Canon film camera recommendation?

[bk_waas]

<p>A friend's kid is going to take a photography class at camp. The instructor requires the students to buy a 35mm film camera for use in the class. The kid (age 13 or so) is very interested in photography but will not use the film camera after the class. So any lens purchased for use with the film camera should ideally work with an entry-level DSLR, preferably Canon.<br /> Does anyone have recommendations for a USED starter film+lens combination for such purposes that meets these specs? Also, where is a reliable place from which to purchase used gear? Thanks.</p>

[robert_landrigan]

<p>KEH.com, and a EOS Elan II, Elan 7, A2 or A2e. For a lens, a 35 f/2 or 50 1.8, the 50 should be around a hundred bucks or less and is a great lens. </p>

[dave_s]

<p><em>Also, where is a reliable place from which to purchase used gear?</em><br>

<em> </em><br>

Many people here have had good luck with KEH.com.</p>

[David_Cavan]

<p>Wow - a summer camp for kids, focused on shooting film. What a great experience for the campers. I like it.</p>

[matthijs]

<p>I can only speak for my 1987 EOS650: I still like it a lot.</p>

<p>(And it has a viewfinder my 5D-ii can only dream about...)</p>

[jaydesi]

<p>If any kind of Canon film camera, assuming it doesn't have to be manual only, you'll want something that can take EF lenses...a Rebel would be fine, and lenses will work on any Canon DSLR. If this works for you, I have one that I'd be willing to send you for the price of shipping (no lenses). Send me an e-mail or a message through this site to exchange details.</p>

[Andrew Garrard]

<p>I was once given an Eos 500 (Rebel XS) - very flimsy and plasticky, and far from state of the art, but correspondingly very light weight. Generally a pleasure to use, and I occasionally still wheel it out when I want a light SLR that I can afford to break. I also have an Eos 620 (bought to use with infrared film), which has an inferior focus system and handling and is much heavier, but - as with Matthijs's 650 - the finder is lovely. Either is likely to be very cheap these days. I stand by the 50mm f/1.8 as well - I've now switched to Nikon, but I'm likely to keep these bodies and this 50mm lens because their occasional worth is greater than their resale value.<br />

<br />

You may be able to find a nicer Canon body than either of these at a pretty low price, though - a 3 or 1-series are the best you can get if you want to spend a bit more, and the 50 (Elan 2) is interesting too. I'd just advise you avoid any cameras that lack a control wheel (like the Eos 5000), since these will be restrictive when trying to learn camera controls. Something with "Eos" in the name (everything since 1987) will be lens compatible with a DSLR - be careful not to pick up something like a T90, which is a lovely camera but uses incompatible lenses (Canon FD mount, rather than EF mount).<br />

<br />

Good luck!</p>

[zensphoto]

<p>If you want to get the feeling for photography with a Canon film camera and I read you don't want a manual camera here is what I recommend a Canon AE-1 Program manual focus camera using Kodak Tri-X 400. Why does it have to be a manual camera? First of all I still use the Canon AE-1 Program with an f/1.4 50mm Canon Lens for just about anything black and white. I don't think I have ever taken a photograph with this camera in color. My opinion is this, If you are going to get to know 35mm Film let it be Black and White and start out with Tri-X 400 because the film has a lot of latitude and you will find you can capture just about everything with this film. The joy of photographing with film is actually doing the focusing manually and getting an idea what you can actually do with a manual camera.<br /> <br /><br /> You'll learn a lot of valuable information using the AE-1 Program Manual Focus camera, and you will be able to apply that knowledge learned to other more advanced cameras such as the EOS. The EOS film cameras are great cameras, I still shoot with my EOS 1v using black and white, color slides, and color negative film. I do enjoy working with the EOS 1v however, I also find myself shooting with the AE-1 Program and using the manual focus of it to capture photographs because it does make photography fun.</p>

<p><img src="../photo/13661253" alt="" /></p>

[zensphoto]

<p>I tried to edit this and the website won't let me edit it again so I re-wrote the post with more detail.</p>

<p>If you want to get the feeling for photography with a Canon film camera and I read you don't want a manual camera here is what I recommend a Canon AE-1 Program manual focus camera using Kodak Tri-X 400. Why does it have to be a manual camera?</p>

<p>First of all I still use the Canon AE-1 Program with an f/1.4 50mm Canon Lens for just about anything black and white. My opinion is this, If you are going to get to know 35mm Film let it be Black and White and start out with Tri-X 400 because the film has a lot of latitude and you will find you can capture just about everything with this film. The joy of photographing with film is actually doing the focusing manually and getting an idea what you can actually do with a manual camera. With the 50mm lens you can get up close with your subjects or shoot from a far. To enhance your black and white film you can use a Red filter and even a green one for people photographs.<br /><br /><br />You'll learn a lot of valuable information using the AE-1 Program Manual Focus camera, and you will be able to apply that knowledge learned to other more advanced cameras such as the EOS. The EOS film cameras are great cameras, I still shoot with my EOS 1v using black and white, color slides, and color negative film. I do enjoy working with the EOS 1v however, I also find myself shooting with the AE-1 Program and using the manual focus of it to capture photographs because it does make photography fun.</p>

<p>I know it was beneficial when I started out with photography. Digital was still in its infancy stage as far as mega pixels goes. I still feel digital cameras are very behind compared to film cameras and I also know all the knowledge I learned from photographing with film I have been able to take with me an apply it to my digital work as well. Since the digital camera is mimicking the film camera and not the other way around. Learning film with a manual camera will really help you master your digital work later on.</p>

<p>Finding a manual Canon camera or even an EOS can be easy, eBay and Amazon have these cameras ready and available for purchase some used and even some new ones are still available. B&H Video also is a great place to look for new and used film cameras. </p>

<p>Example using the Canon AE-1 Program in manual mode during a Model session in 2004 I was able to capture this photography of Model Angie. <a href="../photo/13661253">http://www.photo.net/photo/13661253</a> </p>

<p>Good luck with your search for a film camera and do take a look at the Canon AE-1 Program with an either f/1.8 or f/1.4 50mm lens.</p>

 

[chris_waller]

<p>I can't think of a simple Canon film camera whose lenses would work on a DSLR but I would recommend the Canon AV1. It's simplicity itself to use and they can be found at very low prices.</p>

[danielleetaylor]

<p>Do not get a FD Canon system (AE1 or AV1) if you want the lens to work with a DSLR. I don't know why people are ignoring that key requirement.</p>

<p>I also would not recommend the Canon A2/A2e. It has no VF exposure scale, no dedicated DoF preview button, and if you move AF off the shutter button and onto the rear AE lock button its behavior prevents you from effectively using the spot meter. The first two problems are bad even for a beginner in a class. (Manually metering a scene and utilizing DoF preview are going to be likely topics in the class.)</p>

<p>A Rebel 2000 or Elan 7 would suffice.</p>

[zensphoto]

<p>Daniel I wasn't ignoring the DSLR requirement in the OP, However, someone that is really interested in shooting film is going to want to look into a film camera that might be a better learning experience for them if the camera was manual. I know manual cameras aren't for everyone and I can tell you DLSR's aren't for everyone either. Just stating my opinion and what worked for me back in my days of the manual world of film photography.</p>

[matthew_rusbarsky]

<p>The world is full of M42 screw mount K mount SLRs from the 70s. Most are fully manual minimal controls that are great for learning the basics. Most are also solid enough to pound nails and can be had (with lens) for less than $50. Might be a better choice as a shooter for 13 year old.</p>