At a crossroads

It's been five days since I've had my 35mm 2 D ZE and now since I've had CV-C IV focusing screen attached to help with manual focus. I can't honestly see a difference except that the viewfinder is much brighter than the EOM one for the 1Ds II for sure.

My 1Ds II seems to such a -2/3 EC no matter what I change it to. Is it the result of having it set to cF 1 than 0? I can't be sure unless I ask as both batteries have finally died for the first time I've had this body (WOW!) but I would like some answers.

For those using Zeiss glass on a body without LV, which screens are you using for MF and what about them makes it easier to focus?

That, and the fixed exposure compensation on my camera body all off a sudden.

I'm considering sending my Zeiss back to B&H and getting a 24mm 1.4L because is the point of having a fine manual focus optic if you can't manual focus it? ::sighs::

The only perk to have a 1Ds III over a 1Ds II for me...seriously. Oh, and the dedicated ISO button.

The Ec-C IV focus screen is the standard one for the 1DsIII. It is NOT a new laser matte screen. There is no custom function setting for that screen on the 1DsII so you probably can't get proper metering on a 1DsII with that screen. On the 1DsIII there is a different setting for that screen, the standard screens, the S screen and the new laser matte screens.

The Ec-C IV screen is not meant for manual focus anyways. It is a general purpose screen mostly meant for autofocus.

If you want a better manual focus screen you can get the Ec-S which is super precision matte, or the Ec-A microprism or Ec-B split screen or Ec-L cross split screen. I have the Ec-S and Ec-B which are both excellent for manual focus with the Ec-S being meant for f/2.8 and faster lenses while the Ec-B works well for slower lenses.

hpulley wrote in post #10413922
The Ec-C IV focus screen is the standard one for the 1DsIII. It is NOT a new laser matte screen. There is no custom function setting for that screen on the 1DsII so you probably can't get proper metering on a 1DsII with that screen. On the 1DsIII there is a different setting for that screen, the standard screens, the S screen and the new laser matte screens.

The Ec-C IV screen is not meant for manual focus anyways. It is a general purpose screen mostly meant for autofocus.

If you want a better manual focus screen you can get the Ec-S which is super precision matte, or the Ec-A microprism or Ec-B split screen or Ec-L cross split screen. I have the Ec-S and Ec-B which are both excellent for manual focus with the Ec-S being meant for f/2.8 and faster lenses while the Ec-B works well for slower lenses.

I tried the EC-S on my 1D III and hated it for indoors (used in al f1.4 or smaller max. aperture). So I figured if I didn't like the EC-S, then I should probably try the EC-C IV.

Now I'm wondering about whether or returning both the screen and the Zeiss, getting a EC-S focusing screen and spending my money on something usable as I do this professionally.

First note that the Ec-S screen is actually for f/1.8 to f/2.8 lenses. It isn't supposed to be as good for f/1.4 or faster which seems strange but it says so right in the manual.

Try a split or microprism if you have a chance. They are pretty quick for manual focusing though honestly even with the good screens the camera does a better job focusing than I do most of the time. I save the screens mostly for times when the AF fails or when for compositional reasons I can't use the AF points and don't want to focus and recompose because I'm using a fast lens where the DOF is thin and FAR gives poor results. For the most part I generally prefer an AF lens so as nice as the Zeiss is, you probably want to return it for something else (it is too bad that Sony got the exclusive deal for AF on them).

The Ec-C IV is the standard screen in the 1DIII and the 1DsIII but it seems you don't have your 1DIII anymore?