Nikon F3 screen for telephoto zoom

A few weeks ago I took a chance and bought a very large zoom lens (Tokina 150-500 f5.6) off of facebook marketplace. The seller lives about two hours away and offered to mail it to me. I asked about the condition, specifically about fungus and was told it looked good. The seller shipped it and I got it in about 2 days. I was excited when it arrived, but that turned to disappointment when I opened the package. One of the elements behind the front element had severe fungus which would make the lens unusable. Fortunately for me. there is a camera repair tech about 3 miles from me. He was able to clean the lens so well that there is no evidence of fungus. This all leads to the reason for my post. I took the lens out yesterday and took some shots with my F3 with the K screen in it. The split image focusing was nearly impossible even in bright sunlight because the center would black out. I have a B screen and a G4 screen and was wondering which one of those two screens or which other Nikon screen some of you would recommend. As always, I appreciate any help. Thanks.

They should both work; I only have experience with the B screen though. The G4 has microprisms in the center (12mm diameter circle) and a clear fresnel field elsewhere; it might be brighter and easier to focus than the matte B screen (which allows focusing everywhere on the screen).

Wouldn't it be easier just to try each screen?

 

Changing the screen in an F3 takes about 30 seconds.

Slight movement of your eye {head} will sometimes allow use of the split image screen.

FWIW here is Nikon's screen suitability for the F3

Thanks for the table.

 

Can someone remind me which one it comes with?

 

And also which comes with some other models such as F, F2, and FE2.

Nikon F and F2 Screens

 

seems to have more details on the screens, and for different model cameras.

Thanks for the table.

 

Can someone remind me which one it comes with?

 

And also which comes with some other models such as F, F2, and FE2.

 

I am not sure about the F but I think all manual focus Nikon cameras came with the type K screen.

I am not sure about the F but I think all manual focus Nikon cameras came with the type K screen.

F2, at least the earlier production,

had A screens (split screen center) as standard. FE2 had K screen from the factory, and so did the F3. (And FE, and FM3a).

Many Nikkormats were sold w A and J - but without the possibility of exchange.

F2, at least the earlier production,

had A screens (split screen center) as standard. FE2 had K screen from the factory, and so did the F3. (And FE, and FM3a).

Many Nikkormats were sold w A and J - but without the possibility of exchange.

Well both the Nikkormat and the older version of F2 predate my photographic hobby. I started with the Nikon F2 but it's the 1977 version. All other Nikon's I have used are newer.

Just for the visuals, since the above give the more-or-less compatibility, here are some early Nikon F screens

I didn't know about the Fresnel lens below the viewing screen before.

 

The explanation for the R screen above, that you should focus outside the central circle with large aperture lenses, makes more sense now.