K20d split focusing screen

Hi,my eyesight is't what it used to be by any means so i need all the help i can get . Can anyone suggest which one to get .

Thanks
Sean

Unless you do not use the camera's spot metering, I would suggest that you do not get one. I installed one from focusingscreen.com around 2011 in a Pentax K200D. Whilst it worked fine (but not so well as in a film SLR), it totally screws up the cameras spot metering - often a couple of stops out after installation. If I hadn't bought a K30 a year or so later, I would probably have reinstalled the original screen.

One thing to bear in mind if you order from Taiwan is that on top of the NT$2500 (about £53) cost of the screen, you will also pay a Customs & Excise fee to the carrier and VAT. If I remember correctly, mine cost about £90 in total.

Andrew

Unfortunately, we live in times when consumers are considered 'beta' testers, without being asked if they would care to be, which is why I never pre-order anything, regardless of previous reputation. We need to stop throwing our wallets at companies and start having expectations Until than, a good portion of early adopters out there will suffer a self inflicted pain

I'm sure third party compatibility issues will get sorted.

Haha, replied to the wrong thread. Please ignore

I was confused by that I wouldn't think many K20D's are still being pre-ordered and that the camera is now quite well established

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I have smilar issues . I have looked at a "viewfinder eyepiece magnifier", but have yet to try one.
If you type " viewfinder eyepiece magnifier " into Amazon website search bar . This should provide information about the product . Sorry would be quicker to provide a link , but am unsure who to. Regards

I brought a cheap Chinese one for my K100d a while back - it wasn't any more then £20 but was a decent well made item for the money. I can't remember where exactly I brought it sorry - would have been off eBay I think. It worked well apart from the spot metering as Andrew mentions above. I would'nt buy one again though - I tend to use live view zoomed in or the focus confirmation bleep!

Agreed. I'm very keen to hear what the viewfinder is like on the new FF K-1, as I've never been satisfied with the optical viewfinder on APS-C DSLRs, when compared to the massive and bright film viewfinders, and their associated focussing screen inserts.

I've used liveview, with focus peaking and digital zoom for most manual focussing work, and would love an EVF so I could do this with the camera supported more firmly in the traditional stance, instead of hanging out in front of my face like an iphone.

The K-1 viewfinder is larger than the K50 so an improvement, as is the rear screen. However a fantastic improvement in quality can be achieved using the wifi connection to the image syc app on an ipad - live view but really large! Plus remote shutter operation. Don't know how it will be in bright daylight though. I too miss the film era split screen though. One oddity is that using wifi both the viewfinder and rear screen are black, to go back to using them you have to turn off the wifi on the camera or the link in the ipad settings.

I should have mentioned that the image sync app also allows the main controls to be used remotely as well. I can see this being especially useful for studio work including macro when sharp focus is critical.

Sounds great! - one thing I've always wanted on a Pentax camera is good tethering ability.

When I had a K20D I used a KatzEye screen with it, which was not cheap but worked extremely well and did not seem to cause problems with the metering. I think it was the 'extra bright' version. I agree with richandfleur though that my ME Super has a better viewfinder than either the K20D or K5 - except for a lack of dioptre adjustment that means I need glasses to focus clearly.

I get a level of nostalgic excitement when I pick up a 'real' older film camera. The cold metal, the smell of leather, the firm confidence of the manual focus lens process and the massive bright viewfinder with the focussing aid in the middle.

I just don't get that from a modern shape DSLR with ergonomic grip etc It's all plastic and I feel quite removed from the process to be honest. The viewfinders, whilst best in the class, just aren't up to a older film equivalent.

Pentax has a strong history in what are now termed 'retro' cameras. They could do really well be making a poor mans Leica in this style. Many current retro attempt cameras are silver plastic, and struggle with the hybrid nature. It's quite funny really, in that older film cameras are essentially the mirrorless form factor of today. We seemed to do alright back then with a rectangular chuck of metal, with a shutter button that pushed into your finger etc.

Just been away for a few days, so took an ipad to review my photos from the K-1. A bit surprised to find that whereas on the camera you can zoom in to check detail, on the ipad they remain at the same resolution so zooming in just gives an unsharp image. Maybe an update on the ImageSyc app could sort this out.

I liked the way the rear screen info rotates to portrait mode when you turn the camera to portrait, avoiding a cricked neck!

What has the K-1 and an ipad got to do with the original question???

QUOTE: re: K20d split focusing screen
"Hi,my eyesight isn't what it used to be by any means so i need all the help i can get . Can anyone suggest which one to get .

Thanks
Sean "

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