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Nikon D800 focusing screen


scott_murphy5

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<p>Not sure if anyone can answer this but I am going to give it a try anyway.</p>

<p>All my Nikkors are AIS and AI manual focus lenses and they all work perfectly with my D700. And honestly I just cannot ever see me getting an autofocus lens. The day may come fairly soon when I will also get a D800. I have looked critically at the screen on the D800, and just like the D700, it is generally unsuitable for critically focusing manual focus lenses. But then again, it was not designed to in the first place. When I first got my D700 I immediately swapped out the standard screen with a microprism/ground glass one from focusingscreen.com and it works flawlessly. The ground glass is very easy to use with long focal length lenses. In fact if the microprism says it is in focus, but the confirmation dot says it is not, in every case, the screen has been right and the dot has been wrong, especially when the light levels are not that great. Right now focusingscreen.com does not list any screens for the D800 and they have not responded to 2 emails. And when I send emails to Nikon's customer service about it they say, why don't you just use the focusing dot? Well, gentlemen, as I stated to you in the text of my email, (1) because it is <em>wrong as often as it is right,</em> especially with my 300mm f/2.8 and 600mm f/4 lenses, where depth of field 1 stop down can be as little 1 foot or less at 100 feet, and (2) it is not nearly as convenient as a microprism and ground glass.......what part of that are you still having trouble understanding?<br>

<br />So here is my question. <em>Does anyone know if the focusing screen on the D800 is the same size as the one on the D700?</em> Swapping the screens out on a D700 is <em>quite simple, </em>requires no tools other than a knife tip and takes about a minute at best to accomplish. If the screens are the same size, then I can just order another D700 screen and be good to go.</p>

<p>TIA</p>

<p>Scott</p>

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<p>I noticed on another website a pro photographer (Ming Thein) mentioned that he was experimenting with custom replacements, but that the size of the D800 screen was larger than other models. Unfortunately I can't validate that,</p>
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<p>The makers of the KatzEye screens, generally the best alternative for Nikon DSLRs, told me directly that they won't be making a D800 screen anytime soon, even though they offer one for the D700. They said there were "technical difficulties" in making a screen for the D800 (which, if I recall correctly, had to do with it being so large) which were compounded by Nikon's current policy of refusing to sell spare parts (like the frames for the focusing screens necessary for designing a D800 screen) to anyone other than Nikon-authorised repair facilities.</p>

<p>This seems to indicate pretty strongly that the D700 screen is not going to work properly in the D800.</p>

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<p>Back when I decided to go digital, I tried to find out from various Nikon sources on-line and via snail mail what digital Nikons would work with my non-AI Nikkors without modifying the lenses.</p>

<p>The results? Not one single response to any of my enquiries to any Nikon offices.</p>

<p>That's not the least of the reasons that I went to Canon for digital, where all of my old Nikkors worked fine for stop-down, manual-focus shooting and metering.</p>

<p>However, it only took me some 40 years to get some AI and even AF Nikon cameras, as I just indicated on another forum. There's such a thing as holding a grudge too long, I suppose. :|</p>

<p>There are "focus-confirmation" adapters (one of them killed the circuits in my Canon 20D), but they honestly are nowhere near as useful even when they "work" as the mark 1 (or mark 2 in my case) eyeball.</p>

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<p>Take a look at the e-bay offering below (they won't let me post the link here, but its an easy search (or email me and I'll forward) - $32.00 - OK quality - not slick or fancy -- But it works and works very well.<br /> I honestly don't know what the problem is with the D800 - but these guys apparently figured it out. I encountered the same issues with all my manual glass on the D800 (particularly the 300mm 2.8) as I simply couldn't see where the camera was actually focusing. A DG-2 magnifier helped a great deal and I recommend one even with the new screen. With a sensor this large focus discrepancies really make a difference and you must have confidence in the system. If you observe the green meatball while focusing - you'll notice it stays green over a "range" of focus - not a point of focus, that range is simply too great for most lenses wide open or in particular the 300's miniscule DOF. LV is impractical for most situations short of the studio. In short, I love this screen - it's not perfect - but it really works.<br /> Upon installation watch for a shim (if you have one) that will come out with the original screen. It's super fragile and a real bear to safely return to it's original position. Take your time and while frustrated you'll be fine.</p>

<p>Do an ebay search for "180-horizontal-Split-Image-Focus-Focusing-Screen-Nikon-DSLR-D800"<br>

The brand is a "Bresson"<br>

The D800 is probably different than the D700 - never owned one - as you have to really refine all aspects of your technique to be truly successful with it - I couldn't believe how sloppy I had become while shooting a forgiving 12meg sensor. Feels good to have the system working as intended and my personal skills back up to speed.</p>

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<p>Mary D, I followed the link and there's nothing for sale for the D800 or D600, and indeed at the bottom of the 'Instructions' it says they don't have any for sale at the moment...</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p >3. This k3 screen currently still in the test ,temporarily haven't provided k3 series for d600/800<br /></p>

<p >2012/10/28</p>

</blockquote>

 

But hopefully they will soon!

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<p>FWIW, the green dot focus confirmation can be made more useful if you experiment with its operation a little. I've found that my D800 is definitely out with large aperture lenses and the focus dot bang in the middle of its range. However, if the focus is approached from the near end (i.e. starting with the lens focused too close), then good focus is achieved when the focus confirmation dot has <em>just</em> stopped flickering and shows steady green. In other words the focus dot shows slight back focus in the middle of its range. Obviously this isn't ideal, but it's a workaround that I find acceptable and YMMV.</p>
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<p>I discourage people from buying the Bresson focusing screen recommended above. As a general replacement it's a far cry from the quality of the original screen. It doesn't show OOF areas properly and it will also darken in the edges when using 24mm or wider lenses.</p>

<p>K3 screen will fit the D800 (and D600 as they have the same size screens) but with some caveats. The screen is not really wide enough mechanically though it is wide enough optically. To make it stay in place the spring that holds the screen in place needs to be different from the original.</p>

<p>I'm certain that it will work but I've not had time to make it happen yet.</p>

<p>These are my other posts on the subject:<br>

http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00bLcH<br>

http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00bFyE</p>

<p> </p>

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<p>I guess it's a question of using a screen of high quality that doesn't work very well or using a low quality screen that works exceptionally well. I don't really care - I just want accurate focus - and I'm tired of trying to manipulate the camera to yield sharp images with tricks and techniques instead of concentrating on the shot. Not to mention the stress connected with not trusting a $3K camera to yield acceptably focused images. To each his own.</p>
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<p>Gary, I've done tests and the K3 screen works very well on the D800/D600.<br /> The Bresson screen is really problematic (for me) as you can't focus on the matte area and when using wide lenses the corners goes really dark. Still it has a split image so it will stay in my camera until I have made a custom retaining spring for the K3.</p>
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<p>Pete - I just don't understand why our friends at Nikon can't support this fine camera. What the hell's the problem - page after page of concerned owners have asked for this accessory - yet nothing is available. How hard would it be for Nikon to make a phone call to a supplier and outsource the project. Katzeye refuses to touch it and others, yet these guys in China nailed it with a crap product that I agree - has many failings. I dreaded putting it in the camera (and refuse to re-build it with a new spring retainer) but simply couldn't trust the original focusing system to deliver. I've used my Nikon's for thirty years and it's sad to have to deal with second rate products in a first rate camera.</p>

<p>Yet, it's amazing - with the DG-2 magnifier in place - I can actually see the difference of a very minor focus adjustment on the split image screen. The screen is amazingly precise!! Yes, I know it gets dark with WA's but I know what my frame includes and excludes - I'm forced to focus in center frame and re-compose so I can see it. <br>

I've always had the utmost confidence in the Nikons - just like I did with the Hassy's, if I can't expect and relay on the focus of the camera then, well, might as well go back to 12meg and not worry about it.<br>

That K3 will be sweet - I'm jealous.</p>

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<p>Scott, I think at this point, the low-stress (LOL) solution may be to just use the manual focus capability of the camera? In fact, do you know that, even when you use manual focus, the camera will guide the focus toward optimum accuracy?</p>
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<blockquote>

<p>Pete - I just don't understand why our friends at Nikon can't support this fine camera.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I agree, it makes no sense.</p>

<p>Even Canon, who doesn't have the range of legacy lenses that Nikon does, understands the value of having different focusing screens. http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/app/pdfs/quickguides/CDLC_FocusingScreens_QuickGuide.pdf</p>

<p>And it seems they have had the intelligence to keep the same focusing screen dimensions in their EOS 1 series forever. While Nikon feels it's important to change the focusing screen dimension for every new camera they release even if the 24x36 mm full frame have been the same size the beginning of the 20th century.</p>

 

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  • 1 year later...
  • 6 months later...

<p>Sorry to be late to the party, but just switching to manual focus primes with the D800. In the past, I normally changed out the focusing screens to those with grid lines. I don't understand Nikon's reasoning for not developing interchangeable screens for the D800.<br>

I see in older posts, Pete S. had identified a modification to the D800 focusing screen spring retainer which allows retention of the Nikon K3 screen. Two specific questions for Pete, or anyone else who has successfully changed their focusing screen to a split image and/or micro-prism: 1. K3 screen for which Nikon model camera?, and 2. Specifics on the spring retainer modification (photos, video, dimensions, source of material, etc.)<br>

Thanks in advance for any assistance.</p>

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