Focusing screen for manual focus on Canon 5D Mark III

<p>Hello, <br>

I do know that Canon 5D Mark III does not have an option to change focussing screens (I own the camera and lack this feature a lot). However, I've seen that there available options by third party producers: http://www.focusingscreen.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_134&products_id=1193<br>

1. Have anyone experienced focussing screens from www.focusingscreen.com? Are they of good quality?<br>

2. Which would you advice to use: split-image (B or L type), micro prism (A type) or super precision mate (S type)? http://www.focusingscreen.com/privacy.php<br>

3. WHat is the pros & cons of "slip image" vs. "super precision mate" approaches?</p>

<p> </p>

<p>1. no idea.</p>

<p>2. My personal preference would be super precision matte, but that screen would also be the least different from the factory 5D MkIII focusing screen, and might not be your first choice.</p>

<p>3. If you scroll down on the page you linked, there is actually an explanation (in the form of images) of the different focusing aid methods as good as I have ever seen. </p>

<p>In a nutshell, a split image screen will split the image in half, with the two halves misaligned when not in focus. When in focus, the two halves will line up. That sounds great in theory, but in practice with dim light one or both halves of the split image portion of your screen will black out, making it harder rather than easier to focus. </p>

<p>A micro prism will go all fuzzy when out of focus. When you see the image clearly through the micro prism part of the screen, you know it is in focus. In practice for me this has never helped much with focusing manual focus SLRs. The screen goes blurry anyhow when not in focus, and with a good focusing screen the image suddenly becomes sharp when it comes into focus. A micro prism just aggravates that effect and some people like that, but I have always preferred to focus using the entire screen unobstructed by micro prisms or split images.</p>

<p>In my main manual focus SLR (a Minolta XD-11), I had the standard screen with split image and micro prism band replaced by what Minolta called an "acute matte screen". I absolutely loved that setup!</p>

<p>I am assuming that a focusingscreen.com "super precision matte" screen would simply be optimized for manual focusing, while the factory screen in a 5D MkIII is optimized for the functioning of the AF system. There would be no obvious differences, but presumably a super precision matte screen should make it easier to see the image snap into focus in the viewfinder when it comes into focus, but of course you can already see that with the factory screen. Whether or not you like additional focusing aides in form of split image or micro prism is personal preference.</p>

<p>I made a video of the Minolta X-700 split image/microprism ring focus system. Probably largely identical to the XD-11. I found that it worked very well.</p>

<p>

<p>I would assume that changing out the screen on a 5D mk 3 would be quite difficult and would involve breaking the focus screen electronics, requiring a trip back to Canon if you want to reverse it. Changing to a 5D mk 2 would make it very easy to switch out the screen. So that might be worth considering.</p>

<p>As for questions (1), (2), and (3), I'm afraid I don't know.</p>

One of the main reasons to own a 5D3 is for the amazing AF. It would be a shame to mess with the transmissible screen

to install an aftermarket screen. I'd look for a used or refurb 5D and tweak it for MF.

<p>I own an 5d mark III and use a TS-E 90mm lens for portraits. This lens has no autofocus. The focus confirmation dot in the viewfinder works perfectly however. Just turn the focussing ring on the lens until the confirmation dot lights up.<br>

I made several portraits lately in India with this combination and each is perfectly sharp.<br>

Some examples:<br>

<a href="http://frankbunnik.zenfolio.com/p977299142/h60f220e6#h60f220e6">http://frankbunnik.zenfolio.com/p977299142/h60f220e6#h60f220e6</a><br>

<a href="http://frankbunnik.zenfolio.com/p977299142/h60f220e6#h60d391e4">http://frankbunnik.zenfolio.com/p977299142/h60f220e6#h60d391e4</a><br>

<a href="http://frankbunnik.zenfolio.com/p977299142/h60f220e6#h634bc41a">http://frankbunnik.zenfolio.com/p977299142/h60f220e6#h634bc41a</a></p>

<p>hello! iam new here! :)<br>

i am having some problems with focus with 50mm f1.4 at wide apertures (recently bought), sometimes it focus sometimes don´t...also i have some manual old lens that i would love to try. The manual focus its hard to adjust to get sharp pictures at wide apertures using the standard focus screen of 5d MK III , so iam very tempted to buy one of this: <a href="http://www.focusingscreen.com/index.php?cPath=21_134">http://www.focusingscreen.com/index.php?cPath=21_134</a><br>

BUT i read here that changing focus screen "would involve breaking the focus screen electronics" are you ssure about that? please can someone confirm this? because i just can´t see that info in the installation instructions <a href="http://www.focusingscreen.com/work/5d3en.htm">http://www.focusingscreen.com/work/5d3en.htm</a> <br>

using live view for me is not an option...hate it! :) thank you!</p>

<p>I was able to install the Eg-s Focusing Screen for the 5D Mark II, into the MK III without any problems or modifications to the screen <img title="Smiley" src="http://canonrumors.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley.gif" alt=":)" />Works really well for me! The Eg-s screen is ony $35 too!<br /><br />I made a video showing the installation process:<br /><br /><a href="http://brianymarsh.com/blog.html" target="_blank">http://brianymarsh.com/blog.html</a><br>

<a href="http://vimeo.com/83843427">http://vimeo.com/83843427</a></p>

Excellent video Brian... would really like to try this, but nervous, as this guy resorted to using blue tac!

Looks like you didnt need to.. do you know why that is? would you say this a fairly easy thing to do? Wouldnt be comfortable using blue tac.

Thanks!