well... here is a sample of what I'd call a reasonably sharp shot. I BELIEVE it is "more likely" to front-focus, which may have happened slightly in this shot. Either way, if I could get results like this with people, handheld, I'd be pretty happy.

This was wide open (POSSIBLY F/2 but I"m pretty sure wide open). I took a series starting wide open, this was the first shot. Braced my elbows on the countertop.

Ok - now I"m getting somewhere... :-) These are with available light, wide open at 1.4:

TVRguy wrote:
Ok - now I"m getting somewhere... :-)

You should still give consideration to a focus screen that's more conducive to manual focusing...you'll be able to focus that much quicker (without the macro 'rocking'), and your keeper rate will jump up significantly.

I agree, Mike. I would like to be able to shoot more spontaneously...

So now I've just got to pick the right one :-)

Thanks
-Glenn

It helps to use just one focus point. That way, you know exactly what AF is locking in on.

sworth, this is all manual focus :-)

You know - it's kind of cool NOT being a sharpness junkie for once.

some of you guys are shakey bastards if you can't handhold a 50 at 1/100th.

Did you ever see "Blazing Saddles"?

"but this is the hand I shoot with...."

That's me :-)

Actually partly due to a blood sugar condition - but hey, I never claimed to have steady hands.

So let me ask this - if I get the Ec-S screen, I'd have to change it out occasionally? How hard is that to do?

I have the following lenses:

AF:
Vivitar 100mm 3.5 macro (more like a MF lens, but it's f/3.5 so...)
Canon EF 17-40 F4L
Canon EF 70-200 F4L
Tamron 28-75 2.8 - this is the one on the camera 90% of the time
Canon 50mm 1.8 II

MF:
Zenitar 16mm fisheye
Minolta Rokkor-X PF 55mm 1.4

I guess I'd have to choose for each occasion, if I prefer MF or AF, and choose the focusing screen that works best? What about all this shimming?

Changing screens doesn't sound like something I want to do on a regular basis...

Thanks
-Glenn

Nah, just get the Ec-S and leave it in.

but won't that be a problem with the F4 lenses?? will I have a dark viewfinder?

thanks

Yes but from your list you only have AF lenses at f4. I don't like to manual focus on f4 lenses with any screen unless it is very bright and sunny.

TVRguy wrote:
but won't that be a problem with the F4 lenses?? will I have a dark viewfinder?

thanks

Dark?

It's all relative.

I stuck my Ee-S (the 5D equivalent of the Ec-S) in on day 3 and it has been in there ever since.

I can use it with my f5.6 mirror lens (manual focus), and for slower AF glass it is fine too. People overstate the darkness issue in my opinion. The only way to find out is ...