Manual focus screen for a digital SLR

posted Nov 28th 2005 11:00am by Eliot Phillips
filed under: digital cameras hacks

focus screen

Most modern digital SLR cameras use matte focus screens with their autofocus systems instead of the split circle manual focus screens found in non-digital SLR cameras. Although not factory endorsed, there are replacement manual focus screens which can be very expensive. Reader [Jan-Erik Skata] decided to save some money by salvaging the focus screen from a Miranda dx-3 film camera. Removing the screen proved extremely difficult and the Miranda would have been a total loss if it had been functional. Once out, the screen was sanded down, cleaned and then placed in a Canon EOS 300D. It’s hard to take a picture of the screen through the view finder to prove that it works, but I’m sure Jan-Erik is taking some great photographs having completed this upgrade.

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Comments [8]

Reader Comments

Actually, my (film) N65 also leaves out the split-circle focus ring in favour of showing the AF sensor zones. I might try this hack, except that I couldn’t afford to replace my Nikon if I screwed it up.

Posted at 11:18 am on Nov 28th, 2005 by furtim

this is pretty cool, although I couldn’t stand it with the huge scratch on it.

Posted at 2:20 pm on Nov 28th, 2005 by grayskies

Yeah, a scratched focus screen would drive me nuts.

I also had another thought: is there a way to get these focus screens without ripping apart an old camera? Granted, sometimes the ripping apart is halft he fun, but then you end up with big scratches on your new focus screen. I imagine there must be some supplier for camera repair shops or whatever where you can purchase these kinds of spare parts, but does anyone know of one?

Posted at 6:03 pm on Nov 28th, 2005 by furtim

Actually there are ready-made focus screens available from http://www.keoptics.com/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/screen4DSLR/ . Mostly for Canon, and they cost around 100

Posted at 4:07 am on Nov 29th, 2005 by JanErik

This hack really isn’t recommended because of the potential damage you could do to your original focusing screen. They’re ultra sensitive to scratching because they’re laser etched. Even a cotton swab can do a lot of damage.

It’s also likely that the “new” screen will result in inaccurately focused pictures. The thickness/spacing of the screen is crucial to correct focusing.

Posted at 11:50 pm on Nov 29th, 2005 by Photodan

If you’re interested in performing this hack, You can buy a new focus screen from Katz Eye Optics at http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/. You can also purchase new ones from Haoda Optical Research Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/screen4DSLR/.

Posted at 9:14 am on Dec 5th, 2005 by Alan Anderson

Err…. there’s something wrong with the focus on your camera? I mean, I realize there is _NOW_, after the original focusing screen’s been removed. But there was before?

I used to replace the split-image rangefinders in my SLRs with an entirely matte-surface screen. Focusing was much easier without that silly distracting split-image thing. I can’t imagine going the other way. But to each his own, I guess.

Depending on the camera, this can be very destructive to its ability to focus — just a warning. The screen is all-matte for a reason.

Posted at 4:38 am on Jan 9th, 2006 by Big Ben

we have split focusing screen too. best quality at competitive price
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/screen_expert/

Posted at 10:02 am on Jul 29th, 2006 by tt