Which Film SLR Should I Get?

Hi I was wondering if somebody can help me. I have a Canon 20D and I wanted to get a film based camera as a backup. I don't know much about film slr camera's but I want a nice one that I can use my lens from the 20d. Can somebody please help. Plus I don't have that much money but I want I nice one.

Thank You

If you have under $500 you can consider any of the ELAN series. They are very good. If you want to get a good used one, I have an EOS 3 and I love it! I can't say enough about the 45 focus points or the settings. It is the best camera for the price. New $800, used $500. And all my EF lenses go on it as true FF. I use it as a backup for events. When I use my L lenses on it, that's when it really shines.

Good luck and welcome.

If you have any EF-S Lenses, they won't work on any film camera that you may purchase.

That's why I didn't buy any EF-S lenses, although some are very nice. And Canon is not going to do any more research on film cameras. What there is, is what you can choose from. Go to the Canon website

http://www.usa.canon.c​om …r?act=ConsumerH​omePageAct

The EOS 30 or 33 will be your best bet. Nearly identical in controls compared to the 20D. Buy second hand as the market is saturated and prices are rock bottom.

If you want equivalent handling as the 1 series, go for the EOS 3. It's a crakcer and again, prices are very low in the 2nd hand market.

You might also want to consider a used dSLR like the 10D or 300D as your backup.

I used to carry around my ELAN as a backup but I never really used it. But when I got another dSLR, both bodies were being used, each with a different lens mounted.

I tried an old Canon Ae-1 for film, but the meter was messed up, didn"t want to spend to service it. I bought a almost new Elan 7 on ebay for about $100. Bought the battery grip. For around $170 total. I went to the Montreal F1 Grand Prix open house and took pictures with it using kodak 400 iso film and my 70-200f4. The pictures came out amazing. Metering was spot on. I thought that film was dead. Well not anymore!!

Although my rebel xt will still be my primary camera, I always bring my elan 7 just in case.

Using film makes me think more about all the photographic aspect (composition,photo clutter,lighting etc) than when I use my digital. Something I have to work on to get better.

My EOS 3 pictures are very nice. I have always loved the sound of the shutter and film advance. Film is still wonderful to me. I print everything 5x7 now at Sam's Club, costs me $3.50 for a roll of 24. Can't beat that. I even order the CD and it costs so little more.

Film is going out, so stick with a digital for a back up. Why carry film and worry about having it developed and all that bs

Because you can't get the same results out of digital. The feel to photo paper is very different.

I'd get the EOS 3 that Suzy recommended. I've researched this model as a possible future purchase. It sounds like it would be an excellent film backup based on reviews and feedback from other consumers.

Thanks everybody for all the tips. I know what to look for. I think I would like to get the EOS 3 but the Elan 7 sounds more like what I can afford.

I have an EOS 3 that I could use as back up for my 20D, but I never take it along. If I am set up to shoot digital, I use my old D60 as backup. I don't want to end up with a mixture of film and digital shots. If I want a back up for a digital camera, I take another digital camera.

It is only if I need to shoot film (seldom) that I take a film camera, and then I take my old Rebel G film camera as back up.

The Rebel G, which I have as well, is so slow, I just want to scream waiting for it to focus. The value of the Elan is that it has an on-board flash. The EOS 3 does not, but is a much better camera. I have learned to always take a flash with me when using it. And though film cameras are on their way out, I can't say enough about how much I enjoy film vs. digital. Maybe if I had a 5D to compare my EOS 3 with, I can make a more educated statement. For right now, especially for B&W, the film camera is so much more fun. Oh, and I miss slides, too.

Just wondering. Any specific reasons? Some papers now can give you a shelf life of 105 years (at least the one I print on some photos claim that, but problem is I have no way of verifying it - maybe when I am old enough....) And IMHO the prints are comparable to the prints from 35mm film.