The differences that you see are exactly why there are multiple screen
types. No single one is optimal for everything. You need to change
screens if you want optimal. You, of course, don't want to be bothered
by that but you can't have your cake and eat it too. :-)
And I suspect you're trying to use the 1-8 well outside its comfort
zone. It works fine on my Celestron-8 2000mm f/10 and even on my Zuiko
200mm f/4. But if it doesn't work on a 24mm f/2... well, it wasn't
designed for that usage.
And if your Nikon works better in some circumstances... use the Nikon.
Chuck Norcutt
On 1/3/2012 1:55 AM, Dawid Loubser wrote:
> I am going a little crazy here about one of those things in life where
> we have a choice between two items, neither of which is optimal.
> My brief flirt with the (wonderful) Nikon F - which is now safely
> displayed in a cabinet for the time being - has taught me the value of
> a focusing screen that, though dimmer, shows accurate depth of field.
>
> Now let's be honest - absolutely any traditional focusing screen looks
> like a dirty windscreen compared to a Olympus Lumi Micron Matte. I
> have recently noticed, however, how dramatically better the Lumi
> Micron screens make the image appear than what it really looks like
> captured on film. When this happens, you photograph things that look
> great through the viewfinder, but not so great on film (you rely more
> on your eyes, and less on your mind's eye, to spot a great
> composition). And then there's the issue of focusing accuracy -
> focusing fast lenses when you see their DOF at f/2.8 - f/4 is not all
> that accurate, unless you can take your time focusing. Not great for
> grab shots or moving objects.
>
> I've been shooting my 3Ti with the plain matte / grid focusing screen.
> The grain seems to be just right - not too grainy, but not as smooth
> as the too-smooth, semi-transparent 1-8 screen. The problem? The big
> bright beautiful viewfinder is reduced to a *much* dimmer, less
> contrasty experience. To be honest, in this configuration, the Nikon F
> finder blows it out of the water.
>
> So, I'll probably put the Lumi-Micron back in - but I have a question
> for you guys: Is it even theoretically possible to decisively
> accurately focus f/1.4 and f/2.0 lenses with this screen? Or is it
> literally the case that one will always have the margin of error,
> equivalent to the difference in field depth between f/1.4 and f/4 ?
>
> In good light, I really like (and prefer) the plain matte with grid
> screen, but in poor light, it's really not that great. Much better on
> an OM-1/2 of course, which has that extra half-stop of brightness or
> so due to the solid mirrors.
>
> Happy new year all! I am going to shoot some colour this year :-)
>
> Dawid
>
>
--
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