The Type P is the greatest focusing screen ever..

[Huss]

...in the Nikon F - the greatest 35mm SLR ever

Seriously, this thing is perfect. Two grid lines on the horizontal and vertical axis so nothing is unintentionally wonky, Microprism and diagonal split screen. This thing almost AFs!

 

[BrianShaw]

I’ve had a p-screen in my F-3 for about the past 40 years. It’s really good. I liked it better than the stock K-screen at the time. Now I’m interested in comparing and need to find that K. Recently, though, I got an E-screen and might like that better than both.

 

[abruzzi]

yup, all my F2s have one, but theyre getting hard to find.

 

[neeksgeek]

I’ve used a type P screen in my F3 for about a decade. It’s pretty much perfect for me.

 

[Paul Howell]

When I bought my F used it came with the K, had to buy a P, the dealer I bought the F from had a couple of Ps, screens as the F2 had just came out I don't recall if the F and F2 screens were interchangeable but the dealer gave me a good discount. Later switched to the L screen.

 

[mshchem]

That's the "Apollo Screen" that's the first thing I bought. F F2 F3 a must have!! There's 10 million A screens out there hiding in "P" boxes.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Dang. Every time I buy and install a new (best!) screen in my F2 (last week) someone comes along and tells me there’s a best (!) screen I don’t have in my sack of screens. I guess eventually I’ll have them all.

 

[George Mann]

It would look good in my F2.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I’ve had a p-screen in my F-3 for about the past 40 years. It’s really good. I liked it better than the stock K-screen at the time. Now I’m interested in comparing and need to find that K. Recently, though, I got an E-screen and might like that better than both.

I've been running E screens in my F3 bodies for 36 years now, never used anything else from day one.

Mick.

 

[mshchem]

I've been running E screens in my F3 bodies for 36 years now, never used anything else from day one.

Mick.

I've never fiddled much with F3 screens. But as a kid we all had to have an Apollo screen in our F2s.

 

[mohmad khatab]

Please, can you tell me how much you bought this item?

 

[Huss]

Please, can you tell me how much you bought this item?

It came with the camera.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Huss,

I’ve got “A” screens, “B” screens and “K” screens that I’ve used regularly, and an “E” screen, two different “G” screens, and two different “H” screens that I pretty much never use. Three weeks ago someone told me I needed to be using an “R” screen as my daily driver, now you and others are telling me I need a “P” screen.
Does everybody try all the general use screens before settling on a favorite, or do they just find one after no exploration that works excellently and recommend that one to everybody else? “A”, “B” and “K”, after spending all the money I can’t say that I can do any better with one of them than the others, all great, and I’m not blind to the differences, they just don’t seem to matter in the end result. Have you run through the “A” and “K” for instance, and found the “P” to really be functionally better at aiding rapidity and accuracy of focus?
All this asked before I buy yet one more screen. Screen GAS, that’s a weird thing.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I replaced the factory standard screens on my Nikons with E screens after I noticed all my pictures were tilting to the left - sort of a big deal if you like to shoot slides. I go back to the factory screens for taking pictures of family and such where the microprism is a great aid.

I tried the P screen - I thought it would be the best of all worlds, but it turned out to be a miserable compromised design. Reasons I don't like it: the two cross-hairs through the middle just aren't enough guidance; the microprism area is to small (and too fine) to be really useful; and the 45 degree split image is a bad idea. I had thought that a 45 degree split image would be great as it would work on verticals and horizontals. Instead I found it doesn't work very well on either; I was always tilting the camera this way and that to get an image line to slice cleanly through it.

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

I think all of us on this forum likely suffer to some degree from P.I.I. (Preoccupation with Inconsequential Improvements). I prefer the split image screens of my Nikons, but my photos with my Pentax cameras (all of which I bought for less than $50 with a lens and none of which have split image screens) come out just the same.

 

[abruzzi]

I suspect that most of us haven't tried all of the screens. I know for a long time, no matter the camera, I just used what it came with. I didn't read or hear about the P screen until I happened to buy an F2SB that had it installed, and it made me very happy, so I started looking for P screens for my other F2s. I prefer to have a full microprism without the split screen, but if I have a split screen, I much prefer the diagonal. Are there better ones? Maybe, but you get married because you love your fiancee, not because you've tried all the possible options.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I replaced the factory standard screens on my Nikons with E screens after I noticed all my pictures were tilting to the left - sort of a big deal if you like to shoot slides. I go back to the factory screens for taking pictures of family and such where the microprism is a great aid.

I tried the P screen - I thought it would be the best of all worlds, but it turned out to be a miserable compromised design. Reasons I don't like it: the two cross-hairs through the middle just aren't enough guidance; the microprism area is to small (and too fine) to be really useful; and the 45 degree split image is a bad idea. I had thought that a 45 degree split image would be great as it would work on verticals and horizontals. Instead I found it doesn't work very well on either; I was always tilting the camera this way and that to get an image line to slice cleanly through it.

Thanks, and to everyone else as well, that helps. I'll probably just stay with what I have as they're already nicer than most screens in most other cameras, and I never have any issues anyway.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I never have any issues anyway.

Well, let me tell you, when I went on a wild focus-screen chase I quickly acquired issues.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And if you fix it enough times you will really break it."

 

[narsuitus]

There are 22 view screens available for the Nikon F and F2. I have a complete Nikon set plus a couple of Beattie screens. I have tried them all. Some screens I prefer to others.

When I was young with good eyesight, I preferred the “B” screen for general shooting. As my eyesight failed, I found it easier to accurately focus with the “A” screen or any screen with a split image focusing aid.

For astrophotography, I prefer the “M” screen.

For architectural work, I prefer the grid lines on the “E” screen.

The "P" screen is great screen for general subjects and for architectural subjects; however, I was never able to get used to the diagonal spit image focusing aid. I personally prefer the grid lines and the horizontal split image focusing aid of the "R" screen.


Nikon F2 screens by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[CMoore]

There are 22 view screens available for the Nikon F and F2. I have a complete Nikon set plus a couple of Beattie screens. I have tried them all. Some screens I prefer to others.

When I was young with good eyesight, I preferred the “B” screen for general shooting. As my eyesight failed, I found it easier to accurately focus with the “A” screen or any screen with a split image focusing aid.

For astrophotography, I prefer the “M” screen.

For architectural work, I prefer the grid lines on the “E” screen.

The "P" screen is great screen for general subjects and for architectural subjects; however, I was never able to get used to the diagonal spit image focusing aid. I personally prefer the grid lines and the horizontal split image focusing aid of the "R" screen.


Nikon F2 screens by Narsuitus, on Flickr

I have two F2 bodies.
One has the R...always wondered what it is, i just looked it up.
I could easily live with that in both cameras.
The other body has a K.

I sort of chuckled when i read your experience with the P.
Probably a standard reaction for a lot of people, including myself.
Although i found...like with a lot of things in life...if i used it long enough, i DID get used to it.
I think i can judge focus better with a plain screen than i can trying to judge the "Sharpness" of the micro-prism
Although, to quote myself, if i used it enough i might get good with that as well. I always used to split screen a lot more.
Another "problem".......... at 61, my eyes have a hard time judging focus based on the micro-prism.

So what is supposed to be the advantage with the split screen at 45 degrees Vs 90 degrees.?

 

[MattKing]

So what is supposed to be the advantage with the split screen at 45 degrees Vs 90 degrees.?

Because in life, some edges are horizontal, and some edges are vertical, and the 45 degree split image works with both.

 

[BrianShaw]

… but it really is slower. No matter how long I’ve been using that screen I always have to think about split as angled.

 

[George Mann]

These are selling for over $100 on eBay.

 

[CMoore]

Because in life, some edges are horizontal, and some edges are vertical, and the 45 degree split image works with both.

Because in life, some edges are horizontal, and some edges are vertical, and the 45 degree split image works with both.

Have you eve used one.?
On paper, i 100% get what You/Nikon are saying.
I am not so sure, intuitively, most people see that way.

I have heard for years, like some have commented here, they found themselves "always" turning the camera.........like we do to make a horizontal focus aid fit a horizontal line.

Like i said, i got better with it over time. I suppose if that is all you had, you would either adapt, or just turn the damn camera.
It is just humorous that the 45 degree was supposed to be the answer for both situations, but many people ending up turning the P screen more than the A or K with a 90.
At least the 90 degree is "Correct" half of the time.

I need to give the P another shot and see if i cannot develop my "Sea Legs" with that thing.

 

[madNbad]

These are selling for over $100 on eBay.

That because Huss is an influencer.