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Focusing Screens

A focusing screen in a DSLR lets you see the full image in the viewfinder exactly as it will turn out; without it, you see an image as if looking through a telescope. You can replace it yourself, or have a professional do it for you. Read more below about how focusing screens work. More info

What is matt glas?

Matt glass is the glass in your DSLR camera between the mirror and the viewfinder. The light passes through the lens onto the mirror and, as a result, onto the glass. This allows you to see through the viewfinder how the image will turn out. If the matt glass is too transparent then you won't see everything, if it lets too little light through then your image in the viewfinder will be very dark. So when this is the case, you cannot see the image properly, nor can you focus properly manually.

In some cameras, a matt glass is a fixed component, but in others you can change it yourself. However, when doing so, be careful not to damage the glass or dirty it with dust, as this will continue to show. Have you replaced the matt glass in your camera? Then set this in your camera's settings. This is because the camera's light metering is behind the matt glass, which can alter the results.

More about light in photography

Looking for even more tips and inspiration for working with light? Then take a look at the inspiration pages:

  • What is shutter speed
  • Golden hour photography
  • What is bokeh?
  • What is light painting?