The Katz Eye™ focusing screen for the Nikon D700 is a laser matte with a split prism circle, very similar to the one you would find in many classic SLRs. It is a direct replacement for the original focusing screen, with no modifications required to the camera, and the split prism allows for precision manual focusing in a wide variety of situations. The screen will have NO effect on the AF system of the camera and the on-demand grid lines will continue to function normally.
Viewfinder Markings The Katz Eye™ focusing screen for the Nikon D700 has NO effect on existing viewfinder information. All viewfinder markings, including focusing points and on-demand gridlines will function normally.
Metering Information The Katz Eye™ focusing screen for the Nikon D700 shows only a very slight effect on light metering. In our testing, the Katz Eye™ screen tested within factory tolerance in nearly all situations. The only exception is when using spot metering mode with lenses having a maximum aperture slower than f3 (higher numerical f-stop). With lenses slower than f3, it is advisable to use either center-weighted average metering or matrix metering to preserve accurate meter response. In the event that spot metering mode must be used with a slow lens, it is advisable to set an appropriate exposure compensation by reading the histogram of a test shot. Approximate exposure compensation values are as follows:
| Aperture | Matrix | Center-Weighted | Spot |
1.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4.0 | 0 | 0 | -1 EV |
5.6 | 0 | 0 | -2 EV |
Note: These exposure compensation suggestions are a recommended starting point only and actual results may vary depending on conditions. Users are advised to take a test photo and check the histogram before beginning any critical work. Apertures indicated in the above chart are the lens maximum aperture as indicated on the lens body and are not affected by the actual aperture chosen for a given photo.
The “Plus” Prism The Katz Eye™ focusing screen for the Nikon D700 is available exclusively in the Katz Eye™ “Plus” version . The “Plus” version has a unique prism design which delays the prism ‘blackout’ phenomenon until well after f11. Ordinary split prisms will black out by about f5.6, rendering them difficult to use with slower zoom lenses, teleconverters, or in extreme macro photography... but not the Katz Eye™ “Plus”. More information about the Katz Eye™ “Plus” can be found here.
Installation
The Katz Eye™ screen is a direct replacement for the original and no modifications to the camera are required. The installation requires no special tools or skills, but it does require working in tight spaces. If you are not confident in your vision or dexterity, professional installation might be advisable. For those users installing the screen themselves or for those taking the camera to a local shop, complete installation instructions, with plenty of photos, are available for download here. We will also include an installation tool to assist in the manipulation of the screen retaining wire, but the installer should still expect to provide their own tweezers, gloves, lens tissue, and other common items.
If you do not wish to perform the installation yourself and you do not have a trusted local shop, we’d be happy to install your new focusing screen for you here at Katz Eye™ Optics. Please see the Installation Service page to order installation with your focusing screen. Installation service at Katz Eye™ Optics costs $65, plus the cost of return shipping of your camera.
Brightness
Currently the Katz Eye™ focusing screen for the Nikon D700 is not available with our OptiBrite enhancement. Only our standard high precision laser matte is available at this time. The brightness of the Katz Eye™ focusing screen is similar to the original Nikon screen in most situations. With slower lenses (f3.5-5.6) there may be a very slight decrease in viewfinder brightness compared to the original screen. Development work on application of the OptiBrite treatment to this model is ongoing and it is expected that OptiBrite treatment will be available for this model at some time in the future. If you wish to be notified about the upcoming availability of the OptiBrite option, please feel free to contact us.
Composition Aids
Although the Nikon D700 has very nice on-demand gridlines which remain functional with the Katz Eye™ focusing screen, additional patterns can be added to the focusing screen if you require different composition aids. We can meet your needs with a variety of standard patterns of gridlines and croplines or we can provide a custom pattern to your design. Please be aware that composition aid patterns added to the Katz Eye™ focusing screen will be permanent and will not turn off like the in-camera gridlines. Also, Katz Eye™ gridline and cropline proportions are based on the full sensor (FX) area and will not be proportionate when using a DX lens. Click here for more information about our gridline and cropline options.
All Katz Eye™ focusing screens are custom made to order and are usually not available to ship the day the order is placed.
As of 02/09/2010 production is operating normally and orders are being completed in 2-4 business days from the date they were placed.
