Has anyone used the Canon Angle Finder-C for manual focusing?

[TMR Design]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/183200.jpg (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/183200-REG/Canon_2882A002_Angle_Finder_C.html)

Canon Angle Finder C (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/183200-REG/Canon_2882A002_Angle_Finder_C.html)

This device really interests me as I find myself wanting to manually focus more often that not when in the studio. Since I work on head shots and portraiture I can't have a brightly lit room or I won't see the modeling lights and can't really check for shadows, contrast or specularity. The angle finder is supposed to make it easier to focus in low light

So.. I want to be able to manually focus with greater accuracy. The angle finder looks like a great device, especially for those portraits where someone is sitting for you. There is switchable magnification as well and that would really help with focusing.

Has anyone used one or own one that can give me first hand experience and some idea of how it worked and if it was worth it?

[TMR Design]

Well, I just went hunting for reviews and the first one that came up is not favorable. Perhaps it's not as cool as I thought. :D

I don't want to hijack my own thread but is this yet another example of where the 5D view finder is better, and due to it's size is it easier to manually focus in low light?

[JackProton]

I've used a cheapie Opteka version of the Canon Angle Finder C to help manually focus on stars. The 2X magnification does help to a greater or lesser extent but using the angle finder for anything other than astrophotography or macro shots is a bit of a pain since it tends to screw with your spatial sense.

[lmitch6]

I use the Angle Finder C almost all the time. The magnification will help with manual focusing, it worked well for me on my 300D. I recall seeing some posts somewhere about people swapping out their 30D focusing screens with the Brightscreen models and reporting improved manual focusig performance.

I've never used a 30D, but I can tell you the 5D with the Ee-S screen is a lot easier to focus than my 300D was, reminds me of my old film SLR's.

[TMR Design]

I've used a cheapie Opteka version of the Canon Angle Finder C to help manually focus on stars. The 2X magnification does help to a greater or lesser extent but using the angle finder for anything other than astrophotography or macro shots is a bit of a pain since it tends to screw with your spatial sense.

I use the Angle Finder C almost all the time. The magnification will help with manual focusing, it worked well for me on my 300D. I recall seeing some posts somewhere about people swapping out their 30D focusing screens with the Brightscreen models and reporting improved manual focusig performance.

I've never used a 30D, but I can tell you the 5D with the Ee-S screen is a lot easier to focus than my 300D was, reminds me of my old film SLR's.

Thanks guys.

Imitch6, what is the Brightscreen focusing screen?

Here is the brief review I came up with. Can you comment or confirm any of this?

"Slip the rubber eyeguard off a Canon camera and slide this finder on and you can select a magnification of 1.25X or 2.5X to allow for more precise focusing. It also rotates to either side so that the viewfinder can be viewed from a more comfortable angle. ($160 to $220)

I had several problems with this finder. First, the magnification increases the size of the image as well as the graininess of the viewglass. This makes the image larger but harder to see. Much of the exposure information in the viewfinder is outside of the field of view. I had to set the exposure up without it then switch to the angle finder. Also, the angle finder only holds at a few detented positions, you can't place it anywhere you want. The detents in mine aren't deep enough and the finder often slips out of position.

All in all I haven't found this to be worth the hassle and expense."

[lmitch6]

Robert,

Brightscreen focusing screens can be found here http://www.brightscreen.com/

As to the review comments, I don't find that the finder increases graininess, the image is bright and clear. Also, the viewfinder info is still easy to read. But, one has to make sure their eye is properly positioned, it's a little less tolerant than an eye level viewfinder. The reviewer you quoted may have inandvertently moved the magnification switch just a notch, which will make things hard to read and can happen in the process of getting the rig in or out of a camera bag. The detents are few, but I've found that you can essentially adjust it to any position you want, and mine holds tightly.

Hope this helps!

[nwa2]

I use a cheaper aftermarket angle finder on my 350d.

Great for low level shots. Does help with manual focus (especially in dull conditions or at night).

Only problem with my version is that the adapter provided to fit the 350d is a bit wobbly on the eyepiece. But does job. I use it for about 10% of my shots.

[CorruptedPhotographer]

I used the angle finder just today actually with my little sister.

We were shooting macros of droplets of water dropping into a glass. I used the angle finder to help me focus on the middle part of the glass of water. The 2x magnification really helped with that since DoF was tiny due to how close we were!

The only draw back is that when you switch magnification levels, you need to focus the angle finder (similar to the diopter on your camera)

[TMR Design]

Do any of you guys wear glasses? I do and I'm wondering whether this makes a difference.

[lmitch6]

Robert, I don't wear glasses. Nwa, one thing you might want to do is to press down on the little spring like clips that attach to the eyepiece. Mine get loose occasionally and I do this to tighten up the fit.

[SkipD]

I use the Angle Finder C and the ONLY thing I don't care for is that it could be a little stiffer at the joints where you can rotate it. Optically, it is great.

It will probably work better with the 20D/30D than with the Rebels because the viewfinders themselves are better, and I suspect the 1D family would be even better.

[TMR Design]

I use the Angle Finder C and the ONLY thing I don't care for is that it could be a little stiffer at the joints where you can rotate it. Optically, it is great.

It will probably work better with the 20D/30D than with the Rebels because the viewfinders themselves are better, and I suspect the 1D family would be even better.


Thank you Skip. So no one seems to be agreeing with the reviewer that said it was hard to see the display info in the view finder with the Angle Finder in place.
What do you use it for Skip? Portraits where the subject is sitting? I would think it is best used for sitting subjects, with the camera tripod mounted.

[JackProton]

Do any of you guys wear glasses? I do and I'm wondering whether this makes a difference.
Trying to read the shutter speed and aperture can be difficult while wearing glasses, yes. My cheapo finder has a wide diopter range, however, so you can easily use it without glasses just by twisting the eyepiece to set the diopter for your eyes. I've found that I can focus with more precision without glasses. This has drawbacks, however, such as having to keep flipping your glasses up and down as you switch between viewfinder and LCD playback and watching where you're going.

[TMR Design]

Hi Jack,

Yeah, I've been through this type of thing when looking into alternate eye cups and trying to deal with the issue of glasses. I've gotten good at it now and adjusted but I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to remove my glasses to lift them to my forehead to shoot and then put them on to see the settings, subject, LCD and world around me. I find that far too disorienting and cumbersome.

[SkipD]

What do you use it for Skip? Portraits where the subject is sitting? I would think it is best used for sitting subjects, with the camera tripod mounted.I use my angle finder primarily for two types of situations.

One is when I have the camera on (or extremely close to) the ground looking up at something. The angle finder makes it possible, not just easier, to see through the viewfinder.

The other is any time that I want to do precision focusing. That could be for macro work, scenic work, or just about anything where I'm getting anal about focus.

Do I use the angle finder often? No.

Do I always have the angle finder with me? Yes.

The bottom line is that there are situations that I get into where the angle finder makes something possible that could not be done without it. Thus, it's a tool that I keep in my bag.

[JackProton]

Hi Jack,

Yeah, I've been through this type of thing when looking into alternate eye cups and trying to deal with the issue of glasses. I've gotten good at it now and adjusted but I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to remove my glasses to lift them to my forehead to shoot and then put them on to see the settings, subject, LCD and world around me. I find that far too disorienting and cumbersome.

I totally agree -- that's a real pain. In that case, you really should give one a try before you decide. The eye-relief could be very different between the Canon and my cheap clone version so YMMV. Also give the Hoodman version a look, it seems to be fairly well-made and will save you a good $50.