I started with 35mm film SLRs, where focusing screens were twice the size they are in modern DSLRs, and even then focusing was tricky. Matte focusing screens were a bit coarse for fine focus, while microprisms and split image rangefinders (anyone remember those?) started to black out with lenses slower than f/2.8.
Cut to the present day, and even the best DSLRs have crisper, but smaller focusing screens. You can get in the right ballpark very easily, but the fact is that for critical focus you’re going to rely on the autofocus system. You could switch to live view, of course, and magnify the image, but DSLRs are not really designed for live view and boy, don’t they let you know it.
-copy-29e15046.jpeg?w=600)
