nikon viewfinders: f3hp vs. fm10

[Eric vandrick]

I recently acquired a tamron 500mm mirror lens. It will not properly lluminate the split prism focus screen in my f3hp. Just out of curiosity I tried it on my fm10 and it worked with the split prism just fine. Could it be that the viewfinder on the fm10 is brighter than the famed f3 high point viewfinder?

Eric

 

[Les Sarile]

If you mean the split image is blacked out that is because mirror lenses are too dark for the screen you have in the F3.
You're right that later screens were usually designed brighter to better accomodate slower lenses and darker prisms but there is a tradeoff.

 

[BrianShaw]

That’s why there were optional screens...

 

[Eric vandrick]

there is a tradeoff.

What is the trade off?

 

[Eric vandrick]

That’s why there were optional screens...

I'm aware of screens with different focusing/composing aids... but which ones are brighter? Im working with the K screen.

Eric

 

[Les Sarile]

What is the trade off?

Everythng may look in focus that isn't.

This is a reasonably good article https://www.luminous-landscape.com/understanding-viewfinders/

 

[BrianShaw]

It’s not a matter of just brighter... it’s a matter of which focusing aids works better with that kind of lens and which do not.I can’t recall which was recommended but it probably did not include a split prism. MIR, I think, had the catalogue of F3 screens, including recommended use age, on their site.

 

[BrianShaw]

Here... easier to find than I thought.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/screens/index.htm

 

[Eric vandrick]

Here... easier to find than I thought.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/screens/index.htm

Thank you. I will take a look at that!

Eric

 

[Eric vandrick]

Everythng may look in focus that isn't.

This is a reasonably good article https://www.luminous-landscape.com/understanding-viewfinders/

thank you ! I will take a look at this article.

Eric

 

[Mick Fagan]

I thought this was interesting enough to do an experiment. I have a Sigma 600mm mirror lens which is f8.

I popped it on a tripod and put an F3 on it and it worked perfectly, well, perfectly enough as it always has. My F3 bodies run the E focusing screen, which is the same as the B focusing screen, except there are vertical and horizontal lines.

I then popped a K focusing screen in and I got blackout (partial in one half of the split screen), so there is it seems an issue with the speed of your mirror lens and the K focusing screen, which like mine, is not very well suited to slower lenses. In this case, after market mirror lenses.

In literature that I have, the K screen only gives acceptable, not excellent results with their reflex telephoto lenses, which are: 500 f/8, 1000 f/11 and 2000 f/11. The B and/or E focusing screens are the only focusing screens for the F3 that get an Excellent rating for these reflex telephoto lenses.

I think you'll need to find either the E or B focusing screen for your F3 body, to be completely successful with your reflex telephoto.

Mick.

 

[ronnies]

The R screen has a rangefinder more suited to smaller aperture lenses combined with the grid of the E screen.

Ronnie

 

[Les Sarile]

There is a very comprehensive list of F3 screens - including third party Beattie Intenscreen, at http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/screens/index.htm
Listed in there is a Focusing Screens Compatibility Chart identifying best screen for Nikkor lens -> http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/screens/NikonF3screens.pdf