[5D Mark III] ONE BIG deal breaker for me! [Screens]

ben805 wrote in post #14055216
You won't need any precision focusing screen if the 5D3 kicks ass in all 61 focus points and dead on accurate, you'll get brighter screen with the stock screen too. I'm using the precision screen on my 5D2 now and doesn't really find it that much better than the stock one

Yeah, but AF doesn't help much w/ manual focus lenses...especially if those manual focus lenses don't have chips for AF confirmation. There's a reason why many people still get the precision focusing screen, even when the lens itself has focus confirmation. It may not be useful for you (or you may not see the difference), but others do. Unfortunately, canon doesn't see it that way.

QUESTION is: Will this screen be useful with focusing at all for Videographers? We use the Live view and not the viewfinder to focus, so I dont know if those screens improve both of them?!
bonus question >> Using AF for stills with that new screen-will it still work properly?

This screen will be useless for video since video doesn't use the optical viewfinder at all (the mirror is flipped up, so you can't see anything). The screen won't affect AF either (AF sensors typically are at the bottom of the camera (unless something has changed), some of the light (coming in from the lens) goes through the partially translucent mirror and reflected down, while the rest of it is bounced up to the viewfinder (and focusing screen).

If there is no menu option for changing the focusing screen type, it will affect metering w/ lenses that have smaller max apertures than f/2.8 (whenever the screen is darker compared to the stock screen). If you use screens that have focusing guides like microprisms or split prisms, then it may affect your ability to use spot metering accurately (the microprisms and split prism will be partially darkened/partially bright depending on the aperture, so it will affect metering).

7D has interchangeable screens... so I see no reason the 5D3 won't...

http://www.katzeyeopti​cs.com …sing-Screen--prod_7D.html

http://www.focusingscr​een.com/index.php?cPat​h=21_104

Wow, this is the first time I've even been made aware of the different screens... very interesting discussion! I've read on several sites now that the screens will not be interchangeable, but I feel for those who are used to doing things one way and have now lost that option (should it be the case).

ohata0 wrote in post #14058180
This screen will be useless for video since video doesn't use the optical viewfinder at all (the mirror is flipped up, so you can't see anything). The screen won't affect AF either (AF sensors typically are at the bottom of the camera (unless something has changed), some of the light (coming in from the lens) goes through the partially translucent mirror and reflected down, while the rest of it is bounced up to the viewfinder (and focusing screen).

Thank u for telling us that from experience.
I had a hunch this screen wouldnt influence the live view, but i saw this purchase review on B&H of probably an idiot [or a troll? :] saying its an amazing product and that it also enhances the live view, so I was like..wha!?
Thanks for confiming that.
its out of my shopping list, then :]

I must say that despite getting an LCD Viewfinder..it still feels hard to focus manually, with a 50mm 1.4. It takes ultra fine tuning and u are never sure if u are dead-on, or not. even with that viewfinder..:o

did you buy a cheap lcd viewfinder? I've found that the optics in the cheap one I bought, blurs it a little...makes everything seem less sharp, and that makes it a little difficult to focus manually. I've found that I can focus manually pretty well in live view (w/ out the LCD viewfinder), even w/out magnification, unless it's something really small in the frame, like text or something like that.

But for me, the main point of getting the LCD viewfinder is for the stability. I haven't really tested it out too much...mostly on static subjects. The real test is on more mobile subjects...whenever I get the chance.

I guess the difference could also be because I'm using old manual focus lenses, and I'm guessing you're using the canon 50mm f/1.4. Manual focus lenses are really nice since it's made for it, the longer throw (compared to most lens) means more precise control and the focusing ring is really smooth (normally).

I wonder how the 5DmkIII will fare w/ LCD viewfinders...it seems like the resolution increase isn't very significant...since it's a 3:2 LCD, i think it only has slightly more horizontal resolution...720x480 as opposed to the VGA (640x480) screens in previous models. Well, anyway, do you think the increase in resolution will require better quality LCD viewfinders (meaning, do you think you'll need to upgrade your LCD viewfinder if you currently have a cheap one)?

Thinking about it...I guess you'd need a whole new LCD viewfinder anyway considering the screen size is now 3.2" (from 3").

ohata0 wrote in post #14060760
did you buy a cheap lcd viewfinder? I've found that the optics in the cheap one I bought, blurs it a little...makes everything seem less sharp, and that makes it a little difficult to focus manually. I've found that I can focus manually pretty well in live view (w/ out the LCD viewfinder), even w/out magnification, unless it's something really small in the frame, like text or something like that.

But for me, the main point of getting the LCD viewfinder is for the stability. I haven't really tested it out too much...mostly on static subjects. The real test is on more mobile subjects...whenever I get the chance.

I guess the difference could also be because I'm using old manual focus lenses, and I'm guessing you're using the canon 50mm f/1.4. Manual focus lenses are really nice since it's made for it, the longer throw (compared to most lens) means more precise control and the focusing ring is really smooth (normally).

I wonder how the 5DmkIII will fare w/ LCD viewfinders...it seems like the resolution increase isn't very significant...since it's a 3:2 LCD, i think it only has slightly more horizontal resolution...720x480 as opposed to the VGA (640x480) screens in previous models. Well, anyway, do you think the increase in resolution will require better quality LCD viewfinders (meaning, do you think you'll need to upgrade your LCD viewfinder if you currently have a cheap one)?

Thinking about it...I guess you'd need a whole new LCD viewfinder anyway considering the screen size is now 3.2" (from 3").

Hey, man.
Well, I have only made the order for my 5D. I went to B&H and just felt like I needed to be there and physically see & feel what I'll gonna buy, and it was the best decision to make especially for choosing the right LCD Viewfinder.
Check out the thread I opened here and read the 3rd comment from the bottom:

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1157372

I kinda wanted a system like that one (right now the cheap one that I'm using uses sticky tape and magnets). But they were so expensive. So I figured I'd try it out...no sense buying the expensive version and finding out that I didn't LCD viewfinders.

I think it just gets down to practice. I think I still need practice manually focusing w/ both the focusing screen (K-3 type in my 7D) and the LCD viewfinder. I'm getting more accurate w/ the focusing screen, but sometimes focus is still a little off, even w/ all of the "add-ons" that I bought. the LCD viewfinder works pretty well, though again, I still have to test it against more active subjects.