My understanding is that light should not get in through the viewfinder during exposure, but will get in during metering before you take the shot. When handholding you wont notice itas your head will be in the way, but if using a tripod and any auto exposure program you have to shield the viewfinder.... your hand is easier than that bit of plastic. For this reason I use manusl exposure when on a tripod.

Alun


I like the idea of te first one... says " I will do this this field another day" to me !

I think a bit more contrast would suit it better, and also if you could lose the wire fence.

Number 2 is the kind of portrait I like. Much nicer than glossy glamour. Again I would prefer more contrast, but I think that is just me being subjective. I do think it would be better if the out of focus background was one shade.... either dark or bright. As it is, it tends to dstract by dividing the picture up vertically. Nice portrait all the same.

Seeing Matt's rutting stags encouraged my partner and I to visit Petworth Park in West Sussex today. No rutting, but plenty of deer and glorious end of day sunshine. More on my Flickr site if anyone is interested.

K10 + DA* 300 (some with FA 1.7 TC too)

The usual split prism screens ( either cheap ebay or more expensive Katzeye ones) have a microprism collar around the split prism, just like my old MX film camera.

If you dont have a suitable vertical line to check focus with, the collar works just as well (if not better).

I tend to focus manually most of the time and my cheap chinese made split prism/microprism collar screen gives me spot on accuracy 100% of the time

I love the sky !!! Reminds me of a watercolour by an old master.

I think "cry baby" is the best Ben. I really like the image... you have got the DOF just right.

Well done for spotting this as a potential image.

A very nice collection in PPG Kris, "Hertfordshire Trees" really grabs me (for it's wonderful simplicity), and "Hilton Head" is super too.

I can only speak for the M version and as Kris says they are plentiful, so do't pay too much. The M has a built in hood and is superd on digital.

Here is one taken with mine

While the OME-53 will help manually focussing, you will lose a little of the information you can see while lookibng through the viewfinder. You will have to move your eye a little to see the shutter speed etc.

The thing that helped me far more with manual focussing was a split prism focus screen.

Kx + kit lens is perfect to take great photos. The key is being able to visualise photo oportunities.