Interchangeable Focusing
Screens
During the early days, the
Nikon FE is an automatic camera with a full match needle manual exposure control
system, another selling point was its interchangeable focusing screen capability.
This feature was missed out in the mechanical Nikkormat FT and electronic EL series models.
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Until the FM2 of 1982, Nikon FE remained
first model other than the Nikon professional F series to have this unique and useful
feature. The original FM wasn't equipped with this either.
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It was only made available
in the original Nikon FM2 in 1982 and during the initial stage,
the FM2 shares the same screens designed for the FE which is slightly dimmer. This
interchangeable screen feature was made standard later in all the mid-compact manual
focus Nikon bodies - FM2, FE2, FM2n, FA. Sorry, neither the current Nikon FM10 and
FE10 has this useful feature incorporated, both of these bodies have only a fixed,
non-interchangeable standard K screen as standard. With the introduction of the Nikon FM3a in 2002, the Company also debuted a 3 new series of screens (K3-type Spliprism-image Rangefinder
Microprism, Clear Matte Screen IIa and Etched system with horizontal and vertical
lines ) specifically for the camera.
Generally, regardless of old
or new, there are a total of three different types of focusing screens available.
You can categorized them in two different groups: The early days of K/B/E (for the
FE, FM, and FM2) and the later K2/B2/E2 for the FA, FE2, FM2n/FM2T and K3, E3 and
B3 for the Nikon FM3a. What was the difference ? The screens in the second and third
series are brighter than earlier ones for easier view and focusing, that is all.
The new K3/B3/E3 has a smaller diameter of the split-image renagefinder than earlier
versions..
Out line their general applications:
TYPE K (K2): Matte/Fresnel with horizontal
rangefinder and microprism. Matte/Fresnel field with central 3mm-diameter split-image
rangefinder (horizontally aligned) surrounded by 1 mm-wide microprism collar. This
screen combines the split-image and the microprism for quick and accurate focusing,
particularly with lenses of brighter maximum aperture. Screen also provided with
centrally positioned, 12mm-diameter etched reference circle denoting area of center-weighting
TTL exposure measurement. Excellent for general photography, the Type K screen is
standard equipment on the Nikon FM/FE/FM2. While K2 screen is the standard screen
for FE2, FM2n, FM2T, FA, FM10 and FE10.
TYPE B (B2): Matte/Fresnel with focusing
spot. Matte/Fresnel field with central 3mm-diameter fine-ground matte focusing spot.
The 12mm-diamter reference circle corresponds to the area of center-weighted TTL
exposure measurement. Rated excellent with all lenses, this screen proves especially
good with lenses having small maximum apertures, such as Reflex-Nikkors, as well
as for close-up photography applications. Since most of you experienced one way or
another with darkening of the spit image with those small aperture lenses, especially
with zoom lenses.
TYPE E (E2): Matte/Fresnel with focusing
spot and grid. Matte/Fresnel field with central 3mm-diameter fine-ground matte focusing
spot and etched grid. The 12mm-diamter reference circle corresponds to the area of
center-weighted TTL exposure measurement. Rated excellent with all lenses, this screen
proves especially good for exacting reproduction work, such as copying, as well as
for architectural photography with PC-Nikkor lenses. The grids, are useful for perfect registration
in multiple exposures
or use it for reference guide in composition etc.
The two groups of screens
are compatible with any of the above cameras. Note: Some exposure compensation is needed
when certain screens are installed in certain cameras. For instance, when you intend
to use an FE, FM, or FM2 with the newer group of screens, an exposure compensation
(Either through the exposure compensation dial or adjust the ASA) of + 1/3
to +1/2 stop exposure compensation is required.
On the other hand, if an FE2, FA, or FM2n is used with a screen from the earlier
series, a compensation value of -
1/3 to - 1/2 stop exposure compensation is necessary.
Still
confused ? Here
is a compatibility chart with the recommended exposure compensation values: (NOTE:
Nikon claims FM3a can used K2/B2/K2 without
the need to compensate exposure
but they didn't indicate whether how much adjustment needs to be done on the other
way round i.e. using the new screen(s) on older bodies)
|
.
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K, B, E
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K2, B2, E2
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K3, B3, E3
|
|
FE
|
-
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+ 1/2 EV
|
|
|
FM2
|
-
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+ 1/3 EV
|
|
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FE2, FA, FM2n, FM2/T
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- 1/3 EV
|
-
|
|
| Nikon FM3a |
|
|
-
|
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Updated by Lars Holst Hansen
<LHHansen@zi.ku.dk> Creator of the Nikon Repair Mailing List
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Note: These are suggested compensation values
published by Nikon on the little leaflet that came with the optional screen, please
use it only as a reference. For more precise results, try to perform a test on your
own to find the best combination.
Next issue is - how to differentiate
between these two groups of screens ?
I suggest you'd better try
to absorb this info, as not many shop assistants out there are knowledgeable enough
to help you, as these are minor accessories to them. It could be quite troublesome
for you to keep two type of these screens in your camera bag if situations demand
you to keep changing screens for various assignments.
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Type K/B/E screens have a straight
tab.
|
 |
Type K2/B2/E2 screens have a notched
tab.
Caution: If you use the Type K/B/E screen,
you must make exposure compensation by setting the exposure compensation dial to
-1/3. However, no exposure compensation is necessary when performing TTL auto flash
photography with a Type K/B/E screen installed in the FE2 or FA.
|
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Type K3/B3/E3 screens for Nikon FM3a.
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Generally, it is easy-to-change
focusing screens with the Nikon cameras mentioned earlier. For most situations, the
standard K/K2 screen works fine. The other two options are quite specific. Like for
close-ups or long telephoto shots, B/B2 offers an unobstructed view in the center.
E/E2, with etched horizontal and vertical lines, is ideal for copying, duplicating,
architectural work (with PC-Nikkor lenses) or as a general aid in composition. But
for all round applications, based on individual preference, I would still suggest
the B2. In fact, the H2 in Nikon F3 are quite similar in nature with the type B in
the FE series. This, of cause is just a personal preference. The split image in the
earlier FE's K screen tends to darken when used with many lenses, I have used to
the plain image screen due to that reason.
Update: The FE10 and FM10 does not have a
interchangeable screen function. A fixed, standard type K screen is used for both
bodies.
Guide on maintenance
of screens: These are
factory guide for the FE published in 1978 maintenance guideline and should be used
as a reference if you want to do it yourself:
How to clean Focusing
Screens of Nikon FE
This note is applicable only
to the focusing screens for Nikon FE, which are made of acrilan. On changing focusing
screens, they should be removed / mounted with tweezers, to avoid getting smudges
or fingerprints on their optical surfaces; As a general cleaning, simply use a brush
or blower brush to remove external dust. However, when the screens are smudged or
printed by mistake, clean them carefully with a cleaning tissue soaked with the adequate
liquid listed below. In this case, do not rub focusing screens strongly, because
they are prone to be easily damaged.
How to change the screen ?
Forgot to link this earlier, errr..
| Liquid/Agent |
Remarks |
| Freon (CCl2F2) |
Excellent |
| Lens cleaner (on the market) |
Excellent |
| Ethyl Alcohol (C2H50H) |
Acceptable |
| Methyl Alcohol (CH3OH) |
Unacceptable |
| Ethy1 Ether ( (C2H5)2O) |
Unacceptable |
| Thinner ( on the market) |
Unacceptable |
|
Back | to Main Index Page
Shared Resources (Screens, Databacks and general accessories)
Relative: Nikon Focusing Screens for Nikon F,
Nikon F3,
Nikon F4, Nikon F5
& Screens for MF-Nikon Mid-compact Bodies.
Shared
Resources: MD-11 | MD-12 | 3rd Party Power Winder Only for FM2(n)/FE2/FA
| Focusing
Screens
| Titanium Shutter | Flash Units -
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