Nikon F/F2 focusing screens

garpet · Oct 3, 2025

Im between the T, E, and P types. P type seems really nice but costs much more than an E or T type. T type seems really interesting and cheap but there seems to be very little information about it and E type has had a lot of positive reviews and tends to be right between the other two price wise. Has anyone ever used the T type focusing screen?

skahde · Oct 3, 2025

T stands for TV and is a regular matte/fresnel-screen like Type B with outlines for a TV-screen. In this day and age it is less useful than an easy to get by B. For general photography I like Type A, K, B and E. Anything else in my mind is for special purposes or an oddity like the rare variants L and P with diagonal split-image which sound better on paper than they are in actual use.

A useful overview can be found here:

Nikon F and F2 Screens

mshchem · Oct 3, 2025

P is supposed to be what was used in the NASA Apollo F cameras. Very chic!

BMbikerider · Oct 4, 2025

There is a company in London who deals exclusively with Nikon and what they don't know about Nikon equipment isn't worth bothering about. If you are after the odd item or two, if anyone has one they will Try looking at www.Graysofwestminster.co.uk for the contact address, Their website does not show the smaller items but if you E mail them they will check to see if they have what you want.

Nitroplait · Oct 4, 2025

I always thought Nikon should have made a K screen with the line grid of the E screen.

I have used an E screen for years in a Nikon FE, but I always missed the split image and micro-prism donut. (and missed the line grid when swapping back to the standard K screen)

I guess you could say the P screen is the closest thing to a combined K-E screen.

skahde said:
...L and P with diagonal split-image which sound better on paper than they are in actual use.

I agree.

I have used the L screen (diagonal split-image) in my F and F2 and I don't find it particularly desirable over the standard horizontal split-image.
With the diagonal split-image I will have to twist the camera to get a clear cut split most of the time - that isn't necessary as often with an A screen.

The P screen has a micro-prism donut so that would improve focusing usability over the L screen.

garpet · Oct 4, 2025

Im surprised in how different peoples opinion are about the diagonal split prism. all I had heard previously was praise. Is that just dependent on what subjects none shoots most often?

__Brian · Oct 4, 2025

I preferred the P screen when using a longer lens, 300/4.5 for wild life shots. For general work, always preferred the E Screen.
I have most of the Nikon F/F2 screens. They used to be $5 and $10 at camera shows.
The R screen is interesting- better for slower lenses, does not black out as easily as the standard split screen..

mshchem · Sunday at 2:25 AM

P screen is very useful. Standard original A screen works great for pictures of people, vertical things like a tree (trunk). I have no great insight, but when I was a kid with a new F2S, first thing I bought was a P screen, just like the astronauts

Of course I tried to use it with a 55mm f3.5 micro-Nikkor, not the best combination, dim lenses and microprism.

When I was 16 I was a complete idiot, but I had a Nikon!

(I know some people think I still am a complete idiot, probably right ️)

250swb · Sunday at 3:05 AM

If anybody is looking for but can't find an F/F2 screen remember the F3 screens also fit, you just need to swap the mount.

Chuck1 · Sunday at 3:27 PM

The k2 needs exposure correction, but not the k?

Nikon F/F2 focusing screens

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