Which body for precise manual focus?

I've been shooting rebel xt for long time and I think nows a great time to step up to a different body. Although zooms and autofocus are VERY convenient, I still prefer the excellent optics of prime and prestigious feelings of good ol manual focus. I tried manually focusing my xt couple time but boy its tough with the small and dim viewfinder

I have couple questions I would love to hear answers from you guys..

1. New ZE mount Zeiss.. sounds great!! But will I be able to use automatic metering with it ?? i.e. usable on Av, Sv mode

2. Big view finder on FF camera, EE-S screens, katzeye, 10x magnifier liveview... so which one usually give me the most CRISP pictures using manual focus? I've heard people saying that the new xsi's liveview feature provides better manual focusing ability than FF vf.. is that true? if so, that will be wonderful!!

I'm currently considering 2 bodies.. a classic eos 5D with EE-S screen installed or either Rebel XSi. The lens I'm planning to buy along are zeiss 35mm, 100mm makro-planar, and maybe a 21mm when it comes out.

I mainly shoot pictures using my beloved feisol 3441s and markins q3t... I'm currently leaning more toward xsi.. Please keep in mind that I'm looking for a camera with great manual focusing capabilities.

Thanks in advance!!!

noktosh wrote in post #6806735
I'm currently considering 2 bodies.. a classic eos 5D with EE-S screen installed or either Rebel XSi.

Out of these two choices, definitely, definitely, definitely the 5D. The Rebel VF's are difficult for auto-focus, never mind manual focus.

I should say that I'm assuming you want to look through the traditional viewfinder. If you want to put the camera on a tripod and use Live View, then go with the XSi.

noktosh,
Welcome to the forum

The 5D has a brighter viewfinder which helps in manual focusing, however another option is a DSLR that has live view. With live view you can do much more exact manual focusing because of a larger display and being able to zoom to 10x.
Something to think about

Would you rule out a 40D? They can be had for pretty cheap these days, they have a bigger, brighter viewfinder than the Rebels (though not as big as the 5D's), they have interchangeable focusing screens, and they have Live View.

timnosenzo, john, thank you so much for your warm welcome and response!!

5D's big and bright viewfinder is very tempting! But on the other hand, 10x viewfinder capability on xsi is also handy... Making up a choice for next camera is sure tough

edit: I think I've heard that the 40D's liveview is not a "real" liveview... whats the deal about it?? Maybe I should search into more of that... though the price seems really nice! Interchangeable focusing screens... you mean that I would be able to install EE-S screens too?

noktosh wrote in post #6806811
But on the other hand, 10x viewfinder capability on xsi is also handy...

My experience with Live View is that it's really very handy when the camera is on a tripod, but it's difficult to use otherwise. If you plan to use a tripod & MF lenses a lot, then you should be fine, but I wouldn't plan on hand holding the camera and manually focusing with the camera in Live View. I think it would be very difficult.

noktosh,
My 40D live view is sweet just great for exacts on macro shoots and has bars for leveling for landscape photos. Also like timnosenzo said the 40D view finder is brighter (not as bright as the 5D, but pretty close). If you do manual shooting the 40D is good (like the 5D) in that you can change f/stop with one wheel and shutter speed with the other wheel.

noktosh wrote in post #6806811
edit: I think I've heard that the 40D's liveview is not a "real" liveview... whats the deal about it?? Maybe I should search into more of that... though the price seems really nice!

Really? Mine seems to work fine. The newer versions of Live View allow for auto focus without flipping the mirror up, but that wouldn't affect you either way.

noktosh wrote in post #6806811
Interchangeable focusing screens... you mean that I can be able to install EE-S screens too?

Yup, screens are here (actually called a EF-S for the 40D, EE-S is for the 5D):
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Focusing_Scree​n_for.html

Canon also offers a grid screen:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Focusing_Scree​n_for.html

Hmmm 40D sounds very good.. .95x mag 95% coverage pentaprism compared to the rebel's .87x mag 95% coverage pentamirror. plus a liveview function?? I think I have made my decision!!

Again thank you so much for your cooperation!! Seems like I'm going to enjoy this forum alot!

btw does anyone know if the new zeiss works with 40D metering?

Live view > 5d Mk I viewfinder.

see the link in my signature to compare relative viewfinder sizes

If all the Rebel VFs are similar in that they produce the illusion of very deep DOF due to the focusing screen design, then they're going to be terrible for manual focusing. That's the one biggest complaint I have about the Rebel XTi I got recently. Compared to my 1D Mark II you have no idea how much or how little DOF you'll have with the Rebel and in fact even with a 1.4 lens it makes focusing manually very difficult... I'd say mostly impossible unless you rely on the confirmation light.

Fortunately since I got the XTi as mainly a point and shoot it's not really that big of an issue but if you're looking to use the camera specifically for manual focus, that issue not to mention the size or relative dimness compared to other viewfinders would make it an inappropriate choice.