They've probably been given a rude awakening by the phenomenal success of sites like Tumblr :arrow: link

Personally I'd choose Tumblr over Flikr any day of the week. It's also a good place to set up your portfolio and effectively becomes a free customisable web site. You can configure your pages easily from hundreds of templates then alter them to make it look exactly how you want. Social image sharing sites are where you need to be if you're in business and switched on.

Very helpful post - thanks for that! Which model of screen exactly do you have?

I'm liking the look of their "FSL" screen as it incorporates both a 45degree split image circle and an outer microprism ring

Unfortunately they don't do this style for the K-r, so my choice would be the "EC-A" Canon style centre spot microprism. It would be very handy for enhancing focussing ability methinks.

Here's a link to their visual guide for removing the screen from a K-r :arrow: link

Johnha - according to the Katzeye blurb I read yesterday on their site the blackout problem we all remember from SLR days does not occur with their DSLR screens. Something to do with the different focussing arrangement. I'll have to go back and find the exact info on that.

My K-r is great but I find that I'm missing the large bright viewfinder of my SLR, and most especially the split focussing ring in the centre. Yes, the autofocus is a handy feature that I do use a lot now, but it occasionally struggles so I do like to check and I do make fine adjustments with the quick shift (superb feature!) Also, and like many here, I have a couple of older manual lenses. A split focus ring would be a real help, and it surprises me greatly that Pentax don't offer one! (there's a suggestion for them) I mean, the K-5 accessories include a good range of focus screens for under £40 that just show differing focus area markings - why no split ring when it'd be SO much more useful? And the K-r has a user changeable screen mount that Pentax don't even want you to know about!

Looking at the OEM market I see that KatzEye offer a high priced solution (£120 plus by the time it arrives) but my quibble is that I prefer a 45 degree split - it just makes a great deal more sense practically. I see some Chinese cheapies on eBay with said 45 degree feature and costing all of twenty quid. Has anyone tried installing one of these in their K-r? Heard any reports / horror stories?

If I was a K-5 owner already I'd (reluctantly) invest in a KatzEye job, but my whole K-r kit was only £339 new so premium extras that I can't later migrate to a K-5 just aren't worth it for me.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Handy - thanks for link! Let's hope the bad guys don't hack the site and use it to find who's worth a visit...

Hi Matt,

Like the other guys I'm interested not in all the kit but parts. I agree with my Lincolnshire cousin Andrew above - why not sell here at pre agreed prices, eBay the remainder if any. You'll get the best return that way. Remember it may be the ideal complete kit for you, but everyone has different needs. At the end of the day though it's up to you. Good luck with it.

And someone with deeper pockets than me, worse luck. It's always nice to be shown new lenses though, even just for personal interest, so thanks for sharing the link!

I can feel an expensive new addiction developing here George...

I held the loose lens up to a light coloured surface xbow, and manually activated the diaphragm with the lever on the lens mount. I always do this to check the snappiness of the action and the shape of the aperture as it goes through the full range of stops. What I found on the first lens was that the blades closed down to a slightly lop-sided shape occasionally, around the smaller f-stops. It was fine stopping up but down was an issue about 25% of the time. This suggested some play in one of the blades, hence the return. As I said, the new one is perfect and Amazon are always very good about returns so I'm pleased.

At the end of the day the first lens would probably have given results what were fine, but I just didn't want any chance of inconsistency of exposure creeping in!

Does that help?

Ah, so you're the guy who beat me to them!