Any Manual Focusers? Chime in here

[Rock Photo Star]

on how the hell you know when you got focus, because at least on the lower Canon bodies - XT, XSi, 40D, even. I can tell via the view finder - actually, it looks in focus and then I take the picture and it is not, i.e. just because it looks focused in the viewfinder does not mean it is in focus, i.e. the viewfinder is useless for focusing.

[moogyboobles]

Phew I thought it was just me (I have a 450D)! Through the viewfinder it looks spot on, afterwards I find out I have the usual microphone is in focus issue. I thought I was just being rubbish. I have less problem with my 85mm f/1.8 than the 50mm.
Although doesn't everyone use MF? When I asked some gig photographers before my first ever gig I was told to always focus manually.

[DDCSD]

Have you guys tried adjusting your diopter?

I find AF to be plenty accurate, more accurate than I can get with MF of moving performers. :)

[bacchanal]

With AF, in good light I find that it's generally an issue of whether I got the closest eye, the far eye or the mic perfectly in focus...I'm not quite that accurate with MF. However, in extremely low light I will resort to MF with live view.

High precision focusing screens should help with MF through the viewfinder, but unfortunately they are not quite as bright as the standard screen.