Does anyone know if it's possible to change the focusing screen in a Canon AE-1? I'm thinking about using my old AE-1 for some marco stuff since I already have a set of tubes for it. It's almost impossible to tell what is in focus with the original focusing screen when viewing something that close up and magnafied. I stopped at a camera store today, and they didn't think you could change it on the AE-1 but they weren't possitive. I know that option is available in some of the higher end Canon's, just wondering if it's possible with the AE-1.

What focussing screen does it have?
I know a microprism doesn't work well at low aperture ( found that with extension tubes on a friend's camera).

I never had a problem with my Zenit-EM with plain ground glass.
No microprism or fresnel lens - worked just fine.

I seem to recall that the AE-1, AE-1Program, and A-1's all had non-replaceable focusing screens. Or at least screens that could not be easily replaced by the user. During their day, I think that only the F-1's had user-replaceable screens.

That's kind of what I was thinking too Loupey. I know that feature was available on some of the pro models but didn't know if it was possible to do it with the AE-1 or not.

PAul,
I don't even know what you would call the focusing screen that it has in it. It has the circle in the center that splits the image in half when out of focus and you have to line the two halfs up. I think it was a pretty standard set up for most SLR's back in the day. It's almost imposible to see what your subject is when you get up close with extention tubes.

Yep, that's a single split prism.
It doesn't work well when using extension tubes or bellows.

I believe only the A-1 had the split focusing screens, not the AE-1

I called a local camera repair shop today, and they said they can't change the focusing screen on the AE-1. Oh well...