Is it possible to use focusing screen Ec-B with EOS-3 with spot-metering?

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What I do: I'm doing photographie with EOS-AF-Cameras as well as with Nikon-MF-Cameras; most times I do fotos on concerts (very noisy and agile HC/Punk-Shows). I like both systems for that purpose, but having two systems is much to expensive for me and both have weaknesses: the AF sometimes is to slow (or does not hit)when light is rare on stage; MF is slow all the time and sometimes hard to work with and the Nikon-MFs don't have a spot-metering, this causes over- and underexposed negatives because contrasts are very high on a stage, especially with dark/black back-grounds.

What I'm searching for: So I'm searching for the perfect camera with 1. AF (should be not too slow) 2. possibility of MF with a split-screen and microprism focusing-screen 3. spot metering, or at least selective metering

My questions: 1. Does such a camera exist??? 2. Is it possible to use focusing screen Ec-B (split-screen and microprisms) with EOS-3 with all metering methods / spot-metering? (This could be the combination I am searching for) 3. Are the AF-fields of the EOS-3 projected onto the focusing screen or are they scratched into it?

If anyone has any knowledge about that PLEASE answer! THANX, Robert Stoner

-- Robert Stoner (rstoner@web.de), April 07, 2002

Answers

Ec-B can be used with the EOS 3. EOS 3 uses a projection system for the focus points, and they are not etched into the screen (unlike the standard EOS 5 screen, for example).

However, Ec-B DOES affect the metering system. You can not use Evaluative or spot metering modes. You can use Partial and Centre- weighted modes. What I do not know is whether off-centre spot metering is possible with Ec-B, and I suspect that it may be.

Perhaps the EOS Documentation project says something about this?

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), April 07, 2002.


Three truths have become apparent in my life: There is no perfect woman. There is no perfect guitar. There is no perfect camera. However, I'm sure you can find one that's good enough!

According to the EOS manual, p. 133, off-centre spot metering is possible with the Ec-B.

I've avoided the split-prism screens because of the metering issue. The EOS 3 has an electronic rangefinder/focusing aid built in. The little green ball glows when manual focus is achieved. However, the EOS 3 screen is the brightest screen I have used and I can manually focus well without a split-prism. I don't even bother to look at the green ball. Moreover, AF is fast and very good in low light (CF-17.2 helps).

Aloha

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), April 07, 2002.


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