Focusing screen

Just bought and installed my new Canon Ef-D focusing screen. All I can say is that this is going to be a big help in making sure that my horizons/verticals are lined up properly from the get-go. No more making adjustments in CS3.

Install took less than a minute. Spent more time reading the instructions than actually doing the install.

I have them installed on both of my cameras. I do a lot of ocean and building shots and It's great. Don't forget to change your C.Fn IV -5 setting to your new screen.

Linkzi wrote in post #7063946
I have them installed on both of my cameras. I do a lot of ocean and building shots and It's great. Don't forget to change your C.Fn IV -5 setting to your new screen.

excuse my noobness, but what does that do?

go to menu
then your orange button
C.FnIV: Operation/Others
#5 - Change from Ef-A to 1:Ef-D

Thanks, did that. Just curious as to what exactly this function does? Why would it matter in the camera as all that was done was changing the screen that has no bearing on the picture, correct?

Different focus screens effect the metering in some way or another.

You have to select the proper focus screen for your auto exposure to work correctly. Your AE unit sits above the viewfinder and it needs to know which screen it is looking through in order to "calibrate" itself correctly.

Mr. Bill wrote in post #7062700
Install took less than a minute. Spent more time reading the instructions than actually doing the install.

Agreed. Install is very simple. I just got my EF-s screen for the 40D. Combined with my sigma 30mm f/1.4, manual focus is so much easier!

phigment wrote in post #7082343
Agreed. Install is very simple. I just got my EF-s screen for the 40D. Combined with my sigma 30mm f/1.4, manual focus is so much easier!

I'm looking to get into more prime lenses and anything under 2.8, however I'm not looking into manual focusing. Wondering if you would still recommend it?

How do these work? Does it go on the mirror inside the camera?

There is a compartment that is held by a clip above the mirror that holds the screen. Don't ever open it unless you are going to replace your screen. A tool and instructions are included with the packaging for the Canon replacement screens. It is very simple to do, just never touch the screen with your bare fingers because it is very difficult to clean.

How's the EF-S screen when not using something 2.8 or faster?

phigment wrote in post #7082343
Agreed. Install is very simple. I just got my EF-s screen for the 40D. Combined with my sigma 30mm f/1.4, manual focus is so much easier!

Please forgive my potential ignorance, but how does this improve your focusing ability. I understand the grid will allow you to orient your image better but I am missing the benefit for focusing. Thanks!

I installed the grid screen for pretty much the same reasons... To help with leveling my pictures. However, I have found the lines are pretty much useless in low light situations.

dc5itr329 wrote in post #7177670
I'm looking to get into more prime lenses and anything under 2.8, however I'm not looking into manual focusing. Wondering if you would still recommend it?

The viewfinder is brighter than the stock screen when using a lens faster than 4. I would definitely recommend it for lenses 2.8 and faster.

SMP_Homer wrote in post #7179752
How's the EF-S screen when not using something 2.8 or faster?

I don't bother to switch the screen when switching lenses. I use it with my 70-200 4L and it's not too much different than the stock EF-a screen, maybe a little darker, but not so much to make a difference.

When using with the stock 17-85 lens, things get a little dark at the long end (f/5.6) of the lens when using indoors.

Bulldawg534 wrote in post #7184035
Please forgive my potential ignorance, but how does this improve your focusing ability. I understand the grid will allow you to orient your image better but I am missing the benefit for focusing. Thanks!

From what I understand, the EF-a screen tries to make the image in the viewfinder brighter by using micro-prisims to aim more light your eyes. In doing so, the light is only taken from the centre f/4 portion of the lens. This in turn limits the DOF preview to f/4.

The EF-s screen is more of a matte finish and takes light from the entire lens, thus giving a more precise (shallower) DOF preview through the viewfinder, but at the expense of darkening the view as compared to the stock EF-a.

Now if you can actually have the DOF of a f/2.8 or faster lens you can see where the focus point of the image. This makes manual focus easier.

Does my description make sense?