[REVIEW] Katz Eye focusing screen for EOS 50D

[Orio]

I bought this screen with the Optibrite enhancement applied and no grid.

SHIPPING
I have chosen an intermediate shipping solution between the normal registered mail and the fastest courier option. I choosed a UPS shipment that is not as fast as the best UPS service, but still hopefully faster and safer than normal registered.
In all honesty I can't say that the shipping was as fast as a typical courier option. The tracking service that was provided was really thoroughly informative anc complete. However, I don't know if I would choose this service again next time - I think I would either go for the cheaper normal registered mail, or, if I could afford, to the best UPS service available. But the fact that Katz Eye is offering these three options is really good in my opinion, so the customer has a wider range of choices to pick the best service that he can afford.

PACKAGING
The packaging was perfect. Accurate protection and the product is delivered in a nice case, with the tool that is required for the installation. I wish that all third party accessories were packaged so carefully.

INSTALLATION
Installing the screen is a breeze. OK, I already had experience with the 5D, but the operation is really so simple that even one who has never done it will go through it without any problem. Katz Eye also provides a downloadable PDF of instructions that guides you clearly through the neccessary steps

THE SCREEN IN POSITION
Once mounted the screen gave me a little disappointment: the circles of split prims and microprism collar are not equi-distant from Canon's AF markings. As a consequence, they appear slightly off centre.
I wrote Katz Eye about the problem and they were really helpful. They explained that the problem could be due to a badly performed installation (not my case), or to a misalignment problem of the Canon AF markings. They also gave me the instructions on how to fix the position of the Canon element, but i did not try to do this, because I was afraid to damage the camera. Also, once to get used to the non symmetrical markings, it is not that bad. Katz Eye support however was really supportive and even offered to take back the screen and refund. Which I did not.

THE SCREEN IN ACTION
The screen consists of three focusing parts:

- the ground matte screen which occupies the larger portion of the screen.

- the microprism collar

- the split area

The quality of the ground matte is very good. It is on the same quality level as Canon's own Ef-S replacement screen. Both Canon's and Katz Eye's are much better than the default ground matte of the 50D screen which franckly speaking, really sucks at focusing objects.

The microprism collar is by far my favourite tool. It is very accurate, and lets you operate precise focusing up to f/4, which is a figure that should be enough for at least 90% of the whole manual focus prime lenses available in the used market. Don't know about the zooms (I rarely use zooms), but I think that chances are that if you needed a manual focusing screen for your camera, you are using manual prime lenses that for most part are faster than f/4

About the split screen tool, I am perplexed, not because of Katz Eye, whose split screen works flawlessly, but because of the tool itself. I don't find it really useful except perhaps in 1 or 2 cases on one hundred. Actually, most of the time I find it to get in the way, being in a very strategical part of the viewfinder.
So my advice to Katz Eye is to resume offering screens with microprism collar only, an option that they offered in the past, but not anymore. In fact, if I could give up the split screen, I'd gladly do. On the other hand, I know of a lot of photographers who prefer split screen over all other types of focusing tools, so, I guess I'm in a minority with regards to this.

COMPARISON TESTS
I have tested the Katz Eye screen accuracy against:

1- focusing with live view
2- focusing with FA assist chip on adapter
3- focusing with an autofocus lens

1- My tests showed a perfect 100% consistency of the Katz Eye focusing screen with the results I obtain from the live view screen of my 50D.
Both instruments (live view and Katz Eye screen) proved to be dead-on, 100% accurate and reliable.

2- Compared to the latest generation of chipped adapters, the Katz Eye screen exhibited also a 100% consistency. So this gives me a lot of confidence for my photography. When compared instead with older FA chip adapters, I noticed some inconsistencies, which are to be blamed upon the larger tolerance range (read=imprecision) of the old generation of FA chips. In this case my advice is to reinvest in better and newer FA chips

3- Compared with autofocus lenses, the consistency was high but not total. Again, this is no fault of the screen, rather of Canon's not exactly professional autofocus system. A closeup examination of test shots revealed to me that it was the autofocus to fail the accuracy test.

PRACTICAL USE - DAYLIGHT
In practical use, the Katz Eye screen revealed itself as a very precious, actually irreplaceable help for focusing.
I often read opinions that you would need either the custom screen, or the FA chip. I don't agree. I think that they are both needed and that they work great together, provided that the FA chipped adapters are up to date with the latest generation of chips.
Being able to have a double confirmation from the screen and the chip, really gives you a lot of confidence in your photographing actions. With just one, you would stay in doubt on "did I really got it or not"?. With the two tools together, when you see and hear them match, you really know you are on the right track.
Like I said, during daylight the microprism collar is what I use most. I don't really find the split screen useful. It probably would be useful if the viewfinder was that of a Contax reflex, or Nikon reflex, just to name two brands which always provided top-of-class viewfinders. With the Canon 50D viewfinder, I think the split screen is too small to be really useful. Luckily, the microprism collar is so good and accurate that you don't really miss the split screen.

PRACTICAL USE - IN DARKNESS
I find the Optibrite treatment to be really brightening the matte screen with small apertures. This is a very good help when shooting live fast action.
However, Optibrite does not help neither with the microprism collar (which becomes difficult to operate from f/4 upwards) nor with the split screen (which becomes difficult to operate from f/5.6 upwards).
So I am unsure if the expense for Optibrite would be worth it for everyone. For people like me who shoot lots of live events, Optibrite really helps to focus on the fly. For people doing studio work, or macro or landscapes, the money for Optibrite could, in my opinion, also be saved and used for other accessories.

METERING
I read a lot of catastrophic rumours about metering with third party focusing screens. I now wonder if they were spread by Canon people themselves. My 50D with the Katz Eye Screen on meters light with manual focus lenses much more accurately than it used to do with the standard screen. You still need to compensate as you stop down. I find it however to be very regular and predictable, while on the contrary with Canon's standard screen it was really wild and unpredictable. Usually a half stop underexposure every stop of stopdown does the trick for me with Katz Eye Screen.
Canon's Ee-s replacement screen for the 5D does better - with it, manual focus lenses meter without almost any need of correction. However, the 5D is a different camera. Plus, on the Canon's EEs you don't have the microprism collar and the split screen. So the focusing aid for manual lenses is there, but it's much more limited than with the Katz Eye Screen.

SUPPORT
Katz Eye support is as best as best can get. They reply to all your emails with lot of detail. They are very patient, answer all questions, and do their best to please you if at all possible. I really wish that all customer supports of all companies was as good, fast, and helpful as Katz Eye's.

CONCLUSIONS
The Katz Eye screen is for me a very recommendable tool. Is Katz Eye Screen as good as the Contax or Nikon's best manual focus cameras screens? In all honesty, no it isn't. The precision of focus snapping with the aforementioned cameras, and the blur quality of their ground mattes, is on a higher level. Is Katz Eye Screen much better than Canon's default screen? Absolutely yes, it is completely better. Katz Eye Screen lets you manually focus with 100% precision in at least 85-90% of photographic situations. Only in darkness or with very slow lenses you would lose it's benefits. But I don't know any manual focusing screen that doesn't in such extreme conditions.
Is Katz Eye Screen worth the price? Yes, even if it does not come cheap, in my opinion it is worth the money if you are using manual focus lenses consistently on your digital cameras. If you are that type of user, Katz Eye Screen is a very recommended investment, if not even a "must have" tool.

Orio

[Attila]

I have same good experience with them.

[Bruce]

Nice review Orio... thanks.

I think I will order one for my 400d first. This would convince me the Katz-eye works. Unless you have some recent shots of birds in flight. Then I might go ahead and buy shares in their company... lol.

[hk300]

Katz screens are nice ... since these are all made out of original Canon screens! However, imo they tend to be a bit pricy.

[LucisPictor]

Thanks for this excllent review, Orio.
One question: Have you tried spot metering with your 50D?

[hk300]

Yes , would spot work?

I think not though

[der_lockere]

[dakoo]

One of my friend wants to buy one for 5D mark 2 , whoch one should iI suggest ! ! !