Film EOS Body

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OmarSV11

OmarSV11

Feb 17, 2013
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#1
Hello fellow Canon users. First I apologize if this post doesn't go on this particular category but I think is the best place to ask.

I was looking online for info about the now out of production film EOS bodies. I started to photograph in the digital era about a year and a half ago after years wanting to study about it. When I finally had the money like ten years ago to actually take a course (I still had my dad's old Pentax MX) all school switched to Digital.

Now that Im always studying and teaching Lightroom in a school, I have that urge to shoot film.

And I need the more veteran Canon shooters to tell me what a good pro-sumer to pro could I buy, so I can take advantage of my EF mount lens.

I was looking the EOS-1N but I think it will be too heavy, for an overall shooting. And then I stumbled into the EOS-3 which looks a lil more slim in weight than the 1N. Any other body I can look into? And Id love to hear about EOS-3 users as that one is the one I most interested right now. Thanks!
 
#3
Unlike a DSLR, a film Camera body is basically a box that you mount a lens on. You can get the same image with a $5 EOS film Rebel from a Garage sale.
Obviously, the more expensive cameras have more features, are more rugged and reliable, but with film Cameras, the lens is a far more important factor than anything else.
Pro level film bodies can be had for a low price, so go for one if you are going to keep it, but, if you are just experimenting, you can use a cheap one and get the same image.
 
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#4
The EOS-3 is a great body and if it's too steep for trying out a Canon film box then check out an Elan 7. ~100$ and has most of the eos 3 features and a much better body than the Rebel series. Still, if you want more AF points the 3 is a great way to go.
 
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#6
pdirestajr said:
The EOS-3 is the second best Canon EOS film body after the 1V. It's pretty rad. It betters the 1N in most ways too.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

As others have said it depends what you want to do with it. I have a 1V HS, and it performs as well as any camera Canon made until the 1DX. If you're looking for fast, accurate AF and good metering, the 1V is a dream. If you just want to have the experience of exposing film, go cheap.
 
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#7
I got an EOS650 bundled in with a second hand G12 (scratched front element - £100 for the pair); it's control interface is most similar to a modern 'Rebel' level DSLR, but with a far superior viewfinder. All my modern EF lenses work just fine (unlike with some other brands) and I can live with the limitations of the single point AF system for what I use it for... Trouble is, that's not a lot! I thought I wanted to shoot film, but really I can't be bothered with the hassle. Truth is that I'm a digital shooter and that's the medium I'm happiest with. That's not to put down your (or anyone else's) interest in film; I'm just happy that I didn't pay out for a high end film body to find that out.
 
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#8
+1 for EOS 3.

The 1N has pretty basic AF and very basic flash by modern standards, the EOS 3 has the same pro layout but with the 1V's AF system and modern era E-TTL flash metering (it will work properly with any EX or ETTL guns you have for your DSLR)

It's also a bargain just now. The 1V is better, but the 3 has 99% of the 1V's DNA and costs a quarter, a third, and is also more likely to have had a cherised life as an amateurs pride and joy than a pro's workhorse.

And.

And..

And...

You get EYE CONTROLLED FOCUS, which if you spend time setting it up is just about the best thing ever.

A lot of folk slate the Eye-Controlled Focus, but they had funny eyes, and if you don't like it there is an off switch.

It feels a bit light in the hand next to a 1V, but then my car feels a bit light in the hand next to a 1V. It has a distinct shutter noise (or mirror slap noise, horses will bolt, birds will fly away en masse)

I wouldn't buy a 1V nowadays. You would want to buy a new unused and keep it in its box, if you want a user which to almost all intents and purposes is the same camera, get a cheap but cherished 3. Use the strap stopper for the viewfinder blind, the EOS link software probably won't run anymore. Hey presto, your are back to the 3.

The question isn't should I buy one? It's why haven't you bought one already!

I don't know what you are using just now but do bear in mind that as a pro-orientated camera with weather sealing the 3 lacks a built in flash. This may not be that big a deal. If you want a film body with built in flash then buy as recent as you can, buy a 30v (again with eye control, but built in flash, laid out more like a x0D series)

Good luck with your 3.
 
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#9
paul13walnut5 said:
+1 for EOS 3.

The 1N has pretty basic AF and very basic flash by modern standards, the EOS 3 has the same pro layout but with the 1V's AF system and modern era E-TTL flash metering (it will work properly with any EX or ETTL guns you have for your DSLR)

It's also a bargain just now. The 1V is better, but the 3 has 99% of the 1V's DNA and costs a quarter, a third, and is also more likely to have had a cherised life as an amateurs pride and joy than a pro's workhorse.

And.

And..

And...

You get EYE CONTROLLED FOCUS, which if you spend time setting it up is just about the best thing ever.

A lot of folk slate the Eye-Controlled Focus, but they had funny eyes, and if you don't like it there is an off switch.

It feels a bit light in the hand next to a 1V, but then my car feels a bit light in the hand next to a 1V. It has a distinct shutter noise (or mirror slap noise, horses will bolt, birds will fly away en masse)

I wouldn't buy a 1V nowadays. You would want to buy a new unused and keep it in its box, if you want a user which to almost all intents and purposes is the same camera, get a cheap but cherished 3. Use the strap stopper for the viewfinder blind, the EOS link software probably won't run anymore. Hey presto, your are back to the 3.

The question isn't should I buy one? It's why haven't you bought one already!

I don't know what you are using just now but do bear in mind that as a pro-orientated camera with weather sealing the 3 lacks a built in flash. This may not be that big a deal. If you want a film body with built in flash then buy as recent as you can, buy a 30v (again with eye control, but built in flash, laid out more like a x0D series)

Good luck with your 3.
Click to expand...

What he said.
 
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#11
I also have some questions, firstly regarding the eye focus:

Does it work that well with glasses?
Can it be turned off?

I decided to get a 1N instead of the 3 because I didn't really know how the eye focus would work out for me.
The 1N looked very used and therefore was very cheap (~100) including the grip.

Sometimes the -bc- shows up, but it is not dead. I wonder what the reason for that might be, any tips?

Fun fact, 1Vs are still in stock "new":
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194453-USA/Canon_2043A005_EOS_1V_Camera_Body.html
 
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#13
EdB said:
The EOS 3 is awesome and the eye control focus was the best thing Canon ever innovated. Don't understand why they abandoned it.
Click to expand...

Agree wholeheartedly. I had two Elan IIe's for a good part of my photo life and used eye control all the time. As some of you recall, Canon ran some Art Wolfe ads at the time of the EOS 3 stating he was now getting photos he never could before - which was a direct (but not explicitely stated) slam against Nikon, the system he switched from. Canon had something no one else had and I do not understand why they abandoned it. (Not fast enough maybe?)

Anyway, I replaced them with an EOS 1 that I got for 300 bucks at a camera show several years ago, then replaced that with a 1N in mint condition that a customer at my photo lab gave me for free. I see you decided on the 1N and I think you will be happy with it. Sadly, no eye control focus though.
 
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#14
I'd also give some thought to an EOS 30 (AKA Elan 7E). While an EOS 3 is much more robust, feature packed and a better all round camera, the 30 is still good to use and a fraction of the price. If I was choosing a film camera and I wasn't concerned about size or weight, I think my order of preference would go 1V, 3, 1N, 30.
 
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#15
m said:
Does it work that well with glasses?
Can it be turned off?
Click to expand...

Not sure about the glasses and it can be turned off.

MrFotoFool said:
Canon had something no one else had and I do not understand why they abandoned it. (Not fast enough maybe?)
Click to expand...

I'm sure it could have been improved but it seemed pretty quick to me. I expected it to cover the whole viewfinder by now, no matter where you looked, it would lock on.
 
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#16
Adding another vote for the EOS3. I actually prefer it over the 1-series film bodies due to size/weight. It's an awesome camera, and the used price right now is a steal.

I was never that crazy about eye controlled focus, though it does work with a reduced set of focus points. (It never works well for me with all 45.) But there are a couple other features I wish were on my 7D. Namely the spot metering mode where you can take multiple readings and the camera will compute the exposure, and the additional metering scale to the right of the viewfinder.
 
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#17
I was pretty sure this was the best place to ask. Great replys from all of you.

Right now I'm using a Rebel T3i, and planning to get the 6D soon, but I'm an all methods junkie and wanted a good pro film camera with advanced functions, that wasn't as bulky as the 1 series.

I've shoot some film on my old pentax but I have the limitation of only 1 lens, and with my EOS I have the "nifty fifty", the 100mm f/2 and the most recent in the family the 28mm f/1.8. I do want to try those with film...

But as I'd like a more rough body I was eyeing the 3.

Again thanks for the great answers ;D
 
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#19
IMO the EOS 3 is the best bang for buck (pound) Film camera going!
It has a reasonable frame rate, excellent AF(even at F8), well built and is very simple to use.
About 20 months ago I shot off the last of my Kodachrome 64. I was taking pictures of Herons with my 600 F4 L IS - 37 shots gave 37 keepers - wish I could do that with my 1D Mk4!
The camera cost 85 GBP and is in very nice condition - just wish it could store more than 37 images!
 
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