wpoupore Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Any that would make using manual focus lenses easier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_barts2 Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 K10D does have interchangable focusing screens. I'll let others comment on specifically which ones are best for MF lenses. A little googling came up with this third-party screen that mimics the appearance of traditional SLR focusing screens: http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/item--Katz-Eye-Focusing-Screen-for-the-Pentax- K10D--prod_K10D.html In the little bit I've been using mine so far, the default screen doesn't seem to be all that bad for focusing manually by my standards. The K10D/K20D are the best Pentax DSLR bodies for using old MF lenses; they have better finders than the K100D/K110D/K200D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glivingston Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Go to a site called "Virtual Village" http://www.virtualvillage.com/.They have split-image focusing screens for the K10D/K20D for $26.99. They also work on the istD. They come through the mail from China, so it takes awhile, but mine seems to work exactly as it should for manual focusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt miller cambridge, ia Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I have the katz eye screen in my K10D. It has a split image focusing aid in the center. It is a complete joy to use, and much easier than the stock screen for manual focusing. So easy, in fact, that I manual focus 95% of my work right now. I have control again and love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
del_gray Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Does the camera's autofocus suffer with these screens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserere_mei Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I have one of the Chinese jobs (which is a K1000 screen cut down to fit the K10D, although it's a bit too thick). It has helped manual focusing *a lot*, and as far as I can tell, does not affect metering or autofocus in any significant way. The reason I didn't buy the Katz Eye was due to many reports I read about it messing up the metering. I thought that if my metering was going to go funny, I'd rather pay $29 shipped for a Chinese model than $70-80 for the Katz Eye. I do think Katz Eye is working on fixing the current issues with their Pentax screens, and as soon as they get it right I'll probably put the Chinese one on eBay and upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afs760bf Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I've had a Katz Eye screen for about three months now and love it. Easy to focus. I have not seen any difference in metering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronb Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 How difficult is it to install an alternate focusing screen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glivingston Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 The Chinese screen has instructions on the website for the K10D. I assume that the Katz Eye also comes with instructions. I put one on my istD and it was very easy using just a fingernail and tweezers. The only problem seems to be getting the wrong side down. If that happens (it won't focus correctly), just take it out and turn it over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserere_mei Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 With the Chinese ones, and the original Pentax ones, it's pretty much impossible to put them in the wrong way round because there is a little tab the always goes on the right. Installing them is easy, but there *are* tales of horror out there...on this very forum, in fact! So beware: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00NqJT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelc Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I heard the word "horror". I am living proof of the difficulties that can arise from changing/cleaning the focusing screen. (see my posts on this subject) Although, I must admit it was 100% operator error. It really is a snap to do. On another point, I dealt with Katz Eye to assist me in removing/installing my Pentax screen. I could not beleive the level of customer satisfaction that I encountered. I did not buy anything from them but the President contacted me and provided me with a manual relevant to the K10D. She did not have to do that as the info was proprietary. My opinion is they sell an excellent product far superior to the Chinese makes and provide exemplerary assistance and customer service. To me it is well worth the $100.00 to buy a product of this quality from a company that provides such outstanding support. Just my 2 cents worth. Oh, and by the way, I know at least a dozen people who put a Katz Eye in their K10D and have absolutely no problems with focusing/metering and they all love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauren_macintosh Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Go with the pentax or go for the Katz eyes those folks will help with how to install and their eye screens give you more light in the view finder : I have one in my Canon EOS20D And I am glad I got it: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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