30D Focus screens....

Hi, i have just recently done a part ex deal with someone off these forums and have upgraded from a a 350D to a 30D Only thing is, when i did the deal i was told it had got Haoda Split focus screen in it, well i've decided i'm not so sure i like it or that it is going to be of much use to me as i shoot mainly sport I find the info bar in my VF very dim and hard to see [compared to my old 350'ds] could that be as a result of the Haoda screen? or are the 30d's info bars quite dim anyway? either way, i'm still not sure i want it in anymore......

I've done a search and found a few guides explaining how to remove and replace the focus screen, but, although they all tell you how to put a new one in they don't tell you which way round the Original Canon screen should go in! they tend to presume you took it out so you will have seen which way they face etc, but in my situation it was already removed and so i haven't the foggiest! Can anyone tell me exactly how the original screen goes in [which way round, which side faces in which side the shim goes etc] and how i know if i've installed it exactly right??

Anyway, if anyone can let me know then i can decide if i want to scare myself and try changing it back to the original screen.....

As far as I know the Haoda screens are supposed to be brighter making manual focus much easier. If you are using mainly for sports, then I would imagine the viewfinder info would look a little dim. Usually Sports are outside in very bright sun. The bright sun makes any viewfinder info difficult so see. Thats because there is such a high contrast between the dark info bar and the very bright outdoors. If your still having a problem I will trade you the 30D for my 350 and accessories. That should solve the dim viewfinder.

Go here:

http://www.katzeyeopti​cs.com/files/KERR-20D.PDF

Figure 1 shows an original screen with a cue to the top face.

Follow the instructions to install the original screen just as though it were the split-prism screen.

However, replaceing the screen will do nothing to improve the brightness of the user info.

EOS MAN1 wrote in post #2995167
As far as I know the Haoda screens are supposed to be brighter making manual focus much easier. If you are using mainly for sports, then I would imagine the viewfinder info would look a little dim. Usually Sports are outside in very bright sun. The bright sun makes any viewfinder info difficult so see. Thats because there is such a high contrast between the dark info bar and the very bright outdoors. If your still having a problem I will trade you the 30D for my 350 and accessories. That should solve the dim viewfinder.

LOL it's ok i'll struggle on with the 30d thanks!!! It's early days yet with it but i'm loving it so far, i've not had the time to test the thing out much though so i may well leave it in yet, you may well be right about the bright light being the problem with the info bar, yesterday was the first day i took the camera on an outdoor shoot and it was a particularly bright day! but i don't think i had such a difficulty in seeing it on my 350, ah well i'm sure i will get used to it..... anyway if i do put it back i just wanted to make sure which way things go back in..... Thanks '20droger' for that guide! very helpful indeed......

steve75 wrote in post #2995502
i don't think i had such a difficulty in seeing it on my 350

You probably didn't have so much trouble. The XT/350D has automatic brightness control for the viewfinder data, while the 30D apparently does not. This has been the subject of a couple of recent threads here:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=296029
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=278568

hmmmm..... guess that explains it then!!!! well, thats a bit of a dissapointment then! i had real trouble keeping an eye on the exposure meter the other day in the bright light! it made it almost impossible for me to use manual and i ended up switching to AV so i wouldn't miss shots chimping at every pic to check my exposure...... i really thought it may have been a side effect of the haoda focus screen....... Thanks for the links doug.