-=1DS Mark II Admirers, congregate!

It darkens it when you stop down AND use the DOF preview past F/4 - I've always used these screens in my cameras, I've got one in both my 5D and 1D.

Trainboy wrote in post #10370108
It darkens it when you stop down AND use the DOF preview past F/4 - I've always used these screens in my cameras, I've got one in both my 5D and 1D.

Would suggest this screen for MF? Also your response is rather unclear to me; are you saying that it only darks when you stop down and use the DoF preview past f/4 at the same time or are you saying that it does so in both situations past f/4 even when not used in conjunction with one another?

Thanks for responding.

Short response: Only when you stop down and activate DOF preview.
Long answer? Well, let's quickly get into the mechanics. The precision screen appears brighter than the stock screen when the aperture is larger than F/2.8, and darker when at F/4 or smaller. With, say, an F/1.4 lens on, the lens is wide open all the time when default even if you're in M with 1/250 F/16. However, when you activate DOF preview it stops down to the aperture you have set in camera, and if you've set the aperture smaller than F/4 the viewfinder brightness will be the same as it would be with a smaller than F/4 lens, and consequently it will be darker with the precision screen than the matte screen.
Not my clearest paragraph, but I'm hoping you knew most of that and that I could fill in the rest for you!

Luminodio wrote in post #10369984
I almost sold my 1Ds II this week...thank the Grand Architects of the Universe that logic came into play as I was getting my latest RAW file for an interested inquirer and I reminded myself of several things.

- Street value is going to take a huge dive when the 1Ds IV is announced (being that the 1Ds III is still technically their flagship model) whereas the 1Ds II street value will only drop a couple hundred at best.

- 21MP increase wasn't of any importance to me and in fact I saw it as a con due to file size and overall load rate of sessions shot.

- RAW files that I've played with online from the 1Ds III cannot be pushed as far as the 1Ds II files for some reason and that in itself is pretty important to me.

- The dropping of the 45 point AF system (which still baffles me to this day) on the 1Ds III just seems like a step backwards rather than forward for the 1-Series.

Now I can start using my 1Ds II and stop trying to preserve it at 7,100 actuations for buying incentive. ^_^

I see you're trying to sell your Ds II. If you're a good boy, I'll sell you mine. Jk. I'm keeping it. There's no way I'm getting rid of it.

Luminodio wrote in post #10370066
I have a question about the Ec-S focusing screen.

I was under the impression that this screen did not sacrifice any brightness if your lenses maximum aperture was 2.8 or smaller. However the only review on B&H is insinuating that the VF gets darker when you stop down from these apertures -- regardless of the maximum aperture of the given lens.

Does anyone have this focusing screen and can confirm whether or not this is true?

Could you refresh me on what the Ec-S does? The one I have in my camera is the Ec-D. I think that's the one with the grid.

Trainboy wrote in post #10370220
Short response: Only when you stop down and activate DOF preview.
Long answer? Well, let's quickly get into the mechanics. The precision screen appears brighter than the stock screen when the aperture is larger than F/2.8, and darker when at F/4 or smaller. With, say, an F/1.4 lens on, the lens is wide open all the time when default even if you're in M with 1/250 F/16. However, when you activate DOF preview it stops down to the aperture you have set in camera, and if you've set the aperture smaller than F/4 the viewfinder brightness will be the same as it would be with a smaller than F/4 lens, and consequently it will be darker with the precision screen than the matte screen.
Not my clearest paragraph, but I'm hoping you knew most of that and that I could fill in the rest for you!

I understood that entirely. I do not own a single lens slower than 2.8 so only when using the DoF preview button will I notice a darkening of the VF when the stopped down to f/4 or smaller? I'm assuming yes but I'm one that likes to clarify rather than assume.

Additionally, how does this screen effect in-camera metering? While I do use a light meter most of the time, I would like to know for those times when I'm just shooting for fun and don't want appear like a compulsive spot-meterer.

Thanks again and in advance.

jdizzle wrote in post #10370269
Could you refresh me on what the Ec-S does? The one I have in my camera is the Ec-D. I think that's the one with the grid.

It supposed to improve MF due to the micro-lenses in the screen being more parabolic and thus creating more of distinction between in-focus and out-of-focus objects in the frame. I am just trying to confirm a couple things about metering and how it effects this specific camera and if it does, how does one compensate for it (+ or - EC), and I think Trainboy has covered the rest for me (and hopefully clarify my previous post).

jdizzle wrote in post #10370256
I see you're trying to sell your Ds II. If you're a good boy, I'll sell you mine. Jk. I'm keeping it. There's no way I'm getting rid of it.

I was trying to sell it, but thankfully logic intervened and spared my wallet a crash diet so to speak.

Luminodio wrote in post #10370271
I understood that entirely. I do not own a single lens slower than 2.8 so only when using the DoF preview button will I notice a darkening of the VF when the stopped down to f/4 or smaller? I'm assuming yes but I'm one that likes to clarify rather than assume.

Additionally, how does this screen effect in-camera metering? While I do use a light meter most of the time, I would like to know for those times when I'm just shooting for fun and don't want appear like a compulsive spot-meterer.

Thanks again and in advance.

As far as I know, metering works in all modes the same way regardless of which screen you're using, as long as it's Canon.
...I certainly hope so, I don't use spot all the time!

If you all could pick a portrait/wedding/lands​cape camera would it be a 1Dsmk2 or 1Dmk3?

I currently own the mk3, but it seems like I would benefit so much from FF and resolution of the Dsmk2 for what I shoot.. Not to mention my 24-70L will finally be wide andi will have true UWA options.... Wonder if there's someone local that would consider a trade

Trainboy wrote in post #10370415
As far as I know, metering works in all modes the same way regardless of which screen you're using, as long as it's Canon.
...I certainly hope so, I don't use spot all the time!

The metering should be completely independent of the focusing screen. The Focusing screen is just an aid to view the TTL image through the Prism, and does not come between the sensor and the lens barrel.

Luminodio wrote in post #10369984
I almost sold my 1Ds II this week...thank the Grand Architects of the Universe that logic came into play as I was getting my latest RAW file for an interested inquirer and I reminded myself of several things.

- Street value is going to take a huge dive when the 1Ds IV is announced (being that the 1Ds III is still technically their flagship model) whereas the 1Ds II street value will only drop a couple hundred at best.

- 21MP increase wasn't of any importance to me and in fact I saw it as a con due to file size and overall load rate of sessions shot.

- RAW files that I've played with online from the 1Ds III cannot be pushed as far as the 1Ds II files for some reason and that in itself is pretty important to me.

- The dropping of the 45 point AF system (which still baffles me to this day) on the 1Ds III just seems like a step backwards rather than forward for the 1-Series.

Now I can start using my 1Ds II and stop trying to preserve it at 7,100 actuations for buying incentive. ^_^

Good list of reasons to keep the 1Ds II. BTW--preserving the shutter is kinda pointless on these cameras. Shutter replacements are fairly cheap, and I doubt there would be a too much more you can get in the used market for a 10K shutter count versus 25K. Especially since they are rated to go to 200K exposures. I would say that the cosmetic condition would make more of a difference than the shutter count.

Luminodio wrote in post #10370066
I have a question about the Ec-S focusing screen.

I was under the impression that this screen did not sacrifice any brightness if your lenses maximum aperture was 2.8 or smaller. However the only review on B&H is insinuating that the VF gets darker when you stop down from these apertures -- regardless of the maximum aperture of the given lens.

Does anyone have this focusing screen and can confirm whether or not this is true?

If you're looking for a brighter screen to help with MF on the 1Ds II, try the EC-C IV: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Focusing_Scree​n_for.html

Trainboy wrote in post #10370415
As far as I know, metering works in all modes the same way regardless of which screen you're using, as long as it's Canon.
...I certainly hope so, I don't use spot all the time!

Actually, some screens can affect exposure. That's why there are settings to "compensate" for the screen. For example, the EC-C IV (used in the 1D3) is an improvement over the EC-C III that comes with the 1Ds2. While it fits, it's not on Canon's 1Ds II compatibility list because there is no setting in the firmware to account for the very slight exposure difference. There IS a setting for it on the 1D3.

Having said that, the EC-C IV screen works very well with the 1Ds 2 in my experience. If anything, it may need about +1/4 to +1/3 EC. But most of the time, it's effect on exposure is not noticeable.

fiebru1119 wrote in post #10372211
If you all could pick a portrait/wedding/lands​cape camera would it be a 1Dsmk2 or 1Dmk3?

I currently own the mk3, but it seems like I would benefit so much from FF and resolution of the Dsmk2 for what I shoot.. Not to mention my 24-70L will finally be wide andi will have true UWA options.... Wonder if there's someone local that would consider a trade

I have both a 1Ds 2 and a 1D3. If I had to pick one for "portrait/wedding/land​scape," it would be the 1Ds 2. For sports, it would be the 1D3.