[Leica] Katz Eye Focusing Screens

[r.s.taylor at comcast.net (Richard Taylor)]

Len - For others not familiar with these screens, here's their web site:

http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/page--Custom-Focusing-Screens--store.html

The focus confirmation light on the D40x is slow and sometimes  
ambiguous in low light, so it isn't much help.  Manual focus is faster  
but without a rangefinder or microprism patch, not terribly accurate.   
I only get about a quarter of my shots in focus manually.  With my M7,  
is nail it most of the time.

I did get a look at their installation instructions and it's not too  
bad a job, but a delicate one.  Essentially, you have to release a  
tiny wire clip, change the screen and replace the clip.  If I do go  
for the Katz screen, I will have my local Nikon repair place do it.   
One downside of changing the screen is loss of the warranty on the  
camera, but I'm hoping that having the Nikon guy do it will at least  
give me arguing points should I need to have repairs done before the  
warranty expires.

I was surprised to learn they were in Adams, too.  But then, that part  
of the state is home to a number of small, hi-tech firms (we used one  
of them in Deerfield on a satellite project) so maybe it's a spin off  
of another optical outfit.

Regards,

Dick



On Jan 24, 2008, at 11:10 AM, Leonard Taupier wrote:

> Hi Richard,
>
> Thanks for introducing the Katz Eye screen to those of us not  
> familiar with the brand.
>
> The D40X has focus confirmation built in. Doesn't it work? I find it  
> works very well on my D2X and D200. The interesting thing about the  
> Katz screen is they claim it doesn't darken in low light.
>
> With that said I found that the focus confirmation adapters I've  
> used on my Canon bodies are not that accurate. I installed Canon's  
> split image screen on my 1Ds Mk II body and find it gives me much  
> more accurate focus then the confirmation adapters for Leica R and  
> Nikon lenses. The issue I would have with the D40X is how to install  
> the screen. I don't think it's meant to be user changed. If you can  
> get by that issue I would be willing to spend the $98 and give it a  
> try.
>
> And I would tend to trust a company located in Adams, Mass. My end  
> of the state.
>
> Good luck and let us know what you decide.
>
> Best,
> Len
>
>
> On Jan 24, 2008, at 9:55 AM, Richard Taylor wrote:
>
>> If any of you have experience with the Katz Eye focusing screens  
>> I'd be interested in hearing your opinion of them.  They offer one  
>> with a split image rangefinder and microprism surround that I'm  
>> thinking of getting for my D40x so I can focus manually in dim light.
>>
>> TIA.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Dick
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
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