DIY Focusing Screen Replacement Digilux 3 (LUMIX DMC-L1)

[Bobitybob]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I recently acquired a Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 to supplement my M9 and to expand my abilities with both macro and telephoto.

 

A few R lenses later, for the cost, I am pleased with the results. The only issue is that I find the focus confirmation LED hard to use so accurate focusing has proven to be a little inconsistent. Reading up on the Forum I noticed that several users of the Digilux 3 (DMC-L1) have had the focusing screen replaced. The warning was that this was not a user replacement part.

 

Searching the internet for someone to undertake this job I discovered a company in Taiwan (Focusing Screen) that offers a replacement screen with a tool to do this yourself. Looking on their site at the instructions it didn't look that hard so I ordered one up and waited. Cost was $77.00 plus postage and unfortunately I also had to pay a UK import clearance fee Still at less than £100.00 total it didn't feel to bad!

 

The screen arrived today and appears to be a standard NIKON K3 focussing screen for the FM3A (Nikon box etc). The kit also included a pair of stainless steel tweezers and a small aluminium tool which is used to unlatch the wire that holds the screen. Following the instructions on their site, removal of the old screen, I have to say was a pretty simple affair. Using the supplied tool it was easy to unlatch the retaining wire and remove the original with the tweezers. The replacement dropped in place and the wire latched in place. This was where the only problem occurred in that having got three corners of the wire in place the tool slipped from the final corner and touched the screen corner. This unfortunately left a small mark, but as its nowhere near the centre its not a problem. The whole process only took around 10 minutes and should be easily accomplished by most people with a steady hand. I found a magnifying light helpful.

 

When I was putting the old screen into the Nikon box I noticed that a tool was included, so the additional tool was not really required as long as you (or your partner) have a pair of pointed tweezers or even better a pair with a right angle bend at the end. Cost of the screen alone from B&H is listed at $32.50 so a considerable saving!

 

Results in my first tests are that the replacement screen is a lot better, particularly when using my Macro Elmar 1:4/100 at close range.

 

Hope this is helpful to those who have contemplated replacing their focusing screen.

[Bobitybob]

Further investigation would suggest they this is a CUT down version of the Nikon K3 screen so it may not be possible to use a standard version from B&H, although any screen from a camera using the same shutter/mirror box should fit without modification.