EOS film body advice - DPChallenge Forums

09/01/2006 04:59:58 PM · #1

Hi

I'm looking to jump into the SLR wagon. My old film camera just died on me (it was an old Olympus IS 10), and I still like to shoot film, so I was thinking of buying a used EOS body, maybe with a couple of lenses... and within a few months I would buy a digital EOS body. So after a bit of browsing on ebay, I found that I can get an used EOS 300 for around 160$, with these lenses thrown-in:

- Canon EF 28-90mm F/4.0-5.6
- Canon EF 75-300mm F/4.0-5.6

So, my questions are...

- Is this a good value-for-money deal?
- What can I expect (given "normal" treatment) of an EOS 300 body, say, 5 years old? And what of the lenses?
- Are the lenses usable with an EOS 350XT/350d body?

Thanks!

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

09/01/2006 05:00:40 PM · #2

film? huh?

;-)

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

09/01/2006 05:03:27 PM · #3

Yeah, film, like in, you know, those little cylinders filled with the plastic-like thingy in a roll you used to have to buy in order to "take pictures".

:-)

darnok

Nikon D850

09/01/2006 05:10:50 PM · #4

EF lenses are usable on new EOS digital bodies. I would rather get an old manual film camera, like a Pentax screw mount. You can find the cameras and lenses very cheaply second hand. The prime lenses are also extemely high quality. This is only an option is you are willing to shoot all manual though. M42 screw mount lenses are usable on Canon EOS cameras if you get the adapter.

MadMan2k

Sony Alpha a6400

Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD

09/01/2006 05:22:18 PM · #5

If you want to be able to swap lenses back and forth between digital and film (and it is nice to be able to do), you'll want a fairly modern one. Since film cameras aren't as expensive, I always recommend the EOS 1N. It's about 12 years old, and the predecessor to the 1V which is like the current 1D bodies but film. The body is awesome, so much better than any of the low end cameras. It'll definitely make you feel like the low end DSLRs that you try in the shop are pieces of crap if you get used to one of these first (not a bad thing, except for your wallet maybe)

You can probably get one for around $300 body only. Those two lenses are'nt really anything special... I'd suggest getting a 50mm 1.8 prime and one of the Sigma 70-300 APO's for about $300 total. Then maybe save up for something in the 17-50 range you can use with both film and digital later.

I Enjoy Ham

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

09/01/2006 05:47:36 PM · #6

any of the elan series canon camers are great, and they have similiar features and are layed out exactly liek the 30d 20d and 10d, or very similiar. also there is the eos 5. One of the great things about the elan7e is it has eye control, one thing i wish the dSLR's had :/

-Dan

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

09/01/2006 05:56:30 PM · #7

Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:

Elan IIe also has eye-controlled focus.

Message edited by author 2006-09-01 17:56:40.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

09/01/2006 06:17:51 PM · #8

Thank you all!

Regarding the ruggedness of the EOS 300 / Elan series, is there anyone here who actually owns one of these and can provide info?

I Enjoy Ham

Canon EOS-30D

09/01/2006 06:32:45 PM · #9

i won the elan 7e, and ive dropped ti countless amounts of times and its still working like i just got it. I dont think it has weather sealing, but a large ziplock bag can take care of that.

film bodies IMO are built tougher then digital bodies.

-Dan

MadMan2k

Sony Alpha a6400

Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD

09/01/2006 09:02:56 PM · #10

I've shot in moderate rain with my 1N and 50mm, and nothing at all happened. It's designed to make water collect on the surface, and when you go to wipe it off you'll notice it's designed to be easy to wipe away also.

I've heard of people dropping one in a river and the film being just fine (but the camera got sand and crap in it, so it needed to be fixed)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

09/02/2006 03:30:34 AM · #11

Thank you all again for your help.

I think I might be inclined to get a Elan IIe, being a bit more solid than the Rebel 2000 (300)... and the eye-control feature seems like something out of a scifi movie.

Thanks again!

Ristyz

Apple iPhone 12 Pro

09/02/2006 04:36:55 AM · #12

I have an EOS 3 body for sale! I loved that camera but can't shoot film anymore for work. I was hoping to get 400.00 for it. (was originally 1100.00) Total pro camera, has eye control too and an amazing number of focus/metering dots very customizable

edit: it's in excellent condition, a few rub marks on the bottom edge

Message edited by author 2006-09-02 04:39:06.

Tajhad

Canon EOS R

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM

09/02/2006 04:50:48 AM · #13

I have the 500n - I don\'t know what name it went under in the states.
It\'s funny this thread came up - I was thinking last night to past a thread regarding another old camera. But I\'ll get to that in a moment.

The 500n is a consumer type camera - light but seems rugged enough. Mine has made 3 trips to Indonesia no problems. I must admit I hated the layout of it for many years ( I posted a thread about this earlier in the year)but it seems to be the layout of modern digital cameras (some are better than others). I must admit since I got my 350D I now find the layout easy to work with (grown use to it I guess).

I bought mine (about 9yrs ago)because of price (didn\'t have the money for the more pro versions). Butnow with digital cameras being so expensive (and everyone using them) the market has really dropped out of the film SLR market. Therefore there are bargins to be had. I would recommend that you have a look around and get the very best \"pro\" version you can. I don\'t think you will regret it. Weatherproofing, rugged design, etc I think are great in any camera. I wish I could afford this in digital form.
At the moment you should be able to pick up a great film SLR for a very modest price.

In regards to your question - would I buy a 500n again ? I would have to say NO.The camera I have no compaints about and it takes good shots. The reason being is, you are able to pick up a much better canon version (one I only dreamed about when I bought my 500n)for a fraction of the price. I\'m even keeping an eye on the second hand shops myself. And film is not dead - you can get your shots put on CD at the time of developing and still play with them in Photoshop.
The other guys who have posted here have more knowledge of the more professional versions.
As also that was mentioned - get the best lenses possible - they will interchange between the digital and film bodies ( I do all the time).

I won\'t hijack your thread with my rave about older cameras. I\'ll start a new one about \"old toys\".

Bottom line - buy the best you can afford (and they say this for all cameras but the difference being for digital you will pay a starting price of $3000 (australian) and for second hand film $400.)

Let us know how you get on.

09/02/2006 05:16:49 AM · #14

Originally posted by Ristyz:

Thank you for the offer!

I would love an EOS 3 body (or a 1N for that matter!) but right now I would like to get something in the $100-$150 price range... also the cheaper cameras are a bit less bulky, making them easier to carry when traveling, and, last but not least, have built-in flash (yes, I know it sucks but is enough for my wife! I can almost hear... "you gave 400$ for this camera and it doesn't even have a flash!??" ).

Anyway, good luck with your sell!

:-)

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM

09/02/2006 05:29:08 AM · #15

Tajhad:

Thank you for your insight. I also still love the feel of film pictures, and really am missing my "little" Olympus.
You say you had your 500n for 9 years; is it still in good shape? How well do these "older" EOS cameras resist wear and tear?
As for bargains, I would expect that a 1N bought on ebay would cost around 500$ tops, and it is a very high quality piece of gear. I would get one (probably) but I am thinking of getting a new EOS 400d (or whatever it is called) for Christmas... hard to explain to the wife... ah well.

:-)

Tajhad

Canon EOS R

09/02/2006 07:36:08 AM · #16

Pedro
The 500n is still in great shape. I don't know what is made from - but it is light and there is not a mark on it. It has stood up to the riggers of travel very well. I never use a camers bag while travelling and it stood up to being bashed around in a shoulder bag quite well. Also, I agree with you regarding the built in flash. Not the greatest but very useable for travel - saves taking a flash unit with you. I have a 28-80 USM 3.5-5.6 lens on mine. Not the greatest optics but light, quiet and on a full frame camera usable for wide angle and portraits. Yes, a handy travel camera.

Before the canon - I had Pentax gear.Not pro quality - a ME Super (still going)and a couple of Super A's. I got them because they were light and at the time Pentax optics were suppose to be pretty good. I didn't have as much luck with them. One died in Sri Lanka (after about a year) and another one in Indonesia, about a year later.

In regards to the canon, if you are going to get the 400D then the lenes will at least interchange. I do like my 350D. I know it isn't a 30D or 5D but for the money I do like it a lot.

There was a funny(?) story that I was going to relate in a new thread but I will relate it now.
Over the last few weeks I have been doing digital photography with a group of Primary school kids. We were using a range of P&S cameras as well as my 350D. To try and get the concept of aperture and shutter speed I took in my first SLR.

It is a fully manual Ricoh XR1 that I got in 1977. It is built like a tank. No program mode - fully manual with a top shutter speed of 1000.A Pentax 50mm 1.4 lens. I hadn't used it in years - but it amazed me how a simple design can be so user friendly. The shutter speed changed with a wheel on the top near the shutter. Near the barrel of the lens is a Depth of Field preview button. A multiple exposure button on the back near the shutter release and even a battery check encased around the shutter button. To get your correct exposure it was only a matter of turning the shutter speed wheel and the aperture ring (on the lens) to get two bars on the the side on the viewfinder to match - perfect exposure. I had forgotten how simple the design could be - I loved it.
After explaining to the kids how things worked and what they had to do to get their shots - off they went to try it out. We were going to get the film developed to disc so they could then play with their shots on the computer.

The irony of the whole project was that when they came back - they all commented on how simple and easy to use the camera was. Out of a batch of digital cameras (a couple of kodaks, a sony and my 350D) they all enjoyed the Ricoh.Interesting, I thought, considering they have all grown up with digital and probably have never seen a film SLR. I was looking forward to seeing their shots.

When I got home and got the camera out of my bag my expectations were shattered. I noticed the shutter speed was set to bulb and out of a 24 frame roll of film - they were up to frame 35 !! I'm yet to see if anything came out of it.

Back to your inquiry. The canon in my view is a good camera. The only thing I don't like about it (which is very common now - I think) is to adjust the aperture you need to press a small button on the back of the camera while you turn a wheel near the shutter.
Sorry for the long rave but I hope there is something helpful.