Replace Focusing Screen on Canon in under 1 mintue

It took from 1:17 to 2:32 for you to get the old screen out and put the new one in (even without the part that you edited out at 01:20 ;)). So, your claim is false, Sir :nono:.

:D On a serious note though, split-screen foscusing makes using MF lenses so easy (and accurate), that I would definitlely go with this mod if I was planning to switch to MF lenses. Good tip :thumbs:!
 
If I had any old MF lenses and wanted to use them, I would do a similar mod on my D70 using a katseye replacement screen.

Doesn't the loob on the condoms cause problems with grip and/or get on the screen, rendering the matte rather glossier?
 
Ok interesting video but help me out, what I really don't understand is the advantage when surely the focus can be done through the viewfinder anyway.

Realspeed
 
I used it because it is provided :D. You can do it perfectly without the condoms, just hold the edges, not the screen

realspeed said:
Ok interesting video but help me out, what I really don't understand is the advantage when surely the focus can be done through the viewfinder anyway.

Realspeed
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With split image guiding it makes the precision manual focusing particular in low light much much easier - specially when the aperture is fully open at 2.8 or less.
 
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Nod said:
If I had any old MF lenses and wanted to use them, I would do a similar mod on my D70 using a katseye replacement screen.
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You do realise that you wouldn't have any metering with these old lenses on a D70, presumably :shrug:!?

I'm looking at finding a digital body to use my (AI-S) Nikkor primes on and the cheapest model (with a half-decent sensor) that offers any metering is the D200 :|. Shame really, as the focus screens themselves are pretty expensive (for a good one, like the Katzeye model), so there's no really cheap way of doing this :'(.
 
Andy: jump ship to Canon camp. You can find a Nikkor-EF adapter to use it on canon body.
 
Nod said:
Doesn't the loob on the condoms cause problems with grip and/or get on the screen, rendering the matte rather glossier?
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they're not actual condoms- they're called 'finger cots' and I think they come in the packet

I would be concerned for the man who could use them as condoms :lol:
 
You shouldn't get your fingers anywhere near that screen, your supposed to put a condom on finger and thumb.

If you get any kind of finger grease on the screen you've knackered it. I know from experience. The little square tab is the only place you should grip it.

If you use a genuine Canon screen you dont get condoms just the correct tool that keeps your fingers off the screen.

Sadly as you have probably found Canon don't do a split focus screen.
 
ChrisH said:
Sadly as you have probably found Canon don't do a split focus screen.
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Strangely Canon don't do one for the 5DMkII but they have a choice of 4 different ones for 1D/1Ds series of bodies......any idea why the 5D/5DMkII isn't subject to the same choices.

Bob
 
I have replaced focusing screen on both 5D classic and Mk2 (as seen here)

5D classic 5D mk2, or EOS 5 all different on hinge layout.

5D classic focusing screen I used was an original Canon made - then modded by the seller on a hinge to fit 5.
5D mk2 focusing screen as you seen from the video, is a 3rd party made. I got it from eBay.
It is very bright and accurate - by used AF to cross check. As it doesn't affect optic quality, I don't care if it is Canon made as long as it works - like camera strap or viewfinder eye pieces.
 
squarepeas said:
I have replaced focusing screen on both 5D classic and Mk2 (as seen here)

5D classic 5D mk2, or EOS 5 all different on hinge layout.

5D classic focusing screen I used was an original Canon made - then modded by the seller on a hinge to fit 5.
5D mk2 focusing screen as you seen from the video, is a 3rd party made. I got it from eBay.
It is very bright and accurate - by used AF to cross check. As it doesn't affect optic quality, I don't care if it is Canon made as long as it works - like camera strap or viewfinder eye pieces.
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But there is a fair chance that it will affect your metering.
 
I don't think it will, although I cant be 100% sure. The AF is not relying on focusing screen at all. In-focus blinking red dots are not on focusing screen. The screen is held by a latch only.
If any negative effect - it could only happen in manual mode, and it cant be worst than without split image aid.
 
I think you are being a little naive, the metering is carried out in the pentaprism, why else do you think Canon have a custom function to choose the focussing screen used?

Each focussing screen will have a different effect on the metering.
 
Good point. I thought you mean the focusing.

The instruction didn't mention which Canon focusing screen it is corresponding to.
Will ask seller and I will also run some tests with both and light meter.
 
I used KatzEyes split prisms in my 30D, 40D and 50D and they would under expose by about 1 stop on spot metering and 1/2 stop on centre weighted.
As the 5DII doesn't have a CFn for metering these screens then you're better off selecting an outside focus point to be active (drags the weighted metering off the centre of the focus screen) before using manual focus.

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
I used KatzEyes split prisms in my 30D, 40D and 50D and they would under expose by about 1 stop on spot metering and 1/2 stop on centre weighted.
As the 5DII doesn't have a CFn for metering these screens then you're better off selecting an outside focus point to be active (drags the weighted metering off the centre of the focus screen) before using manual focus.

Bob
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Where did you buy them from, Bob :shrug:? I'm having a bitch of a job finding a price for the Nikon D700-fit version :'(.
 
I used the Chinese LinkDelight version, will let you know what it up to.
 
squarepeas said:
I used the Chinese LinkDelight version, will let you know what it up to.
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Me too. It makes the meter read too dark for all lenses (including my MF lenses) resulting in overexposed pictures of up to 1 stop. Easy to compensate for on camera and in PP.

I can swap it out in about a minute, it's only a clip holding it in on the 400D.

Much easier for Manual focussing up to about f5.6, then it gets a little dark on the pentaprism.
 
-halli- said:
Me too. It makes the meter read too dark for all lenses (including my MF lenses) resulting in overexposed pictures of up to 1 stop. Easy to compensate for on camera and in PP.

I can swap it out in about a minute, it's only a clip holding it in on the 400D.

Much easier for Manual focussing up to about f5.6, then it gets a little dark on the pentaprism.
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Interesting! I'd read a couple of comments like this from users on other forums - some said that the viewfinder was too dark to use (but they were probably using lenses with max apertures >f/4) and others claimed metering errors up to +3EV :eek:.

That last part worried me more, as I can only dial in +/- 3EV on my Nikons and I would like to have some 'spare' EV correction in hand when using one of these screens. Still, if you say that there's only an error of 1EV or so, it might work OK for me and my f/2.8 or f/1.8 MF lenses :thinking:.
 
Naboo32 said:
Interesting! I'd read a couple of comments like this from users on other forums - some said that the viewfinder was too dark to use (but they were probably using lenses with max apertures >f/4) and others claimed metering errors up to +3EV :eek:.

That last part worried me more, as I can only dial in +/- 3EV on my Nikons and I would like to have some 'spare' EV correction in hand when using one of these screens. Still, if you say that there's only an error of 1EV or so, it might work OK for me and my f/2.8 or f/1.8 MF lenses :thinking:.
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Well, I just went ahead and ordered one anyway - could be the best 22 quid I've ever spent on photography, if it allows me to start using my MF Nikkors on my D700 (witout the focusing difficulty that I have now) :naughty:.
 
Naboo32 said:
Well, I just went ahead and ordered one anyway - could be the best 22 quid I've ever spent on photography, if it allows me to start using my MF Nikkors on my D700 (witout the focusing difficulty that I have now) :naughty:.
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I don't regret mine. I got an eyepiece enlarger too and Manual focussing for Macro work is so much easier now. However, it is so easy to swap back that I could probably do it when out and about (but wouldn't due to dust!)

Up to f5.6 the viewfinder is as bright, if not brighter, than the original screen. It then starts getting dark in one half of the splitscreen, then the whole circle. Works beautifully with my 55mm f1.4 lens and with other lenses I can focus wide open and then stop down before taking the shot.

I forgot to mention, I got the 45 degree one.
 
-halli- said:
I don't regret mine. I got an eyepiece enlarger too and Manual focussing for Macro work is so much easier now. However, it is so easy to swap back that I could probably do it when out and about (but wouldn't due to dust!)

Up to f5.6 the viewfinder is as bright, if not brighter, than the original screen. It then starts getting dark in one half of the splitscreen, then the whole circle. Works beautifully with my 55mm f1.4 lens and with other lenses I can focus wide open and then stop down before taking the shot.

I forgot to mention, I got the 45 degree one.
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Thanks for the info. I already have the DK-17(?) eye piece, luckily :).

As for the screen, I ordered the 180 degree one :| - what's the difference :shrug:!?

-halli- said:
You could shoot in manual.
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Yep, I could, but I'd much rather shoot in aperture mode ;).
 
Naboo32 said:
Thanks for the info. I already have the DK-17(?) eye piece, luckily :).

As for the screen, I ordered the 180 degree one :| - what's the difference :shrug:!?



Yep, I could, but I'd much rather shoot in aperture mode ;).
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135 degrees.

The 45 degree one is on a diagonal (works well with both vertical and horizontal lines) whereas the 180 degree one is horizontal and only works well with vertical lines.
 
EdBray said:
135 degrees.

The 45 degree one is on a diagonal (works well with both vertical and horizontal lines) whereas the 180 degree one is horizontal and only works well with vertical lines.
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^^ THIS

(That is almost word perfect as to what I was going to type!)
 
I thought about the Katz Eye replacement screen for my 30D, but decided against it. Quite expensive, and I'm not sure how well it would work on the small crop body viewfinder.

The big/bright viewfinders on the SLRs are just another thing we took for granted. My F2 has interchangeable focusing screens too - lots of them - and they're a cinch to swop out. I think the F1 and a few other bodies had this option too?
 
MartynK said:
I thought about the Katz Eye replacement screen for my 30D, but decided against it. Quite expensive, and I'm not sure how well it would work on the small crop body viewfinder.

The big/bright viewfinders on the SLRs are just another thing we took for granted. My F2 has interchangeable focusing screens too - lots of them - and they're a cinch to swop out. I think the F1 and a few other bodies had this option too?
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Yes, my little FEs have a range of focus screens available and a carry a spare (gridded) one with me whenever I take them out - as you say, a cinch to swap over :thumbs:.
 
EdBray said:
135 degrees.

The 45 degree one is on a diagonal (works well with both vertical and horizontal lines) whereas the 180 degree one is horizontal and only works well with vertical lines.
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:( Ferk!

To be honest, I've never understood just how these split-prism screens work anyway, so the numbers didn't mean a thing to me.

As delivery of the Chinese one (according to the listing) can be anything up to 30 days (and that's not allowing for Customs getting their hands on it), I think I'll go and do some more checking to see if I can find a high quality, versatile one somewhere - I'm impatient like that :p!
 
Has anyone with a live view camera done a comparison between using that and a replacement focusing screen?

I now have quite a collection of manual focus lenses and find the live view on my 450D very good, particularly when using the zoom. Having said that, using the view finder would be more convenient.
 
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