Which 35mm film SLR camera for college course???

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lcolclough

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Lianne
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Hi,

I've just started a 1yr Photography BTEC for which I need a film SLR.

Any suggestions on what is decent but not going to cost too much (£50-£100)?

I've already got a Canon EOS400d DSLR but I beleive I can't swap lenses over to a film SLR or can I?

I've had a look at what film SLR's are available on Ebay but there are so many and I've no idea. :thinking:

I'd be really gratefull of any suggestions you can give.

Thanks!!!
 
if you get a canon EOS SLR (film) it will use the same lenses as your 400D (except for EF-S lenses) all EF lenses are compatible with the film cameras.

for example a EF50mmf1.8 lens is compatable, but the kit EF-S18-55mm(f3.5-5.6) is not.
the EFs lenses are designed for the crop factor of a canon digital camera which means they are not compatable with film bodies.

i bought a cheap EOS5 off ebay for less than £80 off ebay a few years back, its a good camera, the likes of EOS3's go quite cheaply as well
 
Another vote for the EOS 5 here, but seriously any of the EOS range will do, eBay tends to be cheaper than a camera shop etc.

Or ask around friends/family, it is amazing how many people have an SLR tucked away not being used now that almost everyone has gone digital...
 
Thanks whitewash! Your detailed explanation on the lenses will save me a few quid. I can use my existing lens now.

And I've got a couple of EOS3's and 5's on my ebay watch list so fingers crossed.

Thanks again
 
Craikeybaby said:
Another vote for the EOS 5 here, but seriously any of the EOS range will do, eBay tends to be cheaper than a camera shop etc.

Or ask around friends/family, it is amazing how many people have an SLR tucked away not being used now that almost everyone has gone digital...
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Thanks Craikeybaby. I did ask around family but not sure that opening the door and having the lens concertina out will still work.

I'm def gonna go for the EOS though. Thanks!
 
EOS 3..... awesomely capable film camera. ;)
 
lcolclough said:
watching an eos 3 in ebay and wondering at what cost i should stop bidding
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It depends what sort of nick it's in I suppose, but tbh they're pretty well bullet proof even if they're a bit battle scarred, but they seem to resist the knocks well. About the only minor criticism I have of the camera is there's no diopter adjustment in the viewfinder if you're a specs wearer, so you have to wear your specs. Beyond that it's a 1 Series camera in pretty well every respect - while it isn't quite weather proofed to 1 Series standards, it's more weather proof than any other camera in the Canon stable. Hell - even the eye control works. ;)

You could always try Ffordes who usually have a few in stock, but being dealers they'll probably be a tad beyond your price range.
 
Lianne, I took that course some years ago with my Canon EOS 50E and a 28-70 lens.

Dont be buying anything fancy...lol.

Why they dont upgrade their courses to digital now thats its the norm?

Look HERE

Another HERE with a lens and from a good shop rather than flee bay

Dave
 
EOS 3, EOS 30, EOS 5, any of those would do.

But beware that after using anyone of them, your 400D will feel like a toy !
 
dcash29 said:
Lianne, I took that course some years ago with my Canon EOS 50E and a 28-70 lens.

Dont be buying anything fancy...lol.

Why they dont upgrade their courses to digital now thats its the norm?

Look HERE

Dave
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Hiya Dave

Thanks for the link. I'll drop you a vm to see what thought of the course. Got to say, I am really looking forward to the darkroom stuff. Thinks it's the magic of the image coming alive on the paper. We'll see.
 
Think of it this way, the 10D, 20D, 30D..etc are based on the EOS 30, the 3D was a proper pro series camera with weather sealing 100% viewfinder, spot metering, 45 points AF (I think). It is an AWESOME bit of kit.

Out of the EOS3, 5 and 30, the 5 is the oldest one, then 3 and then EOS 30 is the last of the Canon film camera that was released. But the EOS3 was only released about 2 years before the EOS 30, and if i choose, the EOS3 would be the one to go for.

I have the EOS30 btw, and it's a great camera.
 
Lianne...here's another option for you... I'll do you a deal on this kit in your price range if you like....

CLICK

You could use this for your course, and either keep it or sell it afterwards. There's no way you'd lose on it. ;)

It's not getting used and I'd far rather see it being put to good use.
 
I have just completed my first year doing a BTEC National Diploma and we used Pentax K1000 film cameras. Everything manual but it teaches you all about shutter speeds and apertures etc...I decided to buy one of those and have never regretted it once. Most people on here will vouch for them. Those people on my course who opted to buy a 'bells and whistles' film camera still dont have much of a clue now how shutter speeds and apertures work etc.....Just my two penneth worth of advice.
 
You can purchase a canon/nikon convertor ring although you lose autofocus

Joxby you only miss out on the darkroom stuff
 
dcash29 said:
You can purchase a canon/nikon convertor ring although you lose autofocus
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That's true, but there's always a Canon caveat tied up in these threads..:shake:

dcash29 said:
Joxby you only miss out on the darkroom stuff
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If there's a short cut, peeps will take it, its human nature.
Learning with 35mm isn't compulsory but, its a definite advantage having that kind of foundation course to build on.
 
I will say this..If you get a camera with a shutter speed dial, aperture ring on the lens and IS0/ASA dial, you'll have the best basic grounding in photography you're ever likely to get!
 
I dont wish to hog the thread Joxby but i didnt mean not doing the darkroom as a short cut nor human nature i ment that mainstream technology has moved on as you are aware.

35mm is required for the course as you are given film to shoot and process to paper in the darkroom.
As far as an 'definate advantage' ....well i'll have disagree, only cos there were people that couldnt work their camera and didnt get any help and were going to give up until i helped. Lack of information was given in the darkroom aswell.

Its like the photoshop courses they run they are truly basic
 
My EOS 5 was £40.
 
There's an EOS 3 for sale right here on TPF!

CLICKY
 
lcolclough said:
Thanks whitewash! Your detailed explanation on the lenses will save me a few quid. I can use my existing lens now.

And I've got a couple of EOS3's and 5's on my ebay watch list so fingers crossed.

Thanks again
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lcolclough said:
I'll keep an eye on it. As I've only got EF-S lens I'll have to fork out for a lens as well so I'm being a bit of a miser and bidding on an EOS5 body at £40.

Thanks for digging out for me though :D
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you will still need a new lens with the EOS5 if you've only got EF-S lenses at the moment

i dont know what they require for your course lenswise but a canon EF50mm f1.8 will be around £40-60 and will work on both your 400D and your canon Eos camera of choice
 
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