Gear Talk > EOS Bodies - For Stills

Film Camera & Film Recommendations

<< < (2/4) > >>

Kernuak:
One thing to bear in mind, many of the lower end film cameras didn't have mirror lockup, so if you use that, it is important to know. I hit that problem when I bought a cheap EOS 500 to try out (it had a faster maximum shutterspeed than my old Zenith). In the end I bought a secondhand EOS 3 , probably the third best film camera Canon made and in the last generation. I also has far superior AF to any Prosumer Canon DSLR, with the exception of the 5D MkIII and much cheaper than a secondhand 40D (I think it was about £130). It also has equivalent weatherproofing to the 7D and 5D MkIII according to Canon. I need to get back to using it again actually.
Just for info, there is no such camera as the 1D MkV (the D would signify digital), you are probably thinking about the 1V (I think because it was the fifth professional EOS camera), which was still a current camera, at least a couple of years ago and sold secondhand for over £400. The other 1 series camera was the older 1N I think, which in some ways isn't as good as the EOS 3 on specs, but is better in others.

distant.star:


.

For what you seem to suggest you want to do, I'd advise:

Find a good beginner photography course, probably at a community college. Even today, they almost always start with film and might even provide cameras to use. They will have a darkroom and printing equipment so you'll get all that experience without having to expend anything for equipment. You'll also learn the old rudimentary things like dodging/burning, cropping, etc. -- and that will give you a much greater appreciation for what happens in digital post processing.

In a class you'll also have two great things you can't get any other way -- first, a group of like-minded people with the same passion, a real "community" and; second an instructor who can guide you to a place you probably can't get to on your own, at least not quickly.

If you end up buying a camera, get a Canon since you already have the lenses. I like to start film people on a manual focusing rangefinder, but lens choices are limited. With a Canon EOS SLR, you'll also learn more about the lenses you use on the digital and how their performance differs with film.

Finally, don't overlook borrowing an old film camera. If you were around here, I'd be happy to lend you an old Canon SLR. Maybe a pro photographer in your area would lend you a film camera he doesn't use anymore. You may also have a local photo club where people have lots of good, old equipment lying around.

Whatever you do, have fun!

libertyranger:
Thanks for the feedback so far!  I really appreciate it.  It looks like the 1V and EOS 3 were some of the latest generation film cameras from the Canon film days.  I'll check these out :)

7enderbender:
I understand that you want to see what your EF lenses do. Notwithstanding, you might want to check FD lenses and the corresponding 35mm cameras. At times you can find amazing stuff for very little money. Comes with the risk of finding out of how mediocre built today's lenses are and how terrible "modern" viewfinders are. You wouldn't believe how much fun you can have with an A1 or AE-1p, FD 50 1.4 and a good copy of the old 135 lenses. Or even the cheap little 28mm lens.

And if you get into it: the F1n to me is still one of the greatest cameras ever...

The problem remains the cost of film and the lack of labs that do a good job. Which then brings you to wanting to do your own processing and enlarging...

RunAndGun:
You can find EOS 3's for almost nothing.  I picked up one that was in almost mint condition for $199 a few months ago.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page