Oly E420 split screen...........

[jacob]

as i've decided on using manual lens on it, now i'm looking for split screen for the e420. hopefully to hear advices from you guys in oly.

i'll be using nikon lenses on the body. i'm fine with manual focusing with split screen. i needed advice on them like where can i get it in sg and how much are they etc.....

your advice is very much appreciated just as in my other thread about adapters. thanks and hear from anyone of you.

1) with the split screen usually the view finder is darker, is it?
2) i'll not see the AF focusing points right but will still be able to focus(wif oly digi AF lenses) using the three so called hidden autofocus points, right?
3) any other pitfall i must watched out etc????

once again thanks for any inputs. hope your inputs help others who may be inline with me.

[ttiongch]

I'm also using Nikon manual lenses on my E510 too. Initially, I bought a focusing screen from OP @ S$60, but I found it a bit dim and the one of the split semi-circle turns black if I stop down to F5.6 onwards. So I changed it to a brighter one which I bought from the link below:

http://www.focusingscreen.com/index....3482bd7b29d0b9

However, during the changing process I accidentally scratched the viewfinder prism

So better be very careful when you are changing the focusing screen.

Just to answer your questions:

1) That depends on the quality of the focusing screen
2) You can still see a very dim red light during focusing when using Olympus AF lenses
3) When putting on the new focusing screen, you may have to do slight manual focusing calibration using the thin layer of brackets to adjust the focusing screen, such that when the split-circle is aligned, the image is really in focus. This is most tedious part for me and I scratched the prism when I kept on taking in and out the bracket. So better be careful.

[Mikefellh]

There are cheaper generic focus screens out there, but the Katz brand screens have an "optibrite" option which makes the viewfinder brighter. Note that changing the focus screen WILL effect the camera's light meter because the sensor resides above the view finder. Check out the FAQ while you are there as this site will tell you what the generic manufacturers don't:
http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/

[jacob]

Originally Posted by Mikefellh There are cheaper generic focus screens out there, but the Katz brand screens have an "optibrite" option which makes the viewfinder brighter. Note that changing the focus screen WILL effect the camera's light meter because the sensor resides above the view finder. Check out the FAQ while you are there as this site will tell you what the generic manufacturers don't: http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/

thanks for your reply.

may i know what's the typical price for the generic ones? where about can i get them. katz seems out of my budget. although generic may be dimmer and affect the metering a little, i can counter that by setting the exposure compensation right? thanks in advance.

[phan_vinh_nguyen]

I think the lowest price one is found $60 at OP. I am using it now, seem like OK except for some issues stated above by ttiongch.

@ttiongch: do you think the screen from focusingscreen.com is better than the one OP sell in term of accuracy? I found that my screen (from OP) is not so accurate. When move the vertical edge along the central circle, can see the matching change

[ttiongch]

Originally Posted by phan_vinh_nguyen I think the lowest price one is found $60 at OP. I am using it now, seem like OK except for some issues stated above by ttiongch. @ttiongch: do you think the screen from focusingscreen.com is better than the one OP sell in term of accuracy? I found that my screen (from OP) is not so accurate. When move the vertical edge along the central circle, can see the matching change

This is what I bought from that site:
http://www.focusingscreen.com/produc...3482bd7b29d0b9

IMO, the focusing screen is much more accurate, cleaner and brighter than the one from OP. Moreover, the one I bought is a split-4, such that it can be used to focus on object with vertical or horizontal lines.

[phan_vinh_nguyen]

Thank you for your info. I will proceed to buy one to replace mine

[jacob]

Originally Posted by ttiongch I'm also using Nikon manual lenses on my E510 too. Initially, I bought a focusing screen from OP @ S$60, but I found it a bit dim and the one of the split semi-circle turns black if I stop down to F5.6 onwards. So I changed it to a brighter one which I bought from the link below: http://www.focusingscreen.com/index....3482bd7b29d0b9 However, during the changing process I accidentally scratched the viewfinder prism So better be very careful when you are changing the focusing screen. Just to answer your questions: 1) That depends on the quality of the focusing screen 2) You can still see a very dim red light during focusing when using Olympus AF lenses 3) When putting on the new focusing screen, you may have to do slight manual focusing calibration using the thin layer of brackets to adjust the focusing screen, such that when the split-circle is aligned, the image is really in focus. This is most tedious part for me and I scratched the prism when I kept on taking in and out the bracket. So better be careful.

so after you your changed to new one, the semi-circle turned black at what f stop? want to know how much improvement.

[ttiongch]

Originally Posted by jacob so after you your changed to new one, the semi-circle turned black at what f stop? want to know how much improvement.

Mine is a split-4.
At F8 all the 4 quadrants are always bright. At F11, one of the 4 quadrants sometimes may turn dark, depending on the position of your eyes when looking through the view finder. At F16, two of the 4 quadrants may turn dark.

[jacob]

Originally Posted by ttiongch Mine is a split-4. At F8 all the 4 quadrants are always bright. At F11, one of the 4 quadrants sometimes may turn dark, depending on the position of your eyes when looking through the view finder. At F16, two of the 4 quadrants may turn dark.

that's quite good already. only i've the extra $$$. i'm likely to get split-2 type cheaper ones and using it on f1.4 -f2.8 lenses so i guess it should be ok in manual focus.

[jacob]

thanks to all who responded. thanks for sharing. am closing this thread as i've decided what to get.

once again. thanks!