OT: What's a good EOS body?

W

wlewisiii

Guest
There are lots of people here with lots of experiance. I think I'll try and tap into some of that tonight... 🙂

Ok, before I got into "real" cameras I used to own a Canon Rebel XS. This was a decent "I'm an amature but really want something better than a P&S POS" kind of camera. I'll simply state that, looking back, the body was much freaking better than the fooking garbage 35-85 zoom I was sold with it (OTOH, I will admit, to this day the best portrait I have ever shot was done with that POS at max zoom in "Portrait" mode... )

Though I really prefer RF's overall, there are just enough circumstances to warrent a SLR (macro & air shows ) and while I own a AE-1, I'd also prefer to pick up something that can actually use current glass.

Dirt cheap is the first priority, next usability and last is a large set of functionality. Honestly, I'd like to find something under $50 for the body that I can start off with using the current Canon 50/1.8 cheapie lens.

So I'm asking for really subjective kinds of answers here. Yes, I do understand that and can filter accordingly. In addition, I intend to stick to primes from Canon. Silly? Of course! Isn't that half our fun?

Thanks,

William
 
William, check on eBay for older models that are still in good condition. I bought an EOS 100QD a few months back with a 28-80mm USM lens for just over $100 AUD. I think this model was called the Elan in North America. I also have a 1000F and a 1000FN, lesser quality but still very good bodies, especially the 1000FN. One thing i recommend is a M-42 to EOS converter. I recieved mine today and it ROCKS!!!!!. Now I have many more lenses that I can use on the EOS's, even my 300D.

Hope that helps.

Heath
 
For the price you're looking at I'd say the EOS A2 would probably be your best bet. Back in the film days I carried one as the back-up body to my 1N for newspaper work. (KEH has a bargain A2 listed at $53 - although most are more than that)

I actually just sold my A2 to finance the purchase of more RF gear. 🙂
 
The elan 7 is a good option, though I personally hate the 7e eye control option....I shot for years with a rebel, and my only major gripes were shutter speed (1/2000 was the fastest i think) and the lack of full frame viewing. I beat the crap out of it over several continents and it was fine...it's all about the glass, right? That said, I'd be more than happy to sell/trade you my eos 1v hs if you decide against the cheap stuff...
 
If I only had the money that a 1V demands... 🙁 The Elans are where I've been looking most closely...

William
 
My Elan 7e is great (even the eye control, once I got it trained - or it trained me), but it's a bit more than your price (I think they're averaging $100-150?). Maybe the quietest motor-driven SLR I've heard.

FWIW, I hated the 50/1.8. Every time I focussed manually, I captured part of my finger in the very edge of the frame. The focus ring is so tiny and right on the edge of the barrel, very frustrating.
 
celluloidprop said:
FWIW, I hated the 50/1.8. Every time I focussed manually, I captured part of my finger in the very edge of the frame. The focus ring is so tiny and right on the edge of the barrel, very frustrating.
Click to expand...

That's a useful thing to know. I just want a good baseline modern body with a decent normal prime lens on it. I'm familier with EOS (thanks to the Rebel XS I used to own) so I'm inclined towards Canon's solutions. If the 50/1.8 is hard to use, then what would you suggest as a better normal prime?

William
 
I'll throw in a good word for the older EOSs (EOSi? EOSorum?) I have a 630 and it runs like a champ. I really like the A2 model, but I've heard the rear select wheel can go on the fritz. The 620 was pretty hard core; fast flash sync, 5fps. I think the 620 was the "1 series" model before they came out with real "1 series" cameras. Full manual mode is a pain wit the older models due to having to hold a button on the lens mount to switch between changing the Ap and Tv settings. The 620/630/650 all have pretty slow AF compared to my 20D, but it is almost 15 years newer.
 
cp_ste-croix said:
The elan 7 is a good option, though I personally hate the 7e eye control option....
Click to expand...

I still mostly shoot with an EOS30 (same as ELAN7), I do use the eye control, although not for hip shooting ;-)

cp_ste-croix said:
I shot for years with a rebel, and my only major gripes were shutter speed (1/2000 was the fastest i think) and the lack of full frame viewing.
Click to expand...

I think they both have %96-something view.
You will need prime lenses. I think the zooms are largely a waste of time. Unless
you spend enough to buy a Leica M mount lens that is. I know which I'd rather spend that much money on.

I still have my EOS300(rebel2000), it works fine. The major differences are
- viewfinder is dim
- focus speed slower
- no mirror lockup
- lighter, smaller
- MUCH noisier

I've shot about 400 rolls with my EOS30. I think an EOS50 (older version) would do
if you're looking through 2nd hand stuff. My choice for a new SLR would definately be the 30v (newer version)

I have 50mm/1.4, 35mm/2 lenses (+ 28-80, 75-300 and Sigma 15-35 zooms)
I still have a 50/1.8 prime, but it has never been the same since I dropped it :-(
Interestingly the aperture blades in the 28-80 have gummed up.

James
 
wlewisiii said:
If the 50/1.8 is hard to use, then what would you suggest as a better normal prime?
Click to expand...

Here's a shot of my 'near' minty 50/1.8. I see no need for anyone to buy this model any more 🙂

50/1.4 is slightly less cheap ($600 instead of $200 in my language) but heaps better.
Full time manual focussing, much faster focussing motor, sharper, faster. Not much larger or heavier. Usable focus ring (I concur with the previous description of the 50/1.8)
 
Last edited:
wlewisiii said:
Dirt cheap is the first priority, next usability and last is a large set of functionality. Honestly, I'd like to find something under $50 for the body that I can start off with using the current Canon 50/1.8 cheapie lens.
Click to expand...
At that price point it's hard to suggest a specific model, because you'll need to hunt around and find what you can. It'll be oldish and far from top-of-line.
If you justify a move up to about $150, you could probably find an Elan 7 in decent condition. If it has eye-control and you don;t like it, then you can always turn it off. At about $300, you might find an EOS3 in good condition. I have one of these and it is an outstanding camera.
The 50/1.8 is a low budget lens and looks it, but it is said to be pretty good optically. The 50/1.4 is a very good lens.
 
I think I can help on this since I have been shooting EOS gear since it came out. I have had or shot with the 650,620,630,elan,EOS3,Rebel TI,EOS1 and a pile of EOS lenses.
$50 is not much of a budget for a body. If you find an older model look at the shutter blades they are likely to have grease on them from the shutter bumpers melting. That would cost near $100 to fix also. If not fixed you will get blank frames where the shutter stuck closed. You will not know it until you get your pix back.Older models and airshows been there done that, the autofocus is real slow compared to the new ones.. Someone mentioned the A2 dial problem but it was the command dial that breaks, not the rear dial. Fixable but $100 or so. Oh if you use older Sigma lenes, they wont work with Elan7 bodies or anything after that. If Sigma has the chips to fix these they will, but may be out of chips...Someone said the older 620s were like early EOS1s, well metal body under polycarb skin is the only thing they shared, not the extensive weather proofing and better focus,etc of the EOS1. Also on the older bodies there is a non user replaceable lithium battery that may need changing by now. The cheaper bodies also use mirrors rather than prisms in the viewfinders. That makes for some
dim, harder to focus and not sharp to the edges viewfiners showing you little more than 80 percent of what will be in the picture. Right now the EOS3 is an amazing camera with the brightest viewfinder I have seen and is also a current model.
 
One thing I'll mention is that $50 is simply shorthand for as low a cost as is reasonable. I can pay more than that, I'd just rather keep it as low as possible to keep the funds in the camera fund from being too depleated.

Thanks all for all the information on older models. It's a great help.

William
 
My recommendation is for a Canon Elan II. I've got two of them. Bodies go for less than $100. The Canon Elan 7 would be more desirable but the price would be $75 more.
 
wlewisiii said:
If I only had the money that a 1V demands... 🙁 The Elans are where I've been looking most closely...

William
Click to expand...

On the other hand a 1V would last you several lifetimes, and will probably outlive anything else including our beloved Leica Ms
 
I started off in the EOS arena with an EOS 1000FN. I still have it and would recommend it to anyone. They go on Ebay for much less than your $50 guideline.

I then bought an EOS 5 (A2E?) about 8 years back. This is a fantastic camera and have taken many great shots over the years. As previously mentioned though, there is an inherent problem with the command dial breaking (many articles and threads on various forums about this). Mine has never broken, I guess this is because I'm careful to push the release button before twisting the dial.

More recently (a week back), I have bought a 1V HS from Ebay. Very little evidence of use and a quarter of the new price (the 1V HS is, of course, a current model).

My advice would be to get something you'll be happy using. You have some great pictures in you gallery. I think you deserve a 1V HS 😎

Seriously though, take a look at the Canon Museum and check out the features that each model has before you buy. Low budget short term = large budget long term. I have given up buying something that will "do". I always end up buying what I really want in the end, which costs me more in the long run when you count the intermediate steps..... just don't tell the wife. To my darling wife they all look similar enough that she still thinks I have 1 35mm SLR, 1 DSLR and a rangefinder. Oh and that ancient thing that takes the funny film (Bronica SQAi). If only she knew 🙄

/Phil.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Anyone have a Canon R7, or a Nikon Z6?
Replies
7
Views
483
Darthfeeble
Darthfeeble
T
500c body jammed?
Replies
0
Views
329
Tabosko
T
rumbliegeos
Advice sought on a lens sale misfortune
Replies
1
Views
402
oldwino
oldwino
S
Suggestions / advice for new camera
2 3
Replies
45
Views
2K
silvershadelynx
S
Timmyjoe
Canon A-1 vs Canon AE-1Program
Replies
17
Views
2K
Bob Michaels
Bob Michaels
Back
Top Bottom