MF with D200: Katz screen vs. DK21M

I finally got my first MF lens: the 55/2.8 Micro-Nikkor. While focussing with

the original D200 screen is doable, it's far from ideal & reliable. Of course I

heard of the Katz screen but find its price a bit steep. At least one fellow

here suggested in some thread that the DK21M magnifying eyepiece provides

sufficient focusing accuracy even for shallow dof. Can anyone comment on these

two items? I'm thinking of adding one of the fast 50ish 1.2 lenses to my setup

in the near future.

I've got a Katz Eye focusing screen in my D2X. I purchased it because in addtion to many

AFD lenses I have many MF lenses which I love to shoot with. The screens are pricey but they

are individually made to order. The one thing I really liked is the fact that I could get the

focusing screen with "rule of thirds" grid lines, (other options are available too). I've never

used a magnifying eyepiece but the split screen and microprism work great, (just like my MF

Nikon bodies).

The DK-21M has been on my D200 since I got it. I does help a lot. It is important to have the diopter setting adjusted correctly with the Nikon screen because of it's transparency. I have never been in favor of the centered split screen/micro prism aids since I feel that the point of using manual focus is to be able to compose and focus at the same time. While DK21-M is nice, one should be aware that edges get a bit distorted, and one need to center the eye carefully to see everything - probably not a good idea for glass wearers.

Quote: "While focussing with the original D200 screen is doable, it's far from ideal &

reliable. Of course I heard of the Katz screen but find its price a bit steep."

 

Given that Nikon has not decided offering a split-image RF screen for the D200 is worth

while, I can see how you might feel the $99US price a bit high for the basic Katz screen.

The Opti-Bright option is another matter.

 

I just got my D200, and have no AI lenses at this point, so some of my comments are

based on using other Nikon AF cameras and having grown up with the split RF screens on

MF cameras of old.

 

My choice of going with the D200 vs the D80 swung in small part to the Katz screen and

being able to save some money by buying some used AI/AIS lenses. But in the Nikon AF

bodies, I found the screens not quite right for my aging eyes, and the electronic RF "dot"

not sure enough for my use and experience.

 

The basic $95US price IMO is not bad for a camera that sells for $1700US. YMMV. The

options of having the screen etched for the proper 5x7 or 8x10 cropping will appeal to

many event and wedding photographer. I personally would like to have screen that shows

both the 5x7 and 8x10 crop marks (will have to see what that will end up costing when I

am ready to place my order).

 

I am not quite as ready as Sean Reid (http://www.reidreviews.com/reidreviews/) to

abandon my fixed focal length AF Nikkors; but am looking forward to saving some money

perhaps on my "missing" lenses (like the 24/2.0, the 85/2.0, perhaps the 50/1.2 for the

Bokeh of that lens wide-open - at the right price, the 135/2.0, the 180/2.8, and some of

the longer and faster single focal length telephoto Nikkors). Decently priced 24's, 85's,

and 135's are very much "must buys" for me.The others are on my wish list. But Sean Reid

seems to like the D200, and prefers single focal length lenses for this camera over the AF

versions.

 

I can understand why as a Leica RF user. I haven't measured it -but the focus "throw" on

my 18-200VR seems to be about 60 degrees.Not much room for fine focusing. While some

of my Leica lenses have a "throw" of 100+ degrees. This amounts to greater focusing

accuracy.

 

Add to this that if the Katz screen is accurate, then the focus accuracy will be much better

than what the AF system can provide in theory. As long as the "throw", the amount that the

focus ring is needed to turn in order to go from infinity to its closest focus point. To be

honest, even Leica has shorten the "throw" distance over the years.

 

Hope all of this helps with the Katz screen and it costs, verses what some AI/AIS lenses

can provide.

Even with the great viewfinder and screen on my F3, one of my manual focus lenses is hard to focus. This is because it is not very sharp wide open, even in the center. This particular lens is old and rebuilt, so this problem may not be typical.

 

But I imagine that any lens that is soft wide open would be quite difficult to focus on some digital bodies. So I would check for this potential problem in any 50mm f1.2 lens or similar fast glass that you may consider.