Camera advice ?

[gbb]

Bit of a long shot..
Nikon D40 DSLR. I have two of them and am re-aquainting myself with them after many years of not using them.

Focus...in the viewfinder, one has a ring display to assist with focus , when youre not in focus the ring is misaligned, it helps you focus really accurately.
The other camera (same.model) doesn't have that ring and despite looking everywhere In settings, I simply cannot find out how to turn it on.

Any advise / experience ?

 

[gbb]

Sorted. One camera has a plain mirror, the other has the focus rings on the mirror itself...so I will just use the appropriate camera body.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Pre-DSLR, just on SLR my old Olympus OM-1 (the original proper one, not the modern use of the reputation associated with the name) you could change focus screens. Easy to do, get the screen of your choice. Different screens were better suited to different lenses eg my 800mm mirror was a lot easier with one type of focusing screen vs the screen better suited for general use. Get the screen of choice, take the lens off, flip a small catch and the screen drops out, put in other screen and it clips back in. Takes seconds and done.

No idea about more modern cameras and no idea about D-40.

eg for OM-1 (original SLR not modern version) https://esif.world-traveller.org/om-sif/findergroup/focusingscreens.htm

 

[Bristolian]

Blimey, that's three D40's I know are still in circulation - there's one in my camera bag too

It still takes really good photos, albeit rather small compared to modern bodies.

 

[gbb]

My elder son brought one after I got mine (some years ago). He passed his to me for spares after it stopped focusing correctly.
Im trying t9 see if using it in manual allows correct focusing.

I was always overwhelmed by digital SLRs but have persevered and actually the D40 is remarkably simple to use in manual ONCE you figure how to access ISO, F stop and shutter speed. Not sure why I struggled in the beginning when I brought it.
Even the batteries still recharge after many years sat in a cupboard.

 

[SteveH80]

... you could change focus screens ...

That takes me back.
I remember the process; remove old screen, insert new screen, remove new screen, clean thumbprint off new screen.
After a while the novelty wore off and it went to the 'unused things' pocket of the camera bag