quick question for our Canon Shooters

[marlunn]

A friends daughter is doing photography at school, she is 16, she has unlimited access to his DSLR ( despite his attempts to get his hands on his camera at times )

She needs to have a 35mm film camera now as well and clearly the simple answer is a Canon so the lens can be swapped between them (maybe?) he has a 70D, but he has no idea as to what would be a good cheap film camera - I know nothing about Canon so I wonder if any of you guys could recommend a Canon 35mm film camera that is inexpensive but will be good to use in school ?

[loosecanon]

Hi
The most common "good" film EOS is the EOS 5 whilst the best is undoubtly the EOS 3. Some including the EOS 5 use an infrared beam to monitor the film advance by counting sproket holes, and such cameras cannot be used with infrared film, which may be relevant for a course, or may not be.

All film EOS cameras can use EF mount lenses, but none can use EFS lenses - they may foul the mirror mechanism and/or only cover part of the image area. So a film EOS cannot use the 70D kit lens.

If you have to get a camera and EF lens then the kit lenses are usually available very cheap - the adverts in the back of AP will give you an idea of cost. Find a small camera shiop that does secondhand.

Make sure you check the camera before buying.
Check for corrosion by the battery terminals - a sign the camera was stored with batteries that went flat or were not cleaned before being used - fumes from a split battery can cause damage elsewhere in a camera.
Open the back and look for finger prints on the pressure plate or shutter. Fire the shutter on "bulb" and other speeds to make sure it opens correctly.

If money is tight one could always ask a local camera club in any members have a film camera and lenses to sell. Dealer offers are so low a lot of older members kept beloved film cameras but would be happy for them to go to a good home, and what better home than a young person learning about film.

Finally the old FD cameras can be found reasonably priced as are the FD lenses. A good condition F1 in the hand is a relevation, an experience to be enjoyed, (but check the shutter blinds before buying as they are easily damaged).

Canons website sill has information and manuals for later film cameras, and the canon camera museum has details of all Canon cameras and lenses.

[marlunn]

Hi loosecanon, many thanks, very much appreciated. I will pass your advice on

[chauncey]

It might behoove you to visit a local pawn shop.

[rpcrowe]

A manual focus SLR like the Canon A-1 sells for peanuts (well maybe almonds) and the Canon FD lenses are equally as inexpensive. The F-1 is also a great camera at a bargain price.

However, I don't understand why the school doesn't teach the wet plate process... Where is the cutoff when you are teaching antiquated technology...