630 lense/body questions from a Newbie

Hi All,

I'm not a photographer, but my wife is. She has an older Canon EOS

630 35mm unit which has been repaired a couple times. Loose switch,

wonky electronics, etc. and it's on the fritz again. I can't see

how it's worth $150+CDN to send out to repair once again. Is there

a better camera out there to buy (cheap) that would have the same

size lenses, so her current 630 lenses would fit ? (I think she has

2 lenses for her 630). Something Canon and similar to the EOS 630.

IE: AF & MF, electronic, etc.

I need to know the type of lense mount or whatever I should be

looking for. (to cross reference, etc.)

IE: Would all REBEL cameras have the same lense mount as her EOS 630?

I need the flash to fit too, but I think these are pretty much

universal right?

 

Alternately, is there a reputable dealer/seller/private person

selling a cheap, but trusty 630 body? I would like to get her one

for her birthday (end of November).

 

Thanks !

Mike

Who in Canada sells Rebels and which are the best; which to avoid?

Will my 630 lenses fit a Rebel? All models of Rebels?

Thanks

<P> I don't think that it's worth repairing. I suggest an Elan II/IIe (50/50e). It is a far better body than the 630 <a href="http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/cameras.html#lowmid">or any Rebel</a> . Cost would be around 100-150 US$. </P>

<P> Don't worry about lens mount. All EOS cameras have the same lens mount so the old lenses would fit. However, if those lenses are not Canon's, it's possible that they will not work. See <a href="http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/lenses.html#buythirdparty">the 7th point</a>. </P>

<P> Happy shooting , <br>

Yakim. </P>

The 630 is a GREAT camera (I own one).

 

EOS lenses for the 630 work on ALL EOS cameras, including the new digital SLRs.

 

The 630 was an mid to high end camera for it's day. The rebels are low end cameras that are more advanced than the 630 (being 15 years newer), but feel cheaper. The Elan-7 is a step up (in my mind) from the 630, and is a VERY nice camera.

 

On the used end, the Elan II is also a nice camera as Yakim suggest.

The 630 was indeed a high end model and most work for years trouble free. I would not hesitate to get another one or an Elan.

 

Saw this in the Photo net classifieds:

http://www.photo.net/gc/view-one.tcl?classified_ad_id=552476

WOW Guys! ; thanks for the really great answers. A couple more then... Will her 3 Canon eos 630 lenses & flashes , (50mm, 35-105, 70-210) all fit all the Elan and Rebel series cameras?

 

I'd hate to spend the $$ on another camera, only to have $$ of lenses and flashes sitting here not able to be used, LOL

 

Thanks again. Great info.

Yep the lenses will work fine, they have the same Canon EOS mount as the newer cameras. :)

Yes, the lenses should work on any Canon EOS body, including any Rebel. However, if the zoom lenses are not Canon brand lenses, but are thrid party lenses made for EOS cameras, they may not work on a newer Canon body. Particularly Sigma and Tokina lenses have problems with this incompatability.

 

The flash should work as well. There are some new features offered on some of the newer flash units, that only work on the newer bodies, but any flash that worked on the 630 should work the same way on a newer Canon camera. The exception being that if you decide to buy a digital Canon, you will also have to get a new flash to go with it. The old ones won't cut it.

More specifically: The 630 uses the A-TTL flash system. I "believe" the new Canon film bodies support the A-TTL flash system as well as the newer E-TTL system.

 

A-TTL relies on reflected light off the film to judge flash exposure. Since digital SLR's don't have film, they don't support the A-TTL flash system. The new Canon EX series flashes support both flash systems. The older EZ series flashes are A-TTL only.

 

The lenses you mention sound like Canon lenses, and will work on all EOS bodies. I upgraded from a 630 to a digital 10D. Everything worked fine (well, at least as well as it did on the 630), except my A-TTL flash was incompatible to the new camera.

Mike

 

You way want to look at the following Canadian web sites/dealers. I had some purchase made with every one and I only had good experience with their used material:

 

www.vintagevisuals.com

www.mcbaincamera.com

www.henrys.com

www.vistek.ca

 

Also, www.acecam.com/canada1.html has a good listing of Canadian stores.

www.canon.com/camera-museum could give you many hours of interesting reading...:)

 

I replaced my EOS630 with a used EOS10s a few years ago. Then I replaced the EOS10s with a ElanII and I have been very happy since then. A used EOS 10s or a used Elan should be in your price range and everything your wife has should work just the same as the old EOS 630.

 

Good luck

get her an EOS 5 in good shape , and all ur problems are over.the flash and all of the lenses u mentioned will work alright.

 

or maybe a 50E as Yakim suggested , or better yet a 7E,and if $$ is not a hindrance ,a 1n would be fantastic ,since u already have the flash.. ATTL. cheers ! stay happy ! keep on shooting ! ..pc

To Jean: <br>

<b>TTL</b> - the oldest system is TTL (through the lens) metering = meters light reflected off the film plane (sensors are in floor of the mirror box)<br>

<b>A-TTL</b> - stands for Advanced TTL = uses preflash to set aperture (for best DOF) and then uses the same sensors as the original TTL to stop flash when enough light has reached the film.

<b>E-TTL</b> - completely new - uses preflashes but those are metered by the cameras evaluative metering sensors (in the pentaprism) and the flash output and aperture are based on this data (TTL sensors in mirror box are not necessary)<br><br>

For more details look at <a href="http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/">photonotes.org</a>

What a resourceful forum! 1,000 thank-you's!!

-Mike :-)