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Jwoods

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I recently started a thread asking what 50mm would Af on my d40. Well I've come to the conclusion I can't afford the one that's coming out ;o) sooooo

HF Cheung said something about a focus screen. I've done a little researched and can't find a whole lot of information. I also found this site http://www.focusingscreen.com/index.php?currency=USD&cPath=22_51 but i'm sooo lost!

Can anyone help me? I'm trying to focus my 50mm 1.8. Over half of my photos are blurry.... ugh. I get some good ones but most of the shots that I just LOVE come out blurry so I need your help!
--



Jessica
Nikon D40
18-55mm
55-200mm-vr

People say photographs don't lie, mine do. - David LaChapelle
 
i have no problem with D40 and 50/1.8
the only thing was, that i was a little out of practice.
but the focus indicator is a good help, and now i checke it only for control.
some more practice and i dont use it anymor.

the screen of the D40 is great for MF

--

 
A focus screen might help. Try the D40 K3 Focusing Screen, reminds me of the focus screen on older Nikon manual focus cameras.
 
widarge burt said:
i have no problem with D40 and 50/1.8
the only thing was, that i was a little out of practice.
but the focus indicator is a good help, and now i checke it only for
control.
some more practice and i dont use it anymor.

the screen of the D40 is great for MF

--

Click to expand...
YOU don't have a problem, BUT I do. My eyes aren't as good as they use to be, getting to where I probably need glasses or something...lol o well. Just trying to see if there's anything out there that's somewhat enexpensive that will help, that's all.

--



Jessica
Nikon D40
18-55mm
55-200mm-vr

People say photographs don't lie, mine do. - David LaChapelle
 
thanks, i appreciate it, i'll look into it more.
--



Jessica
Nikon D40
18-55mm
55-200mm-vr

People say photographs don't lie, mine do. - David LaChapelle
 
Jwoods said:
YOU don't have a problem, BUT I do.
Click to expand...
sotty, i only mentioned that it is no technical issue.
Jwoods said:
My eyes aren't as good as they
use to be, getting to where I probably need glasses or
something...lol
Click to expand...
maybe this is the case.
i wear glasses since 30 years.
and you can use your D40 to check that now, the viewfinder can be adjusted.
if you see screen sharper in another position than 0, you need glasses.
Jwoods said:
o well. Just trying to see if there's anything out
there that's somewhat enexpensive that will help, that's all.
Click to expand...
i find the sharpnessindicator very helpfull and it costs nothing.

i focuse with those old filmcameras with such a splitscreen, and the screen those years ago where very dark and grainy.
the D40 viewfinder, my first new slr since years, is a little wonder.
a can focus at every point on the screen, not only the center

i would recommend to check your eyes first, and if they are ok, i hope so, learn the right technique fpr manual focusing.

its realy much easier today than 20 years ago, and a split-prism isn ot more worth than the built in focusindicator, so wasted money
 
i think it works out cheaper to sell your d40 and buy a used d80 and 50mm AF
alternatively how about a viewfinder magnifier?

focusing screens can confuse the camera meter i have read, though someone else will likely know more about this than i do!
 
Most of the time when I have used my 50mm f/1.8 I did so with AF (the lens will AF on my D50), the few times I tried to MF the lens I didn’t get the results I hoped for. My eyes aren’t all that good so I tend to rely on the green dot, but it can be difficult to stop on the green dot. I found that with the 50 f/1.8 it is very easy to have the aperture open too far resulting in an extremely shallow DOF, which in turn makes for a soft appearing photo. Close examination generally reveals that something is in focus, just not what I was aiming for. I suspect that with sufficient practice a person could get pretty adept at manually focusing the 50 f/1.8, Fifty years ago manual focus was all my camera offered; I was pretty good with the focusing ring too – now I’m lazy and the AF does a better job than my tired eyes can do.
--
Brooks
http://bmiddleton.smugmug.com/
 
I'm assuming you have the diopter on the camera set well for your vision. Another screen option is Katz Eye, a bit more expensive than those on the site you referenced, but they have very good background info on what the limitations are with these screens. i.e.: split prism blackout at small f-stops.

I'm still finding camera shake to be more of a problem with blur than the lens focus when I use manual focus. I'd recommend higher iso/shutterspeed combinations when possible. Good luck.
 
Have you tried to adjust the diopter setting of the viewfinder?

Do you have a sharp viewfinder image when the AF locks (using an AF-ing lens)?

As somebody else suggested: buy a second hand D80.

Even better (bigger and brighter) viewfinder, slightly larger diopter range and add-on diopter caps (or something) for even larger diopter adjustment range (if you still would like to manual focus).

--

Amateur/hobbyist, started digital in 2002, first DLSR (D80) in 2007, D90 since september 2008.
 
I have the diopter setting adjusted on the viewfinder, and my new D90 has a far superior viewfinder compared to the one on the D50.

I didn't mention in my forst post that the focusing ring, at least on my 50mm f/1.8, isn't the smoothest working focus ring that I have encountered, quite the contrary, it is quite rough. I suspect that the older 50mm f/1.8 lenses built a couple of decades ago were much better than the current plastic model coming out of China. But then, what can you expect for $110?
--
Brooks
http://bmiddleton.smugmug.com/
 
I dont like the focus dot. I didnt with my D60 and it was a challenge with the darker viewfinder and impossible if the subject is moving. Now I have a D90 which seems brighter but I miss the old split prism screens.

Anymore I think they are getting better at keeping them from blacking out, I will be getting one for my D90. Ill probably spring for the Katz. This is primarily because this means I dont have to take my eyes off of the subject. Looking down for the green dot is a pain.

Being said, paying for one and having it installed might get you in the ballpark of just selling your $50 and getting the Sigma or Nikon AFS one. Then you have one that AFs too.
Jwoods said:
I recently started a thread asking what 50mm would Af on my d40. Well
I've come to the conclusion I can't afford the one that's coming out
;o) sooooo

HF Cheung said something about a focus screen. I've done a little
researched and can't find a whole lot of information. I also found
this site
http://www.focusingscreen.com/index.php?currency=USD&cPath=22_51 but
i'm sooo lost!

Can anyone help me? I'm trying to focus my 50mm 1.8. Over half of my
photos are blurry.... ugh. I get some good ones but most of the shots
that I just LOVE come out blurry so I need your help!
--



Jessica
Nikon D40
18-55mm
55-200mm-vr

People say photographs don't lie, mine do. - David LaChapelle
Click to expand...
 
previous threads of mine concerning the katz eye focussing screen

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1030&thread=23165537

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=25985980

and a mini-review of the dk-21m magnifier

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1034&thread=23561464
Jwoods said:
I recently started a thread asking what 50mm would Af on my d40. Well
I've come to the conclusion I can't afford the one that's coming out
;o) sooooo

HF Cheung said something about a focus screen. I've done a little
researched and can't find a whole lot of information. I also found
this site
http://www.focusingscreen.com/index.php?currency=USD&cPath=22_51 but
i'm sooo lost!

Can anyone help me? I'm trying to focus my 50mm 1.8. Over half of my
photos are blurry.... ugh. I get some good ones but most of the shots
that I just LOVE come out blurry so I need your help!
Click to expand...
--
my web albums:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/theabsurdman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74185915@N00/
 
--

I have D40 and D300. I use some MF lens with them both. I don't see the need for a focus screen. As long as you see the green dot in the viewfinder. 90% of the time, the focus is accurate.

This is taken with D300 and AIS 55MM. It's very easy to focus.

 
Thanks for all the replies, I think I'm opting out on a focus screen, I'll just rough it out for now.
As for the diopter???? ......lost on that one I'll have to google it.

My plans in the beginning were to keep my d40 and buy a d80. In my current situation I'm unable to but hopefully in a couple months. I wanted to sell the d40 all together but my husband would like to have something user friendly around ;o)

Thanks again for the help! I definitly appreciate it!
--



Jessica
Nikon D40
18-55mm
55-200mm-vr

People say photographs don't lie, mine do. - David LaChapelle
 
Hey Jess, ya big goon. The diopter is just the little slide by the viewfinder to adjust the focus you see in the viewfinder. Just make sure the focus points look nice and in focus when you look through the viewfinder and you'll be ok.

As far as the user-friendliness goes...the D80 will be just as easy in AUTO.
Jwoods said:
Thanks for all the replies, I think I'm opting out on a focus screen,
I'll just rough it out for now.
As for the diopter???? ......lost on that one I'll have to google it.

My plans in the beginning were to keep my d40 and buy a d80. In my
current situation I'm unable to but hopefully in a couple months. I
wanted to sell the d40 all together but my husband would like to have
something user friendly around ;o)

Thanks again for the help! I definitly appreciate it!
--



Jessica
Nikon D40
18-55mm
55-200mm-vr

People say photographs don't lie, mine do. - David LaChapelle
Click to expand...
--
I'm new...so be nice.



http://www.yelvertonphotography.com
 
Thanks!
I was lost, guess I coulda just asked you to begin with.

Trust me, there's no talking him into selling my d40 (think he wants it all to himself ;o)
--



Jessica
Nikon D40
18-55mm
55-200mm-vr

People say photographs don't lie, mine do. - David LaChapelle
 
Jwoods said:
As for the diopter???? ......lost on that one I'll have to google it.
Click to expand...
The diopter adjustment only adapts/focuses the image in the viewfinder to your personal strength of eyesight. If you normally wear correcting eyeglasses, you will more than likely have to adjust diopter slider to the right of the viewfinder. It does not modify the actual focusing of your camera.
See also pages 3 and 14 of your D40 manual.

Marco
 
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