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norrad wrote:
Hello,
I have both screens, 2X over. My opinion is that it mostly depends on your camera.
I first picked up an ef-s screen for my 40D. Cogitech mentioned all the pluses of the precision matte screen. However, my manual focusing didn't seem to improve much initially. I was still curious about the katzeye also.
Then I picked up a used katzeye, with optibrite and grid lines for a rebel xt 350D here on FM for only $50. This was a terrific deal IMO as new this would have been $200. This screen utterly transformed my 350D. It made a huge difference right off the bat. When I sold the camera I removed the screen and put it my father's 400D. The alignment in 350D was spot on, removing the stock screen and installing the katzeye keeping the stock shim. On the 400D it was a little more work. With the stock shim things weren't working, images in-focus in the VF were blurry once taken, and if you used AF the image appeared out-of-focus in the VF but was sharp in the file. So I removed the katzeye, removed the stock shim, and then reinstalled the katzeye. Now things lined up very well and my father decided to keep and use the katzeye screen.
In the next few months I've looked for a katzeye screen for my 20D and finally found one here on FM for less than $50 with optibrite. The installation in the 20D kept the stock shim and aligned very well.
I also have a 5D. I probably would have looked for a katzeye screen for it but honestly didn't want to pay $150 or more and so went with the Canon Ee-S. I've been extremely pleased with the Ee-S in the 5D. Also, the installation of the Canon screens into the cameras they are meant for is straightforward, direct and takes all of 2 minutes.
I've haven't had any alignment issues with the Canon screens I've tried. One of the Katzeye screens did require some testing and work (had to remove the stock shim) in order to get it aligned. I can see how in some cases a different sized shim than stock might be needed and this would require a lot of trial and error and access to different sized shims.
After a while of using and practicing with the 40D and Ef-S screen my results have improved and I like it enough to not look for a katzeye screen. My feeling is that the brighter VF in the 5D makes using the precision matte screen a bit easier than in the 40 / 50D series.
The katzeye screens I have tried were both on cameras that Canon doesn't offer a precision screen for, the 350/400D and the 20D. The screens were both optibrite treated and I have been quite happy with both of them, but it takes more time and skill to install them than the Canon screens in the other cameras. The optibrite screens seem, to me, to stay brighter when used with f4 and f5.6 lenses than the Canon S screens do.
I know I've written a bit here and I hope it isn't confusing.
Basically I feel it boils down to this. Both screens are better performers than the stock screen for MF, unquestionably. The Canon S screens are a much, much better deal for the money and installation is a breeze. They also let you "focus" on composition and your subject anywhere in the frame. The Katzeye screens do a fantastic job on older cameras that do not have a factory option, but do require you to use the center of the frame. I am happy that I've tried both and I am satisfied with both. I will not be replacing any of my "S" screens with a Katzeye one.
I hope this helps you in your decision.
Darron
I think this is a near-perfect summary of the current state of manual focusing with Canon dSLRs. Well done, Darron.
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