Nikon F5 focusing screens - brightest

xonefs · Jan 23, 2023

I need a new screen and am looking for what are the brightest over the whole surface. Type C would be ideal but I cannot find one anywhere. Unless someone knows another place to look who might have one hidden away somewhere?

wondering if any of the other screens are brighter than the default one and suitable for astrophotography. my stock screen has some haze between it anyway but I guess I could try to take it apart and clean it.

SteveInConverse · Jan 23, 2023

xonefs said:
I need a new screen and am looking for what are the brightest over the whole surface. Type C would be ideal but I cannot find one anywhere. Unless someone knows another place to look who might have one hidden away somewhere?

wondering if any of the other screens are brighter than the default one and suitable for astrophotography. my stock screen has some haze between it anyway but I guess I could try to take it apart and clean it.

Do a Google search for exactly what you are looking for...I think the F3 focusing screens might work?

SteveInConverse · Jan 23, 2023

Also try this resource for more info:

Interchangeable Focusing Screens for Nikon F5

Christiaan Phleger · Jan 25, 2023

An F3 screen will Not work. I would suggest either the B or the U screen, both of which will likely be easier to find than a C screen. The B and U do not have the LCD inter-layer, so the view is brighter.

xonefs · Sep 1, 2023

Looks like it is Type C and Type M screens that don't have the electronic layer with focus marks.

I still can't find either of these for the F5. Brightness is less of a concern but I get weird interference and moire with them for astro with the stock screen and I suspect any of the others

Christiaan Phleger · Sep 3, 2023

I can assure you that the B, U and J screens for the F5 do not have the interlayer with the focussing marks. I agree that the screens are now very difficult to find, and your options may include stripping out a standard EC-B and rebuilding with an F3 or F4 screen of your choosing, but keep in mind the correct and narrow tolerances for the screen placement.

xonefs · Sep 3, 2023

Christiaan Phleger said:
I can assure you that the B, U and J screens for the F5 do not have the interlayer with the focussing marks. I agree that the screens are now very difficult to find, and your options may include stripping out a standard EC-B and rebuilding with an F3 or F4 screen of your choosing, but keep in mind the correct and narrow tolerances for the screen placement.

So this page is incorrect?

Interchangeable Focusing Screens for Nikon F5

only C and M there are shown without focus marks

Christiaan Phleger · Sep 3, 2023

Yes, they have focusing marks but the lack of the LCD type interlayer means that the marks do not 'activate' when moving the focussing point around. I think that the interlayer is the part that is causing the issue of interference/moire. I sorry to say I cannot have a look at both my F5 with J screen, the U and Non-EC 'B' screen since all that (and much much more) was immolated in the Lahaina fire. I looks as if finding another J screen for F5 will be a very hard task..

xonefs · Sep 3, 2023

Sorry to hear that. Ok that makes more sense I could find a U screen.

It also makes my decision harder as I was looking at just getting an F4 instead since I can find a C screen for it, and I still want the mf-28 back for the F5 and I can get an f4 and the equivalent mf-23 back for not much more than an mf-24 goes for. I also can find a slightly cheaper chimney finder the for f4 than the f5 which I want. So now it is a harder decision.

Chan Tran · Sep 4, 2023

For what you use the camera for you don't need autofocus is that correct? You do not need frame rate higher than 5fps correct? You are not going to rely on the built in meter all that much right? So why don't you use an F3 instead and you can get a less expensive viewfinder.

xonefs · Sep 4, 2023

I have an F3 setup already with the right clear matte viewfinder.

I need auto film advance and would like data imprinting in the future for some types of astrophotography (solar and lunar). An F3 with motordrive is big and heavy, and no imprinting back available.

swchris · Sep 4, 2023

MF-18?

Chan Tran · Sep 4, 2023

xonefs said:
I have an F3 setup already with the right clear matte viewfinder.

I need auto film advance and would like data imprinting in the future for some types of astrophotography (solar and lunar). An F3 with motordrive is big and heavy, and no imprinting back available.

Since I never care for data imprinting I don't know what options are available for either the F3 or F5 or F4 which I have. I don't think the F3 with motor drive is bigger or heavier than the F5.

Nikon F5 focusing screens - brightest

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