Manual focusing with D5100

[Rexer John]

When I had my old film camera, it was almost always used in MF, using the D5100 it's almost always in AF.

Reason is, my old camera had a split centre in the viewfinder to get lines straight.
I'd have my old film camera back, over the D5100 if the film plate could be changed to an electronic sensor.

To use MF I can use my own best approximation, or use the green dot in the viewfinder for focus confirmation.

This seems to be a step back on what was a great system, especially in good light.

I've read that you can use old lenses on the D5100 but they would need to be used in MF only.
Would the green dot still show as focus confirmation? I guess so but would like to know for sure.

Do the more expensive DSLR's have the split shift screen for MF?

 

[Rick M]

Th D600 uses the same dot system.

 

[RockyNH_RIP]

To use MF I can use my own best approximation, or use the green dot in the viewfinder for focus confirmation.


I've read that you can use old lenses on the D5100 but they would need to be used in MF only.
Would the green dot still show as focus confirmation? I guess so but would like to know for sure.

According to the manual.. the green dot works as long as lens is 5.6 or faster and shutter is depressed half way.

Pat in NH

 

[Horoscope Fish]

... I've read that you can use old lenses on the D5100 but they would need to be used in MF only.
Would the green dot still show as focus confirmation? I guess so but would like to know for sure.

I've got a pretty old (circa early '70's) Nikon 43-86mm zoom (one of the worst lenses, I think, ever to grace our planet) I use it as a paperweight on my desk at my office)). It mounts perfectly on my '5100 though you have to work in full Manual. The green dot/focus confirmation does appear to work.

 

[pistnbroke]

The only improvement you can make is to fit a CPU emulator then it will work in all modes APSM and the only thing left is to focus ...you can even set back focus on a camera that does not allow that ,....$30 ebay..you can see the pins in the photo below

 

[STM]

Focusing screens in digital cameras pretty much universally suck for manual focusing and focus confirmation often does not work when the light levels get low. They are not really designed for critical focusing.

As soon as I got my D700 I got an aftermarket focusing screen for it because all of my lenses are older manual focus AIS. Below is a link for a microprism/split image screen for the 5100. I got my D700 screen from them and it is perfect!

Focusing Screen

 

[Rexer John]

Wow, thanks STM, never knew an alternative screen could be fitted.

 

[STM]

Wow, thanks STM, never knew an alternative screen could be fitted.

On their site they usually have a step by step (with photos) procedure for changing out the screen. At least they did for the one in my D700. It took about 2 minutes to swap mine out.

 

[Rexer John]

Thanks again STM.

Just found this video (for a D40) but should be pretty much the same to change the screen.

And this video of the K3 focussing screen which is the one listed in your post for the D5100.

I'd never have known about this without your info. I just thought I was stuck with a green confirmation dot.
It will be a while before I get one but I'm sure my camera will have one sometime, especially if I get older lenses.

 

[STM]

Thanks again STM.

Just found this video (for a D40) but should be pretty much the same to change the screen.

And this video of the K3 focussing screen which is the one listed in your post for the D5100.

I'd never have known about this without your info. I just thought I was stuck with a green confirmation dot.
It will be a while before I get one but I'm sure my camera will have one sometime, especially if I get older lenses.

Glad I could be of help! They do not have one for the D800 and they told me they do not know when, or even if, they will. That alone is a deal killer, at least until they offer one, with me because I honestly don't ever see me getting an autofocus lens, and with 12 AIS Nikkors from fisheye to super telephoto, I don't see me replacing any of them! When the time comes that I get another body, it will probably be a D3X anyway, and they have several screens for the D3/D3S/D3X

 

[SkvLTD]

That's pretty freaking awesome! I might consider that thing myself. Stock/dot screen does help train the eye, but no reason not to have an accurate tool at the same time.

 

[BackdoorArts]

Marcel posted a link to a place that sells focus screens that will fit on many Nikon digitals. Tried finding it but can't seem to dig it up. He said he got a couple and they worked extremely well. Very simple process to swap them out.

 

[SkvLTD]

Link is in page one of this thread.

 

[Marcel]

Here's the link to my original thread. Post #1 has the site's info. You can also ggogle for Katzeye focusing screens. They are simple to install.

 

[MojosEye]

Being a new convert to a D5100 after a long absence from ol' school Nikon film bodies, that focusing screen makes my heart warm. :heart:

 

[SkvLTD]

Old school sure had it better for manual. I'm still kinda drooling over these, though my wallet currently is not.

 

[Eye-level]

I have basically been a MF guy since I got my digital body and like STM I use the old Nikkors. One thing I discovered that vastly improved my ability to focus with said camera and lenses which may or may not apply to you is the built in diopter. Basically what I do when I put a lens on is to look through the viewfinder and move the diopter around until I find the sweet spot that is clearest for that lens and me. Set that diopter up right and you'll find yourself not really needing the split screen or the dot...

 

[SkvLTD]

Rather than just the diopter, it can challenging to focus on a single small object among tons of others around it perfectly clearly. General big things not a problem, but those small objects would benefit quite a bit from that split-circle prism.