Hey Dslr Canonites !

[ruben]

Hi folks,

I have two questions for you:

a) What would be the lowest priced body only Canon Dslr producing a decent ISO 1600 (it can be "decent through RAW only").

b) How would you accurately focus with that model a standard manual focus lens ? I mean what built in aid that camera provides you for manual focusing ?

Thanks in advance
Ruben

 

[gavinlg]

5d would be best for both needs, however a 20d or 30d both produce good results still at iso1600 and would be cheaper 2nd hand. As for manual focussing, the 5d with a split focussing screen would be best, the 20d and 30d have smaller VFs making it harder to get critical focus, even with a split screen. It can be done, but it's not as nice.

 

[Phantomas]

For manual focusing you'd have a "viewfinder confirmation" where a green indicator lights up (with a beep sound possibly) when the subject is in focus.

As far as the best Canon model... I can only recomend a Nikon 🙂

 

[Pickett Wilson]

If you are talking about using older FD manual focus lenses, forget about it. If you want to manual focus AF lenses, I agree with fdigital...a 5D with a split image screen would be the way to go.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Phantomas is right, actually. If you want to use old manual focus lenses, a Nikon is better. There are some great Nikkor lenses out there. I have a D1x just to use the older lenses on.

 

[gavinlg]

Phantomas is right, actually. If you want to use old manual focus lenses, a Nikon is better. There are some great Nikkor lenses out there. I have a D1x just to use the older lenses on.

Disagree. The ef mount is one of the most versatile out there - it can take Minolta, Nikon F, Canon FD (with mods), Zeiss, Leica, Contax, Pentax, Yashica, Mamiya, Olympus OM etc etc - I'm sure I'm forgetting heaps.

Nikon F is much less versatile when it comes to older lenses, and the Viewfinders are no better for MF either.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Gavin is correct. If you want to use a variety of lenses from various systems with adapters, the EF mount is great. Never been an interest to me, though. I do have a Nikon to EF adapter, but the lenses were difficult for me to focus on the 5D. A split image finder would have made that easier.

What lenses do you want to use, Ruben?

 

[nksyoon]

Here's a list of compatible lens systems for Canon EOS and available adapters.

http://16-9.net/lens_tests/compatible.html

I have used Olympus OM, Nikon F and Leica R lenses on my 5D. I have the Canon replacement focusing screen which is better for manual focusing but is not usable with lenses with max aperture f4 and smaller.

 

[gavinlg]

Gavin is correct. If you want to use a variety of lenses from various systems with adapters, the EF mount is great. Never been an interest to me, though. I do have a Nikon to EF adapter, but the lenses were difficult for me to focus on the 5D. A split image finder would have made that easier.

What lenses do you want to use, Ruben?

I also tried out a few MF lenses on my other 5d, and couldn't focus them. Putting in a split screen is supposed to make it significantly better, but you lose the ability to use slower lenses in low light - the VF darkens with the split screen installed. Since I always use a slow wide zoom (17-40mm f4L), that didn't work for me.

 

[StaaleS]

Hi folks,

I have two questions for you:

a) What would be the lowest priced body only Canon Dslr producing a decent ISO 1600 (it can be "decent through RAW only").

Any of the current models will do this without the slightest problem. Actually, I'd say that anything newer than a 1D mark one will suffice.

b) How would you accurately focus with that model a standard manual focus lens ? I mean what built in aid that camera provides you for manual focusing ?

Thanks in advance
Ruben

Here is where the more expensive models start having an advantage. All models AFAIK will give you a confirmation beep, but for accurate MF something other than the default, fine-ground focussing screen is an advantage. Canon sells the course matte Ex-S screen (x varies depending on specific camera model) for the 5D and 1D series and, I believe, for the 50D and 7D, but not for lesser models. For the 1-series split-screens are available, although this does mess up spot metering. Third parties will happily sell you proper MF screens adapted from other camera makes, but this can be rather pricey. Again, metering may be off with such a screen in place.

The entry-level Canons are not designed to have their focus screens replaced. In effect, it is a bit harder to remove the screen but still doable. Canon does not sell focusing screens for these cameras though, you must turn to third parties such as Katzeyeoptics.

(The default screen that is in the camera when you buy it will not show you the true DOF at anything wider than f/2.8 or so.)

 

[Merkin]

while it is certainly true that you can mount nearly any lens on an EOS with the right adapter (strangely enough, the most difficult lenses to use are older canon lenses), keep in mind that you do have to use stop down metering. the advantage of using a nikon body with manual focus nikkors is that, with the exception of a very few lenses, anything will work normally. as to your second requirement, at least with a d3/d700, iso 1600 is as near to flawless as you could hope it to be, and I use up to iso 12800 for black and white. I tend to cap my color shots at iso 3200, as my noise reduction/sharpening skills aren't up to par, but i have seen fabulous examples from others in color at iso 9000.

If you have a whole bunch of assorted film slr lenses from a whole lot of decent platforms and you just want a body to just 'play around' with them, go with a canon 5d, as they are getting to be relatively inexpensive on the used market. If you are starting this from scratch, I would strongly recommend using either nikon or pentax, as they support their old manual focus lenses to this day, without any need for adapters. pentax doesn't offer a full frame option, though, so if you are a wide angle shooter, you are a bit out of luck.

 

[Roberto]

Give a try to the 1000d, to me it's what you're looking for..

 

[elshaneo]

I would say that the Canon EOS 5D is the best, as the second hand prices are real bargains !!!

And also the Canon EF mount is certainly the most versatile compared to the other mounts, you can even use the Leica R lenses with the appropriate adapters.

In my case, I currently have the Canon EOS 5D Mark II with a custom made high quality split focusing screen installed, and most of the times, my Sigma AF EX DG 50mm f/1.4 HSM lens also stays on that camera. This Camera and lens combo is very versatile, I'm always smiling when looking at the output images even if the ISO setting was at 6400 or even higher...

 

[MatthewThompson]

A previously-loved 5D would be my recommendation. Full frame, plenty of pixels. Darn good prices these days, too. Get yourself a couple of nice primes (from whomever you fancy, really) and go to town.

I have to agree. The 5D shines in every situation I can think to pt it in, from weddings to rainy public-relations and current event shoots. 1600 is as clean as 400 on my old 10D.

 

[f16sunshine]

Hi Ruben
One more for the 5D. Also a vote for the 40D if cropped is ok.
Canon has matte focus screens for both to help manual focus.
The 40D brings live view and sensor cleanng to the floor.
Both are excellent at 1600.
If you adapt lenses get the chipped adapters.
Yes you get focus confirm. Also important is you get all the metering modes.
A single Leica R adapter changes an eos into a dslr R. The adpters stays in the camera and you change lenses as if they are native mount (although worked in stopped down mode).
Best

 

[sojournerphoto]

Second hand 5D. Possibly add different focus screen (from canon two ro three options). Use mount adaptors with focus confirmation - I've got a ZF and C/Y mount Distagon 35/2 and 28/2.8 respectively.

Great body even now - this is handheld 1/40 at f1.4 and iso 3200 lit only by the sodium street lights

Mike

 

[Kin Lau]

I would suggest the 20D series or later, _not_ the Rebel series unless you're okay with Liveview for tripod mounted situations. Otherwise, the smaller/dimmer VF on the Rebel series is just too difficult for mf. I do use a Katzeye on my 300D, but that model is the only one of the Rebel series I would recommend for this as the VF is also larger.

Any 1Dm2 or later 1D (not the 1D classic or the 1Ds classic) or any 5D with the proper focusing screen will be fine.

A 1Dsm2 or later won't come anywhere close to your budget.

For reference, I use a Katzeye on my 300D, Haoda screen on my 20D and the Ec-L screen in my 1Ds classic (interchangeable with my 1D or 1Dm2). I'm thinking of trying a Ec-S screen in the 1Ds.

 

[ruben]

Hi folks again,

I got many surprises at this thread, surprises that I am sure may make you scratch your head and ask yourselves from what planet I landed. The most shocking discovery was the capability of change screens in these ditigal times.

Perhaps I have something to "sell" you back. The lenses I want to use are those from the old OM Zuiko line. At flickr there is a dedicated group about these lenses on non-Olympus digitals SLRs, and it happened that every picture there seems to have been done with a Canon Dslr. !

Here you have it. So many years of suffering, so many years waliking in the desert, so long a lonelinees and I only now become aware I could transition into Canon with my full fleet of Zuilos. Perhaps the bigger tragedy is that there are so meany folks out there that do not konw it.

Now I have glanced at the digital models and they divide into twoL big-heavy-expensive and viceversa.. Among the viceversa models there is one that interest me a lot, the 450 D Kist your wife etc.

It interest me because it seem to have a feature called "live view", that if I am not wrong it enables a big enlargement of the image wille focusing..

So if any of you happens to know about this feature - I will be very thankfull

 

[StaaleS]

Yeah, the short flange-to-film distance and large diameter of the EF mount combined with the full-frame sensor and relative affordability of the 5D meant that a lot of people got it for use with all kinds of weird and wonderful glass. (The fact that Canon's own wide-angles leave something to be desired didn't hurt either I guess.) The introduction of focus-confirm adapters means that the only real drawback is that you have to stop down manually before shooting.

Live view allows you to zoom in for perfect focusing, true. It is something of a tripod-only trick in practice but if you can live with this it should be perfect for your needs. All the recent models (ie 1D mk III and later) have it I think.

Personally, I find the 450 simply too small for my hands but your mileage may vary! A used 5D is more camera for the money, and not appreciably larger than the mid-range models 20/30/40/50D, but does leave you without live view. From a technical standpoint it is basically a Canon 30D with a bigger badder sensor and viewfinder.

 

[sojournerphoto]

Yeah, the short flange-to-film distance and large diameter of the EF mount combined with the full-frame sensor and relative affordability of the 5D meant that a lot of people got it for use with all kinds of weird and wonderful glass. (The fact that Canon's own wide-angles leave something to be desired didn't hurt either I guess.) The introduction of focus-confirm adapters means that the only real drawback is that you have to stop down manually before shooting.

Live view allows you to zoom in for perfect focusing, true. It is something of a tripod-only trick in practice but if you can live with this it should be perfect for your needs. All the recent models (ie 1D mk III and later) have it I think.

Personally, I find the 450 simply too small for my hands but your mileage may vary! A used 5D is more camera for the money, and not appreciably larger than the mid-range models 20/30/40/50D, but does leave you without live view. From a technical standpoint it is basically a Canon 30D with a bigger badder sensor and viewfinder.

Yep, that sums it up nicely - except I don;t like the small viewfinders of the APS-C cameras.

Mike