Anyone replace the focusing screen on their D3300?

gustafson

Senior Member
I'm looking at swapping out the focusing screen on my D3300 for a split focusing screen to improve manual focusing. The main reason is I've been acquiring some older manual primes, and my results with manual focusing have been a bit hit or miss, despite the use of the green focus confirmation dot. The problem is particularly acute on wide angles such as the 28mm f/3.5 Nikkor H, where the green dot stays on over a relatively wide focus range.

So questions for you all are:

  1. Have you changed the focusing screen on your D3300? If so, how easy is it to remove it and replace it? Pointers to guides on the web would be appreciated.
  2. What does the focusing screen look like? Is it identical to the D3200 or D3100? What about D40?
  3. Is there a preferred replacement focusing screen among Nikonites for the D3300?
  4. What are your experiences (pros / cons) of your split focusing screen?

Thanks in advance!
 

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
If you find a source for these, please let us know. I believe that Marcel may have this modification done to one, or more, of his cameras a while ago.

There used to be a company that modified Nikon and Canon focusing screens for installation in digital cameras, but I believe they went out of business. I've never heard of another source.

WM
 

aroy

Senior Member
As D3xxx or D5xxx series do not meter with non CPU lenses and the flash is also manual, I think that it is not worth spending the money on a replacement screen. D3300 is now down to nearly $300, and D3200 even lower. The good screens normally cost around $100 all told, cheaper versions will give you AF problems with AF lenses. If I have a lot of older primes, I would invest the money first in a D7xxx series body and then change the screen. Refurbished D7xxx bodies are quire reasonably priced, so there is no reason not to get one. A refurbished D610 is even better idea as all old primes are FX and you will get the best VFM for those older wides.
 
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gustafson

Senior Member
Wish I had seen this before I ordered my focusing screen. Fortunately, I only paid $20 for it. Hope it doesn't interfere with my AF lenses. Meanwhile, will start saving up for a D610


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gustafson

Senior Member
Thanks @Daz, that's a relief to hear. Definitely don't want any unintended consequences of changing that focusing screen.


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captain birdseye

Senior Member
The split image screen would be handy for using manual focusing but, you would best use it with a lens with fast aperture like f2.8.
Slower lenses would darken the center of the screen making it a little trickier to use, as for use with teleconverters, forget it unless also using a fast lens.
I would go for the normal screen.
Save yourself any possible problems and get a nikon part and have a tech fit it for you.
How did you scratch the screen in the forst place?
 

benaknoun

New member
Thanks for your message.
Well I noticed a black spot inside the camera, and could remove it by simply wiping with microfibre cloth.
Turns out it was a black piece of dust that was behind the focusing screen, no idea how it got there cause I never removed my lens.
By the way I have a sigma f3.5 18-300.
Anyway, when removing the fosusing screen, should have used plastic tweezers which I didn't have, so used my usual metal ones and I scratched it.
However it is not major problem, its a hair line scratch.
So I want to buy a new focusing screen and change it.
Shame because the split one is cheaper.
I will get the normal one since you think the other one is not worth it.
 

Kevin Burns

New member
2020, I have replaced many focus screen starting with the D40, D700, D7100, and the D3200. I don't think the D3300 would be any different. All are super simple to do.
The D3200 is a simple clip that a mini flat head screwdriver will pop upwards.
What I do is a little more in depth.
I vacuum the black box before I do anything to remove the focus screen, I do this to vacuum out any stray fibers and dust. I use the attachment hose without and fitting. The hose is just a hair smaller than the metal lens mount. DO NOT seal the hose but rather leave a 1/4 inch gap between the hose and lens mount.

2) I pop the metal retaining clip that holds the focus screen, I use a mini screwdriver to do this.
3) Turn camera over and usually the focus screen will lean out, if not a soft slap to the camera body should free it.
4) remove the focus screen, there is a brass frame and a black paper frame under the focus screen (Between the focus screen and focus point screen) yes there is actually two screens. Sometimes these two frames will lean out too, I remove then as well as I also remove the focus point screen. I'll get to that in a few steps.
5) with focus screen out hold the camera upside down and look through the viewfinder, your looking for dust, tiny hairs and debris on the focus point screen. usually there is debris that gets in between the two focus screens. I use a very slightly "Very Slightly" damp Q-Tip and clean the focus point screen until it is clean when looking through the viewfinder. Be gentle as it scratches/mars easy and be patient as it takes some time. There will most likely be at least one stubborn speck, and this is why I remove both. When both are removed the pentamirror is also easy to clean.
6) After I remove the two focus and point screens and the two frames, I re-vacuum the black box to vacuum out any dust in the pentamirror being the pentamirror is now opened with the two screens removed.
7) I take the focus point screen and rinse it with water and let it dry.
8) After the focus point screen is dry I reinstall it. I don't bother with rubbers for my fingers because those are really not needed, just pinch the very edge of the screens. Recheck for debris, usually the focus point screen goes back in clean.
9) with tweezers and a soft touch install the black paper frame. look through viewfinder again to check for debris. Re-clean if needed as tiny debris will be an issue and is just part of the deal.
10) Once the black paper screen is in on top of the focus point screen and the viewfinder is clean/clean enough for your taste, with the tweezers now install the brass frame, again looking through the view finder for any debris.
11) Once happy with the lack of debris when looking through the viewfinder now place the focus screen in. Look through the viewfinder and repete cleaning until your happy. It wont be a one shot so get ready to remove clean and remove and clean. The tiny black fibers of the mirror slap pad really get all over the place so be patient.
12) Once you are happy with the view when looking through viewfinder, now use your index finger and swing down the metal retaining clip and press it under the tab lock.
Your done.
As far as people saying get a new camera or your camera is old is BS to be honest. My D3200 gets used just as much as my D7100 because the image sensor is much better in way of dead pixels (Hot pixels) the D7100 has more dead pixels. My vintage D200 still gets used just as much as my D7100, in fact it took 16 different D200's over the years to get a good one. This D200 I don't have to worry about editing dead pixels at all. And that's rare for a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) I rarely use my D7100 it has a junk imager lots of dead pixels, all my cameras were bought USA and new. My vintage D700 blows away my D610. Why, because the D700 has way less dead pixels than my D610.
What I am trying to say is every camera's imager has flaws, if you have a camera with a great imager why risk getting another camera that might not have such as good imager in a dead/hot pixel level. I am a photographer, soccer moms/dads are the type of people who must have the newest to look good in public whereas a real photographer just needs any camera. Looking good or spending money don't always yield the best image.
 
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Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Kevin
Unfortunately the OP has not posted anything since April of 2018, so I doubt they will see your great post. Hopefully it will help someone else.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
2020, I have replaced many focus screen starting with the D40, D700, D7100, and the D3200. I don't think the D3300 would be any different. All are super simple to do.
The D3200 is a simple clip that a mini flat head screwdriver will pop upwards.
What I do is a little more in depth.
I vacuum the black box before I do anything to remove the focus screen, I do this to vacuum out any stray fibers and dust. I use the attachment hose without and fitting. The hose is just a hair smaller than the metal lens mount. DO NOT seal the hose but rather leave a 1/4 inch gap between the hose and lens mount.

2) I pop the metal retaining clip that holds the focus screen, I use a mini screwdriver to do this.
3) Turn camera over and usually the focus screen will lean out, if not a soft slap to the camera body should free it.
4) remove the focus screen, there is a brass frame and a black paper frame under the focus screen (Between the focus screen and focus point screen) yes there is actually two screens. Sometimes these two frames will lean out too, I remove then as well as I also remove the focus point screen. I'll get to that in a few steps.
5) with focus screen out hold the camera upside down and look through the viewfinder, your looking for dust, tiny hairs and debris on the focus point screen. usually there is debris that gets in between the two focus screens. I use a very slightly "Very Slightly" damp Q-Tip and clean the focus point screen until it is clean when looking through the viewfinder. Be gentle as it scratches/mars easy and be patient as it takes some time. There will most likely be at least one stubborn speck, and this is why I remove both. When both are removed the pentamirror is also easy to clean.
6) After I remove the two focus and point screens and the two frames, I re-vacuum the black box to vacuum out any dust in the pentamirror being the pentamirror is now opened with the two screens removed.
7) I take the focus point screen and rinse it with water and let it dry.
8) After the focus point screen is dry I reinstall it. I don't bother with rubbers for my fingers because those are really not needed, just pinch the very edge of the screens. Recheck for debris, usually the focus point screen goes back in clean.
9) with tweezers and a soft touch install the black paper frame. look through viewfinder again to check for debris. Re-clean if needed as tiny debris will be an issue and is just part of the deal.
10) Once the black paper screen is in on top of the focus point screen and the viewfinder is clean/clean enough for your taste, with the tweezers now install the brass frame, again looking through the view finder for any debris.
11) Once happy with the lack of debris when looking through the viewfinder now place the focus screen in. Look through the viewfinder and repete cleaning until your happy. It wont be a one shot so get ready to remove clean and remove and clean. The tiny black fibers of the mirror slap pad really get all over the place so be patient.
12) Once you are happy with the view when looking through viewfinder, now use your index finger and swing down the metal retaining clip and press it under the tab lock.
Your done.
As far as people saying get a new camera or your camera is old is BS to be honest. My D3200 gets used just as much as my D7100 because the image sensor is much better in way of dead pixels (Hot pixels) the D7100 has more dead pixels. My vintage D200 still gets used just as much as my D7100, in fact it took 16 different D200's over the years to get a good one. This D200 I don't have to worry about editing dead pixels at all. And that's rare for a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) I rarely use my D7100 it has a junk imager lots of dead pixels, all my cameras were bought USA and new. My vintage D700 blows away my D610. Why, because the D700 has way less dead pixels than my D610.
What I am trying to say is every camera's imager has flaws, if you have a camera with a great imager why risk getting another camera that might not have such as good imager in a dead/hot pixel level. I am a photographer, soccer moms/dads are the type of people who must have the newest to look good in public whereas a real photographer just needs any camera. Looking good or spending money don't always yield the best image.

Welcome to the forum
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Welcome aboard Kevin. Enjoy the ride.
We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

My bad! I was so overwhelmed by your post, I failed to notice you where new hear.
 
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