5D Mk3 - focusing screen

yeah wish the 5dmk3's screen was easily changeable like the 6d and 5dmk2

lensmen wrote in post #15526234
Nice to hear that someone has tried FS.com's screen. I was back ordered for the 7D K3, but by the time it arrives, I had sold my 7D. Fortunately, FS accepts a return, if it is unopened package. My new screen is somewhere in the local post office.

Er, how to spot the difference and how bad was the EC required ? I had assumed that this screen is a Canon original, the difference should be minimal.

are you talking about the difference between the 2 screens? if you open them up you can compare (the 5dmkIII is larger, and the K3 has the microprism collar and the split prism in the center...the S type screen, if you got that one, should be "blank"). But then again, if you "open" both, you may not be able to return the K3. You can see the differences on focusingscreen's website, it's the screen comparison link.

in any case, the box with the focusing screen should be labeled.

with mine, i tend to have mine set to around +2 1/3, but that's also because i shoot ETTR as well. i think in live view, EC is maybe +1 or so. but it also depends on the lens (what the f/stop is set to while metering (wide open for my canon lenses, or what i stop the lens down to for my manual lenses)). EC with the S type screen may be more consistent since the entire screen gets dark uniformly. But you'd probably still have to adjust it depending on the f-stop you are metering with.

I don't think either screens are not canon originals. Although canon does have an S type screen, I don't believe they have any S-type screens for the 5dmkIII since they made it not user-replaceable. I don't think the 5dmkII screen would be the same. My K3 type screen came in a nikon box (the K3 screen is a nikon made screen for slrs, which they probably shaved down into the 7D focusing screen shape).

If you got the L type screen, metering may be similar to the K3 screen. because the some of the prisms don't go dark, the metering will change depending on if you are shooting something bright, or something dark. also, you probably would have to stick with evaluative metering...spot metering (and the others to a degree) would be probably thrown off unless you're shooting with a fast lens (f/2 or faster).

rwong2k wrote in post #15527073
yeah wish the 5dmk3's screen was easily changeable like the 6d and 5dmk2

It was real easy in the 5D II.
So will be interested in hearing about how the upgrade goes for those who ordered a new Focus Screen.

rtist2g wrote in post #15502259
I bought the S type screen for my 7D, and was the first to get the S type screen for my 5D3. both from focusingscreen.com. easy as pie to change them if you have the right precision screw driver from Craftsman. 2 screws, thats it. and it makes the WORLD of difference if you use fast primes.

i dont know about you, but using live view would be IMPOSSIBLE to do while maintaining any kind of speed of handling, stability, etc. dont get me wrong, if i'm on a tripod, and had a 6stop ND on a prime to shoot wide open with strobes, AND the subject is cooperative, then yeah live view is the only way to go. but for almost every other kind of shooting i do i find the high precision screen to be a tremendous aid.

and let me add, that actually seeing what the frame looks like at f1.4 is also a tremendous aid too. you know when you shoot something what it will look like, vs having to chimp. (if you often shoot f1.4-2.8)

Any metering issues with the 5D3 screen? I know on the Mk II there was a custom function for Eg-S to compensate, but I don't think there's anything on the 5D3 for that.

@ jonneymendoza - they ship world wide via EMS. Just a matter of available stock and payment.

@ohata0

I am sorry that I wasn't clear. I was referring noticeable exposure compensation between the original in-camera screen and this replacement screen.

It is an original Canon EC-L screeen, as seen in the 1D Mk3. Just whether it has been modified to fit the 5D Mk3 ? I have not opened the box yet. Got the #000 screw last evening from the hardware store. Wow, the prices can vary from very dirt cheap to almost Rolls Royce prices for 1 screw driver (Made In Germany blah blah blah, under lock & key in the show case) !

hope the 5dmk4 will have a easy to access focus screen just like the mk2 and 6d

o i did not know these are official canon screens. interesting

lensmen wrote in post #15530167
@ohata0
I am sorry that I wasn't clear. I was referring noticeable exposure compensation between the original in-camera screen and this replacement screen.

ok, just did some testing. with my MF lenses (no chip) i have to decrease my EC for live view, or else it over exposes. with my canon lens, i have to increase it (sometimes) for live view to get the same exposure.

so while i'm sure that there is some sort of difference in EC between the stock screen and the new screen, i'm not sure what the differences are in any consistency. i think the biggest difference is because i'm using non-chipped adapters for my manual lenses...not from changing the focusing screen.

here's a link from katzeye regarding their exposure comp adjustments with their product (similar to the k3) on the 7D.
http://www.katzeyeopti​cs.com …sing-Screen--prod_7D.html

you may be able to use that as a starting point when you switch (if you feel like you need to adjust EC at all). It won't be perfect--the Ec-L has 2 splits instead of the K3's 1, and doesn't have the K3's microprism collar.

I think you only really need to worry about the EC if you shoot with lenses slower than f/2.8, and if you do, you may only have to "memorize" what EC works best with those lenses at f/4 or f/5.6, etc.