Split Image Focusing Screen for K10D

Yep. Apart from the aforementioned Minolta (a compact) I think the other experience was on a Praktika SLR. I recall one half or the other of the centre spot kept going black in dull weather so I had to try and squint through the viewfinder from different angles until I found a view that I could actually use.

I must try googling for an answer

Cheers

Graham

The centre of the new ones still goes black from time to time. Seems that you need your eye exactly in the centre of the view finder to reduce this as far as possible.

However around the centre there is a circle of diamond shapes which disapear when properly focused.

Small price to pay for such focusing accuracy

"...However around the centre there is a circle of diamond shapes which disapear when properly focused...."

This is the 'microprism ring' and it is actually more useful in some ways than the split image centre.

It's a pity that one of these independant makers don't make a screen with just the microprisms because the centre could be plain then and the spot metering would probably work normally regardless of the max aperture of the particular lens in use.

I think it must depend very much on our individual eyesight.

I have always focused using the general ground glass of the screen and so modern screens actually suit me very well for manual focusing. It must be because I am very short-sighted and don't have any difficulty with fine detail of nearby objects (such as the screen image).

On the other hand, I have known people totally unable to use a Spotmatic or an ME Super, because they can't focus it.

One trick worth trying is using the camera wearing reading glasses, as the screen image is around 1 metre distant.

now that is a good idea, a K1000/Spotmatic style screen is one I would certainly buy. In many respects I prefer them to the split screen ones anyway.

The following may be of interest

http://doug.kerr.home.att.net/pumpkin/Split_Prism.pdf

Graham

Finally got one and fitted it on my istD.

Early tests are great - if nothing else it proves the auto focus is spot on but seriously it makes manual focus a doddle

Best £18 spent so far

Now I must try and get another and put it aside for when I graduate to the K10 later in the year

Thanks Rodger for starting the thread

Glad you like it Graham.

I'm still testing mine and have only come up with 2 minor issues.

1. Flash - Generally need to adjust the exposure by +2EV
Not that I use flash much anyhow!

2. Spot metering needs adjusting by -1.3ev

All other metering and exposure methods are fine at 0.0 ev adjustment

I've just come across this thread and have been itching to get my hands on something like this for my *ist DL for a long time.

It seems however the seller in question is no longer registered on eBay (as of today at least, 7th May 2007).

Thankfully though a search for 'pentax focus screen' produces a small range of other outlets!

e-bay still have them try
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Split-Image-Focus-Screen-Pentax-ist-D-DL-K10D_W0QQitem...

or

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Split-Image-Focus-Screen-for-Pentax-istD-istDS-DL-K10D_W0Q...

I went ahead and bought from the seller from the first link (nicedigi), paid via Paypal, and now he's no longer a registered seller! 8~/

Hopefully he's just indecisive about what kind seller name to use! I did have one seller once become unregistered under my feet so to speak but he still delievered.

Haha. Thanks to you guys and this thread, I went and I bought and installed a focussing screen for my K10. What a fascinating thing it is! Focussing with my 50mm prime is a joy!

Thanks all.

I wouldn't mind the other way round. I find a split image much more often useful than a microprism ring, and a microprism ring often distracting when it appears brighter than everything else.

I can live wihout spot metering.