Film camera advice

Not digital, but I figure some of the people on here are old enough to remember film.

The Canon FTql that I've been using for photo class has started to fail. It seems that the shutter curtain is getting stuck somewhere, or not opening completely, or something like that. Regardless, in most of my pictures with higher shutter-speeds, half the frame ends up unexposed. Getting a $50 camera fixed doesn't make sense, so I have to buy another one.

There was nothing I didn't like about the FTql, but I really wouldn't mind being able to use my current EF lenses. The problem that I'm running into though, is that as soon as you EF lenses, you get into AF bodies. While AF is nice, I know that a lot of my stuff for photo class will be MF. On the old bodies, this is a breeze with the MF-specific focusing screens. On my modern digital Canons though, focusing manually is a total crap-shoot. I know I can get close, but I'm never sure if I really nailed the focus. I wouldn't be able to live with that for the photo-class. Perhaps the focusing screens have become increasingly unhelpful over the years, and manually focusing one of the earlier AF bodies isn't too bad?

So in short, I want to upgrade to a slightly more modern camera to use EF lenses (the extra features mean nothing to me- I would likely use nothing more than the light meter), but not if it will make it difficult to focus manually.

Suggestions?

I'm not sure I see a question here. What do you want us to tell you?

If manual focus and working with film is okay. just grab a AE1. I would imagine you could find one easy enough through pawn shops, craigslist etc. It will work with you FD lenses and you might even find a kit as lots of people (me included) never bothered to get rid of their film stuff when digital replaced it.

I guess my question is whether it is feasible to manually focus an EF-lens compatible film camera. For reference, I wouldn't consider it a possibility on my old 1D mkI.

If I didn't want to use my EF lenses, I would just go for an AE-1 or something similar. The only FD lens that I have at the moment is the 50mm f/1.4 that came with my FTql. An auto-focus would also be able to do double-duty as a digital camera backup for outside of photo class.

Do you really have to use MF in this class? Seems kinda silly if so. If thats the case just pick up an AE-1, A-1, or T70 or something.

jasongraaf wrote in post #9670571
I guess my question is whether it is feasible to manually focus an EF-lens compatible film camera. For reference, I wouldn't consider it a possibility on my old 1D mkI.

If I didn't want to use my EF lenses, I would just go for an AE-1 or something similar. The only FD lens that I have at the moment is the 50mm f/1.4 that came with my FTql. An auto-focus would also be able to do double-duty as a digital camera backup for outside of photo class.

You can focus EF lenses, but because its essentially a redundant feature (backup to auto) its not designed all that well on most bodies. Smaller prisms and focus screens designed for another purpose make it tougher to focus manually. I'm sure if you find a pro series film body from that era it will work on some level, but given the abundance of FD lenses and ae1, a-1, or better yet F1N bodies lying around gathering dust I'm not sure I would bother with an EF mount film body.

I use manual focus glass (50 1.4 takumar) on my EOS 1n with no problem. It has a big bright viewfinder and you can buy precision matte screens for it but I have never felt I needed one.

Look around and get an ElanII, Elan 7, or if you ARE A REAL GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT, the P.O.S Canon EF-M body. All manual, all the time.

Even though those three examples don't have the viewfinders that the old '70's crop of manual cameras had, they are OK. SOMEWHERE I saw a hack to put different focus screens into these, and I have one in one of my Elan's but forgotten which!!

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll just stick with an old-school FD type body.

Jdumas wrote in post #9674108
I use manual focus glass (50 1.4 takumar) on my EOS 1n with no problem. It has a big bright viewfinder and you can buy precision matte screens for it but I have never felt I needed one.

Exactly what I do with the SuperTak, which has a permanent spot on my EOS 1 now that I have a dslr.

The best FD body ever made was the T-90. It looks like a modern eos, has similar controls, built in motor drive and uses AA batteries. (Having said that, I'm sure others will say the F-1, which is also good). There are lots of FD lenses out there real cheap, even L versions in FD.
The poster that said the Elan 7E, et. al., were "all manual all the time" is incorrect. They use EF autofocus lenses.

KCMO Al wrote in post #9682486
The poster that said the Elan 7E, et. al., were "all manual all the time" is incorrect. They use EF autofocus lenses.

440roadrunner wrote in post #9680592
if you ARE A REAL GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT, the P.O.S Canon EF-M body. All manual, all the time

I was referring ONLY to the EF-M, which has no provision for AF of any kind, not even electronic "focus confirm" and uses EF mount glass