.