p.11 #1 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
Paul; even the Canon original ones can have rough cut-offs, mine did but it did the trick none the less.
But I agree to the fact that one would expect a smooth cut-off on a screen of any make.
Mar 24, 2006 at 07:04 AM
jjlphoto Offline • • • • • [X]
p.11 #2 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
jjohnson wrote:
A quick test though showed that my 5D sample back focuses with that screen too so it looks like, at least in my case, it's not a Brightscreen problem.
Yes, it is a Canon problem, not a Brightscreen problem. If even the stock or factory screens can't do it, how is a third party manufacture supposed to catch this moving target?
p.11 #3 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
A quick followup as to what's happening in my case -
I sent my 5D body with the Canon Ee-S screen installed back to Canon Factory Service in New Jersey along with a Request for Service form indicating that it was back focusing when manually focusing with the Ee-S screen and asking them to check the shim pack. The whole process took longer than I expected (about a month) but I received the body back yesterday.
The good news: The manual focusing is much, much improved with the Brightscreen split image screen. (I can't check it with the Ee-S screen as you'll see below.) At closer distances (three to nine feet) it appears to be almost perfect. At 30 feet the focus point is toward the front of the depth of field (150mm, f2.8 lens @ f2.8) but the focus area does appear to be sharp.
The bad news: I forgot to remove the battery before shipping the camera. On the repair form Canon noted that they received a battery with the camera but then they didn't return one with it. They also kept (lost?) the Ee-S screen and returned the body with a standard focusing screen. Also, the camera is now underexposing about a stop from what it was when I sent it to them. This may be an improvement though because it did have a tendency to blow highlights before. I'll need to do some testing to determine the accuracy of the metering. I called the service center and talked to them about the missing battery and screen and hopefully they're taking corrective action.
So, at least in my case, I'm now sure that the problems I had with the Brightscreen resulted from the focusing screen location in my 5D body not being calibrated properly at the factory
p.11 #5 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
Just got my P222 with stainless steel shim today and installed in the 1DsMkII. Results using the Focus 21 chart showed perfect focus! Yea!!!!
Interestingly I did some primitive experiments to see how easy it was to focus. Using a Nikon 17-35 lens on the 1Ds I was able to focus on the back of a very dark leather couch from 10 feet away in a very dark room at f8 with absolutely spot on focus. Really easy to focus, even stopped down. This product is a must for those of us who are committed to using the world's best lenses on the 1Ds regardless of brand.
p.11 #6 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
Just got my P222 with stainless steel shim today and installed in the 1DsMkII. Results using the Focus 21 chart showed perfect focus! Yea!!!!
Interestingly I did some primitive experiments to see how easy it was to focus. Using a Nikon 17-35 lens on the 1Ds I was able to focus on the back of a very dark leather couch from 10 feet away in a very dark room at f8 with absolutely spot on focus. Really easy to focus, even stopped down. This product is a must for those of us who are committed to using the world's best lenses on the 1Ds regardless of brand.
You can see that in terms of DOF the focus is deeper in front of the focus point than in back by a small margin. I think that implies the shim is not necessary? I will take out the shim and see if DOF can be spread equally from front to back.
p.11 #9 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
carstenw wrote:
have any of you brightscreen owners sent it to bill maxwell for brightening? it seems that the area around the microprism could use a bit of help.
Really kills it for me during indoor shoots (especially darker venues). I'm still looking for a better alternative.
p.11 #10 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
What about using the Canon EE-s and having Bill Maxwell brighten it? I'm tempted to try it because I think the Canon EE-s screen is excellent, but a bit on the dim side, but I'm concerned that it will completely throw off the metering of my Canon 5D. . . . Has anyone had Maxwell brighten a Canon screen (or any other screen used in a Canon) and can you report on the effect on metering?
p.11 #12 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
I am not sure Bill Maxwell can work over a previously processed screen, but call him and ask
Bill Maxwell (770) 939-6644
On a conon I am not sure where metering is. On Leica, behind mirror so screen does not affect. If there is and effect, then just ajdust exposure compensation. Many do this for flash anyway.
Big advantage is using stock screen, so no focus issues. Ihave had three done and all just sit in frame with perfect focus.
regards
Victor
Apr 05, 2006 at 02:36 PM
jjlphoto Offline • • • • • [X]
p.11 #13 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
My Canon 1Ds meters above the screen, and the autofocus is behind a semi-transparent part of the mirror.
Apr 05, 2006 at 02:40 PM
jjlphoto Offline • • • • • [X]
p.11 #14 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
carstenw wrote:
which brightscreen do you have, the original, or the proscreen with microraster only?
Carsten- is a microprism a modern twist of the messraster?
PS- I have their Pro/Microprism. It is a great way to go!
p.11 #15 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
I second the emotion regarding the brightscreen pro screen with the 13mm microprism.
I am able to focus indoors at f8 so for me this is a breakthrough product. With the canon screen there was just no choice but to open the aperture fully, focus, then stop down. My image workflow now feels close to 'NORMAL' I.E. like I had a DMR.
p.11 #16 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
Hi,
According to the BrightScreen site, the screen with the microprism and the split is the most popular. However, a lot ot people on this thread seem to be getting the screen with the microprism only. Is the screen with both difficult to use or does the focusing split take up too much space, or .....?
Thanks,
Jerry
Apr 05, 2006 at 03:36 PM
jjlphoto Offline • • • • • [X]
p.11 #17 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
My feeling was that if you are going to get the entire microprism experience, why break it up with a split in the middle? I was a dyed in the wool split-screen guy, but once I saw that large Brightscreen microprism, there was no going back. I'd go as far as to say I can get better focus with the microprism than with the split.
p.11 #18 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
I second JJL on this point: because my eyesight is good, I found that I was looking at the scene through that tiny circle, if you can believe that. And as I wrote in an earlier post, split screen is useless against black objects.
And I second JJL on aother aspect, too: I am certain that I can focus more accurately using the microprism-only screen than with the combo (I tested the prototype, recall). I think there are reasonably sound geometric reasons for this, too. Even on a tripod doing the tests on a solid line (talking about the split-screen/microprism collar version) I found that it was easier to see in-out of focus on the collar.
Finally, I find the finder less cluttered, and that aids composition, I feel. YMMV. Kit
p.11 #19 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
carstenw wrote:
which brightscreen do you have, the original, or the proscreen with microraster only? could you describe when you are having difficulty?
I also have the pro large microprism spot center (large) and don't get me wrong, when the light is good, this is a fantastic tool to MF with. However, my concerns are while shooting indoors (especially low light), focusing center, then recomposing and hoping the focal plane has not moved too much when you recompose because now the off center focused point is in that darker area. Stop down a couple stops and that outer area is now completely in the dark.
p.11 #20 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
jjlphoto wrote:
Carsten- is a microprism a modern twist of the messraster?
PS- I have their Pro/Microprism. It is a great way to go!
oh... i guess they are the same thing. maybe i just invented this word. i don't know why i didn't write microprism. anyway, they are like little triangles.
