EOS 620 IS?

Does this camera have IS? Is it in-camera or in the lenses? Are Sigma AF lenses compatible with all 620 features?

The EOS 620 does not have any in-body stabilization. It is compatible with lenses that have Image Stabilization.

I think you can count on full compatibility with Canon EF lenses. With Sigma and other third party lenses, I would test the combination of lens and camera body before acquiring. There seems to be less of an issue with current generations of Canon DSLRs and Sigma lenses.

Are you looking at current Sigma lenses? Or at older film lenses? When Sigma started making EOS mount lenses, they reverse engineered the interface with the camera so that the lenses worked with the Canon bodies of the time. So they should be fine with the very early EOS 620. They also worked well with early EOS digital SLR's like the D30 and D60. The problem came when Canon changed something with the introduction of the 10D - I'm not sure what - and the older Sigmas weren't compatible any more, they threw up an error message as soon as the aperture was stopped down from maximum. Some users had their lenses re-chipped but I don't think this service is still availavle.

One of the advantages for Canon in putting the stabilization into the lens, rather than in the body, is that the lenses will do their IS on even the first of the EOS cameras like the 650 and the 620.

 

And, the 're-chipping' of the early EOS-mount Sigmas is, as John says, no longer possible.

the older Sigmas weren't compatible any more

 

One more point - this means that some quite nice older Sigmas can be found quite cheaply, as they don't work on digital. The 90mm Macro and 24mm Super Wide spring to mind.

Edited January 3, 2021 by John Seaman

I have ordered a 620 with a Sigma AF 70-200 from the same time. The reviews look good. What kind of battery does the camera take? Is it true you can't shoot the 620 in manual mode?

 

I shoot film, and wanted to try a Canon film burner. I have mostly been shooting with a Nikon N90s, which I believe the 620 was contemporary with.

You need a 2CR5 Lithium battery. The 620 certainly has a manual mode. Setting the aperture in manual mode is a little awkward. There's a small button just below the lens release button you have to press as you turn the control wheel, if I recall correctly.

The EOS 620 was introduced in 1987, a few years earlier than the Nikon N90. A contemporary to that Nikon would be the EOS A2 / EOS 5.

The 620 at first seems needlessly complicated. Plus the buttons are suited to toddler fingers. Maybe after using the thing a while it will be intuitive. Nonetheless, it is impressive. A serious machine.

 

I'd like to get an IS lens for it. Tele range and not too expensive. I have a great Nikon kit, but I like to cheat from time to time.

Edited January 12, 2021 by royall_berndt

"I'd like to get an IS lens for it. Tele range and not too expensive"

 

The 1st generation Canon 70-300 IS telezoom may be in your price range, and is purported to be quite sharp for a consumer grade zoom (not a canon "L" lens).

1st generation Canon 70-300 IS telezoom may be in your price range, and is purported to be quite sharp for a consumer grade zoom (not a canon "L" lens).

 

Actually, the "purporters" generally denigrated the 70-300 IS (the first of its kind, by the way), but I used one for a long time and got good to excellent results with it. It was another of those 'compromise' lenses that worked much, much better than their reputations.

"purporters" generally denigrated the 70-300 IS (the first of its kind, by the way)"

 

I believe the first of its kind IS telezoom was the Canon 75-300mm IS, which was similar optically to the 75-300 EF and the 100-300 EF USM (which I owned once), and was denigrated by many. I was discussing the 70-300mm IS (first generation since there is now a MK II version). Our old friend at PN did a review of it and thought it was a material improvement over the 75-300mm IS: Canon EF 70-300/4-5.6IS USM Lens Review.

 

The good news is that it seems to cost about $200 now and will work right with any old EOS SLR or DSLR.

Alas, for me, you're right.

Sorry, the 70-300 is another beast altogether.

"purporters" generally denigrated the 70-300 IS (the first of its kind, by the way)"

 

I believe the first of its kind IS telezoom was the Canon 75-300mm IS, which was similar optically to the 75-300 EF and the 100-300 EF USM (which I owned once), and was denigrated by many. I was discussing the 70-300mm IS (first generation since there is now a MK II version). Our old friend at PN did a review of it and thought it was a material improvement over the 75-300mm IS: Canon EF 70-300/4-5.6IS USM Lens Review.

 

The good news is that it seems to cost about $200 now and will work right with any old EOS SLR or DSLR.

 

The 70-300 IS is actually a very nice lens and a good performer. It's a great option if you don't want to shell out the cash for a 100-400mm. As Ken said, the price is good too, with examples of the Mk1 selling for less than $200 in great condition.