Split prism/manual focus focusing screens on new bodies?

Ksanti · 30 Jan 2013 at 19:52

I've pretty much decided on making the swap to Nikon when funds allow, and I'm keen on picking up some more of their old manual focus lenses for use with the body and with my FE. However, it looks like Canikon don't make any alternative focusing screens any more, with the 5D3's focusing screen being fixed. Manual focus on the more modern viewfinders is a right pain and I've grown quite attached to the split prism on my Nikon FE. While manual focus is okay with the stock screens on macro photography or landscape stuff, when using 1.4 lenses wide open (I really like the look of going to Samyang lenses), even on autofocus, it would be nice to actually see what I'm shooting.

I see Katz Eye make screens for the D700, but I can't find any mention of any screens at all for either the D3 or newer pro bodies, or the D800, and I imagine the 5D3 doesn't support new focusing screens without some heavy modifications?

Ksanti · 30 Jan 2013 at 20:09

So are there no cameras newer than 2008 that have split prisms and non-matte (not sure on the exact terminology I'm afraid) screens? That's really irritating...

Ksanti · 30 Jan 2013 at 20:17

Ah right, yeah £5k totally worth it when I'm pulling in around £100 a month on photography ahah.

The Carl Zeiss website has a bit about focusing screens and lists the D3 and 1DS as cameras with focusing screens 'suited to manual focusing'. Does this mean they're the older style glass that can 'see' beyond f/2.5 or are they just more accurate? D3s are falling quite nicely in price and I've been considering one

http://lenses.zeiss.com/camera-lens...at_makes_the_difference/focusing_screens.html

Ksanti · 30 Jan 2013 at 20:21

Brightscreen apparently offered a split prism for the D800 before their owner sadly passed away.

Ksanti · 30 Jan 2013 at 22:26

Even then I'd like to know what my image is going to look like through the viewfinder, beyond just assuming "1.4 will do it" and having to chimp if I want to see what the DoF was exactly like. Given both Samyangs can be had for less than a single one of the Sigmas, it's worth a look at least. Even if I don't shoot in manual focus, I'd rather see what my raw photo will look like through the viewfinder, rather than solely using it for composition.