Aiding Manual Focus

[Don Schaeffer]

I've been using manual lenses. I find precision focus difficult without a focussing screen (like the film slrs all had). I have ordered a magnifier to enlarge the viewfinder as an aid to focussing. It hasn't arrived yet. What do you guys do to improve manual focus. The D40 does not have a good focus indicator.

[Frog]

You probably want something like this, Don. Katz Eye Focusing Screen for the Nikon D40 D40x - KatzEye Optics

I have not used one though, like you I miss that split prism especially on close up or macro.
Someone here, I'm sure, can tell you the pros and cons better than I.

[Franglais]

I've been using manual lenses. I find precision focus difficult without a focussing screen (like the film slrs all had). I have ordered a magnifier to enlarge the viewfinder as an aid to focussing. It hasn't arrived yet. What do you guys do to improve manual focus. The D40 does not have a good focus indicator.

When I had non-AF-S lenses with my D60 (evolution of the D40) I used to use the focus-is-OK green light at bottom left of the viewfinder. It was fiddly but reliable. Do you mean yours isn't trustworthy?

[Don Schaeffer]

Sorry Charles. The D40 doesn't have that feature at all. There is no focus area display.

[Franglais]

Sorry Charles. The D40 doesn't have that feature at all. There is no focus area display.

According to the D40 user manual that I just downloaded from the Nikon USA web site it has it. Here is a part of page 5. I'm talking about item 2 (focus indicator) - a tiny green light at bottom left of the viewfinder that comes on when focus is good. I think that you can also activate a BEEP sound to come on at the same time but I really hate that.

[OldClicker]

It's not going to help you now, but Sony's 'peaking' feature seems to have rejuvenated many manual focus buffs who had given up due to the digital OVF not having focus aids (and also old age affecting eye sight). It colors (like the 'blinkies' for low/high exposure) the areas that are deemed in focus by contrast focus software. This makes the in focus areas very easy to see. I believe it's quite common in video cameras and should be in all still cameras soon, I would think. – Terry

[armando_m]

it is way in the corner , in the D40 might be difficult to see, because of that I like the beep confirmation when focus has been acquired.

[Don Schaeffer]

I'll check it out. I didn't know about this.

[Don Schaeffer]

Eureka! I saw the green dot focussing aid for the first time. My quick test suggests it may be a real help. Thanks all.

[wfooshee]

I had to use that when I was testing that [awful] Tamron 200-500 zoom I tried. The dot works, it shows that you're focused, which is fine. Rather useless on moving subjects, though, and the indicator requires too much work from your eyeball. Frame, down-and-left, frame, down-and-left, etc. When I was looking at the subject I couldn't really tell anything about the dot and vice versa.

Wouldn't it be great if the active focus area indicator lit green or something? Does anybody do that?

[Don Schaeffer]

That would really be great. I can't decide how much that green dot helps. It doesn't stay lit--it's off and on depending on the exact position of the finder. I am going to continue trying that magnifier.