If canon made a full manual DSLR...

[musicmaster]

I've been thinking, would you buy a fully manual DSLR, just for fun and cheap?

Example -

6mp
2fps
no review LCD
no internal flash (but has hotshoe)
2 knobs (one for shutter/iso, one for aperture)
only LCD is to show shots remaining/battery
SD card to keep thin
USB port
MF focus screen

for like $200 or less, it could be fun and inspire a new generation of shooters

[cosworth]

300D set to M?

[gjl711]

Nope. I have a fully manual SLR now. I also have a fully automatic SLR now and everywhere in between.

[thomascanty]

SD card? Nope... I'd only consider it if it had CF. I don't want to buy new cards just for one camera, especially when the ones I have now already have a manual mode, anyway.

[lakiluno]

but why? You can buy a used 300D with a broken LCD screen for less than $200...

What gain would you get out of dropping the LCD screen? Those things are so cheap to make, it just seems pointless.

[Desertraptor]

I havent used Program mode since the first day I got my 350D
Always Tv, Av or M depending on the shot I want

[musicmaster]

SD card? Nope... I'd only consider it if it had CF. I don't want to buy new cards just for one camera, especially when the ones I have now already have a manual mode, anyway.
To keep it thin. CF cards are much bigger, and to keep it the size of original film, thered have to be a way to make it smaller. It could include 512mb card - enough for about 150pics


The whole thing is to get the feel of a full manual film camera, the knobs and everything.

[John_B]

I've been thinking, would you buy a fully manual DSLR, just for fun and cheap?
musicmaster,
No, I would rather put my 40D or 5D on Manual and turn the review time to off. :)
Fun, no... Cheap, yes....

[cdifoto]

To keep it thin. CF cards are much bigger

Haven't seen the XSi, eh? Get out from under your rock.

[manipula]

Personally I could see the appeal to such a camera. Stick a Sigma 30mm on (presuming it would be a APSC camera) and take it out in the street. Travel light, shoot liberated.

I have to admit I'd just use my 300D if the camera worked out same size as a normal SLR, but something Leica sized would perk my interest.

[oaktree]

What I want is a FF or 1.3 cropped 24/2.8 digital rangefinder in the $2000 price range.

[JeffreyG]

I havent used Program mode since the first day I got my 350D
Always Tv, Av or M depending on the shot I want

I think the OP means "manual" as in a camera without a meter. This means no Av or Tv modes and no little needle in M.

I'd still want to keep the EF lens lines with electronic aperture though. Stopped down focussing with a manual focus sucks.

I suspect the market for this old school dSLR would be close to nil. You can work in full manual mode if you like now with any automated body and the meter and focus equipment are probably only a fraction of the cost of the dSLR.

[gjl711]

Ya know, take a look at my avatar. Thats the camera right there. No nothing, just a shutter button. Now if I could just get the those guys to come up with a digital back. ;):)

[Mum2J&M]

I think the OP means "manual" as in a camera without a meter. This means no Av or Tv modes and no little needle in M.

I'd still want to keep the EF lens lines with electronic aperture though. Stopped down focussing with a manual focus sucks.

I suspect the market for this old school dSLR would be close to nil. You can work in full manual mode if you like now with any automated body and the meter and focus equipment are probably only a fraction of the cost of the dSLR.

I'm not sure about lack of interest. If I was just starting digital - having learned on a manual 35mm back in the film days - I would definitely consider starting with the most basic of dslrs. Besides, I always felt I was learning more without all the options anyway. And if it could cost less, for me it would be a no-brainer. I think the bells and whistles often throw me off more than anything to be honest.

[JeffreyG]

I'm not sure about lack of interest. If I was just starting digital - having learned on a manual 35mm back in the film days - I would definitely consider starting with the most basic of dslrs. Besides, I always felt I was learning more without all the options anyway. And if it could cost less, for me it would be a no-brainer. I think the bells and whistles often throw me off more than anything to be honest.


I've never known you be very frugal in acquiring gear there Mum!;)

I'm just thinking about who this thing is for...

Not the average consumer who wants "lots of zoom" and face recognition.
Not a professional who has demanding business needs
Not a gear acquiring amateur who is worried about when the next 5D will be announced or who obsesses between Canon and Nikon features.

It isn't really even a good camera for a person who is learning. Really it only takes a couple months to learn metering and modes. How much would you pay for a manual camera that you would have mastered in a few months?

Bascially the market is for amateurs who enjoy tinkering and playing around with a manual camera. This is a small market.

So you start with a dSLR and strip away the meter, AF, JPEG converter and a lot of the functions and I think you have only removed a small fraction of the cost. Now you make this manual camera at low volume....and I think there is no market for it at the cost it would take.

Then again....somebody is buying Leica M8s.

As long as we are dreaming, here is what I want from this manual camera:
All manual control
Fixed (sealed) 28mm f/2 lens (no sensor cleaning)....gotta be sharp wide open though.
APS-C sensor
Small body
Small LCD on the back to display histogram.
I would like it as an SLR, but I could live with a rangefinder to keep cost and size down.

[Mum2J&M]

I've never known you be very frugal in acquiring gear there Mum!;)

Well, I was frugal in that I could only spend $5,000 and kept blowing more and more of it by returning and exchanging. I'm down to only two lenses now. It's not like I have endless income as I'm a stay at home mum. And that money was inheritance money. Woops.

[JeffreyG]

Well, I was frugal in that I could only spend $5,000 and kept blowing more and more of it by returning and exchanging. I'm down to only two lenses now. It's not like I have endless income as I'm a stay at home mum. And that money was inheritance money. Woops.

I was just yanking your chain....no offense!:lol:

[Mum2J&M]

Ok. I kind of figured that, but sometimes you can't tell at the forum. ;)