manual focus

hi
new to this forum
if i put a pka lens from my super a
on to a dslr how does the camera know when it is
in focus when using manual focus as the dslr
will not have a focussing screen or do they
neil

Make sure the lens is set to the A position, that lets the camera and lens 'talk' to each other.

As for focusing, the viewfinder shows a red square in the centre when in focus(ish) and a green hexagon on the display at the bottom of the view finder when in focus.

You could set catch in focus in the menu to on, then just by slowly focusing through the desired object the camera takes the shot at the optimum moment.

hope this helps.

Hello welcome!

Well they do have a focusing screen but not like the split screen you're refering too I believe. You can replace your screen with such a split screen, Katze Eye makes them but there are also other cheaper solutions.

This is how the viewfinder looks like off the K20D link
Normally you don't see the grey squares but they light up wen something is in focus.

is "catch in focus" an option on K100 and K10

It works on my K110, which is the same age.

The dSLR does have a focusing screen, but the one that comes with the camera is a simple matt screen without a split circle or microprism collar. You can often judge focus reasonably well by eye with this, or you can go by the camera's electronic focus indicator that does not use the screen*, or you can fit a Katz Eye split-image focusing screen similar to the one in your film camera.

A dSLR camera may be more similar to a film SLR than you are imagining. It's basically the same thing but with a load of electronics at the back instead of a roll of film.

* This works with sensors that examine the image directly from the lens. The camera decides the image is in focus when micro-contrast is maximum, or something clever like that.

thanks for the replies
i know how it works now
have not got a dslr yet
thinking about getting
k200 with 18-55 lens
and 55-300 for £500 from
jacobs in sheffield
is this a good price
neil

That is a good price.

Also see http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/1623/Pentax-K200D-Digital-SLR-Camera-with-Penta...
- Freepost if you mention you're a Pentax User Forum contributor.

Also consider the K10D for a better viewfinder and an extra control dial.

Even better if it doesn't include the cash back offer.

That will give you another £75 back (£25 for the 55-200lens and £50 for the body and 18-55 lens)

sorry
its 55-200 and not 55-300
as i said before
neil

There seems to be some confusion over the red suares in the viewfinder. They do not show when the image is in focus, but rather where the point is that the camera is focusing on.

The green hexagon is the in-focus confirmation light and can be accompanied by a bleep if that is switched on.

Of course the other clue is that the viewfinder image looks sharp.

or even the 50-200mm ? ? ?

Shame that! you'll only be able to claim £50 back.

Sorry John I keep forgetting about the Focus POINT indicator, that could be why they don't always show at the same time, what a clot am I