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Cableaddict
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p.1 #1 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

Does anyone know?

I'm thinking of investing in one or two expensive 5D focus screen options (like the laser enhanced Ee-s, plus a custom-etched one with grids lines.

There's a small chance I will "upgrade" to the 5DII once we know for sure about its low-iso IQ, and once the bugs are all worked out & the price drops a bit. (read: next Spring)

So, I'd hate to blow a few hundred on screens I wouldn't be able to use again. I'm assuming that my beloved Brightscreen D2 mag-eyepiece will work, but the 5DII has a slightly improved VF percentage.

Does anyone know what that means, mechanically? Do we know yet if the focus screens are different?

Oct 14, 2008 at 12:41 AM

Tariq Gibran
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p.1 #2 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

No, its different but the old ones apparently will fit but with possible metering issues.

Oct 14, 2008 at 12:48 AM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #3 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

Thanks, TAriq.

I'm not too worried about metering, since the brightened Ee-s screens also cause metering issues. I'd be using it mostly with alt glass anyway. Very few of them are dependable even with stop-down. I just chimp.

Here's a new thought:

What are the chances that there will be a new Ee-s type screen for the 5DII, that will fit in the 5D, and be brighter than the current Ee-s?

Hmmm ........

Edit: Well, there certainly IS a new Ee-s type. The EG-s:

They are 2X the price of the old ones, so maybe they are better built. (or else the US dollar jut took another nosedive.) :

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:cDoaxvNOX1sJ:eshop.msn.ca/results/viewfinders-focusing-screens/bcatid2060/forsale%3Ftext%

Oct 14, 2008 at 01:33 AM

rachp
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p.1 #4 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

What other screen brands are you looking at? KatzEye? Any others?

I will be looking for something like this when the 5DII arrives. Just looking ahead

Thanks!

Oct 14, 2008 at 03:01 PM

Jeffrey
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p.1 #5 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

Try deleting this post and putting it in the Canon forum.

Oct 14, 2008 at 05:07 PM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #6 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

Jeffrey, IMO it belongs here.

Canon-only shooters don't typically use Ee-s screens.

Oct 14, 2008 at 05:46 PM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #7 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

rachp wrote:
What other screen brands are you looking at? KatzEye? Any others?

!

katzEye doesn't seem to make screens for the 5D. Odd.

On my list:

SLRDaren Ec-L (+ split) $90 Dark, but not as bad as the Ee-s. "Superior matte area vs the Ee-s."

Bill Maxwell's HI-LUX Enhanced Ee-S $75, & you send the Ee-s

Modified 1Ds screen.

Brightscreen's "Proscreen." ~ $200 -very bright, but hard to align, evidently.

Nikon FM3a K3 (split, microprism, grid) -good compromise, but very cluttered in the viewfinder.
-------------------------------

I really don't want a microprism / split, because then you have to focus in the center all the time.
If I have to do that, then I might as well shoot canon glass with AF engaged.

Part of why I ALWAYS shoot in MF (with any lens) is so I can focus on whatever I want, without having to then re-compose.

-But because I shoot mostly in dim light, the stock Ee-s is problematic.

It would be great if we could easily just swap focus screens as we do lenses. Why the heck are these plastic screens so bloody scratch-able?

Edited on Oct 15, 2008 at 01:51 AM · View previous versions

Oct 14, 2008 at 06:17 PM

rsrsrs
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p.1 #8 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

hi all,
on photokina i spoke with a zeiss man,
and they are thinking of an solution of the screens,
for better selling their lens.
In their 5D was a Brightscreen so he said, but he also said that it
had to be aligned, - it was perfect.

well lets see what their solution is for this ...

cheers &
mit freundlichen gruessen

r schneider

Oct 14, 2008 at 06:44 PM

rachp
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p.1 #9 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

Cableaddict wrote:
rachp wrote:
What other screen brands are you looking at? KatzEye? Any others?

!

katzEye doesn't seem to make screens for the 5D. Odd.

On my list:

SLRDaren Ec-L (+ split) $90 Dark, but not as bad as the Ee-s. "Superior matte area vs the Ee-s."

Bill Maxwell's HI-LUX Enhanced Ee-S $75, & you send the Ee-s

Modified 1Ds screen.

Brightscreen's "Proscreen." ~ $200 -very bright, but had to align, evidently.

Nikon FM3a K3 (split, microprism, grid) -good compromise, but very cluttered in the viewfinder.
-------------------------------

I really don't want a microprism / split, because then you have to focus in the center all the time.
If I have to do that, then I might as well shoot canon glass with AF engaged.

Part of why I ALWAYS shoot in MF (with any lens) is so I can focus on whatever I want, without having to then re-compose.

-But because I shoot mostly in dim light, the stock Ee-s is problematic.

It would be great if we could easily just swap focus screens as we do lenses. Why the heck are these plastic screens so bloody scratch-able?

Thanks for the list - and opinions on each! I am also wanting the mirco/split - I had one in the 20D for manual focus and it was a dream. I agree, why do they have to be so scratch-able and so attractive to dust and lint!!

Oct 14, 2008 at 06:51 PM

httivals
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p.1 #10 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

You should add to your list the standard Brightscreen (vs. Proscreen). Both are made by Brightscreen, the company. However, the Brightscreen screen is I believe an EE-S (or with the new 5dII will be an EG-S), to which Brightscreen (the company) then applies its proprietary brightening treatment and will also add crop lines for 8 x 10, or whatever else you prefer (I prefer rule of thirds crops). I believe that it is likely to be close to, or identical to, the Maxwell brightened EE-s. I use a Maxwell brightened EE-S in my 5D Mark I, and will probably get the Brightscreen screen (not Proscreen) with Rule of Thirds cropline for the 5dII. The advantage being that Maxwell can't add crop lines to a screen, and also doesn't align them. If I'm going to put in a proprietary screen, then it's also worth the extra $150, for me, to have a professional make sure that manual focus is perfectly aligned. . . . Also, the musings that the new EG-S will be substantially different than the old 5D EE-S, are, I think likely mistaken. The only difference I'm pretty sure is the slight difference in size, given that the 5D II has 98% vs. 96% viewfinder coverage. Of course, the slight difference means that the EE-S will probably not sit properly in the screen holder so you don't have an option of using the EE-S with the Mark II, though DP Review says they used it.

Oct 14, 2008 at 07:22 PM

Paul Yi
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p.1 #11 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

Bill maxwell's screen is awesome.
I've tried few other screen, but his screen worked best for me.

Oct 14, 2008 at 07:24 PM

httivals
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p.1 #12 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

Has anyone tried both the Maxwell modified EE-S screen and the Brightscreen "standard" screen (not the Proscreen) such that he/she can compare the two?

Oct 14, 2008 at 09:03 PM

ISO1600
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p.1 #13 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

this is one of the biggest issues i have with the 5D and probably 5DII. To get a decent screen, you have to either pay $150+, or mail your EE-S off to get some chemicals tossed on it. I've used the EE-S, was blown away by how overrated it is in stock form. I never got around to getting the Hi-Lux treatment, but i'm sure it would have helped a lot.
I also used the modified FM3A screen, and focus was wayyyyyyy off on my copy. Screen was VERY bright and clear, and easy for me to find "apparent" focus, too bad it was off haha.

rsrsrsrsrsrsssrsrsrsrsas!!!ONE11!!!!rsrsrs-
i hope you're right about Zeiss wanting to develop a screen of their own, and i hope they do it right. That would be great!

Oct 14, 2008 at 10:17 PM

StevenPA
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p.1 #14 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

So that modded FM3a screen was off, eh? Mine's not perfect, but it's good until about 100mm, after which the tolerances add up to many out of focus shots. I just have to compensate for it. 50mm at 1.4 is about perfect though.

Oct 14, 2008 at 10:46 PM

rachp
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p.1 #15 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

Off Topic but Chris, do you have an FM3a? I have been thinking about getting one.

Oct 14, 2008 at 11:37 PM

ISO1600
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p.1 #16 · 5DII - same focus screen as the 5D?

I've had an FM3A, and selling it was a stupid mistake. These days, i have been shooting with two FE2's. 2X FE2 > 1 FM3A for the same money.

back on topic: 5D screens suck!

Oct 15, 2008 at 01:59 AM


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