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X-700 no focusing screen

Started Apr 11, 2018 | Discussions thread
ThomasB
ThomasB Contributing Member • Posts: 783
Re: X-700 no focusing screen

jds560 wrote:

I've had my X-700 for a few years now, bought locally with a few lenses and filters. Earlier I searched what a photo of my viewfinder SHOULD look like out of curiosity. When I look through my viewfinder I see a circle with the image surrounded by black and clear optics, along with the shutter speeds on the right side. What I'm missing is apparently called micro prism which is on a focusing screen. I never knew that this was something that was supposed to be in my camera.

If my X-700 had a focusing screen, would it operate better than it does? I've noticed that my ME Super has always taken better photos than the Minolta, but I thought it was simply due to user error.

The X-700 was originally equipped with a focusing screen with a split image spot in the center surrounded by a band of microprisms. There have been 8 different other focusing screens available for that camera and obviously that was changed by somebody.

IMHO there is no better focusing aid available than the original screen. I can therefore understand that you have some troubles in finding the correct focus.

There are some instructions available on internet how to change that screen. If you Google for that you may find a solution. You may also consider to look for a X-500 instead as this would give you an even better (brighter) finder.

The most common user errors are incorrect focus and shaking blur. If you eliminate that your X-700 will deliver stunningly sharp pictures. That's granted.

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Regards, Thomas Bernardy
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