Very true. When I shot live action motorsports, I practiced focusing quite a bit. Now, at 58 years of age, my eyes are failing me, so I don't work at manual focusing as aggressively as I once did. But my prior experience still works in my favor. Practice is definitely a plus. Paul On Nov 12, 2006, at 4:47 PM, Godfrey DiGiorgi wrote:
> The D and DS have almost identical viewfinder systems, so what > applies to one also applies to the other. > > All of the screens from Pentax are the same with regard to the > focusing surface, all that changes are the markings (the optional > ones have grid or cross-hair markings in addition to the AF and > metering zone markings). The surface is "ok" for manual focusing but > isn't really as contrasty as I'd prefer. > > Katz Eye Optics makes alternative focusing screens for the Pentax > DSLRs. Their standard includes a split-image rangefinder prism setup, > which I've never liked very much (just more "stuff" in the way to my > eye), but more importantly the focusing matte surface of the screen > has higher contrast and 'snaps' in and out of focus a bit more > positively than the smoother Pentax focusing surface. I had a screen > without the split image, with a combination cross-hair and 8x10 > framing guide scribing, made that is a good improvement for manual > focusing ease. > > By and large, however, a larger part of manual focus ease is the > speed and contrast of the lens you're using. A faster lens with good > contrast wide open helps most. > > But the biggest improvement is gained by practice, practice, > practice. I constantly practice focusing skills to ensure that I can > nail the right thing in the frame as quickly and surely as possible. > It's a skill that is often overlooked. > > Godfrey > > > On Nov 12, 2006, at 1:19 PM, Paul Stenquist wrote: > >> I shoot with an *istD. I find the manual focus with the Pentax >> replacement grid screen is excellent. Not quite as good as my LX or >> MX, but very close better than most of my film cameras. >> Paul >> On Nov 12, 2006, at 4:01 PM, Pawel Bartuzi wrote: >> >>> Hello, >>> >>> I prefer using manual focus and while I have no trouble focusing >>> manually on my MX, I find it difficult on the *ist DS - up to the >>> point >>> that 30-50% of my manually focused, not stopped down shots land in a >>> recycle bin just for being out of focus. >>> >>> Does anybody have a problem like that? How do you deal with it? Are >>> there any third party focusing screens better suited for manual >>> focusing? > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
