Best VF in a Nikon SLR?

[GarageBoy]

Okay, so switching between a F2/Type K screen, a Nikon F3 (non red dot) B screen, and my Yashica FX-D, the FX-D has a much easier to focus screen.
(My eyes can't focus quickly enough with a ground glass, and the microprism ring on these Type K screens are terrible...)
Alas, most of my lenses are Nikon

Which VF/screen would you use for MF Nikon lenses? (28 F2/50 1.4/105 2.5)

 

[mfogiel]

What youv'e got is best, use non metered prism on F2 and non HP prism on f3.
For focusing quickly get F100 or F6 with AF-s glass.
Alternative: sell the Nikons, and get a Pentax MX or KX with similar lenses - cheaper cameras and better lenses - perhaps except for 105/2.5.
The tragedy of the SLR's is, that the best bodies were made by Nikon, best lenses by Leica Zeiss and Pentax.

 

[Mark C]

Split image is the only way I've been able to focus wides on most SLR's. I don't like it, and find it awkward, but it will work. With my 24/2.8 I zone focus. The split also works for me for more precise focus placement with the two longer lenses you mention, but I would rarely use it in real shooting situations.

I hope someone knows a fabulous screen, but I've tried most of the vintage ones. I'm shooting F's, but have had F2's and F3's also.

I'll have to check out the FX-D. Is that C/Y mount? I've got some nice lenses for that.

 

[gerbilthemistake]

Nikon F

Nikon F

I have a Nikon F w standard prism and a J screen installed from a F3. I prefer focusing w the microprism, I think this is the easiest slr to manual focus that I've used. I am looking forward to getting a Nikon F3hp w k screen in the mail, I can compare the two once it arrives.

 

[BillBingham2]

I had/have P screens in all my interchangeable Nikons. A 45 degree angle on the split image surrounded my a micro-prism and the big cross hairs works very well for me.

Keep in mind that your focus a SLR different from a RF.

A SLR you move in the direction you want and go past the point of focus and then go back. I describe it as rocking. A RF you dial it directly in, no rocking.

 

[GarageBoy]

The two longer lenses are okay to focus on the stock F/F2 screen, but the wide is quite hard, especially when I'm working quickly

The screen is just quite dark on the F/F2 and F3. Should I try a red dot screen? Or an F4?

The FX-D is just a poor man's Contax 139, more common, and way cheaper - don't spend more than $25 on one

 

[nobbylon]

Best viewfinder is the F5 with a dk17m fitted. Faster than a base F6 without battery pack in focus. My only wish is that the focus point in use would light up red.

 

[sevo]

Best by low-light visibility and accurate focusing would be the G/H series, at the price of losing all DOF preview, and having to match lenses and screens. Best among these might be the Nikon F4 with the appropriate G (large microprism spot) screen for the lens (usually G1 or G2). Don't know whether they still made G screens for the F5 or F6 - probably not, as the (full area microprism) H series did not even make it to the F4.

 

[Godfrey]

Okay, so switching between a F2/Type K screen, a Nikon F3 (non red dot) B screen, and my Yashica FX-D, the FX-D has a much easier to focus screen.
(My eyes can't focus quickly enough with a ground glass, and the microprism ring on these Type K screens are terrible...)
Alas, most of my lenses are Nikon

Which VF/screen would you use for MF Nikon lenses? (28 F2/50 1.4/105 2.5)

I never liked the Nikon K screen, the micro prism ring never worked for my eyes. The two screens I always used (and use today) with my F are the A (plain matte fresnel with split image) and E (plain matte fresnel with grid scribe lines).

Other cameras ...
I had a Pentax MX for a bit. Nice camera, but (like the Olympus OM-1 and Nikon FM) not enough eye relief in the viewfinder for my vision with glasses. And not as robust as the FM2n.

I loved my Nikon F3/T with hp finder. Except for the little tiny LCD metering readout.

The best 35mm SLR viewfinders I ever used, though, were the Leicaflex SL and Leica R8. The SL, although it's a micro prism central spot only, is so easy to focus even with a 19mm lens it's just amazing. And the R8 screen was even better. The Leica SLRs outclass everyone else, IMO, when it comes to viewfinder quality. (Yes I have a couple of lovely Leicaflex SL bodies, and Magpie Syndrome is delivering an R8 next week...)

G

 

[nobbylon]

Interesting Godfrey as I found the R8/9 viewfinder to be less bright and certainly less easy to manually focus than the SL but brighter than any R before.

 

[nobbylon]

For manually focussing a Nikon, any K screen. I had terrible trouble focusing my F2's and F3 but modified an adapter to be able to use a DK17m eyepiece magnifier. The difference is staggering and although the corners are slightly clipped focusing is now on a par with my SL's. I tried G and H screens but found them no good for ageing eyesight.

 

[Godfrey]

Interesting Godfrey as I found the R8/9 viewfinder to be less bright and certainly less easy to manually focus than the SL but brighter than any R before.

The standard R8 screen, to my eye, has just a bit more contrast than the SL screen. Of course, that was my impression the last time I played with an R8, which was in 1996-7. The one I just acquired should be here next week so I'll have a chance to compare them again. ;-)

G

 

[Corran]

I have J screens on my F, F2, F3, and F4. I'll probably get one for my F5 at some point.

I love J screens! I also have something similar in my D800E, a BrightScreen with a big microprism spot in the center.

 

[Dwig]

The two longer lenses are okay to focus on the stock F/F2 screen, but the wide is quite hard, especially when I'm working quickly

The screen is just quite dark on the F/F2 and F3. Should I try a red dot screen?...

I vote for the brighter red dot screen but you must understand that the change is only in the matte portion of the screen. It is brighter for viewing and framing but the central microprisms and/or split RF are unchanged. These central prisms are perfectly clear on all versions so that can't be made brighter.

I always found focusing on the matte portion much better on the older screens. The change to micro-lenses on the brighter screens (anyone's brighter screens) improved viewing at the expense of focusing.

Back in the day, I preferred the E screen and never had any real issues focusing any of my lenses (20 f/3.5, 35mm f/2.8, 35mm f/1.4, 45mm f/2.8 GN, 50mm f/1.8, 55 f/3.5 micro, 105 f/2.5, 105 f/4 micro, 300 f/4.5). I did, though, always wear glasses with up-to-date prescriptions so that I could see the focusing screen at its projected distance of ~6' (~2m) with no difficulty. If you have the slightest difficulty seeing the screen well you will have difficulty focusing with ANY screen.

 

[sparrow6224]

E... E... E... E!

I think and many Nikon users think -- judging by the writer of the pages I'm about to send you -- that the K screens are terrible. All micro-prism screens are problematic. On the other hand: The E screen is a delight. Just a delight. You can focus anywhere in the image without having to move the camera and change your framing. very bright and clear. with f/2 and f/1.4 lenses especially. But even f/4 in my experience. And the great relief of no prism blackout. The camera you want: the F2, of course!

Here's the good guidance: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf2/screens/index1.htm

That's the middle page of a three page unit on the VF screens so be sure to wander around in this priceless site.

 

[Sid836]

I love the K2 screen on my Nikon FE. It is nice and bright, close to the laser mate screen of my Canon F1. The standard focusing screen of my F100 is a delight too (but I prefer the manual feel of my FE).

 

[nobbylon]

The standard R8 screen, to my eye, has just a bit more contrast than the SL screen. Of course, that was my impression the last time I played with an R8, which was in 1996-7. The one I just acquired should be here next week so I'll have a chance to compare them again. ;-)

G

Yes I'd be interested in how you see it. I do remember the contrast and a bluish tint to the view whereas my SL's have a more yellow tint.
It's been 8 years since my R8 and my eyesight has changed somewhat!

Back on topic, I always found the G screens a disappointment in Nikon. I could never seem to focus them.

 

[nobbylon]

E... E... E... E!

I think and many Nikon users think -- judging by the writer of the pages I'm about to send you -- that the K screens are terrible. All micro-prism screens are problematic. On the other hand: The E screen is a delight. Just a delight. You can focus anywhere in the image without having to move the camera and change your framing. very bright and clear. with f/2 and f/1.4 lenses especially. But even f/4 in my experience. And the great relief of no prism blackout. The camera you want: the F2, of course!

Here's the good guidance: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf2/screens/index1.htm

That's the middle page of a three page unit on the VF screens so be sure to wander around in this priceless site.

Nothing wrong with K's ! Millions seem to have managed for decades with them 🙂

 

[Highway 61]

F3 'red dot'/F4 screen type "R" retrofitted in an F/F2 screen frame then installed in a F2 with DE-1 finder.

I personally think that there is no nicer viewfinder image than this in an SLR...

 

[rbsinto]

I use Nikon F, F2, FA and FM-2 bodies, and have one of two different focusing screens in them: B (matte with 12mm reference circle) or E (matte with grid).
As to the best viewfinder? Probably either the meterless head on my F or the DE-1 or DP-12 finders on my F2, but only because they are 100% full frame as opposed to the slightly smaller frames in the FA or FM-2.