Review: Expert Shield Screen Protector for the 5D Mark III
A few months ago I was contacted by Expert Shield in the UK about trying out their screen protector for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III (camera review). I had a look at their website and product information, and after seeing the kind of abuse it could withstand in the video below I got interested.
Before writing this review I spent at least a month with the screen protectors applied to both of my Canon 5D Mark III cameras because I wanted to make sure that I used them long enough before writing about my experiences with them. I’ve been out on photo shoots with the cameras in the mean time, and have also done photo shoots in a studio setting.
One pack (pictured above) contains a screen protector for both the large LCD screen on the back of the 5D Mark III as well as the smaller LCD screen on top. On the back of the package there are detailed instructions on how to prepare the LCD screens and apply the screen protectors.
Instructions. Read them well before applying the screen protectors.
Small labels attached to the screen protectors further guide you through the process and show which side should go against the LCD screen. When applying the screen protectors it’s important that dust and other small particles don’t get in the way, otherwise you get bubbles and the screen protectors don’t attach strongly enough to the LCD screens. You can hold the labels during the application process so that you don’t get dust and fingerprints onto the screen protectors before they are fully applied.
Expert Shield Screen Protector for the Canon 5D Mark III
When the screen protector for the back LCD screen on the 5D Mark III is fully applied it essentially becomes invisible. It’s difficult to see that there’s a screen protector attached and if I didn’t apply it myself I’d never guess that there’s one attached to the screen.
Expert Shield Screen Protector for the Canon 5D Mark III
One of the reasons for this is that the screen protector is cut precisely to the size of the LCD screen. Another reason is that it’s essentially crystal clear and doesn’t introduce any color casts as far as I could see.
Expert Shield Screen Protector for the Canon 5D Mark III
The LCD screen looks just as nice and bright with the screen protector applied as it does without. Of course it’s difficult to accurately see this and judge the colors based on the pictures I have here in my review. So you’ll have to trust me on this. 🙂
Expert Shield Screen Protector for the Canon 5D Mark III
People who know me well will tell you that I am very careful with my gear. One thing I especially dislike is when there are smudges, finger prints and, god forbid, scratches on the screens of gear that I use. I regularly clean the LCD screens on my cameras and on the 5D Mark III for example it can take quite a view wipes to get all the smudges off of it. Especially if you have oily skin and sweaty hands like me, this can be a problem. So I’m pleased to say that this screen protector from Expert Shield does make it easier to clean the LCD screens on my 5D Mark III cameras. For some reason the smudges are more easily wiped off of it.
Expert Shield Screen Protector for the Canon 5D Mark III
While the screen protector for the back LCD screen worked quite well, I did run into some trouble with the screen protector for the top LCD screen. It turns out that the top LCD screen on the 5D Mark III camera isn’t completely flat; there’s a slight downwards curve to the right of the screen at the end. Because of this the screen protector isn’t able to stick to that part of the screen. You can see what I mean in the picture below.
Issue with the top LCD screen protector
I had this exact same issue on both of my 5D Mark III cameras using both packs of screen protectors I received. Depending on how nitpicky you are this can be a slight issue or a bigger issue. For me this was a big issue, so I had two options:
- Cut away part of the screen protector that won’t stick to the LCD. This means that a small part of the top LCD screen won’t be protected, and that you’ll be able to see a line going through the LCD screen where the screen protector ends abruptly.
- Not use the screen protector for the top LCD screen at all.
I chose the second option. So I removed them from the top LCD screens on both of my cameras and they came off easily without leaving any residue.
I let Expert Shield know about the issues I was having with the top LCD screen protector, and they said that they would look into it and see if they could come up with a solution. In the mean time, if you decide to get these screen protectors then realize that you may potentially not be able to use the one for the top LCD screen.
I am however very satisfied with the screen protector for the back LCD screen on the 5D Mark III. After more than a month of use on both of my cameras I can say that they work really well. I even almost forget that they’re attached.
From the Expert Shield website, here are some of the benefits that you may expect when using these screen protectors:
- Reduced light reflection, matte finish
- Lasts longer than any other screen protector – Guaranteed!
- Shields your screen from scratches
- Pre-cut to the exact dimensions of your screen
- No Air Bubbles
- No messy glue, no nasty residue
- Straightforward installation
- Works perfectly with touch screens
- Includes finest lint-free cleaning cloth
- Completely washable and reusable
If you’re interested in getting these screen protectors for your Canon EOS 5D Mark III you can find them on the Expert Shield website. They have these screens in stock for various camera models, mobile phones and even tablets.
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