More and more with my hand held shots I'm failing to align the horizontals and verticals especially when using ultra wide angle lenses. I know I can subsequently correct in post processing but so much of the image is lost in this method.

As such I'm looking at the grid screens for my 5D.

My concern is:-

Do these screens dim the view finder?

Do they effect metering?

Do they effect predictive focusing or indeed general auto-focusing?

Any other side effects?

If any member has made this switch I'd be glad of any feedback

Thanks

As such I'm looking at the grid screens for my 5D.

I use it (I think I already told you that before).

My concern is:-

Do these screens dim the view finder?

Not that I can tell.

Do they effect metering?

Yes. You get overexposed pics unless you change the setting with custom function.

Do they effect predictive focusing or indeed general auto-focusing?

I don't think so. At least not with general auto-focusing.

Any other side effects?

Not that I can tell. But some might think those grids to be distracting taking your attention/concentration away from the subject, but I think you'd get used to it.

If any member has made this switch I'd be glad of any feedback

They still had it in stock last time I was at fotofile but when they go out of stock often it's gone off the shelf for a long time (many times I was asked to buy those screen from Japan). So better hurry if you decide to buy it. Canon Thailand doesn't market this accessory in Thailand.

Or alternatively, you can use an instrument like this as you seem to use tripod very often (is it called "spirit level"?).

I think the screen helps with composition, but I'm not so sure about horizontal alignment (what I bought it for). It's not a must-have item unless you shoot a lot of landscape/cityscape.

More and more with my hand held shots I'm failing to align the horizontals and verticals especially when using ultra wide angle lenses. I know I can subsequently correct in post processing but so much of the image is lost in this method.

Old age creeping on......

I am having the same problem with the 40D, and have to take extra care to check.

It's even more difficult with EVF finder camera.

As such I'm looking at the grid screens for my 5D.

I use it (I think I already told you that before).

My concern is:-

Do these screens dim the view finder?

Not that I can tell.

Do they effect metering?

Yes. You get overexposed pics unless you change the setting with custom function.

Do they effect predictive focusing or indeed general auto-focusing?

I don't think so. At least not with general auto-focusing.

Any other side effects?

Not that I can tell. But some might think those grids to be distracting taking your attention/concentration away from the subject, but I think you'd get used to it.

If any member has made this switch I'd be glad of any feedback

They still had it in stock last time I was at fotofile but when they go out of stock often it's gone off the shelf for a long time (many times I was asked to buy those screen from Japan). So better hurry if you decide to buy it. Canon Thailand doesn't market this accessory in Thailand.

Or alternatively, you can use an instrument like this as you seem to use tripod very often (is it called "spirit level"?).

I think the screen helps with composition, but I'm not so sure about horizontal alignment (what I bought it for). It's not a must-have item unless you shoot a lot of landscape/cityscape.

Thanks for the input -(yep it's a "spirit level" - but no good hand held!)

Seriously the problem is wearing specs as I do - Just cannot push into the viewfinder as before - it's a real pain to lose detail with perspective control and cropping in post processing.

I hadn't picked up the custom function settings and having read more into this it seems to resolve my misgivings

As I understand these screens are reasonably easy to remove and revert back to the basic screen. I think this is the way to go.

Thanks for the feedback

Seriously the problem is wearing specs as I do - Just cannot push into the viewfinder as before - it's a real pain to lose detail with perspective control and cropping in post processing.

I wonder if "Live View" feature which is sure to be on 5D Mk2 can solve the problem?

As I understand these screens are reasonably easy to remove and revert back to the basic screen. I think this is the way to go.

Yes, it's easy. The screen will come with a tool for replacing it but fotofile people do it with bare hand. Just don't forget to reset the custom function (necessary for all focusing screens for 5D). I just don't do it at all as changing screen can get dusts infiltrating into penta prism area which can be really difficult to remove (but again, fotofile can do that), whereas screen can be washed with water.

Although it may seem a somewhat backward step I'm seriously considering a 40D purely for "LiveView" and in-house sensor cleaning.

OK, I don't see "LiveView" being much use on hand-held shots but it should prove unique for macro and landscape where a tripod would inevitably be used. Critical manual focusing with the 5x and 10x zoom will be a great benefit also.

We'll see

OK, I don't see "LiveView" being much use on hand-held shots but it should prove unique for macro and landscape where a tripod would inevitably be used. Critical manual focusing with the 5x and 10x zoom will be a great benefit also.

Nikon's new D700 (and D3) not only comes with LCD displayed spirit level but also tilt indicator displayed inside view finder.

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikond700/page8.asp

Let's hope EOS 5D Mk2 comes with this feature (hope it will, after this long wait).