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Teus !QbSstcPD6U
So, I bought myself a Katz eye focusing screen, the Plus version with optibrite treatment. standard matte focusing screen might be optimised for AF and brightness (so you can see something through shitty kitzooms). not so much fun with all my manual focus glass.

I've already taken 20 000 shots on MF (yeah I'm a sadist) so I got myself a katz eye, it has a splitscreen and a microcollar like the good old film SLRs. pretty neat, it gives a whole lot more "snap" when focusing, and gives better indication of DOF. nice and all with the 50mm 1.2 here.

had to toy around a bit with the silver/copper shim in the viewfinder to get the screen aligned perfectly, but now the focusing screen is 100% accurate. even in lowlight and with slower lenses, it's still very useable.

too bad they go for $150, plus shipping (and often taxes / import charges).

first shot: D200, nikkor 50mm f/1.2 at closest focusing (50cm) wide open to test minimal DOF
EXIF data available. Clickhereto show/hide.
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D200Camera SoftwareVer.1.00Maximum Lens Aperturef/1.0Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern684Focal Length (35mm Equiv)75 mmImage-Specific Properties:Horizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2007:10:17 16:28:01Exposure Time1/125 secF-Numberf/1.2Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/1.2Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceCloudy WeatherFlashNo FlashFocal Length50.00 mmRenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceManualScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessSoftSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> Teus !QbSstcPD6U
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same story but at f/2 for some better sharpness. really love this, didn't know this lens was so danm sharp (blame poor focusing on dslr)

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D200Camera SoftwareVer.1.00Maximum Lens Aperturef/1.0Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern684Focal Length (35mm Equiv)75 mmImage-Specific Properties:Horizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2007:10:17 16:28:47Exposure Time1/125 secF-Numberf/2.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/2.0Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModeCenter Weighted AverageLight SourceUnknownFlashNo FlashFocal Length50.00 mmRenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceManualScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessSoftSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> Anonymous
Do want.

I'd be too afraid of fucking up my SLR to install it, though.
>> Sicko !L3HRY/miC.
I would absolutely love one since I use so much manual Pentax glass, I'm not even bothered about installing one, it's just that price is ridiculous.
>> Sicko !L3HRY/miC.
Also, what can you say about the whole blackout thing?

Is it basically unusable beyond f11?
>> Anonymous
>>84581
Focusing is usually done with diaphragm fully open, so blackout is only an issue with REALLY slow lenses. Plus, you won't see shit in the viewfinder at f/11 anyway.
>> Teus !QbSstcPD6U
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>>84573
it takes a steady hand, a bit of insight & time. it's not something to do in the field though.
I've got experience with soldering tiny processor boards and lockpicking so it wasn't anything special, ha ha.

>>84578
today I've been talking on IRC to somebody with a SMC takumar 200mm f/4. pretty nice, I'd fancy a 200 or 300 mm M42 tele lens. doesnt attain infinity focus on Nikon, but it's just for shooting birdies and other animals anyway.

>>84581
blackout is pretty good, but I can't compare with a non-optibrite screen.

I tried a 70-300 f/4-5.6 with a 2X TC (looks less shittier than i imagined). even at the long end (f/11) its perfectly possible to use the splitscreen in a pretty dimly lit room. not all subjects are fit for the focusing screen though, depends on the contrast.

I just tried the 70-300 by stepping down aperture (the most obvious thing to do lol) and focusing is a bit harder with it. at f/8 its tricky, forget about it at f/11 and beyond.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D200Camera SoftwareVer.1.00Maximum Lens Aperturef/1.0Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern984Focal Length (35mm Equiv)900 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2007:10:17 21:23:54White Point Chromaticity0.3Exposure Time1/250 secF-Numberf/8.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating100Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceFlashFlashFlash, Return DetectedFocal Length600.00 mmColor Space InformationUncalibratedImage Width3872Image Height2592RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSharpnessSoftSubject Distance RangeUnknownISO Speed Used100Color ModeCOLORImage QualityFINEWhite BalanceFLASHImage SharpeningMED.LFocus ModeMANUALFlash SettingREARAuto Flash ModeOptional,TTLFlash Compensation0.0 EVISO Speed Requested100Flash Bracket Compensation0.0 EVAE Bracket Compensation0.0 EVTone CompensationAUTOLens TypeUnknownLens Range0.0 mm; f/0.0Auto FocusCenterShooting/Bracketing ModeSingle Frame/OffColor ModeAdobe RGBLighting TypeSPEEDLIGHTNoise ReductionOFFCamera Actuations22501Image OptimizationCUSTOMSaturation 2NORMAL