5D and focusing screens

Wondering if any 5D users have installed the focusing screen that Canon says (in the 5D manual) will help those using manual focus.
Is it making a difference? Currently I'm using a 20D and Bigma, often with a 2x TC, thus rendering it manual focus. It's sometimes a hit and miss prospect getting proper focus with these old eyes and, since we are moving to the 5D (soon, I hope), thought I'd find out in advance.
Any input welcome.

cheers,
jim

I found this info about the screen at B&H, but would still like to hear from anyone who has actually used it ... and with lenses slower than 2.8.:

"The Ee-S Super Precision focusing screen is designed to facilitate manual focusing with high-speed lenses (f/2.8 or faster). The Ee-S screen has finer microlenses than the Ee-A or Ee-D options, along with a steeper parabola of focus to make the image pop in and out of focus more vividly in the viewfinder; however, the Ee-S focusing screen is not recommended for slower lenses because it's not very bright."

And, of course, the Canon manual mentions nothing about it being designed for high-speed lenses.

jim

I have a 5D but only with the standard focussing screen. Before the 5D, I had a 10D.

Manual focussing is MUCH easier with the 5D than with the 10D, mainly because the viewfinder is a lot bigger. I really had to strain my eyes to focus manually with the 10D - with the 5D, it's easy.

Thanks, Jesper ... just out of interest what lens are you using in manual focus ... and are you using it with a TC??

cheers,
jim

With macro I almost always use manual focus with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM. Other lenses I have are the 50 f/1.8 II, 17-40 f/4 L, 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS and 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 DO IS (I haven't used the last two lenses a lot on my 5D yet). I don't have a TC.

Jesper ... thanks again for the info.

cheers,
jim

About the only thing that dissappointed me with my 5D was the lack of an available split prism focusing screen. When I saw interchangeable screens were available I erroneously assumed I could buy and install a split prism one but that does not appear to be the case. At 56 years old me eyes ain't what they used to be and I don't trust them enough to do manual focus without an aid<g>. Nonetheless it's an excellent camera.

Ron

Ron:
I hear ya ... I'm coming up on 55 and focusing is getting to be a bit more of a problem. I've yet to see how the larger viewfinder helps out. Once I get the 5D, I may look further into the Canon alternate screen, or may look into Haoda.

cheers,
jim

I have a 20D and have the same focusing problem when I use my 100-400L with a 1.4xTC. It's very difficult to see if the focus is spot on until you get home and see it on the screen. The 100mm macro, on the other hand, is very easy to MF, due to the very shallow DOF. I just wonder if there is any solutions out there! Thanks.

I can't quite live without the split prism so I swapped the one in my 20D with a third party screen from Katz eye optics. It has a split prism, the micro-prism collar and the ground "glass" surrounding area just like my old pentax bodies. I'm very very happy to have my focus aids back. At some point I was thinking of trading up to the 5D and one of the big draws is interchangeable focus screens. I'm really disappointed they don't have the traditional split prism/micro prism screen. I did notice today that the same company that made my 3rd party screen is planning one for the 5D. I wouldn't hesitate to get one when they come out. The quality is top notch.

http://www.keoptics.co​m/

-- Scott.

p.s. I have no affilitation with this company. I'm just a happy customer.

Scott:
Thanks for the info. I'll check them out as well.

cheers,
jim

FScott wrote:
I did notice today that the same company that made my 3rd party screen is planning one for the 5D. I wouldn't hesitate to get one when they come out. The quality is top notch.

http://www.keoptics.co​m/

Thanks for the link Scott that may just be the ticket. Since the 5D is meant to use interchangeable screens I imagine installation isn't too difficult but how was it for the 20D?

Ron

Brightscreen is making a couple of focus screens for the 5D now, but they are rather expensive. OK, not rather expensive, very expensive!

I haven't tried one, but if they get considerably cheaper, I might.

http://www.brightscree​n.com/enter.html

Hi Ron. The 20D almost has user interchangeable focus screens. On most user interchangeable systems I've seen you pry a tab in the the mirror box and a hinged holder flips down above the mirror carrying the focus screen. On the 20D (& 10D, 300D, 350D) you pry a slightly more hidden tab and the focus screens pops out with a retaining clip. You then pop in the new screen and put the clip back in. There is also a shim behind the screen which can also pop out. It is thus slightly more intricate than the normal interchangeable screen systems, but not much. It took me 20 minutes to change it the first time. I bet I could do just as good a job now in 5 minutes. 6 minutes if the shim pops out .

The brightscreen that Tom points out also looks interesting and also looks to be available now. I have the equivalent of the brightscreen 4. The brightscreen 5 looks very interesting to me since it has a larger than normal split prism. That I would like to have. I didn't look carefully but they look to be about $160. The one I have from Katz eye optics is also $160 but it has special coatings. The normal one is closer to $100. I have no idea how it compares to the brightscreen having never seen one. Either way I think they are worth the money if you do any kind of manual focus work.

-- Scott.