aquaman75
Member
Hello.
In my search for the manual SLR camera with easy focus I get an Olympus OM-1. I bought too the focus screen 1-4 since I like flat screens.
My idea is pair the camera with the ZUIKO 50 F1.2 and the 85 F2.
Now I'm thinking about changing the focus screen for 2-4 but have some doubts.
The meter problems I do not care because I always use a handheld exposure meter.
I have read some comments about these screens (2-4 or 2-13) saying that with very luminous lens as the 50 1.2 produce a lack of contrast in the viewfinder that make more difficult to focus.
I love to hear your opinions on this subject.
2 series Olympus focus screens with OM1 or OM2 and lens with 1.2 or 1.4... What do you think about this?
Thank you very much and like always sorry for my bad english.
Alberto
In my search for the manual SLR camera with easy focus I get an Olympus OM-1. I bought too the focus screen 1-4 since I like flat screens.
My idea is pair the camera with the ZUIKO 50 F1.2 and the 85 F2.
Now I'm thinking about changing the focus screen for 2-4 but have some doubts.
The meter problems I do not care because I always use a handheld exposure meter.
I have read some comments about these screens (2-4 or 2-13) saying that with very luminous lens as the 50 1.2 produce a lack of contrast in the viewfinder that make more difficult to focus.
I love to hear your opinions on this subject.
2 series Olympus focus screens with OM1 or OM2 and lens with 1.2 or 1.4... What do you think about this?
Thank you very much and like always sorry for my bad english.
Alberto
ped
Small brown dog
I didn;t think the 2 series fit the OM1? Will you modify it somehow?
I had the 1-3 with my OM1 and 50 1.2 it was perfect.
I had the 1-3 with my OM1 and 50 1.2 it was perfect.
aquaman75
Member
ped
Small brown dog
Ah great I may try that too then!
wblynch
Well-known
The 2 series screen will not help you with the f/1.2 and f/2.0 lenses. It's purpose was to get a brighter view to overcome the dimmer mirror on the Om-2sp, Om-4 and Om-3.
It would help with an f/4 lens but you don't mention any of those.
It will mess up the meter readings on the Om-1's and the manual meter readings on the Om-2's.
So why bother? You will spend hundreds of dollars for a focusing screen that delivers nothing of value.
Remember, the f/1.2 has a very shallow depth of field making it hard to focus wide open, no matter which screen you use. You will want one with a focusing aid, like the split screen dot or microprism ring in the center. I suggest the good old 1-13 would be best.
It would help with an f/4 lens but you don't mention any of those.
It will mess up the meter readings on the Om-1's and the manual meter readings on the Om-2's.
So why bother? You will spend hundreds of dollars for a focusing screen that delivers nothing of value.
Remember, the f/1.2 has a very shallow depth of field making it hard to focus wide open, no matter which screen you use. You will want one with a focusing aid, like the split screen dot or microprism ring in the center. I suggest the good old 1-13 would be best.
dtcls100
Well-known
I have several 2 series screens that are installed in my OM-4T and OM-4Ti bodies. They are great in them.
I also have some Beattie focusing screens with etched gridlines and a diagonal split image focusing aid that are somewhat similar to the 2 series and which are likewise quite rare these days. They also are very good in the OM-4T bodies, but also fit OM-1 and OM-2 bodies without modification. However, in the OM-1 and OM-2 bodies, the additional brightness actually makes focusing a bit more difficult as everything looks so bright and sharp that achieving critical focus with faster lenses seems more unsure. The brightness and clarity causes the images not to sharply snap into focus.
I also have some Beattie focusing screens with etched gridlines and a diagonal split image focusing aid that are somewhat similar to the 2 series and which are likewise quite rare these days. They also are very good in the OM-4T bodies, but also fit OM-1 and OM-2 bodies without modification. However, in the OM-1 and OM-2 bodies, the additional brightness actually makes focusing a bit more difficult as everything looks so bright and sharp that achieving critical focus with faster lenses seems more unsure. The brightness and clarity causes the images not to sharply snap into focus.
aquaman75
Member
Thank you very much for your comments.
Yesterday, i was shooting the first roll with the OM2N and 1-4 screen.
It was incredible for me. i need to see the scans but i felt to get focus very very easy and very very quickly.
I have been so charming that I decided to buy a OM4TI.
I will buy a 2-4 screen for the OM4, so i can test it in the OM2 too.
I am also thinking of buying a 1-4n for test it.
Yesterday, i was shooting the first roll with the OM2N and 1-4 screen.
It was incredible for me. i need to see the scans but i felt to get focus very very easy and very very quickly.
I have been so charming that I decided to buy a OM4TI.
I will buy a 2-4 screen for the OM4, so i can test it in the OM2 too.
I am also thinking of buying a 1-4n for test it.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I have one of the screens that just has the freznel circle in the centre and I've found it to be excellent with my 50mm 1.2 
aquaman75
Member
Hello.
I have the scans and the results are:
22/35 on focus.
The session shot was portraits of my wife. I tried focus on eyes.
60%
I don't know if for the first time is a good % or not.
I need more tests and practice.
I have the scans and the results are:
22/35 on focus.
The session shot was portraits of my wife. I tried focus on eyes.
60%
I don't know if for the first time is a good % or not.
I need more tests and practice.
jbielikowski
Jan Bielikowski
that's not bad, with fast lens I find focusing on subjects not in the dead center a hit or miss with OM-1.
wblynch
Well-known
Keep in mind, especially with an f/1.2 lens, that if you or the subject move slightly after you have focused, things could change. It might not be miss-focused at all, nor any problem with equipment, just a few inches of movement that spoiled it.
mfogiel
Veteran
No matter what you choose, you need to test the combo through several shots. I have observed that on some cameras you can even have different focusing precision among consecutive pictures taken on the tripod and with no refocusing, just because the mirror return is not identical. The film bodies are so cheap nowadays, that sometimes I buy two or three before I find one that suits a lens I like.
aquaman75
Member
Thank you for your comments.
They are highly appreciated.
Alberto
They are highly appreciated.
Alberto
aquaman75
Member
Last month i have tried these combinations:
1. OM1n + 1-13 screen + 50 1.2
2. OM1n + 1-13 screen + 50 1.8 "mij"
3. OM1n + 1-4 screen + 50 1.8 "mij"
4. OM1n + 2-13 screen + 50 1.2
5. OM1n + 2-13 screen + 50 1.8 "mij"
6. OM4ti + 2-13 screen + 50 1.2
My personal conclusion is that the best combination for me by far is the OM1n with the 2-13 screen and the 50 1.8.
2-13 screen is wonderfull. Unbelieble bright.
I don't know if my 50 1.2 is defective but all the images with it are very soft, included at f2 and f2.8.
The focus accuracy with the 50 1.2 very bad too, I could hardly tell when the image is in focus. I always doubted.
However with the 50 1.8 everything changes. Images tack sharp and nail focus constantly at f1.8 and f2.8.
I apologize again for my bad english
1. OM1n + 1-13 screen + 50 1.2
2. OM1n + 1-13 screen + 50 1.8 "mij"
3. OM1n + 1-4 screen + 50 1.8 "mij"
4. OM1n + 2-13 screen + 50 1.2
5. OM1n + 2-13 screen + 50 1.8 "mij"
6. OM4ti + 2-13 screen + 50 1.2
My personal conclusion is that the best combination for me by far is the OM1n with the 2-13 screen and the 50 1.8.
2-13 screen is wonderfull. Unbelieble bright.
I don't know if my 50 1.2 is defective but all the images with it are very soft, included at f2 and f2.8.
The focus accuracy with the 50 1.2 very bad too, I could hardly tell when the image is in focus. I always doubted.
However with the 50 1.8 everything changes. Images tack sharp and nail focus constantly at f1.8 and f2.8.
I apologize again for my bad english
Spyderman
Well-known
The brightness of 2 series screen comes at a price. The DOF appears to be larger and the image doesn't 'snap' into focus as apparently.
2 series focussing screen is basically what most AF SLRs use in their viewfinders. It's bright, but not so suited to manual focus on the matte surface. A rougher matte surface is better for precise focussing - even very slight front or back focus shows stronger blur on a rougher screen.
It's fine if you only use the focussing aid in the center, but beware that with fast lenses the 'focus in center and recompose' method might result in misfocussed pictures, because when you recompose, the plane of focus moves.
I have a 4Ti with 2-13, but I enjoy my plain 4 with classic 1-13 just as much, maybe even more.
2 series focussing screen is basically what most AF SLRs use in their viewfinders. It's bright, but not so suited to manual focus on the matte surface. A rougher matte surface is better for precise focussing - even very slight front or back focus shows stronger blur on a rougher screen.
It's fine if you only use the focussing aid in the center, but beware that with fast lenses the 'focus in center and recompose' method might result in misfocussed pictures, because when you recompose, the plane of focus moves.
I have a 4Ti with 2-13, but I enjoy my plain 4 with classic 1-13 just as much, maybe even more.