Nikon F2 - Focusing Screens

Focusing Screens

The F2 also had interchangeable viewfinder focusing screens. Nippon Kogaku's standard Type K screen had central 3 mm split image rangefinder and 1 mm microprism collar focusing aids on a matte/Fresnel background plus a 12 mm etched circle indicating the area of the meter centerweighting. There were 18 other screens available with a variety of focusing aids or etched guidelines choices, including none at all. Note that the screens for the F2 were interchangeable with the ones for the Nikon F, but not with later F-series SLRs.

The optional screens were:

• Type A – central 3 mm split image rangefinder plus 12 mm etched circle. Standard equipment with early F2s. Changeover to Type K occurred circa 1976.
• Type B – central 5 mm focusing spot plus 12 mm etched circle. Useful for close ups and long telephotos.
• Type C – central 4 mm clear spot with crosshair reticle. Very bright and useful for photo-microscopy, astrophotography, and parallax focusing method.
• Type D – plain matte screen. Best screen for use with long telephotos with small apertures.
• Type E – Type B with a grid of 5 horizontal and 3 vertical lines. Called "architectural screen" and excellent for "Rule of Thirds" pictorialist compositions. The most popular replacement screen.
• Type G – central 12 mm extra-bright microprism without matte background (cannot assess depth of field). Four versions (G1–G4) for use with specific focal length lenses. Not popular because switching lenses might necessitate switching the screen too.
• Type H – fullscreen extra-bright microprism; also cannot assess depth of field. Four versions (H1–H4) for use with specific focal length lenses. Intended for sports photography, but not popular because switching lenses might necessitate switching the screen too.
• Type J – central 4 mm microprism plus 12 mm etched circle.
• Type L – Type A, but with rangefinder set at a 45° angle from lower left to upper right. Permits focusing on horizontal or vertical subjects.
• Type M – central 5 mm double cross hairs with marked horizontal and vertical scales. Excellent for photo-microscopy.
• Type P – Type L, but adds 1 mm microprism collar and fullscreen crosshair. Originally marketed as the "Apollo P screen," it was a screen favored by NASA on the bodies they acquired for their use.
• Type R – Type E, but adds a 3 mm split image rangefinder to the center of the screen.
• Type S – for F2 Data (see below) only. Type A with etched marking for data imprint area.
• Type T – for F2 Type A with etched markings for taking pictures of TV screens.

The combination and wide selection of heads and screens allowed photographers to customize their F2s to their heart's content.