I bought a brightscreen focusing screen for my Canon 5D a while back , and had a back focus issue with all of my lenses . I called Brightscreen and they sent me some shims to fix the problem. The problem wasn't resolved so they said to send the camera in and for $179 plus $32 shipping they would adjust the focusing on the camera.I got the camera back , and the backfocus issue was still there. I called Brightscreen , and they said they had spent a lot of time on the camera and that was the best they could do . They said to send the camera to Canon and if I sent them a copy of the Canon repair order they would reimburse me. Canon fixed the camera , but Brightscreen has refused to remburse me . So now I have spent $200 on the focusing screen . $179 on the shoddy work , and $85 on shipping, and my camera is working great ( no thanks to Brightscreen ) Nice people to do business with
Hmm, I've always thought the stock screen in my 5D was among the brightest I've used. Did Brightscreen significantly improve on Canon's stock screen? Or were you installing a split or micro prism?
Incidentally, AF is accomplished via a sensor below the reflex mirror (bounced off a couple more mirrors). A misaligned screen has nothing to do with inaccurate focus, unless, of course you were referring to manual focus although no mention of manual focus in your post...
Wow, this must be really important. Not only posted on DPReview and here, but cross posted in two forums here.
I'm always a little skeptical over the "BEWARE" posts (reminds me of Night of the Living Dead somehow), especially since I've had two Brightscreen products on a 5D and a 1DMkIII with nothing but good performance.
Gochugogi wrote:
Perhaps he is trying to exact a little payback for not getting his way.
If as he claims Brightscreen did offer to reimburse him and then renegged, then I'd probably be out to get a little payback as well. Thats a pretty scummy thing to do, assuming of course things transpired the way he described.
Hey peteygas, I totally understand your frustration of having to pour so much cash into this issue and not getting it resolved quickly.
As Gochugogi pointed out, the focusing screen doesn't actually have anything to do with AF, strangely enough. It sounds like you have a camera that backfocuses and then installed a brightscreen. Correlation does not imply causation.
It also sounds like Brightscreen did the work to make sure that everything necessary for their product to function normally was handled properly. I could be mistaken, but I don't think they would handle things like shutter replacements, AF calibration, and so forth. They do MF work from what I understand.
As for the game of Beware! Everybody panic!
Getting to play the victim and being wronged, the ego sure loves to play that game, doesn't it? It's like the more you've been victimized and the more drama you can create, the more juice the ego gets out of it.
It never actually solves anything or makes things better, but egos seem to keep trying anyways.
This is useful information and IMHO appropriate. Brightscreen has lots of very satisfied customers ..but the true test of customer service is when things go wrong. He was obviously unhappy enough to post his feelings. Obviously just one data point but no reason to not accept his experience..even if its unusual.
thedigitalbean wrote:
If as he claims Brightscreen did offer to reimburse him and then renegged, then I'd probably be out to get a little payback as well. Thats a pretty scummy thing to do, assuming of course things transpired the way he described.
He's probably being very factual. I got a crap BrightScreen for my 5D - I wanted the microprism. It threw my metering off by 2 1/2 stops. Their suggestion was to use the camera exposure compensation. WTF I told them that was unacceptable. They explained their policy is to consider it normal to have up to a stop of exposure variance. Eventually - after several calls - they told to send the screen back in for evaluation. Wait, wait some more,call, wait, call.... *months* later I finally told them to reimburse me as they kept claiming they were "too busy" and didn't have enough time to check it out. Now folks - these are just stock Canon screens they have massaged with some proprietary technique - this straight from the man in charge (after I bought it of course). I dunno if he was trying to convince me I was imagining things or what but he finally told me to send it back in after I told him I had before and after shots tested against my Sekonics meter. I would have taken another to test but they claim all orders are "custom" and they would have to bill me and then reimburse me if it fixed the problem.
No - uh-uh, not worth it. Besides I find out they work for crap with TS lenses - the off axis light just blacks out the whole viewfinder.
regards,
Jon
BubbaJon wrote:
He's probably being very factual. I got a crap BrightScreen for my 5D - I wanted the microprism. It threw my metering off by 2 1/2 stops. Their suggestion was to use the camera exposure compensation. WTF I told them that was unacceptable. They explained their policy is to consider it normal to have up to a stop of exposure variance.
I don't own a 5D, but I know in both the MkII, and MkIII manuals, users are warned that split/microprism screens,from any manufacturer will alter metering. I use the Canon split micro in my MkIII, adjusted accordingly, and moved on with life.
XsigmaSD wrote:
I don't own a 5D, but I know in both the MkII, and MkIII manuals, users are warned that split/microprism screens,from any manufacturer will alter metering. I use the Canon split micro in my MkIII, adjusted accordingly, and moved on with life.
Interesting - nope - never seen that at all. I wasn't even aware Canon had a split screen for DSLR's - or perhaps it's not available for the 5D... I damn sure still miss split prism/microscreen from my SLR days!
regards,
Jon
DanBrown wrote:
Wow, this must be really important. Not only posted on DPReview and here, but cross posted in two forums here.
I'm always a little skeptical over the "BEWARE" posts (reminds me of Night of the Living Dead somehow), especially since I've had two Brightscreen products on a 5D and a 1DMkIII with nothing but good performance.
Well said, Dan!
I don't have one of these products (have no interest in them), but crossposting is just lame, IMO. Fred has nearly two dozen different forums on his site for a reason.
BubbaJon wrote:
Interesting - nope - never seen that at all. I wasn't even aware Canon had a split screen for DSLR's - or perhaps it's not available for the 5D... I damn sure still miss split prism/microscreen from my SLR days!
regards,
Jon
Agreed, missed mine too, until I discovered the wonder of this little gem... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12592-REG/Canon_4721A001_EC_B_Focusing_Screen.html
I know Canon makes a few replacements for the 5D, not sure if a split micro is available though.
I have found the Canon 5D focusing screen is not that helpful. I should say the focusing screen for the 5D does not seem to be as helpful as the one canon makes for the 1D series cameras.
What I do not understand is why Brightscreen agreed to fix the camera, which appeared to be unrelated in the first place.
With that said, I am not too happy with Brightscreen for different reasons. I ordered a screen for my Hasselblad MF camera and they told me about 10 days to 14 days. 8 weeks later, I still do not have it. I sent an email to customer serviceabout 3 or 4 weeks ago. I get a response that it will be sent by the end of the week and of course nothing. Then i sent one again last week and no response. SO I sent another email... the reply I got was that I was being inpatient. Geez what kind of response was that? I said why do the sales people quote unrealistic time quotes and follow up with it is coming within a week and when I wait a few more weeks to inquire again, told I am being inpatient.
BubbaJon wrote:
He's probably being very factual. I got a crap BrightScreen for my 5D - I wanted the microprism. It threw my metering off by 2 1/2 stops. Their suggestion was to use the camera exposure compensation. WTF I told them that was unacceptable. They explained their policy is to consider it normal to have up to a stop of exposure variance. Eventually - after several calls - they told to send the screen back in for evaluation. Wait, wait some more,call, wait, call.... *months* later I finally told them to reimburse me as they kept claiming they were "too busy" and didn't have enough time to check it out. Now folks - these are just stock Canon screens they have massaged with some proprietary technique - this straight from the man in charge (after I bought it of course). I dunno if he was trying to convince me I was imagining things or what but he finally told me to send it back in after I told him I had before and after shots tested against my Sekonics meter. I would have taken another to test but they claim all orders are "custom" and they would have to bill me and then reimburse me if it fixed the problem.
No - uh-uh, not worth it. Besides I find out they work for crap with TS lenses - the off axis light just blacks out the whole viewfinder.
regards,
Jon...Show more →
Jon - wouldn't you expect the metering to be off? If the screen makes your viewfinder brighter, then it also passes more light to the metering sensors. Microprism screens are known to throw metering off as well, for the simple reason that a large part of the screen becomes either darker or brighter than normal. Again, this will fool the metering sensors.
This isn't unique to Brightscreen. Canon microprism screens have the same effect. That's why there are custom functions that adjust for various Canon screens. (not sure if 5D has these settings, 1-series cameras do).
Customer Service issues aside, metering changes are simply to be expected in this case.
Since the OP decided to cross post this issue and post it on DPReview as well, I'm including a response that appeared on DPReview (although I cannot vouch for the credentials of the poster):
"I brought this matter to the attention of Brightscreen and received a prompt and detailed reply. I don't feel I have the right to post the reply here but I hope Brightscreen has the time and desire to defend their name.
The story from the OP and Brightscreen are very much at odds and for now I certainly believe Brightscreen. Don't jump to conclusions.
I will NOT discuss this further except to say that this is my OPINION and I feel strongly enough about what I heard from Jim Lakey, President & Founder or Brightscreen to post this message here.
I told them that was unacceptable. They explained their policy is to consider it normal to have up to a stop of exposure variance. Eventually - after several calls - they told to send the screen back in for evaluation. Wait, wait some more,call, wait, call.... *months* later I finally told them to reimburse me as they kept claiming they were "too busy" and didn't have enough time to check it out. Now folks - these are just stock Canon screens they have massaged with some proprietary technique - this straight from the man in charge (after I bought it of course). I dunno if he was trying to convince me I was imagining things or what but he finally told me to send it back in after I told him I had before and after shots tested against my Sekonics meter. I would have taken another to test but they claim all orders are "custom" and they would have to bill me and then reimburse me if it fixed the problem.
