Manual focus screen

I'm interested on hearing from people that use the manual focus screen with their camera. I would be using it on my 5D2 with my 85 1.8 most of the time and mostly for closer in shots of people.

I assume you mean the LCD, in which case I do use it on my 60D quite a bit. The screen, having the swivel feature lends itself to focusing nicely.

Nope, I'm talking about the focus screen. The thing in your viewfinder where you see the af points. Thanks for the reply though.

Changing the focus screen to the Canon ones have CFn settings to compensate the screen to restore accuracy of the metering system.

Changing the focus screen to the aftermerket ones have no CFn settings, no compensation of the screen brightness to restore accuracy of the metering system, so there can be 3EV of metering error particularly in Spot/Partial mode

I had one for my 60D, a inexpensive 45 degree double shift and microprism style from eBay. It was wonderful for my macro work. I have a 7D now, and once Magic Lantern is released with focus peaking I will get a focus screen for this too.

The exposure errors only happen with lenses slower than f/4. Even my 24-105L was accurate. The area outside the center is a bit darker owing to the prism diffraction, but that can't be helped.

I have a split screen in my 1dmk2n and could not live without it.
Actually makes my 55mm f1.2 nikon lens usable... along with the rokinon 85mm (wide open). For the 20 bucks... it is well well well well well well well well well well well well worth it.

If you are asking about the Canon Super Precision matte screen then I can recommend it. I use one in a 50D and can achieve spot on manual focus at f1.8 in most lighting situations. It is reputed to be slightly darker than the standard screen but I have found the difference to be so slight that it is not noticeable.

I would advise against using one of the non-Canon split image screens, I have tried various makes and found them all less than satisfactory, although they focus well, most of them need shimming to get them in the correct position, they black out at smaller apertures and upset the metering.

Wilt wrote in post #15129632
Changing the focus screen to the Canon ones have CFn settings to compensate the screen to restore accuracy of the metering system.

Changing the focus screen to the aftermerket ones have no CFn settings, no compensation of the screen brightness to restore accuracy of the metering system, so there can be 3EV of metering error particularly in Spot/Partial mode

Ramon-uk wrote in post #15129688
If you are asking about the Canon Super Precision matte screen then I can recommend it. I use one in a 50D and can achieve spot on manual focus at f1.8 in most lighting situations. It is reputed to be slightly darker than the standard screen but I have found the difference to be so slight that it is not noticeable.

I would advise against using one of the non-Canon split image screens, I have tried various makes and found them all less than satisfactory, although they focus well, most of them need shimming to get them in the correct position, they black out at smaller apertures and upset the metering.

Thanks for the info guys. It is indeed the Canon Super Precision matte screen I am considering and will likely get.

Dawicka2 wrote in post #15129659
I have a split screen in my 1dmk2n and could not live without it.
Actually makes my 55mm f1.2 nikon lens usable... along with the rokinon 85mm (wide open). For the 20 bucks... it is well well well well well well well well well well well well worth it.

Ramon-uk wrote in post #15129688
I would advise against using one of the non-Canon split image screens, I have tried various makes and found them all less than satisfactory, although they focus well, most of them need shimming to get them in the correct position, they black out at smaller apertures and upset the metering.

Ok, so who's right? I'd really like to get the Samyang 35mm 1.4, but recognise that manual focus without a decent screen is going to be a non-starter. As an old Pentax Spotmatic user with its huge viewfinder and fantastic split image screen, that's the direction I'd like to take, but Ramon-uk's comments are a concern. Does the precision matte screen deliver the goods in terms of accurate focussing?

I just bought the super-precision screen for my 5dmkII, and I really love it. It does make the viewfinder a bit darker when using my 70-200mm f/4, but it's not too bad. I can focus my Pentax Super Tak 50mm f/1.4 so easily now, whereas before it was very difficult. Easy to install, too.

gibbit1 wrote in post #15130596
I just bought the super-precision screen for my 5dmkII, and I really love it. It does make the viewfinder a bit darker when using my 70-200mm f/4, but it's not too bad. I can focus my Pentax Super Tak 50mm f/1.4 so easily now, whereas before it was very difficult. Easy to install, too.

Does the Tak 50 1.4 focus to infinity on the 5dmkii without fouling the mirror?

paulkaye wrote in post #15130572
Ok, so who's right? I'd really like to get the Samyang 35mm 1.4, but recognise that manual focus without a decent screen is going to be a non-starter. As an old Pentax Spotmatic user with its huge viewfinder and fantastic split image screen, that's the direction I'd like to take, but Ramon-uk's comments are a concern. Does the precision matte screen deliver the goods in terms of accurate focussing?

It seems that many folks who want better precision of manual focus overlook meter error simply since they only put the meter into Evaluative mode, they'd often never discover meter error.

Hey, lots of folks use manual adapter legacy lenses, and never realize the meter error which can be demonstrated with stopped-down aperture metering with those lenses, too! https://photography-on-the.net …hp?p=15006557&p​ostcount=6

The failure to realize there is an error is itself NOT proof that an error condition does not exist, unfortunately, and it goes unacknowledged.

I have Canon's Ef-S screen in my 50D and get about a 90% manual focus hit rate with the 50mm f/1.8. Otherwise, using the standard screen focusing manually or with the camera's AF, focus is inconsistent at best. I do think it was worth the money.

I, personally, would not use anything other than the Canon screens for the simple fact that if you get the Canon, you can use the CFn to compensate for the screen (I have an Eg-D in my 5D2)...after all I've read about aftermarket screens messing with metering, I'm not taking chances

LowriderS10 wrote in post #15132131
I, personally, would not use anything other than the Canon screens for the simple fact that if you get the Canon, you can use the CFn to compensate for the screen (I have an Eg-D in my 5D2)...after all I've read about aftermarket screens messing with metering, I'm not taking chances

What are you using the custom function to compensate for?