L glass for film...

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tysing

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Tyrone
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Hi,
I'm new to film photography, recently bought two rf's, a canonet ql17 (black) and a konica autos2. I may sell one, dont ask me which yet. (I like both for different reasons)
I'm also looking into buying a 35mm slr. I've been looking at the oly om-1, konica autoreflex, and a few canons.

This may be a dumb question, but will i have any problem using my L glass on the canon bodies? and perhaps my 50 1.4?? This may decide which camera i go for if all these are compatible.

Also if you have any (I'm sure you will) preferences and opinions on which camera to get (canon or anything else)

Much appreciated...
 
Tyrone,

Where to start eh? According to your sig you've got the best Canon body (unless you need a 1D series for rapid fire) and it sounds like you're just a year or so behind me in terms of discovering film.
Dumb answer to dumb question: provided the Canon film bodies are EOS mount you'll have no compatibility issues beyond accepting that the L lenses you're planning to use will be more modern than the bodies you mount them on and will show up any faults due to the relative crudity of the camera and film. FWIW my 50mm 1.4 currently sits on my EOS-1n.
Only you can decide what you'll buy and what you'll keep but I'd encourage you to try a variety of things but keep a theme in mind, such as Canon only. Personally I much prefer the older metal Canon bodies and have no interest in the perfectly good rounded blobby plastic (see what I mean?) nnn series bodies of later years.

Do you know what you want to get out of using film? I wonder how long before you discover medium or large format film....
 
If you want to use many old screw lenses (M42) then the OM1 is useless, but the Konica autoreflex TC can take screw lenses with an adaptor and is a good basic camera (but the OM1 is superior though). Canons are excellent cameras providing you don't get one with a known common fault e.g. camera cough/squeak on A models the lenses are still relatively cheap and can take screw lenses with an adaptor.
What do I use mainly? Canon, Minolta, Konica and Praktica BCI and older cameras that can take screw lenses that my other cameras can't.
 
maybe i should add, I currently use a 5dmkii. So image quality is pretty high, and i would like where possible to get near to that with film.
I haven't ruled out getting another brand, i just think it might be a better idea to use some of the nice lenses i already have.
Though, i do like the look and feel of old slr's. not relying on a battery etc. a bit more compact, rugged maybe.
I have looked at canon f series as it was the first pro slr range (canon), my question is which body will allow for the best results? I've also heard that the canon t90 might just be the best film camera canon have made!
I want to be more secure with my photography, not always relying on autoexposure etc. want to take more time over a shot, and not take 10 or the same scene, (because you can) always been intrigued (by my father (who has given his old hassleblad to my brother!!! :( by film and slide photography))
so my lenses will be fine to se on the 70-80's slr's too then??
 
my lenses of choice are 24-70, 70-200 and 50 1.4
 
If you want to use the L glass, get hold of either a EOS-3 or a EOS-1v - either of which will give you a film version of your 5dII.

If however, you want a manual camera, don't even think of using the EF glass, as you'll be stuck with wide open apertures and manual focusing.

Instead - and this is personal preference talking - get a nice Canon F1n and a bunch of nice relatively cheap (unless you get the old L glass of course) FD lenses.
 
TheBigYin said:
If you want to use the L glass, get hold of either a EOS-3 or a EOS-1v - either of which will give you a film version of your 5dII.
Click to expand...

Certainly one of the cheaper options (rather than buying into another system for film) and much the easiest thing to do. You know how good your EF glass is.

My EOS 3 is a pretty good analogue (pun optional) of my 5D Mk1, with similar handling.

The only caveat floating about is that you'll need access to a very good scanner to get close to the output you're used to from your 5D2. With the right film and good exposure, I reckon 35mm scans with my Epson V700 are perhaps approaching the ball park of my 5D1, but not there. I get the impression that moving up to a dedicated film scanner like a Nikon Coolscan 5000 would improve that significantly, but that's a whole other thread.

Scans wtih the V700 of 6x6 and 645 medium format film, though, are comfortably comparable with my 5D.

That said, dipping your toe in the water with a decent EOS film body is probably a good starting point.
 
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So unless I get a (big) eos film body, I won't be able to properly use my lenses?? Ie. If I would like to go for a mechanical old film body, will I only be able to manual focus (which is fine, and I guess I half want that) and will I only be able, if at all, to auto expose when the aperture is wide open? I had a little play with one of my friend's minalto srt cameras, and there's something really satisfying about manually focusing it with a viewfinder with the contrast circle in the middle! (not sure what this is called etc) Are the viewfinders on canon old film bodies similar to this?
 
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tysing said:
So unless I get a (big) eos film body, I won't be able to properly use my lenses?? Ie. If I would like to go for a mechanical old film body, will I only be able to manual focus (which is fine, and I guess I half want that) and will I only be able, if at all, to auto expose when the aperture is wide open? I had a little play with one of my friend's minalto srt cameras, and there's something really satisfying about manually focusing it with a viewfinder with the contrast circle in the middle! (not sure what this is called etc) Are the viewfinders on canon old film bodies similar to this?
Click to expand...

You'll never get that feeling from using an EOS film camera, I say get a new system for film, plenty of cheap entry points to dip your toe in. If you do go the Olynpus route then you can get an adapter to use OM glass on your 5D. You may be able to get a Minolta one too - somoene else will have to confirm though.

The scanner is the biggest stumbling block in IQ. It's traditionally said that 35mm film equates to the detail resolution 20mp ish on digital, now I can categorically state that my scanner does not allow that, and there are of course emulsions that will never get anywhere near tht level of detail to begin with.
 
tikkathreebarrel said:
....the L lenses you're planning to use will be more modern than the bodies you mount them on and will show up any faults due to the relative crudity of the camera and film.....
Click to expand...


umm, I can't figure out what you mean by that..
 
tysing said:
So unless I get a (big) eos film body, I won't be able to properly use my lenses?? Ie. If I would like to go for a mechanical old film body, will I only be able to manual focus (which is fine, and I guess I half want that) and will I only be able, if at all, to auto expose when the aperture is wide open? I had a little play with one of my friend's minalto srt cameras, and there's something really satisfying about manually focusing it with a viewfinder with the contrast circle in the middle! (not sure what this is called etc) Are the viewfinders on canon old film bodies similar to this?
Click to expand...

Unless you get a EOS film body, the nice L glass is just a dumb tube with lenses in it, you cannot adjust the Aperture at all -it stays wide open all the time (I think there "might" be a way to set the aperture on your 5d, use the "DOF preview" button, and take the lens off the body whle you hold it down, but it's an almighty faff...

If you want a manual focusing experience, forget the EF lenses, and buy a pre-autofocus body. They will generally have the microprism circle in the viewfinder.

I'd still get a EOS-3/1v though... just slot it in the bag with the 5d an d the EF glass for shooting "proper" B&W's :lol:
 
TheBigYin said:
If you want a manual focusing experience, forget the EF lenses, and buy a pre-autofocus body. They will generally have the microprism circle in the viewfinder.
Click to expand...


There is the Canon EF-M which is a manual focus only EF mount body based on the EOS 1000. It has a proper fresnel/split-image rangefinder (though it's only 90% coverage) and you get a normal range of exposure modes including metered Manual.

http://www.mir.SPAM/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/eos/eoscamera/EFM/index.htm

e2a: there's a number of them that have gone for between £5 and £15 on eBay recently. I've nearly put in a bid for one myself on more than one occasion... :)
 
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ahhh - forgot the EF-M... like the guy in the orthapedic shoes - I stand corrected.

Though I'd still stick with a 3 or 1v, personally :lol:
 
or the 5 ;)
 
I do like the idea of being able to use my nice glass for film. And the eos bodies, obviously have fantastic capabilities, equalling my 5dmkii. But I am drawn towards a more mechanical body, like the f-1 or a-1. Liking the idea of it not being entirely dependent on the battery. Manual focussing is something I would like to get more competent with as well! Can anyone shed some light, and or give some advise regarding the pro and cons of the older bodies. Thanx
P.s sorry for the delay in replying, been a busy month! :)
 
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