On Sat, 13 Mar 1999 04:08:22 GMT, vilas777494@my-dejanews.com wrote:

>Assuming equipment is in good working order, can there be slight focusing
>errors when using a split focusing screen? I've heard some photogers state
>they prefer matte screens, not just because they sometimes find 'focusing
>aids' a nuisance, but because the matte screens are more accurate?

I fall into the above category of "focus aid" haters...;-)
(Though it is worth noting that cameras do vary a lot in
how sharp their viewing systems are - an unsharp VF makes
MF focusing without one of those otherwise silly aids
rather difficult... [BTW, I find AF "focus confirmation"
utterly useless - it is both uselessly placed off the
viewing area {though good for keeping the viewing area
"clean"...;-}, and uselessly inaccurate]). I have found
a couple of lenses that seem to give different focus
when using the aid vs. using the matte screen. With
any focus system, accuracy obviously depends on the
accurate alignment of the system, which should not be
taken for granted. One of the first things that I do
after buying a new or used camera is check its focus
accuracy...