Mike Hatam wrote:
I just ordered the p222 (large micro-prism only pro screen) for my 1DsII.
Has anyone tried this combination? I wonder if the same "shim" issues exist on the 1DsII body.
Mike
I ordered mine a week or so ago, haven't seen it yet. I don't think it's supposed to be a problem from what I've heard of others experience, but we shall see; I added the 8x10 aspect frame lines to mine so it may be a little longer before I see mine, even though I'm only a few hours away from their place.
The screen you ordered is all I use on the 5D now; I think it's fantastic. I have orderd the same with vertical and horizontal lines (two of each) for the architectural wprk, too. Will post impressions. Cheers, kl
Just as many of you I am waiting for news from Brightscreen. After receiving the shim 2 weeks ago I wrote them that it didn't help. I have the diagonal split + microprism combination for 5D.
If the microprism-only version will/can give me good results then I will swap them, although I became quite sceptical spending > 250usd (incl shipment, vat and import taxes) on a piece of plastic which gives you much worse results than the standard Canon screen.
I don't know about issues with 5D, but I know the R9 can be tricky for screen and focus. I just had Maxwell Precision Optics do a prism only plain screen for the R9, and I sent him the DMR screen as well for brightness. He did the crop lines on a less expensive screen (non DMR, Which is on backorder anyway from B&H). For $79(B&H) + $25 for crop lines and $75 for brightening I have a GREAT screen.
For those who know Bill Maxwell and his work you will not be surprised.
Anyway, I dropped the screen into the R9 and the focus is spot on.
For some of you who can get a prism only 5D screen you may want to consider this. Have screen shipped directly to Bill and within a week or so you have a really good screen back.
BTW, I have no connection with the company, only satisfied customer.)
To those posters who have found that the Canon screen focuses perfectly, but the Brightscreen one does not, I have a couple of questions, and an observation.
Q1: did you readjust the diopter (from whatever was the best setting for the Canon screen) after you fitted the Brightscreen?
Q2: could you make time to show us comparable in-focus images with same subject so we can see how the focus point changes?
And the observation is (from personal experience) that the diagonal split screen as a focussing aid is not as accurate as the microprism-only screen, despite the apparent precision of the finder image.
I found that my focus was off with the diagonal split—until I refocused the diopter (it was two clicks closer to no adjustment with the Brightscreen fitted). That made a significant difference to where the camera focused.
cheers to all; this is a good thread (not as big as the massive GM one!) but still excellent, IMO. kl
I adjusted the diopter, switched the screens many times, changed the type of focus screen in the menu, took at least a hundred pictures with/without shim, to take away any doubt.
I tried focusing using the split or the microprism, but both don't guarantee normal results, although I think the split gives the worst results.
When I was really tired of it, I putted the standard Canon focus screen back and although it looks more difficult in the viewfinder to focus, the results were much much better and consistent.
I deleted all test pictures, if they would be of any help I would have kept them, but not much to see on backfocusing pictures. I tried both 85mm 1.8,135mm 2.0 and 90mm TS-E but all gave the same results.
Ditto with Hans and Leah. The problem has been identified by Brightscreen and they are working it. Its a real problem for some with 5Ds but not all. I too received an email today about a new shim fitting ABOVE the Brightscreen....living happily with the Canon shims.
It seems to my little brain that all things being equal any properly manufactured screen should work. My Canon made screens work just fine. Should not be rocket science, the screen is either within specs or its not. I suspect some of us got units that were not in spec and now Brightscreen is having to get us back within spec by issuing these new stainless steel shims. QC problem. Makes sense doesn't it? Canon screens work, Brightscreen doesn't...Brightscreen issues shims to fix issue. Hey if that does the trick then I'm happy, if not then I'll take my money elsewhere.
p.8 #11 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
I also got an email from Jim Lakey this week. He says he hopes the part to be completed 'late this week', with what I suppose is immediate shipping to follow. At least in terms of customer responsiveness I think it is hard to fault the Brightscreen team.
I hope this will be a definitive fix although it seems to me some here have described front focus while others back focus so the out of spec issue (which I think it must be) seems to work both ways. I am curious to know if Brightscreen has issued another production run and are tightening their QC for the 5D screens. It is hard to understand how it can be anything other than a fault with the Brightscreen product as the experience here seems to be that the Canon screens work and the Brightscreens do not.
I also wonder if Brightscreen might ship not just their shim but a replacement screen to those customers who've identified a problem. Not sure how many people would be involved but if you add in what has been paid for shipping etc this has been one pretty expensive experience in frustration....
p.8 #12 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
Hello,
I asked brightscreen if I could send them back the split - microprism, in exchange for a microprism only. They agreed so I just sent it. I have serious doubt with the shims.
Does anyone have problems with the microprism-only version??
p.8 #14 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
Well, at least after all difficulties we all had, I suppose Brigthhand will only send out double-tested (new?) versions. Anyway, my results using the split were even worse than microprism focusing.
fingers crossed...
Hans
p.8 #15 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
"It is hard to understand how it can be anything other than a fault with the Brightscreen product as the experience here seems to be that the Canon screens work and the Brightscreens do not."
Not necessarily. If you look back towards the beginning of this thread, you will see my posting describing how, for me, the Canon Ee-s screen backfocussed by about 4cm at 1m (tried 3 different screens).
Because of that, and this thread, I am waiting until a reliable screen is available - maybe the Katzeye.
p.8 #16 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
You're right I suppose, I was a bit sloppy with my words. Of course in the scenario you describe where neither a Canon screen or the Brightscreen work then the culprit is not Brightscreen. The camera body and/or the lens or lenses involved should be calibrated and you can have this done (under warranty if you are within the timeframe) via Canon. I would also make sure you have updated firmware as well. Not sure what body you have but the 5D is at 1.0.3 since December.
However in the scenario where people get perfect focus with the Canon screen and out of focus results with the Brightscreen (like me) then the problem is in the Brightscreen.
p.8 #17 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
deshojo wrote: "It is hard to understand how it can be anything other than a fault with the Brightscreen product as the experience here seems to be that the Canon screens work and the Brightscreens do not."
Not necessarily. If you look back towards the beginning of this thread, you will see my posting describing how, for me, the Canon Ee-s screen backfocussed by about 4cm at 1m (tried 3 different screens).
Because of that, and this thread, I am waiting until a reliable screen is available - maybe the Katzeye.
Sounds like your camera needs some kind of calibration if the Canon screens don't work.
Feb 08, 2006 at 11:08 AM
jjlphoto Offline • • • • • [X]
p.8 #18 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
dave_in_gva wrote:
Hans many people posting on this thread have done so because of either front or back focus issues with the microprism only screen.
Camera: Canon 1Ds
BrightScreen: Pro Microprism-only+shim (under screen)
Results: Dead-on
p.8 #19 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
dave_in_gva wrote:
Hans many people posting on this thread have done so because of either front or back focus issues with the microprism only screen.
Camera: Canon 5D
BrightScreen: Pro Microprism-only, no shim
Results: perfect, and I can see much better through the finder using the Proscreen than with any of the Canon screens.
The reason I asked those posters who have found that the Canon screens focus dead on, but had focus problems with the Brightscreens to submit demo images was to see if there was a basic focussing problem. I can see so much better through the Proscreen that I know where focus is—and I honestly could not say that with the Canon screens. And when I replaced the Proscreen with the Canon screen, I definitely could not focus as well—not because the Canon Screen was off, but because I could not be as certain of the focus point.
I can see why the shim under the screen helps seat the screen better, but for the focussing problems that require the other shim between the screen and the AF glass/prism, I can't see how the Canon screens are not requiring a shim in the same position too. Point is I can't recall here if we have seen images of perfect focus point being achieved with the Canon screens (and an image showing this) and one where the Brightscreen (using the same target) focusses differently (and that be visible in the image). Does anyone recall?
cheers and I hope all these problems are resolved. regards, kl
p.8 #20 · Microprism-only Brightscreen on Canon 5D
Hi Kit,
With all respect, but do you really think we cannot tell you when a photo is in focus or not? How does it help you if I show you 1 picture in focus (Canon screen) and 1 backfocused (Brightscreen)?
I sent my split-microprism back in exchange for a microprism-only version, I hope to get a 'good' version without need for shims. If all Canon screens don't require shims, then the Brighthand shouldn't either if it is compatible.
At least I hope everything will be solved because IF viewing in focus corresponds with being in focus, then the BS would be a nice solution.
