question about a focusing screen for a d300

Greg Yost , Nov 20, 2009; 10:28 a.m.

I'd like to get a focusing screen soon for my d300. One site I have looked at sells an FSX screen for the d300 for $40.19, almost 50% less than its prices for its other d300 screens such as the K3. I have looked at the company's product comparison page, but my inexperienced eye sees little that would distinguish one screen from another in terms of suitability for the d300. Would anyone here be able to offer me advice about which route to go? (I know that Katz Eye is well regarded, but I would rather not pay so much.) I'm especially interested in why the FSX is so much less than the K3. Is this price difference also reflective of a difference in quality?

Responses

Oskar Ojala , Nov 20, 2009; 11:22 a.m.

I bought a K3 from focusingscreen.com and was quite happy with the screen and service. I just figured that it's better to buy a brand name screen directly than risk it with something I don't know about. But it would be interesting if someone has compared varios screens.

Michael R. Freeman , Nov 20, 2009; 02:26 p.m.

"I'm especially interested in why the FSX is so much less than the K3."

I would guess that the reason for the significant difference in price is that the K3 is apparently a modified FM3A screen cut to fit the DX format, and would be sourced from Nikon for modification by focusingscreen.com. Note how the standard 12mm reference circle nearly fills the screen across the shortest dimension. Many of the other types available also appear to be modified OEM Canon or Nikon screens.

The FSX appears to be a non-OEM sourced generic split-image focusing screen.