2 f4 lenses, and 1 f2.0 manual focus only lens...should I use the EG-S Screen?

Any advice on this? Yes, it will be uber dark with the f4s, or so they say, but without it, I will have a hard time manual focusing my Zeiss 2.0?

Is it harder to manual focus with the regular screen or harder to deal with a darker screen at f4?

Thanks!

If you have a crop camera, it may be an issue. If you have a FF, the matte screen doesn't have that much of a darkening effect at f/4. In good light, I'm able to manually focus the Eg-S screen with the lens stopped down to f/8. The "darkening" is not as bad as some make it out to be, and is usually overexaggerated,

I use it with all my lenses. I haven't reinstalled the OEM screen since I took it out.

NatDeroxL7 wrote in post #10731640
Any advice on this? Yes, it will be uber dark with the f4s, or so they say, but without it, I will have a hard time manual focusing my Zeiss 2.0?

If you are considering the EG-S screen, I presume you have a 5DmkII? If so for precise focusing of the Zeiss, use Live View 5-10X. Live view is much more accurate and precise than the viewfinder (even with EG-S). However under some conditions Live View 5X is too jumpy for good MF adjustments. If you need quicker MF than Live View, use focus confirm with the Zeiss. Micro adjust will change the focus confirm setting, so make sure and calibrate your lenses for MA.
Mike K

Mike K wrote in post #10735538
If so for precise focusing of the Zeiss, use Live View 5-10X. Live view is much more accurate and precise than the viewfinder (even with EG-S).

+1 for live view based manual focusing.

lannes wrote in post #10735647
+1 for live view based manual focusing.

I guess that would work well for (relatively) static subjects and/or with your camera on a tripod, but wouldn't a 10x magnified Live View be way too jumpy for, say, street photography? And how would you frame your shot like this?

rvdw98 wrote in post #10735656
I guess that would work well for (relatively) static subjects and/or with your camera on a tripod, but wouldn't a 10x magnified Live View be way too jumpy for, say, street photography? And how would you frame your shot like this?

It is hard to use on the fly. I've used 10x manual for every time I'm using a tripod and want to ensure focus on the most exact point of the subject possible, regardless of lens.

On the fly, the best you can do is focus on the point you want, then un-zoom from 10x, and re-frame without touching the focus ring. Not the fastest, zero ability to track moving subjects.

I think I will go with the EG-S. Some day I will own all 2.8 and faster lenses, and I will appreciate the added brightness even more.

Focusing is just fine with the Eg-S screen...no need to use LV all the time IMO. Trust me on this...been shooting with MF lenses for quite a few years with digital, first with the Ee-S and now the Eg-S...focusing through the VF is very easy. If I'm using a tripod and need critical focus, I'll use LV. If not, then its the VF.

My experience is, leave it in. I don't manually focus often but I do find having the matte screen let's me see where I am actually AF'ing far more accurately. My keeper rate, shooting concerts, has gone up, noticeably since I started using the matte screen. Before that, I would sometimes end up AF'ing on a guitar neck or somethig other than the face and not notice. I can see that now and adjust.

With that said, AF confirm chips are crap, imo. If you are going to be shooting at f2.8 or slower, then, yes, they will sort of work. With fast lenses, wide open, they almost guarantee an OOF shot. The tolerance level seems to be very high in the 2 chipped adapters (different sources) that I have.

I use focus confirm when hand holding a Canon 24 TSE II or Zeiss 21 f2.8, 35 f2 or 50 f3 makro planar. All of these are optimized with micro adjust settings. I also have the EG-S screen installed, but prefer the MA, as I put more attention to framing when using the viewfinder. If you have the time, rock the focus back and forth over the focus confirm setting to get a feel for what you are focusing on.

Again, if possible, Live View 5-10X is far more accurate.