Edgumicate me on 1-series Fokusing screens, plees!

I yearn for the days of split prism focusing decades ago. ahhh, life was grand.

Well, I want focusing aid again, so I've been looking into an accessory catalogue for the 1D3, and there's like 12 or so of them??? holy smokes. Reading their descriptions didn't really answer my questions.

Could someone with experience tell me which is best for what I want?

-I want to be able to manual focus accurately.
-I want to be able to tell easily when AF has missed the mark.
-I'd like minimal exposure shifts. If you suggest a screen, please tell me how much you have to compensate your exposure by. (I use evaluative metering only)


thanks so much for your time!

picturecrazy wrote in post #4052362
(I use evaluative metering only)

Not with a focusing screen.


You'll get the most consistent results from Center Weighted Average. EC-B is the usual split screen most people use. I use it and love it. Shooting M it feels like a cyborg frankencamera from the MF days.

picturecrazy wrote in post #4052362
Could someone with experience tell me which is best for what I want?

-I want to be able to manual focus accurately.
-I want to be able to tell easily when AF has missed the mark.
-I'd like minimal exposure shifts. If you suggest a screen, please tell me how much you have to compensate your exposure by. (I use evaluative metering only)

I only have the 40D but I will at least tell you how it is on this side of the fence. I have the EF-S focusing screen installed the only one for manual focusing.

* To dark inside for f4 or higher for manual focusing
* Slightly darker at f2.8 but nothing to worry about.
* Misfocus is easy to see IF there is contrast just like the AUTO AF needs. I can see hair OOF but not skin for example. Eye brows are to small unless I am really close.
* Exposure is unchanged because a custom function is set in the camera. Not sure on the 1DMarkIII. My understanding anyway as I use manual mostly.

cosworth wrote in post #4052412
Not with a focusing screen.

You'll get the most consistent results from Center Weighted Average. EC-B is the usual split screen most people use. I use it and love it. Shooting M it feels like a cyborg frankencamera from the MF days.

huh? what? Why is evaluative so bad with a focusing screen? Does it let a lot more light in the centre than everywhere else?

pcunite wrote in post #4052418
* Exposure is unchanged because a custom function is set in the camera. Not sure on the 1DMarkIII. My understanding anyway as I use manual mostly.

I know you can define the focusing screen on the 1d3 menus... can you do that on the 1d2? Would it be smart enough to compensate for the exposure, and even let me use evaluative?

picturecrazy wrote in post #4052442
I know you can define the focusing screen on the 1d3 menus... can you do that on the 1d2? Would it be smart enough to compensate for the exposure, and even let me use evaluative?

From this link:
http://www.naturescape​s.net/072004/ej0704.ht​m

picturecrazy wrote in post #4052428
huh? what? Why is evaluative so bad with a focusing screen? Does it let a lot more light in the centre than everywhere else?

It doesn't meter correctly.

Direct from the manual:

"The Ec-A, Ec-B, Ec-I and Ec-L focusing screens have a prism at the center. A correct exposure reading cannot be obtained with evaluative metering or spot metering based on the center area where there is a prism. Use center weighted average metering or off center spot metering with such focusing screens."

Partial metering underexposes by quite a bit as well with focusing screens on my 1Ds Mk.II - this was not nearly as apparent on my 1Ds Mk.I however.

blah that sucks. I hate tradeoffs.

the mkiii does not work the same as a 1dmkii(n)
read:
http://www.robgalbrait​h.com …S-1D_Mark_III_C.Fn_IV.pd​f

you can select the right focus screen type in the cf IV-11 to the one you have and not worry much about that messed up exposure. no trade off needed...

on a side note, please learn to use http://www.spellchecke​r.net/spellcheck/ to properly spell shtuf

that's cool... and I read that before a while ago... thanks for posting that!

but does that still mean I can use evaluative? I'm inclined to say yes, as it doesn't mention anything about that... but how can I know for sure? that's why I'm hoping for someone with experience on a mark III to chime in.

picturecrazy wrote in post #4053167
blah that sucks. I hate tradeoffs.

ha! well life is full of tradeoffs....both camera related and otherwise.

For a focusing screen, best to figure out how you shoot most and decide from the tradeoffs which suits your needs best.

I don't do a lot of MF, and I have a tendency to miss horizons, so i've got the grid screen (quasi rule of thirds) that I can see when looking for it (when lining up horizons, etc) and I don't see the rest of the time I'm shooting, so it's not distracting.

link to grid screen jeff?

CIDER wrote in post #4055178
link to grid screen jeff?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …EC_D_Focusing_S​creen.html


again, anybody?? ??

Anyone use a split prism like the Ec-B with the Mark III and can confirm that it's smart enough to compensate, and evaluative metering still works ok??