Canon Film Camera

[asysin2leads]

Yes, I know that this is a forum for Canon digital. That's why it didn't go in to EOS Camera section. I was able to pick up an entire set of darkroom equipment, including 3 enlargers, from a local retirement community. It's been in there a while, but everything works. WOO HOO!!! Ok, I want to pick up a good Canon film camera. I already have a Pentax A3 film, but want to pick up a nice Canon. What would the film shooters (you know who you are) recommend. I will be buying used and don't want to spend a small mint on one. Thanks for your recommendations.

[Trainboy]

Elan 7 or 7n. Smack your 24-70 on it, and you will weep tears of joy.

[jesusdelallata]

I agree. Elan 7, 7n, 7ne are awesome cameras.

[DocFrankenstein]

Do you really want to shoot film with an EOS system?

There are so many dirt cheap film cameras out there which are very reliable and have good primes attached to them.

For film, I would choose nikon any day. Their F2 and F3 are just... drool.
There are also rangefinders
And old manual SLRs, with huge bright viewfinders... all of them very cheap.
There's olympus stylus epic... and vivitar ultra wide.

IMO the whole point of shooting film is to shoot slower, pick your shots, enjoy the experience. If you're going that way, you might as well get a camera that actually allows you to focus manually and see what it is you're doing.

If you really want to stick with an EOS camera, I'd pick the cheapest one for 50 bucks or so. Elan II cameras seem to be around that pricemark.

[Karl C]

I'm an old-school film user so my choice would be an A-1/A-1E Program with the 50mm f/1.4 FD lens or...

Shooting film in medium format.

Personally, I would shoot film only for B&W since today's digital processors cannot replicate the tonality and range of B&W film. However, for color, digital is the way to go.

Enjoy!

[HankScorpio]

I'd vote for an EOS 30V (Elan 7x), once you use eye control you'll never put it down.


....or a Leica M3 ;)

[Karl C]

....or a Leica M3 ;)

The OP doesn't want to "spend a mint" or sell his arm and leg.

:lol:

[ruchad1]

yeah i got a $20 rebel off ebay.

[JAcosta]

Be a real man and get a 1VHS from KEH.

[sjones]

I have an Elan 7NE, Bessa R2M rangefinder, and, as of this month, a Nikon FM2 (F2 form factor too big), and they all serve their purposes very well. I only shoot black and white, and even on the Elan, I only use manual focus lenses.

The Elan handles my Zeiss lenses that I bought when I used a 350D, and the EOS system is a great platform for a variety of older, inexpensive yet exceptional manual focus lenses. For me, an SLR is best for close up shots. I also like to push the Tri-X up to 1600, even for daylight shots, so a shutter speed of at least 1/2,000 is beneficial. I also enjoy the partial metering on the Elan (it does not have spot).

[DocFrankenstein]

I have an Elan 7NE, Bessa R2M rangefinder, and, as of this month, a Nikon FM2 (F2 form factor too big), and they all serve their purposes very well. I only shoot black and white, and even on the Elan, I only use manual focus lenses.

The Elan handles my Zeiss lenses that I bought when I used a 350D, and the EOS system is a great platform for a variety of older, inexpensive yet exceptional manual focus lenses. For me, an SLR is best for close up shots. I also like to push the Tri-X up to 1600, even for daylight shots, so a shutter speed of at least 1/2,000 is beneficial. I also enjoy the partial metering on the Elan (it does not have spot).
If you're pushing stuff a lot, why not just shoot it on the bessa with an ND filter?

How do you find manual focusing with elan?

[DocFrankenstein]

Be a real man and get a 1VHS from KEH.
I see the canon commercials are doing their job.

[RPCrowe]

You need to decide if you want a manual focus or an EOS auto-focus film camera.

Auto-focus film cameras are relatively inexpensive and the lenses are compatible with EOS Digital cameras.

Manual focus cameras are virtually free and the lenses are NOT compatible with EOS cameras either film or digital. There are adapters sold, but most will not allow the MF lenses to focus to infinity on an AF cmera.

[yogestee]

Go Nikon!! I've been using Nikon film cameras since the mid '70s,,Fs, F2s, F4s..But my favourite Nikon is the FE2..Attach an MD12 motordrive to it and you have a great combination..

IMHO there is nothing like to sound of a motordriven Nikon going off at full tilt!!

[sjones]

If you're pushing stuff a lot, why not just shoot it on the bessa with an ND filter?

How do you find manual focusing with elan?

Firstly, I am still a novice in this whole photography thing, and for film, it is a particularly new venture having stepped into it only last March, so I am in the experimentation stage.

That said, it is the Bessa that I use for shots pushed one or two stops to bolster grain and contrast; and so far, I have not found an ND filter necessary. The poorly placed "push" comment was actually a general remark on the benefits of a fast shutter speed, irrespective of camera, especially since I frequently move between bright and shadowed areas---easier to change shutter speed/aperture than mess with a filter I would assume. In any event, the Bessa has a shutter speed of 1/2000, while the Elan and FM2 top out at 1/4000.

For the Elan, I use Tri-X at its normal setting, or I'll use the camera for higher resolution films, such as Fujifilm's Neopan Acros 100, which I've only used once…good illumination on highlights, I thought, but also a little cold. I will be giving Ilford FP4 Plus a shot (like I said, still very new to all of this).

I use chipped adaptors for the Zeiss (M42 mounts), so I can use the focus confirm beeps, lights, and all, should I not trust my eyes. However, I have found that out of all three cameras, the easiest to focus is the Nikon FM2; the split screen and microprism combo is great…actually, I have yet to complete my first roll in the Nikon, so I have yet to confirm my focusing skills.

Ultimately, should any of my decisions be questionable, it is simply because I am still figuring my way around all of this. I do enjoy having different systems; while there is a lot of crossover, each camera will occasionally inspire me in different ways. I look forward next year to jumping into medium format.

[DocFrankenstein]

Gotcha. If all goes well, I will have an FM2 tomorrow evening. :)

Ultimately, I want the F3 with two viewfinders to suit the mood.

[asysin2leads]

Thanks for the input. Guess I have some window shopping to do.

[eastcoasthardcore]

I use a canon ae-1p and it works amazing. it was cheap at 50 dollars for the body and lens. i also picked up a nikon n50 and that is a very great camera. i would suggest the older canon a series w/ the fd lenses. these can be found cheap on ebay

[birdfromboat]

If you bought a canon digital, you are probably aware that buying. the mainstream standard of the industry is usually a wise purchase. with that in mind, IMHO, get a nikon f body. I mean as long as you are going for the ways and means of a bygone era, why not go pre EOS and ride the wave of the 35mm revolution? get the camera that recorded most of the great images of the era, preferrably a well worn body with lots of history that smells of emulsion and tobacco and old cars and late nights. way cool!

[Double Negative]

1v-HS... But then, I'm partial. :p

Seriously though, an EOS-3 or Elan 7 or similar would give you identical results and you get to use all your existing lenses. That's the cheapest way to get in. If you want to spend a little more, considering you'll need to get lenses as well - there are a LOT of options. Canon A series (A-1, AE-1P, etc.), Nikons, Olympus, etc.

If you really want to work the medium, get yourself some MF kit. ;)

[HankScorpio]

.....get the camera that recorded most of the great images of the era, preferrably a well worn body with lots of history that smells of emulsion and tobacco and old cars and late nights. way cool!A Leica M3, like I said :);)

My M3 went to Korea and took war shots according to the son of it's first owner who I bought it from.

[birdfromboat]

yeah, that leica qualifies as way cool too. would probably trade in for about a prius full of beat up nikons.

[DocFrankenstein]

why not go pre EOS and ride the wave of the 35mm revolution? get the camera that recorded most of the great images of the era, preferrably a well worn body with lots of history that smells of emulsion and tobacco and old cars and late nights. way cool!
I'm not so sure I'm into the smells and the history.

I'd get something with an electronically controlled shutter, but manual film advance that nikon made in the 90s. Something like F3 of FM2. A bladed shutter with high speed sync.

The really old nikons are just leica copycats. The shutter is practically the same, there's just a mirror box in front of it. If you're going to go THAT old, then get a rangefinder.

[cujo_gone_mad]

1v-HS... But then, I'm partial. :p

Seriously though, an EOS-3 or Elan 7 or similar would give you identical results and you get to use all your existing lenses. That's the cheapest way to get in. If you want to spend a little more, considering you'll need to get lenses as well - there are a LOT of options. Canon A series (A-1, AE-1P, etc.), Nikons, Olympus, etc.

If you really want to work the medium, get yourself some MF kit. ;)
Like you, I'm biased in favor of the 1vHS. Quite simply, one of the top 5 autofocus 35mm SLR's ever made.

[Double Negative]

Like you, I'm biased in favor of the 1vHS. Quite simply, one of the top 5 autofocus 35mm SLR's ever made.

Definitely... What I appreciate about it is that it's almost identical to the 1D2N, so switching between bodies is a thoughtless process (I don't have to change the way I work). It's also weathersealed, so that's also a perk. And of course, I only have one set of lenses for both film/digital.

[airfrogusmc]

I would also recommend a Leica M series.

If price is a concern you go for a Canon F-1. They're tanks and fully manual.

[DocFrankenstein]

I wouldn't recommend a canon F-1

They were a learning experience for canon... and overall there are many better cameras which can be found cheaper.

[williamfriggle]

If you want something manual I would say Nikon. Fm2 or F3. But if you want auto focus I love my A2. You can get them pretty inexpensively.

[Double Negative]

A Leica or other rangefinder is a great, great camera to play with. I still have my first "real" camera; a Voigtlander RF. Man could that thing take nice pictures. I hope to one day get another one. That Epson R-D1 looks very interesting.

For a simple, trusty camera - try a Pentax K1000 SLR. As close to the "four basic controls" as they come. Heh.

[airfrogusmc]

I wouldn't recommend a canon F-1

They were a learning experience for canon... and overall there are many better cameras which can be found cheaper.

Thats nuts...The Canon F-1 in the three different incarnations were around for over 20 years doesn't look like a learning experience to me and the newer F-1 was probably the perfect SLR for professional photographers because you could add the automation if you wanted it or not. One of the MOST STURDY cameras I ever shot with. They are tanks and once you've shot with one you'll clearly see why it was the choice of allot of pros. I owned Nikon Fs & F-3 and ALWAYS preferred the F-1 to both and I never cared for the A-1.

[DocFrankenstein]

Thats nuts...The Canon F-1 in the three different incarnations were around for over 20 years doesn't look like a learning experience to me and the newer F-1 was probably the perfect SLR for professional photographers because you could add the automation if you wanted it or not. One of the MOST STURDY cameras I ever shot with. They are tanks and once you've shot with one you'll clearly see why it was the choice of allot of pros. I owned Nikon Fs & F-3 and ALWAYS preferred the F-1 to both and I never cared for the A-1.
That's interesting. I did shoot with one.

I'm thinking of picking up an F3HP soon. Why would you say canon's F-1 is better?

Thanks

BTW: I did mean the original F-1 was a learning experience.

[airfrogusmc]

That's interesting. I did shoot with one.

I'm thinking of picking up an F3HP soon. Why would you say canon's F-1 is better?

Thanks

BTW: I did mean the original F-1 was a learning experience.

The Nikon IS GREAT but I always liked the Canon better. I have a newer F-1 I have had since new been dropped a couple times allot brass showing and I had a new shutter put in a couple years ago. 25+ years and no major problems and very hard usuage. I had problems with the Nikon F-3 about a year after I got it. I found the F-1 to be more reliable and easier to use when shooting manual.

[Double Negative]

The original F-1 I probably wouldn't touch either. But the F-1n was pretty nice. Interchangeable viewfinders, motor drive options, focusing screens, etc. It was pretty nice for its day, and still is in a lot of ways. But... I still prefer my trusty ol' A-1.

[tiziano]

I love my Eos 3. But, if you are going down to the film path, why don't jump straight to medium format? I have done the same you are doing, from digital to 135 film, and from there to medium format. Now I am setting up my dark room. It's a lot of fun!!!

[simar]

elan 7, 7e, 7n, 7ne all will serve you well and keep your glass interchangeable.

[airfrogusmc]

The original F-1 I probably wouldn't touch either. But the F-1n was pretty nice. Interchangeable viewfinders, motor drive options, focusing screens, etc. It was pretty nice for its day, and still is in a lot of ways. But... I still prefer my trusty ol' A-1.

Thats a real shame because if Canon ever made that body with a FF 16MP sensor I'd be all over it. Its probably the things you like about the A-1 that I like about the F-1. Man it is a tank. The newer F-1 is weather sealed and indestructible. Electronics fail take off the motor drive or take out the battery and it still works (no meter). A very dependable camera. I have yet to shoot with any SLR or DSLR that I like better and I've shot with most. The reason I mentioned are the reason allot of pros shot with them well into the late 1990s.

[Double Negative]

^ True, there's the weathersealing and the ability to operate even on a dead battery. Shooting star trails with an A-1 isn't a good idea; you'll drain the battery and the shutter will close and that's that. Good points... I guess I just like the A-1 because it was my first SLR and I know it so well, and prefer the "modern" viewfinder.

[airfrogusmc]

^ True, there's the weathersealing and the ability to operate even on a dead battery. Shooting star trails with an A-1 isn't a good idea; you'll drain the battery and the shutter will close and that's that. Good points... I guess I just like the A-1 because it was my first SLR and I know it so well, and prefer the "modern" viewfinder.

The A-1 is a great camera. I had its predecessor the EF. The F-1 has a view finder that gives you 99% but what was really important to me was the durability and dependability of the F-1. Its just a real solid camera. INDESTRUCTIBLE. Interesting to see how many of these cameras we're using today will still be fully functional in 25 years without any major repairs. I think the A-1 and the last F-1 were the last of that breed.

The cameras that I've shot with that can take the most abuse were Leica M4, Hasselblad 500C/M, Nikon F and the Canon F-1. Deardorff 8X10 also pretty rugged though I wouldn't recommend dropping it though when the were still here on south Peoria St Chicago even if you dropped and punctured a bellows or cracked the wood Jack Deardorff would repair it NO CHARGE...

[Jon]

I wouldn't recommend a canon F-1

They were a learning experience for canon... and overall there are many better cameras which can be found cheaper.Spoken like someone who's never really used one. They're every bit as solid as the Nikon F you were touting. Mine's still going strong, as is my New F-1, in my sister's hands.

[Karl C]

My first camera was the AE-1 Program in 1982, black body (the only body color acceptable - none of this chrome stuff!). I still think they're a good camera, obviously not as good as the F-1 but still solid. I've also used the A-1 and found it to be solid too.

Can't go wrong with either one of them.

If the OP is really interested in a film camera, go MF (TLR or cheaper Bronica/Mamiya).

[Double Negative]

...Interesting to see how many of these cameras we're using today will still be fully functional in 25 years without any major repairs. I think the A-1 and the last F-1 were the last of that breed.

Digital issues aside, I think you're so right... Things today just aren't built like they used to be. Though I think the 1Dxxx series and L lenses are fairly close to the old ways (part of why I like shooting with them, they're solid). The 1V is also a good'un. Though take out the battery and the party's over. Down the line you'd probably be hard-pressed to find NP-E3 batteries and chargers. I had that problem with the Motor Drive MA w/Ni-Cd pack. Damn battery pack wore out, as they do, and replacing it was difficult/costly. I did replace the internal batteries once with cordless phone batteries from Radio Shack but eventually just got the AA magazine. No more worries. Should also be interesting to see how all these IS lenses hold up LONG term, if Canon won't even support lenses as recent as 1999 anymore (200/1.8, 400/2.8 II, etc.)

[airfrogusmc]

Kinda makes you think because Leica and some Hasselblads you can still use lenses that are 30 years old on. But ya can make allot more money when ya keep change'n things all the time. Keep folks stoked to buy the next greatest...

[tiziano]

I still use cameras and lenses that are even 50 years old. And sometimes, these old lenses on EOS digital bodies give great results! It is really a lot of fun mixing different technologies, and having so much freedom!

[HankScorpio]

The sharpest most optically perfect lens I own is a 50+ year old Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron. The L lenses I own and have tried don't come close to it's quality. There's a lot to be said for continuing to use old kit.

[airfrogusmc]

One of the old workhorses
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/airfrogusmc/Cameras/IMG_9352.jpg