Split prism focus screen.

Has anybody installed the split prism focus screen in their camera. This is the only thing I miss from the film days. It took a long time for me to get used to not having it there. But lately I have seen they make them for the EOS. I am about to get it for my 50D. Just wondering if anybody had used them.

And double checking... The 40D and 50D are the same screen, right?

The 2 I found...
http://haodascreen.com​/CanonDSLR.aspx
http://www.katzeyeopti​cs.com …ing-Screen--prod_40D.html

The fundamental problem is that Canon does not offer one. So that leaves aftermarket third party products, and these suffer from the problem that there is not a CFn setting in the camera which would compensate the metering sufficiently to be accurate under all circumstances, regardless of metering mode (spot, partial, etc) and max lens aperture (f/2.8 vs. f/5.6). If you are someone who puts the camera into Evaluative mode only, it might be OK, but if you use Spot mode you're hosed.

I have read that as well. Spot metering is totally gone with them. But I almost never spot meter. I mostly do use evaluative, then judge for myself the subject/surroundings ratio to get an exposure. And since this is a new body, I will just have to get used to the metering difference. Problem...Definatley. But I think its not to bad of one. Unless you keep in in auto all the time.

The other thing to consider is if you like to shoot with longer FL lenses and/or with slower aperture lenses...the split prism 'blacks out' half of itself, becoming useless.

I think my old cameras did that as well. The screen takes less than a minute to change. So I will have to keep the OEM in the bag.

I've used Hoada's split prism in my 350D and i love it..
my AF lights were screwed from before so the screen has been a big help

as far as metering, etc.. i just shoot images, if it looks good i work with it

You need to consider something else as well...variations in screen tolerances (especially if going to a 3rd party type), *may* cause focusing issues at large apertures when using MF. I shoot a lot of MF alternate lenses on my 5D (Zeiss, Leica, Oly, etc) and swapped out the stock screen for the Ee-S screen. After doing so, I had a somewhat difficult time getting accurate MF at fairly large apertures. I ended up having to buy a set of focus screen shims from Canon and adjust the screen for MF through trial and error. Now it's spot-on. Several folks that I know that have been using Katz-Eye screens had to do the same. Just something to consider if you plan on doing a lot of MF shooting.

Now that you have been told the negatives, I installed a prism screen on my 350D and loved it. It took a bit of tweaking to get it seated perfect, and metering changed by a bit (I think it was 1/3 or 1/2 stop) but once I got used to it in there I never thought about takingit out. It was very useful for how I shoot, and as the camera in question had no spot meter anyway that wasn't an issue. All my lenses were 2.8 or better as well, blackout was no problem.

The larger VF of my 30D resolved most of my MF problems and I never did install one on that camera, but there was still the occasional time I missed it when manual focusing (especially in low light).

nadtz wrote in post #6916279
It was very useful for how I shoot, and as the camera in question had no spot meter anyway that wasn't an issue. .

Be aware that the metering error that comes to Spot with these aftermarket screens will also affect Partial.

Is the metering error equivalent, or is it lessened by the slightly larger metering area?

donaldjl wrote in post #6921791
Is the metering error equivalent, or is it lessened by the slightly larger metering area?

I couldn't say...usually those to buy these focusing screens only use Evaluative or Center weighted! There have been reports of 2-3 EV error in metering with Spot, but not any published analyses of Partial vs. Spot comparison in degree of error with these screeens.