*OFFICIAL* general photography conversation thread

[Chewy734]

Originally Posted by The1

considered it, but i find the AF systems do a pretty good job as it is.

and most of my lenses allow prefocus and manual focusing after, i'm not too worried. Sometimes i'll adjust.

Well, I didn't mean for lenses that Canon makes with AF systems. But, rather with other lenses like Zeiss where you have to MF.

[The1]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

Well, I didn't mean for lenses that Canon makes with AF systems. But, rather with other lenses like Zeiss where you have to MF.

ahhh, i see where you're going now...

no, i haven't bothered, but i have a super old Canon AE-1 that has a nice manual focus it's fun to play with from time to time.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

To kind of get back on topic...

Do any of you guys ever focus manually using an aftermarket focusing screen on your dSLR?

I've thought about it. My original SLR was a Canon AT-1. I could focus, set shutter speed and aperture, and shoot in one shift motion, mostly because of the dirt simple metering system and the split screen focus. I'd love to have a split screen focus again. I'm just not happy about taking my camera apart to do it. I might have B&H do it while I'm there next week, though. I don't think the screens are too pricey.

[rodi]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

To kind of get back on topic...

Do any of you guys ever focus manually using an aftermarket focusing screen on your dSLR?

my ex has a little D40 and only old, manual-focus lenses from the 60s and 70s. i swapped out her focusing screen for a split-screen. works amazing.

[The1]

does this make the auto focusing system null?

[Litos]

ok, i'm home - here's the original junk

[rodi]

Originally Posted by The1

does this make the auto focusing system null?

no, but if you're not always manual-focusing, it definitely can be annoying.
in addition to the mirror projecting image onto prism for your view, the image also projects through the mirror to another sensor that focuses, i think that's how it works.

[The1]

Originally Posted by rodi

no, but if you're not always manual-focusing, it definitely can be annoying.
in addition to the mirror projecting image onto prism for your view, the image also projects through the mirror to another sensor that focuses, i think that's how it works.

interesting, may have to research some more.

[Chewy734]

Originally Posted by rodi

my ex has a little D40 and only old, manual-focus lenses from the 60s and 70s. i swapped out her focusing screen for a split-screen. works amazing.

That's cool. I've heard they take a little getting used to, but you can focus really well in low-light when AF might fail, and many times even faster than AF in good light.

Originally Posted by The1

does this make the auto focusing system null?

I think so. AF would no longer works well with a Zeiss lens. I think the 5DMK2 has the option of removing the default focusing screen and installing a split-screen, etc. Then, in the settings you can tell the camera what focusing screen you're using so it'll provide you with the correct feedback on the LCD, etc. Not 100% sure, since I don't own a 5DMK2, but that's what I heard.

http://photographic.co/blog/canon-egd

[The1]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

That's cool. I've heard they take a little getting used to, but you can focus really well in low-light when AF might fail, and many times even faster than AF in good light.



I think so. AF would no longer work well with a Zeiss lens. I think the 5DMK2 has the option of removing the default focusing screen and installing a split-screen, etc. Then, in the settings you can tell the camera what focusing screen you're using so it'll provide you with the correct feedback on the LCD, etc. Not 100% sure, since I don't own a 5DMK2, but that's what I heard.

so basically, it's an improvement on the autofocus when it comes to the 5DII

[rodi]

Originally Posted by The1

so basically, it's an improvement on the autofocus when it comes to the 5DII

yep!

[The1]

Originally Posted by rodi

yep!

might be a consideration if i dedicate my 5D specifically to portait work and keep the 7D for sports.

[Chewy734]

Sadly, whenever I hear pro photogs talk about Canon vs. Nikon (as far as higher-end cameras), many of them say that the Nikons focus quicker and better overall than the Canons do, unless they are Canon fanboys. This difference in AF becomes greater under low-light conditions where the Nikons supposedly excel.

rodi, care to comment?

[Weebl]

Even the Canon X0D bodies you can change out the focusing screen but I don't think there is a split screen. As long as you don't have the 240k pixel screen you shouldn't need an additional screen for focus adjustment.
Now if you were planning on doing video with the Zeiss or older lenses that would be different. I think I would like to use a screen then.

Mark,
It would be cheaper just to get another AT-1 I bet.

[rodi]

i use a D3 for stills. and a 5DII for motion. i've used the canon for stills quite a bit and its autofocus is just not up to par to be a professional camera. even in the lowest of light, the D3 can pinpoint just about anything with its center focus point. not only that, but it's extremely fast and doesn't seek. it surprises me sometimes. even the way it'll follow what you just locked onto as you recompose. the canons just can't do that. thankfully, autofocus is not used in video. although, i have not tried the 1DIV. i'd bet that it's close to the nikon's.

[rodi]

Originally Posted by Weebl

Even the Canon X0D bodies you can change out the focusing screen but I don't think there is a split screen. As long as you don't have the 240k pixel screen you shouldn't need an additional screen for focus adjustment.
Now if you were planning on doing video with the Zeiss or older lenses that would be different. I think I would like to use a screen then.

Mark,
It would be cheaper just to get another AT-1 I bet.

this would be pointless with video because the center of the split screen is used for focus, which means that the subject you are trying to focus on would always need to be in the center.

but why do you mention the pixel LCD screen in terms of focusing? are you using live view to shoot?

[rodi]

this is the screen i bought her. it was easy to replace, although i did scratch the original screen (that was no longer needed). :\

http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/item--K...-prod_D40.html

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Weebl

Mark,
It would be cheaper just to get another AT-1 I bet.

Saw one the other day on CL. I was amazed how old and dated the design looked. Loved that camera, though.

[Weebl]

With a DSLR and video wouldn't you go with a matt screen rather than split? If there was a split screen it would be best for stills.
I will use live view for manual focusing at times but it is limited by the crappy 240k pixels I live with.

I don't think the 5DII has any focusing abilities except for blazing hot sun shots. ;-)
Doesn't it go Nikon for bodies and Canon for glass?

[Weebl]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Saw one the other day on CL. I was amazed how old and dated the design looked. Loved that camera, though.

My source instead of CL, you can't get ripped off.
http://www.shopgoodwill.com/viewItem.asp?ItemID=7881584

I saw a few Canon white lenses go through and one of the 50mm F0.95 lenses go for ~$1k

[rodi]

matte, yes, but the VF is disengaged when in video mode. forgot about that. EVF only.

i don't think you can go wrong with glass from either manufacturer. they both have that area down pat. canon is just able to charge less. and there are some amazing lens with each company that is not available from the other. for example: the f/1.2 lenses, the 14-24 f/2.8, (until recently) the 24 and 35 primes, that bangin' 135mm from Canon.

[The1]

Originally Posted by rodi

i use a D3 for stills. and a 5DII for motion. i've used the canon for stills quite a bit and its autofocus is just not up to par to be a professional camera. even in the lowest of light, the D3 can pinpoint just about anything with its center focus point. not only that, but it's extremely fast and doesn't seek. it surprises me sometimes. even the way it'll follow what you just locked onto as you recompose. the canons just can't do that. thankfully, autofocus is not used in video. although, i have not tried the 1DIV. i'd bet that it's close to the nikon's.

I've read that the 1DIV is supposed to follow it's targets pretty well, even if other objects get in the way it can still follow to a certain extent. I haven't experienced this myself, but all through reading. Sounds impressive.

So, if a majority of the nikons or all of them can do that, then that's very impressive and can hardly wait until canon catches up on that...