Pellicle Mirrored Canon EOS RT and Canon EOS 1n RS

Hi Stephen

I picked up an eos RT after using an eos 650 last summer.
It's just a 1/2 stop or so less bright in the VF. Otherwise I love the camera.
It may be more than 1/2 a stop if measured. Looking through it and comparing it's difficult to see more than just a bit of dimming so I say 1/2 stop.
I don't notice any difference in sharpness shooting through the pellicle mirror.
It's a pretty cool machine.

My only two eos lenses are the 50mm f1.8 and the F2/100mm (no wides).
With the 5Dii I adapt zuiko and Contax lenses when I want a wide angle.
With the RT and 650 I can't seem to get the camera to work with adapted lenses.
The 1N rs is interesting to me but, I think my next Eos will be an Eos 3.

Cheers!
 
You need to keep the mirror clean, it's amazing how cheap the eos film cameras are, a couple of years ago I picked up a eos 3 as new in the box for less than a £100. The two 1v I have now one was £120ish and the other was just over £200, these were really expensive cameras when new!
 
Loved my 1NRS, not a very noticeable difference in brightness especially if your using a quick prime, a 50/1.4 was always stuck to mine.

They are so cheap, if you want one, its so silly to fight yourself ;)
 
I shot the 1nRS in the 90s... It's either 1/3 or 2/3 stop loss, don't recall which. IIRC, in the 10 fps RS mode afforded by the pellicle, there was not AF after the first frame. Or was that no AF, don't remember... other than I often zone focused it for action shots at that setting. The fast reaction time was pretty cool, but without any blackout, etc. in the viewfinder, it was sometimes difficult to determine when the exact moment of exposure occurred. As Fraser stated, you need to keep the mirror clean, otherwise dust starts to show up as the lens is stopped down.
 
I've had 650; 620; 630 (600) and RT models for years. The mirror sends 2/3 of a stop to the finder at the expense of light hitting the film. Obviously it is not the ideal camera for low light hand held imaging. On the other hand I cannot think of a better 35mm SLR for Eg. shooting fireworks because you can do as many multiple exposures per frame as you like and you are, unlike most SLRs, able to visually see the bursts through the finder and place them, rather than opening the shutter and crossing your fingers.

The super fast shutter response time in RT mode and ability to run second curtain flash also means they have certain advantages in other applications, too. Apart from anything else one sees the flash fire through the finder, something you can say about few other SLRs. It can be good for portraiture with flash. It all happens so fast, with the flash set to second curtain, even the worst offender struggles to blink before it's all over. For moving subjects it can also excel because, once again, when you hit that button in RT mode the delay is imperceptible. For situations requiring absolute split second timing either model is hard to beat. Autofocus is available in RT mode but not AI Servo (focus tracking) for either one shot or continuous. Eg. run off five frames and initial focus distance is locked for all of them.

The mirrors are much better than those in the Pellix models. The finders are much brighter, the RT/RS is not as old as the Pellix but so far the mirrors are holding up better than Pellix ones which can often look poor due to desilvering (I think). Yes, some RT/RS may have marks from careless use or cleaning, but it's still possible to find bodies with mirrors in immaculate condition. Canon tell you never to touch the pellicle mirror, but, if you have a gentle touch you can clean them with care--I have done it without harming mine, twice. Treat changing lenses like you would with a DSLR (sensor cleanliness) and you won't have any major issues with keeping the mirror clean. And if you do, they aren't nearly as sensitive as a digital sensor, anyway.

To sum up: they have some unique features that represent a disadvantage in some scenarios, and in a limited range of other scenarios they have abilities few, if any, other SLRs can match. My main attraction, initially, was the absence of vibration from the mirror. Although they still have a small sub-mirror that retracts, back to back comparison with my 630 (the model the RT is based on) confirms that the RT is indeed, a little smoother.
Cheers,
Brett
 
Thanks to all!

Did anyone else have problems with adapted lenses on the RT like f16sunshine ?
How about the 1n RS ?

Stephen
 
Reviving this thread a bit.
I used my RT last week for some gritty HP5/rodinal/1600iso work.
The camera has one of the STM 50mm f1.8 lenses on it now.
I don't think I will ever change the lens. The pellicle mirror is spotless.... now it will stay that way.
I like the camera. AF is great. Handling takes zero thought. Winner!
A few grainy images. This lens behaves so nicely. Why is it only $125 new ?
Better question is why are other 50's costing Thou$ands ?!?!

1/15 sec. This camera is made for handheld shots.
Big Brother
eos rt thp5AA029 by Adnan, on Flickr

Good twin
eos rt thp5AA016 by Adnan, on Flickr

Bad twin
eos rt AA009 by Adnan, on Flickr

Good Witch
Halloween '17. The good Witch! by Adnan, on Flickr
 
f16sunshine said:
Reviving this thread a bit.
I used my RT last week for some gritty HP5/rodinal/1600iso work.
The camera has one of the STM 50mm f1.8 lenses on it now.
I don't think I will ever change the lens. The pellicle mirror is spotless.... now it will stay that way.
I like the camera. AF is great. Handling takes zero thought. Winner!
A few grainy images. This lens behaves so nicely. Why is it only $125 new ?
Better question is why are other 50's costing Thou$ands ?!?!

1/15 sec. This camera is made for handheld shots.
Big Brother
eos rt thp5AA029 by Adnan, on Flickr

Good twin
eos rt thp5AA016 by Adnan, on Flickr

Bad twin
eos rt AA009 by Adnan, on Flickr

Good Witch
Halloween '17. The good Witch! by Adnan, on Flickr
Click to expand...
Keeping a lens fitted is going to help keep the front of the mirror clean, certainly. But bear in mind these are not digital cameras with sealed backs. If you're loading films in dusty conditions for example, it's conceivable that the rear surface of the mirror could still accumulate some deposits eventually. Obviously, keeping the film gate clean and dust free (which is, naturally, a good idea on any case) will minimise any spots on the mirror.

If needed the rear of the mirror could be blown gently by setting the shutter to a long exposure or Bulb (an RT at least can do timed exposures of 30 seconds, an ample period for blowing off a mirror). With the back open you can then access the rear of the mirror without the curtains obstructing it. Some 35mm EOS models may not want to fire normally with the back of the camera opened. In this case, first, trip the shutter, and then open the back to access the back of the mirror. Go easy with a blower, the mirrors are not as fragile as one might think but if you were brutal enough with a powerful blower, rupturing the thin mylar sheet might be do-able without physical contact, so err on the side of caution.
Cheers,
Brett
 
I had one EOS-1n RS and i liked it but i ended up selling it. I much prefer the F5 or F4.

I never got used to the RS mode, i was just never sure when the camera took the picture. In A mode it was a fine camera, done what it was meant to do but the viewfinder was not only a bit darker (never bothered me) but so small compared to the F4 or F5.

Eventually the big weight made me sell it. It is bigger and heavier than both of them and it gets tiring carrying it around.

IMG_7047.JPG


I have a review of the camera on my blog.
 
Sarcophilus Harrisii said:
Keeping a lens fitted is going to help keep the front of the mirror clean, certainly. But bear in mind these are not digital cameras with sealed backs. If you're loading films in dusty conditions for example, it's conceivable that the rear surface of the mirror could still accumulate some deposits eventually. Obviously, keeping the film gate clean and dust free (which is, naturally, a good idea on any case) will minimise any spots on the mirror.

If needed the rear of the mirror could be blown gently by setting the shutter to a long exposure or Bulb (an RT at least can do timed exposures of 30 seconds, an ample period for blowing off a mirror). With the back open you can then access the rear of the mirror without the curtains obstructing it. Some 35mm EOS models may not want to fire normally with the back of the camera opened. In this case, first, trip the shutter, and then open the back to access the back of the mirror. Go easy with a blower, the mirrors are not as fragile as one might think but if you were brutal enough with a powerful blower, rupturing the thin mylar sheet might be do-able without physical contact, so err on the side of caution.
Cheers,
Brett
Click to expand...


Thanks Brett
I have other eos bodies for landscape duty and other dusty spots.
Will probably use the RT as it was used here.. 1600 and indoors.
As you illustrate, it's not too difficult to clean this mirror but... if one can avoid it... :)

Huss said:
Dig those shots Adnan!
Click to expand...


Thanks Huss!
We had a Halloween party for the nuggets last Saturday.
Was pretty fun. The grown up party later was more fun!

Quick snap. Here is the RT next to the M5.
Excuse the B+W iphone pic...Mixed light in here atm.

M5/Skopar 50mm 920grams
RT/STM 50mm 855grams
Both loaded with film and battery.
26390965259_8b8f0e7abf_c.jpg
 
Had the whole EOS 6xx row and the RT. The RT is a lovely camera because of its blackoutless view.
But its loud. No mMirror slap but heavy noise from the motor.
Like the other old EOS models the RT can suffer from the sticky shutter problem.

Now I'm using a calm EOS Elan. Flash integrated an nearly no motor noise.
It's not as cute as the RT a but better workhorse for portraits for me.

BTW. - I always felt that the -whatever- stop loss of light in the RT is a purely academic
one. Same viewfinder brightness like its 6xx-sisters in direct comparison. By lightmeter?
Maybe or not. Too close in the real world to determine.

The RT is an interesting camera with its own character.
Years ago I wrote a few lines in German for aphog
about mine.

0452crprt.jpg
 
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