Nikon D70 and KatzEye

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Bruce Baumgart - 20 Oct 2006 16:11 GMT

Has anybody replaced their D70 viewfinder with a KatzEye and done the work
themselves? Just how difficult is it? I'm fairly adept, but my hands
aren't as steady as they were 30 years ago.

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Bruce "This space for rent" Baumgart
babaumgart@newsguy.com

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bmoag - 20 Oct 2006 16:59 GMT

According to the web site exposure readings will be significantly affected
by the change in focusing screens. Autofocus is not clearly discussed
I recently acquired an ancient Minolta SR7 (sentimental reasons) with
precisely this type of focusing screen.
In the dim, small confines of the D70 I think the focusing change would be
of limited use.
However I cannot understand why cameras with bigger, brigher imaging
systems, like the D80/200 did not include better manual focusing aids.

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AustinMN - 20 Oct 2006 17:48 GMT

> According to the web site exposure readings will be significantly affected
> by the change in focusing screens. Autofocus is not clearly discussed
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> However I cannot understand why cameras with bigger, brigher imaging
> systems, like the D80/200 did not include better manual focusing aids.

Engineering arrogance. "Our autofocus is so good, why would anyone
want to focus manually? Besides, we give them a manual focusing
screen. That should be good enough."

Austin

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frederick - 21 Oct 2006 03:05 GMT

> According to the web site exposure readings will be significantly affected
> by the change in focusing screens. Autofocus is not clearly discussed
> I recently acquired an ancient Minolta SR7 (sentimental reasons) with
> precisely this type of focusing screen.

The auto focusing shouldn't be affected. The AF sensors are at the
bottom of the mirror box image reflected down from the AF mirror behind
the main mirror, so as long as the AF mirror stop cams aren't disturbed,
then AF calibration shouldn't be changed.
The aftermarket screens come with spacers that need to be fitted
otherwise focus accuracy will be poor.

> In the dim, small confines of the D70 I think the focusing change would be
> of limited use.
> However I cannot understand why cameras with bigger, brigher imaging
> systems, like the D80/200 did not include better manual focusing aids.

They aren't brighter - put the same lens on both bodies and compare.
They are bigger - perhaps that makes them seem brighter? If you put
ground-glass in as a focusing aid, then they will be dimmer, so while
you may gain some - you lose some too.

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Rudy Benner - 20 Oct 2006 17:49 GMT

> Has anybody replaced their D70 viewfinder with a KatzEye and done the work
> themselves? Just how difficult is it? I'm fairly adept, but my hands
> aren't as steady as they were 30 years ago.

Did mine (D-50) and it was easy. Carefully read instructions first.

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Floyd L. Davidson - 20 Oct 2006 19:33 GMT

>Has anybody replaced their D70 viewfinder with a KatzEye and done the work
>themselves? Just how difficult is it? I'm fairly adept, but my hands
>aren't as steady as they were 30 years ago.

I've done it with a D2x, and had no problem. (Similar adeptness
and lack of steadiness.) They provide a little plastic
tweezers to do the job. It isn't difficult at all.

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Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@apaflo.com

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Jeremy Nixon - 21 Oct 2006 02:45 GMT

> I've done it with a D2x, and had no problem.

The D2x has user-changeable focusing screens, though, and the D70 doesn't.
It's trivial on the D2x, but that's to be expected.

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Jeremy | jeremy@exit109.com

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