[Don Schaeffer]

I've been using manual lenses. I find precision focus difficult without a focussing screen (like the film slrs all had). I have ordered a magnifier to enlarge the viewfinder as an aid to focussing. It hasn't arrived yet. What do you guys do to improve manual focus. The D40 does not have a good focus indicator.

[NT73]

I only use manual focus if the camera cannot cope. (dim lighting. not enough contrast, etc..)

[matthew]

That's a good question… I've never found an answer to it that will help. I'll use film cameras with proper manual focusing systems, or the live view LCD preview with the DSLRs that have it. For those that don't have it, I stick with autofocus.

[Wedding Shooter]

Live view is wonderful for manual focus in my case. Perfect ring shots every time.

[shuttertalk]

I know you get can get some focusing screens that make it easier to determine focus through the viewfinder, but am not sure whether they are available for the D40.

Found some after a quick search - not recommending them in any way, they're just the first few I found:
http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/item--Katz-...d_D40.html
http://www.virtualvillage.com/split-imag...6-023.html

[Zig]

I think you're spot-on already Don: different focusing screen. Remember that we're nowadays so spoiled by AF: it's quite a "nromal" part of non-AF shooting to have fewer well-focused keepers.

[Don Schaeffer]

Thanks Zig. I am going to pass on a focussing screen. I'll try a viewfinder magnifyer instead.

[epicurus]

I've been using manual lenses. I find precision focus difficult without a focussing screen (like the film slrs all had). I have ordered a magnifier to enlarge the viewfinder as an aid to focussing. It hasn't arrived yet. What do you guys do to improve manual focus. The D40 does not have a good focus indicator.

[epicurus]

I've recently bought converters, from Hong Kong via E-bay, so I can use my old fully manual (no auto diaphragm) Olympus, Tamron and Soligor lenses on my Canon D60. They have a chip glued in the back that sends focus confirmation to the camera and they work fine. It is hard holding a 500mm refractor lens still though - it takes 2 tripods and a focussing rack used sideways on.

[Don Schaeffer]

PS., I upgraded to the NIkon D3100. This camera has a Fresnel focusing ring which makes it a lot easier to focus.