All of this begs the question: why doesn't Pentax at least offer the option of split-prism/microprism screens for its DSLR range? There's clearly a demand, as shown by the existence of Katzeye and the like. I don't think there's any absolutely right way or wrong way to do anything with a camera - all that matters is getting the result you want. But, for those of us who find a real need for a manual focusing screen, it would be good to have the option of one made specifically for our cameras.

For the record, I use a cheapo screen from China. It's cut-down from one of the later K1000s, the ones with a split-prism spot plus microsprism collar, and it works fine.

I used the M40mm/2.8 pancake for years as my standard lens on film. 50mm always seemed a little bit too long, and 35mm always seemed a little bit too wide. I'm using the M28mm/2.8 on digital for the same reason. But just last weekend I was wishing that I had something a little bit shorter than the 50mm for digital. Never should have sold that pancake when I gave up film.

Thanks for such a friendly welcome everyone. Ronniemac, I think it might already be too late for me to avoid the LBA. Yesterday I was overcome by an irresistible urge to go trawling round the local car boot sale. It's Oxfam at lunchtime today. I'm doomed.

Dave

Thanks Stuey

Right now I'm torturing myself over whether I really really need a 35mm to give me something close to the 50mm that I was used to back in the film days. So far I've mostly been using my M28/2.8 on the K100D, but it seems a bit neither here nor there on digital. If only the classic line-up of 28/50/135mm still worked.

I think I might be nursing a slight case of LBA. . .

Hi all.

After happily snapshooting with various compacts for the past ten years, I decided it was time to bite the DSLR bullet when my point-and-shoot let me down badly at a big family event last year. So imagine my surprise and joy when I found out that I could use my long-neglected prime lenses from my beloved old K1000 on a Pentax DSLR. I'd put the K1000 away when Kodachrome stopped being a viable proposition, and I love it that at least the lenses have been given a wonderful second life on my new secondhand K100D.

Last week I installed a split-prism focusing screen in the K100D, giving me something that I'd never dreamed was possible: a genuinely fully manual DSLR. Without the combined knowledge in all the Pentax User forum posts that I've read, I never would have got there. Thanks guys, you've reawakened my love of photography.