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Manual Focus Screen
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:16 pm    Post subject: Manual Focus Screen Reply with quote
I was wondering if someone can reccomend me a nice MF screen for an EOS D60 (Not the new 60D, but the old D60). I can find one for most other Canon DLSR's, but not, so far, the D60. The standard one is very hit and miss.


PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:42 pm    Post subject: Re: Manual Focus Screen Reply with quote
NewStuff wrote:
I was wondering if someone can reccomend me a nice MF screen for an EOS D60 (Not the new 60D, but the old D60). I can find one for most other Canon DLSR's, but not, so far, the D60. The standard one is very hit and miss.

The cheapest way is to buy a Ee-S screen and DIY it yourself. Wink

You can order one from at http://haodascreen.com/default.aspx.


PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I second the DIY EE-S solution: I did it for my Sigma SD10 and it works great. And the EE-S is sold new by amazon, at less than what a dedicated mf focusing screen costs.


PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I see this screen recommended often. This one allows for focusing accuracy with fast lenses, correct?

Does anybody know if it can be adapted to crop body cameras like the XS/(1000D)?


PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
A Haoda looks just like the thing I'm after. Having never disassembled a DSLR before, can someone point me to a guide, exploded view or similar?


PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have got on my desk in front of me a brand new, in the box and complete, Canon focusing screen that fits some of the old EOS film cameras.
The part numbers are -

Focusing screen E-B-J
T4960999519807

On the front of the box there is a large 'E' and in a red sticker a large 'B' and the numbers CZ6-O554

If that makes any sense to you, and it's the screen you need let me know, it owes me very little and I have no use for it.

I got it in case I could make it fit my Pentax K10, but I can't find any information that indicates it can.


PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
cooltouch wrote:
I see this screen recommended often. This one allows for focusing accuracy with fast lenses, correct?

Does anybody know if it can be adapted to crop body cameras like the XS/(1000D)?


If you can swap screens in your XS, it will definitely fit. Provided you have some sandpaper, a ruler, and half an hour of your time to spare. Smile


PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for the offer Lloydy, but I don't think it will fit. According to Canon, it can't be replaced. I beg to differ, but I want to find some instructions before I go buying new screens.

Lloydy wrote:
I have got on my desk in front of me a brand new, in the box and complete, Canon focusing screen that fits some of the old EOS film cameras.
The part numbers are -

Focusing screen E-B-J
T4960999519807

On the front of the box there is a large 'E' and in a red sticker a large 'B' and the numbers CZ6-O554

If that makes any sense to you, and it's the screen you need let me know, it owes me very little and I have no use for it.

I got it in case I could make it fit my Pentax K10, but I can't find any information that indicates it can.


PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
That's ok, I might just hack it to size anyway. It only owes me £1.


PostPosted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
NewStuff wrote:
Thanks for the offer Lloydy, but I don't think it will fit. According to Canon, it can't be replaced. I beg to differ, but I want to find some instructions before I go buying new screens.

Lloydy wrote:
I have got on my desk in front of me a brand new, in the box and complete, Canon focusing screen that fits some of the old EOS film cameras.
The part numbers are -

Focusing screen E-B-J
T4960999519807

On the front of the box there is a large 'E' and in a red sticker a large 'B' and the numbers CZ6-O554

If that makes any sense to you, and it's the screen you need let me know, it owes me very little and I have no use for it.

I got it in case I could make it fit my Pentax K10, but I can't find any information that indicates it can.

You name it, you have it. Wink
http://www.focusingscreen.net/store/global/notes.asp?id=13


PostPosted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
ludoo wrote:
cooltouch wrote:
I see this screen recommended often. This one allows for focusing accuracy with fast lenses, correct?

Does anybody know if it can be adapted to crop body cameras like the XS/(1000D)?


If you can swap screens in your XS, it will definitely fit. Provided you have some sandpaper, a ruler, and half an hour of your time to spare. Smile


Canon has not documented that the focusing screens can be swapped in the XS, but they can. Sandpaper and rulers I have -- large assortments, in fact. So, to my first question? Will I be able to focus accurately with a lens like my Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 set to wide open?


PostPosted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
cooltouch wrote:
Canon has not documented that the focusing screens can be swapped in the XS, but they can. Sandpaper and rulers I have -- large assortments, in fact. So, to my first question? Will I be able to focus accurately with a lens like my Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 set to wide open?


Yes you will. The EE-S screen works differently from a split image screen: it's optimized to accurately display oof areas with fast lenses, by having a very fine grain. Focusing with it is a mix of judging target sharpness, and the symmetry of oof areas both in front and behind it. Objects seem to "pop" into focus.

You will probably need to calibrate it for your camera by using shims, what many people use is strips from post-it notes on the sides of the screen: add some to bring the focus towards you, remove some to bring it back.

It might not be as quick as a split image screen for focusing, but once you get the hang of it it's pretty fast, it gives you a more accurate rendition of oof, and leaves you with an uncluttered screen which I personally like a lot. It also interferes less with the camera's exposure meter, as it darkens gradually with no black areas in the center, like with microprisms or split images. You will probably need to add some -EV to your exposure, but it's more consistent than a split screen. Focusing with longer (darker) lenses is also easier than a split screen, for the same reasons.

Edit: to give you an example, this was at f1.8 (zebra Pancolar) on my Sigma SD10, with the EE-S cut to size. There's a tiny bit of front focus, but it's probably my daughter moving between focusing and the actual shooting, or me focusing in a hurry before she noticed the camera, or both.

I can consistently get results like this or better with this screen, while with the stock one my hit rate was maybe 5%.



PostPosted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for the reply, Ludoo. At last, an answer to my woes!

Back during the mid-1980s, I switched over to plain matte screens in my SLRs and never looked back. I'm used to plain matte and have come to prefer it, so I really wasn't interested in a split-screen option anyway.

Looking forward to using my fast glass again without having to resort to LV every time.


PostPosted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Calvin83, Thank you very much! Duly bookmarked until I acquire one!
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