--- David Oswald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I haven't seen anyone selling alternative focusing screens for > the *ist-DS, though screen interchangeability is listed as one of > the camera's features. Has anyone seen them listed for sale > anywhere, and if so at what cost? What screens are available?
Pentax makes three screens for the D/DS: - matte screen with AF markings LF-60 AF Frame Matte Focusing Screen Model No. 38571 - matte screen with AF markings and horizontal/vertical reference lines at 1/3s marks LL-60 AF Divided Matte Focusing Screen Model No. 38572 - matte screen with reticle scale LI-60 AF Scale Matte Focusing Screen Model No. 38573 A picture so you can see what this means is at http://homepage.mac.com/godders/ds-focus-screen.jpg Dealers don't seem to have them but Pentax US does, and you can order them direct. They cost about $70 apiece. Call customer service tell them what you want. The number is 800-877-0155. > ... I'm considering picking up an 'A' > lens (pre-autofocus), but I'm hesitant because I find that the > matte focusing screen sometimes just doesn't get me 100% of the > way there. Focusing manual is a skill which comes with practice. You have to learn to recognize the point of sharpest focus. A contrasty lens with a moderately fast aperture and a slightly tele focal length is one of the easiest lenses to focus and a good starting point to learn with. The DS give you an aid, even if the screen is matte surface, with a focus confirmation indicator. AFter a while, you learn to ignore it because your eye is better. I use manual focus lenses from 24mm to 200mm probably 80% of the time with the DS and have no problem with the matte screen ... Of course, I've been focusing SLRs this way for 40 years. ;-) > In particular, I keep drooling over an SMC-Pentax A 135mm f/2.8. > You see FA's for sale occasionally here and there, but 'A's are > often less expensive, and if I could jsut feel a little more > comfortable with my ability to achieve decent focus I'd go ahead > and get one. I have both a Takumar-K 135/2.5 (single coated) and an SMCP-FA135/2.8. Even the Takumar is a pretty decent lens, it's a great tele focal length on this camera: good reach, light and small. The A model is probably better than either of these, but I bought the FA for its ability to be used with C-AF... I'll see if that works out soon. > I remember as a kid using my father's Olympus OM-2n, with its > split-image, surrounded by some sort of prism, surrounded by > matte. That seemed to be an ideal screen, at least to my young > eyes back then. The thing is that the focus aids are only an aid to getting the focus in the ballpark quickly. They should not be used for final, critical focus as they are not accurate enough. Critical focusing is done on the matte surface surrounding them. I've always felt they got in the way and have always replaced the stock focusing screens in my SLRs with matte surface screens ... I can see what I'm doing better this way. A 2x focusing magnifier is a useful accessory for when you really must have critical focus. Godfrey __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
