split image microprism focusing screens

[ErectedGryphon]

Has anyone tried the split image microprism focusing screens form this company? Focusing Screen

I'm really interested in the screens, but they appear to be based in Taiwan, so I'm a little iffy on dealing there. I'd like to hear from any one that has placed an order from them; did you get your order? is it any good?

Thanks!

 

[Garbz]

These look like they cut other focusing screens to size very similar to the KatzEyes screens. I can't comment on that company, but I can recommend the katzeyes screens, although they seem to be slightly more expensive.

 

[ErectedGryphon]

Unfortunately the katzeyes don't support the 5D at this time.

 

[Stratman]

Are these the jinfinance screens? I know of a few people that have them, and like them. sometimes they need a shim to get really accurate focus though. But, they are much less expensive than the Katzeyes..

 

[TiCoyote]

In a more general sense, how many people use screens like this? I had one on an old film Minolta, and I remember liking it. How helpful is it, considering electronic focusing and AF points? Does it have a downside?

 

[Garbz]

Downside is it can't be turned off. Upside is it assists manual focusing.

Tell you the truth, I bought it because of my manual focus lenses. I have never seen anyone focus faster or more accurately by hand on a modern camera then their built in AF. AF is truly exceptional these days.

One thing is don't expect it to be as good as your old film Minolta. I love the split prism, but tiny viewfinder of modern even full frame SLRs just doesn't compare to some of the beauties of the past like the Nikon FE2.

 

[sween]

In a more general sense, how many people use screens like this? I had one on an old film Minolta, and I remember liking it. How helpful is it, considering electronic focusing and AF points? Does it have a downside?

I think that's the salient point, and all other pluses or minuses are irrelevant. Split focus screens were a big boost thirty years ago, but who needs them today? Could be it's just me, but the only manual focusing I really need is when doing macro. Outside of that, MF, while I might use it on occasion, isn't critical. Come to think of it, a couple pieces of Nikkor glass I have allow both MF and AF at the very same time. Pretty sweet.

 

[TiCoyote]

The other night I was shooting in a bar. It was very dark. I have a D-Rebel, and I was shooting with the 50mm 1.8. It was too dark to focus manually, because I couldn't really see what I was focusing (evidently, neither could the camera b/c the little red AF points weren't lighting up or beeping) and I didn't want to blind everyone with the flash strobing away in AF mode.

Would a split focus screen solve this problem, or is there a more elegant solution I'm missing?

 

[musicaleCA]

Unfortunately the katzeyes don't support the 5D at this time.

And never support the 7D, or any other Canon camera made with similar viewfinder technology. In all likelihood, that means custom focusing screens are on the way out in the Canon line. Both a good, and a bad thing.

 

[icassell]

It's interesting you should mention that, musicaleCA, as I was wondering about that. I got this e-mail from Rachel Katz yesterday after inquiring about screens for my 7D

Hi Ian!

Thank you very much for your inquiry. We do hope to support the Canon 7D
model at some point, but we are not making screens for that camera yet. I
do not have any information about when screens will be available, as we have
not yet begun our study of that model. If you were in a position to be able
to send your 7D in for a few days, we could take a look and let you know if
it might be possible for us to support the 7D. Otherwise, we will certainly
get to an examination of this camera as soon as we are able, and we will of
course support the 7D if we can. I will keep your email on file and as soon
as there is any news about the 7D, I will be sure to let you know. Thanks
again for your interest in Katz Eye Optics products and if you have any
other questions, please feel free to ask.

Best regards,

Rachael Katz
Katz Eye Optics
Tel. +1.413.743.2523
Fax +1.888.251.5477
Katz Eye™ Optics - Custom Focusing Screens

 

[NateWagner]

The other night I was shooting in a bar. It was very dark. I have a D-Rebel, and I was shooting with the 50mm 1.8. It was too dark to focus manually, because I couldn't really see what I was focusing (evidently, neither could the camera b/c the little red AF points weren't lighting up or beeping) and I didn't want to blind everyone with the flash strobing away in AF mode.

Would a split focus screen solve this problem, or is there a more elegant solution I'm missing?

To the best of my knowledge the split focus would only assist with focusing manually, and it wouldn't really light anything up, it just makes it easier because if everything is lined up it is in focus (basically).

I don't know what kind of flash you were talking about, but if you have a flash such as the 430ex or the 580ex you can turn off the flash portion and just use the focus assist. This will greatly assist in focusing ability without constantly blinding people (of course, you're still going to have a relatively slow shutter speed etc. but whatever).

 

[Derrel]

The professional Canon bodies have viewfinders that support screens which allow accurate,reliable, visual focus ascertainment. The new-fangled Transmissive LCD viewfinder system in the 7D does not show the shallow depth of field of wide-aperture lenses; the artificially brightened viewfinder of the 7D (remove the batteries and the finder goes dark) is showing an "apparent" depth of field of around f/4.5 according to the opinions of people I trust.

That means that if you're using any type of fast glass, you cannot use the viewfinder to reliably *visually* evaluate what is in-focus on the 7D. The EOS 1 series will probably not go that direction due to the need for accurate and reliable *visual* focus confirmation by advanced-level photographers who depend on the viewfinder for not only framing, but for focusing.

 

[RyanLilly]

The other night I was shooting in a bar. It was very dark. I have a D-Rebel, and I was shooting with the 50mm 1.8. It was too dark to focus manually, because I couldn't really see what I was focusing (evidently, neither could the camera b/c the little red AF points weren't lighting up or beeping) and I didn't want to blind everyone with the flash strobing away in AF mode.

Would a split focus screen solve this problem, or is there a more elegant solution I'm missing?

To the best of my knowledge the split focus would only assist with focusing manually, and it wouldn't really light anything up, it just makes it easier because if everything is lined up it is in focus (basically).

I don't know what kind of flash you were talking about, but if you have a flash such as the 430ex or the 580ex you can turn off the flash portion and just use the focus assist. This will greatly assist in focusing ability without constantly blinding people (of course, you're still going to have a relatively slow shutter speed etc. but whatever).

This is what I do. I uses a 430ez and only enable the focus assist beam, It helps focusing significantly, even in complete Darkness. The EZ flashes are for film cameras(cheap used), however everything but TTL metering communication works fine on my 20D.

 

[Garbz]

Split focus screens were a big boost thirty years ago, but who needs them today? Could be it's just me, but the only manual focusing I really need is when doing macro.

Some people have lenses from 30 years ago. I know some canon users who have some Ziess lenses, I definitely have some very old AI Nikkors, none of which support AF. I agree AF is great, but only when it can actually be used, and there are a lot of cases where AF can not be used.

Would a split focus screen solve this problem, or is there a more elegant solution I'm missing?

Probably not. If the scene is as dark as you're describing then it will likely be too dark to accurately judge in the viewfinder. There's a very fine line between autofocus failing and the scene being just simply to dark to look at properly though our modern tiny dark viewfinders.

 

[musicaleCA]

The professional Canon bodies have viewfinders that support screens which allow accurate,reliable, visual focus ascertainment. The new-fangled Transmissive LCD viewfinder system in the 7D does not show the shallow depth of field of wide-aperture lenses; the artificially brightened viewfinder of the 7D (remove the batteries and the finder goes dark) is showing an "apparent" depth of field of around f/4.5 according to the opinions of people I trust.

That means that if you're using any type of fast glass, you cannot use the viewfinder to reliably *visually* evaluate what is in-focus on the 7D. The EOS 1 series will probably not go that direction due to the need for accurate and reliable *visual* focus confirmation by advanced-level photographers who depend on the viewfinder for not only framing, but for focusing.

*sighs*

First off, I want to know how you think that DoF you see through the viewfinder is somehow effected by the focusing screen design. I can tell you right now there's no real difference. What you will see is a bit of a pattern caused by the polymer used in out of focus specular highlights of the image, but this doesn't effect manual focusing to a significant extent.

Secondly, you're evidently confused about how the screen works. It is not (I say again, not; if you talk to any Canon rep briefed on the 7D they will tell you this) artificially brightened. The reason it goes dark when the power is off is because the polymer used becomes dark when there is no current running through it. Provide a current, and it becomes crystal clear.

As for the 7D having support for other focusing screens, that's a definite no from the folks at Canon. They tossed the idea of having interchangeable screens for the new one. Just part of the design really; there's a lot of delicate equipment on that screen that you probably wouldn't want to risk messing up anyway.