Canon Question

[alamo5000]

I have found a really good deal on a Canon 7D...brand new great price (I've been comparing).

We have an old Canon film camera that has a couple lenses, but I am wondering if those old lenses will work with full function on the new body?

The film camera was new in about 1978

[Manfred M]

I'm not a Canon user, but I believe they changed to the EF lens mount in 1987. I suspect the lenses you have are the incompatible FD mount.

[alamo5000]

I think I settled on a 7D but looks like I will have to buy a bunch of lenses too.

I found a body for a really good price, but those lenses are freakin' expensive.

If I go buy some used EOS lenses how should I 'judge' them? What would the criteria be for a used lens?

I am not talking about a book length tutorial on focal length and crop factor but rather what are some things to watch out for?

[William W]

I have found a really good deal on a Canon 7D... We have an old Canon film camera that has a couple lenses, but I am wondering if those old lenses will work with full function on the new body? The film camera was new in about 1978

The Canon AE-1 was introduced in April 1976.
When the AE-1 came out the Canon FTb and FTb-N were also in the mainstream in the 35mm SLR market. All these cameras are F Mount and these F mount lenses will NOT be (easily) suitable for your EOS 7D.
In March 1987 the EOS 650 was Canon's first EOS camera, with the new EF Mount lenses.

I think I settled on a 7D but looks like I will have to buy a bunch of lenses too. If I go buy some used EOS lenses how should I 'judge' them? What would the criteria be for a used lens? I am not talking about a book length tutorial on focal length and crop factor but rather what are some things to watch out for?

My main criterion for a used lens is to see through the lens and there to be no fungus or large mess inside it and then to shake it and there be no rattles: then I take several pictures with it in various lighting conditions and at various apertures (and FL if a zoom) and critically view them on a laptop.

Obviously this method might not be suitable for gear bought on the internet, but I don’t buy second hand lenses over the net, but rather in person – and I have only tended to buy specialty lenses second hand.

Dents are something I notice and avoid, but wear marks is not a problem for me.

Age of the lens is something I consider as spare parts become more problematic.

Have you considered the EF-S “kit” lenses (18 to 55IS and 55 to 250IS) – there are really not very expensive, if bought new.

Also, buying second hand or reconditioned from a store usually comes with a warrantee.

WW

[Colin Southern]

I have found a really good deal on a Canon 7D...brand new great price (I've been comparing).

Just make sure that the supplier is both legit and reputable. There are a LOT of rip-off merchants out there ...

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Sonic_Cameras

[inkista]

For the Canon FD/FL lenses, the only mounts you're liable to want to look at that can easily use those lenses with adapter rings are going to be the mirrorless compact mounts like Olympus & Panasonic micro four-thirds and Sony NEX. And the usage is limited: no autofocus, no aperture control from the camera, and stop-down metering.

Folks who adapt manual focus lenses are an eccentric and contrary lot. It's typically just easier to buy a lens in the native mount to use instead, because autofocus is a nice nice thing to have, and a kit lens or a 50/1.8 prime (the most common lenses) are dirt cheap in comparison with most lenses. Unless your older Canon lenses are pro-level L lenses, it's probably not worth it to try adapting them.

Bill, not sure I'd refer to Canon FD or FL as "F mount"; that term is more commonly used to describe the still-current Nikon F mount.

[William W]

Bill, not sure I'd refer to Canon FD or FL as "F mount"; that term is more commonly used to describe the still-current Nikon F mount.

Yes, thanks.
It was actually a typo and also an error of omission on my behalf:
I was thinking AE-1 is “FD” mount with auto aperture metering; and is “FL” mount with stopped down aperture metering.

I meant to explain that difference and the probability that the OP’s lenses were either FD or FL – and my fingers just typed “F mount” and I forgot to include the rest of the explanation!

Thanks again,

WW