What is a focusing screen?
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The focussing screen is a part of the viewfinder assembly - it's what the mirror throws the image onto so you can see it through the viewfinder.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focusing_screen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focusing_screen
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Focussing screens in film cameras were quite different pre-autofocus days, as they were designed to assist with manual focus.
Most common was probably split screen/microprism. As autofocus took over, the need for such screens diminished. The screens we now have are brighter due to the lack of focusing aids, but it does make it a bit more difficult on those occasions when you are trying to focus manually.
Most common was probably split screen/microprism. As autofocus took over, the need for such screens diminished. The screens we now have are brighter due to the lack of focusing aids, but it does make it a bit more difficult on those occasions when you are trying to focus manually.
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http://www.islandnet.com/~yesmag/how_work/camera.html
Scroll down to illustration 3. The focussing screen (not shown in the drawing) is right below the pentaprism. When you look through the viewfinder you see the image on the focussing screen. The screens on film SLR's are much better at showing the effect of depth of field when the preview button is operated.
Scroll down to illustration 3. The focussing screen (not shown in the drawing) is right below the pentaprism. When you look through the viewfinder you see the image on the focussing screen. The screens on film SLR's are much better at showing the effect of depth of field when the preview button is operated.
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The SLRs had huge VFs compared with the crop DSLRs that most people use. I don't know if the DSLR screens are actually brighter - most of us used fast primes as standard lenses in the 70s and 80s - and my F2 VF (K screen or plain ground glass) is much brighter than my 30D with the same Nikkor f1.4 attached. MF is a breeze on the Nikon with either screen.