Originally posted by lithos Mate, that's why I love Ricoh's focusing screens: their split-image is at 45 degrees - so no having to tilt the camera to focus on, say, a tree trunk or a windowsill, etc.
It's one of those "Duuuh...it's bloody obvious, now I think about it" ideas that everybody should've done.
They're pretty cool, (My old Mamiya 645 has a screen like that) though, given an actual vertical line, sometimes they're just a little less positive. (I'm guessing that's why they didn't catch on too much, ) But, you only ever have to tilt 45 degrees or less that way.
I still tend to prefer the microprism, especially with the faster lenses I use (they tend to get dodgier with slower ones, unless specially made for that. A good microprism is what I call 'explodey,' ...stuff that's not in precise focus dances around, very positive where you're hitting, even when focusing quickly on someone's face. The split type are a little more something you actually have to stop and look at.