Katz eye - are they worth it?

[snip]

hi there.

As some of you may know I recently aquired a Pentax K10D

As I threw away the kit lens (Well gave it away) and only have manual focus K mount and M42 lenses and don't plan on getting any AF lenses it makes little sense to keep the rather useless screen that is in there now.

Which brings me to the question in this thread..

The katz eye screen with opti brite and all the bells and whistles (Well apart from the AF area brackets, don't need those.) will set me back $190 or £127 shipped to the UK, provided the evil tax man does not decide to get the lube out.. Now I paid £200 for this camera (refurb from Pentax UK) So that is a considerable outlay


On eBay I can get a generic plastic screen with a split prism for £20, shipped from China, this will not incur any taxes.

Obviously it is not anywhere near the quality of the Katz eye, but is it really £107 better?

I can see how optibrite would be well cool for running about with a medium tele stopped down to f8 in the sunshine with Aperture priority engaged. But apart from being brighter around the prism I fail to see how much better it can be, the prism would not be more precise would it? I mean, is that even possible? To make a split prism that don't work?

As much as it is in my nature to buy the best and feel no regrets, I could get an awful lot of nice glass for £107, or feed my family for two weeks. So it is worth considering I think.

Anyone care to comment?

 

[Fred Burton]

I don't know about the Chinese screens, but I do have a Katz Eye installed in a Canon Xti that I shoot a lot of macro with and manual focus most of the time, and the Katz Eye was well worth the money. Changed the whole experience with the camera. Really brightened up the view through through that penta mirror tunnel.

 

[EliasK]

I use the katzeye screen on my D70s. The Katz screen without the optibright treatment is brighter than the original K2 focusing screen of my FM2n. So, unless you want to use a lens with a max aperture of 8 or darker you definattely dont need the optibright. That lowers cost significantly. Also note that katzeye provides detailed instructions, a special tool for the replacement and a shim to ensure focusing fine adjustment.

As for the chinese focusing screens i know some people who are very satisfied with them. Their price is low, you will not loose much if you try them.

 

[ChrisN]

I bought a Katzeye to use with *istDS and K10D, and also tried it in my K20D. It caused inconsistent metering, even in matrix (normal) metering mode. I also found it did not allow me to achieve accurate focusing with a 50mm lens at f/1.2 (which was basically what I bought it for). Why? Not certain, but I suspect that the cameras, designed for auto-focus which is independent of the ground-glass/plastic focusing screen, will not accurately focus with focusing screen because the focusing screen does not sit at precisely the correct height. So the fault is not in the screen, but in the camera. I was happy to get most of my cost back when I sold it. I now use mostly auto-focus lenses with the K20D, which allows me to calibrate the auto-focus system independently for each of my auto-focus lenses. If I really want to use the 50/1.2 I'll use it on the LX body, with which it focuses accurately.

I've heard many people are very happy with their Katzeye screens. Perhaps there is some variation between cameras, and perhaps their focusing needs are less critical (avoiding very fast lenses with very shallow depth of field wide open).

 

[snip]

I bought a Katzeye to use with *istDS and K10D, and also tried it in my K20D. It caused inconsistent metering, even in matrix (normal) metering mode. I also found it did not allow me to achieve accurate focusing with a 50mm lens at f/1.2 (which was basically what I bought it for). Why? Not certain, but I suspect that the cameras, designed for auto-focus which is independent of the ground-glass/plastic focusing screen, will not accurately focus with focusing screen because the focusing screen does not sit at precisely the correct height. So the fault is not in the screen, but in the camera. I was happy to get most of my cost back when I sold it. I now use mostly auto-focus lenses with the K20D, which allows me to calibrate the auto-focus system independently for each of my auto-focus lenses. If I really want to use the 50/1.2 I'll use it on the LX body, with which it focuses accurately.

I've heard many people are very happy with their Katzeye screens. Perhaps there is some variation between cameras, and perhaps their focusing needs are less critical (avoiding very fast lenses with very shallow depth of field wide open).

Hmm, this does not sound good as I will be using a K10D and most of the lenses I have/want are f/2 and below.

I think I will give the Chineese screen a try and if it won't work out I won't buy a Katz eye, if it does work and I find it dim I will get a Katz eye.

//Jan

 

[snip]

I use the katzeye screen on my D70s. The Katz screen without the optibright treatment is brighter than the original K2 focusing screen of my FM2n. So, unless you want to use a lens with a max aperture of 8 or darker you definattely dont need the optibright. That lowers cost significantly. Also note that katzeye provides detailed instructions, a special tool for the replacement and a shim to ensure focusing fine adjustment.

As for the chinese focusing screens i know some people who are very satisfied with them. Their price is low, you will not loose much if you try them.

Yes the optibrite is $55 of the cost, I just thought if I was going to buy it I might as well go for it seeing as some lenses will be used with stop down metering. Therefore being stopped down most of the time for convenience.

Indeed these are good arguments for the Katz eye, how does this shim device work? (I know what a shim is, but how does one know if it needs inserting, are there more than one etc.)

//Jan

 

[mcgrattan]

ChrisN:

If the camera fails to focus with the KatzEye this suggests a problem with the height/shimming of the KatzEye, no?

I don't have a K10D but I do have a GX10 and manual focusing is extremely accurate with mine. The screen isn't quite as useful as a screen with a microprism spot but the screen itself is definitely accurate.

 

[kully]

If you want to spend less than the Katz-eye but don't want to run the risk of a eBay purchase from somewhere, then Google 'Haoda screen' I have a screen from him in my D70 - very useful, and he's friendly to get advice from.

 

[kshapero]

I have a Katz eye w/ Optibrite on a Pany L1. I also have a Nikon adapter so I use my old legacy Nikkor lenses with wonderful results. Brighter viewfinder, better focusing accuracy. Exactly what I hoped for.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I have a Katzeye screen (non-optibrite version) in my D200, and love it. I use MF lenses on my D200 90% of the time and find focusing to be a breeze, and spot on accurate too. I didn't bother with the optibrite treated screen because I figured a slightly darker screen would have more "bite" to the focusing, like the older F and F2 Nikon screens. After using it for while, I think anyone used to focusing with normal MF focus screens would find the non-optibrite version more than bright enough. If you get it, you won't regret it at all!

 

[ruby.monkey]

Worth it? Yes, yes, and thrice yes. Optibrite is a must if you're going to use some of the slower lenses (the 35/3.5 Super Takumar alone is sweet enough to justify the extra cost) - plus it frees you of the tyranny of having to rely on the split prism by making focussing anywhere on the matte feasible. Focus-recompose is for chumps. 😀

Indeed, had I known that Katz Eye offer the screen without split-prism rangefinder I'd have done without it from the start.

 

[bmattock]

I bought the cheap Chinese model for my Pentax *ist DS two years ago - still have it, still use it. The only problem I have ever experienced with it is that I first put it in upside-down, duh. After I realized that and put it back in rightside up, no more problems. AF still works fine, manual focus is excellent, and I have not had any trouble metering.

I don't know how much better the KatzEye would have been by comparison, but I'm quite pleased with the cheap and cheerful Chinese knock-off.

 

[EliasK]

how does this shim device work? (I know what a shim is, but how does one know if it needs inserting, are there more than one etc.)

About the shim, this comes from the karzeye installation instructions:

The thickness of the Katz Eye shim was designed to produce correct manual focus calibration with the Katz Eye focusing screen, based on a study of a substantial number of D70 and D70s cameras. However, we have observed a considerable variation in the factory calibration of these models; and because of this, we recommend the installer perform a manual focus check upon completion of the installation. The installation of the Katz Eye screen has no affect on the autofocus system, so it is not necessary to confirm AF calibration. However, as manual focus calibration has been seen to vary noticeably from camera to camera, a post-installation manual focus test is a good idea. If a front focus condition is observed, meaning the actual point of focus is forward of the point indicated in the viewfinder, using the original Nikon focusing shim may yield more accurate results. If neither shim yields sufficiently accurate results, calibration of the mirror angles may be required. Please consult with Katz Eye Optics technical support should this occur.

In my D70s manual focusing is spot-on with the katzeye shim tested with a nikkor 50/1.4

 

[snip]

About the shim, this comes from the karzeye installation instructions:

The thickness of the Katz Eye shim was designed to produce correct manual focus calibration with the Katz Eye focusing screen, based on a study of a substantial number of D70 and D70s cameras. However, we have observed a considerable variation in the factory calibration of these models; and because of this, we recommend the installer perform a manual focus check upon completion of the installation. The installation of the Katz Eye screen has no affect on the autofocus system, so it is not necessary to confirm AF calibration. However, as manual focus calibration has been seen to vary noticeably from camera to camera, a post-installation manual focus test is a good idea. If a front focus condition is observed, meaning the actual point of focus is forward of the point indicated in the viewfinder, using the original Nikon focusing shim may yield more accurate results. If neither shim yields sufficiently accurate results, calibration of the mirror angles may be required. Please consult with Katz Eye Optics technical support should this occur.

In my D70s manual focusing is spot-on with the katzeye shim tested with a nikkor 50/1.4

This seems Nikon specific?

//Jan

 

[snip]

If you want to spend less than the Katz-eye but don't want to run the risk of a eBay purchase from somewhere, then Google 'Haoda screen' I have a screen from him in my D70 - very useful, and he's friendly to get advice from.

Intriguing.. Please tell me, does the Haoda screen have the micro prism collar like the Katz eye one? I take it that it does.

//Jan

 

[kully]

It does have the Microprism Jan.

 

[tbarker13]

Picked one up recently for my D200. Makes manual focusing so much easier for me.

 

[willie_901]

The Katz-Eye on my D200 does make manual focusing easier. However I did notice that the AF confirmation light and the Katz-Eye are in very close agreement.

On my D300 the Finder/AF is improved to the point and I see no need for a Katz-Eye on this camera.

In very low light or in low contrast situations, the Katz-Eye would likely be useful on the D300. It's juts that I haven't run into many situations where the AF confirmation light doesn't get the job done.

p.s. I never us the AF illumination option.

 

[mackigator]

There is another, far cheaper, option for getting better focusing ability: the magnifying eyepiece. I put one on my K10D after seeing the Katz-Eye prices. The new eyepiece helps.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/469574-REG/Pentax_30150_O_ME53_Magnifying_Eyecup.html

I'd try this first based on the risk/reward factor.

 

[ChrisN]

ChrisN:

If the camera fails to focus with the KatzEye this suggests a problem with the height/shimming of the KatzEye, no?

I don't have a K10D but I do have a GX10 and manual focusing is extremely accurate with mine. The screen isn't quite as useful as a screen with a microprism spot but the screen itself is definitely accurate.

If the camera fails to focus with the KatzEye this suggests a problem with the height/shimming of the KatzEye, no?

Yes, as I stated. If there was a practical way to fine-tune the height of the screen I would certainly consider trying the Katzeye screen again. This was not offered when I bought mine, and I can see no mention of it on their website (for Pentax).