New camera body with old lens?

[feral]

I have resurrected Dads old Canon EOS 50 out of the back of the family closet to work on an idea, if it is acheivable of course.

This is a film body (you ALL knew that :() so it virtually worthless but having a little look around the EF 28-105mm 1:3.5 - 4.5 zoom lens is valuable to a certain extent. It has Macro on the side which makes it the 7 blade aperture model. Here's a site which explains it better than I.
eBay Australia Guides - BUYERS BEWARE Canon EF 28-105mm USM Lens CONFUSION (http://reviews.ebay.com.au/BUYERS-BEWARE-Canon-EF-28-105mm-USM-Lens-CONFUSION_W0QQugidZ10000000003434232)

I have yet to do further research on this but does this lens fit on any Canon DSLR's and would there be any issues with it? I know the lens does not have Image Stabilization but at least its a base starting position to build up to something. If its cheaper I'm more likely to stay alive :eek:

Am I wasting my time?

[DFNDR90]

Yes.

Buy some film and be done with it.

:)

[Cap]

Dont know much about canon lens compatability, certainly on Nikons you can interchange lenses.

Are yuo able to take the lens to a shop and ask them to see if it will fit on the DSLR range... probably the quickest so your not wasting your time (waste theirs :D)

[p38arover]

There will be an EOS site that will tell you.

I'm using my 1989 Pentax auto focus lenses on my Pentax DSLR.

[Brian]

I have a Canon EOS 620 SLR (film) camera (abt 1985) with a 35-105 and a 75-300 USM EF- EOS lenses.
Thinking like you I went mand checked it all out and ended up buying a Canon 500D DSLR, Both lenses fit as EOS is a Canon standard. Kept the 300mm lens for the Dslr and left the 105 on the film camera.
Only issue is that analogue lenses are not quite as good as EF-S (digital) lenses but still take great photos. The EOS 500D is a 15M pixel camera and also HD movies. Excellant camera and I got it from Jocie for around 750. Dont pay 1199, or 1399 at hardlies. Try DWI or any of the online sellers.

Most of my info came from Canon here
Canon - EOS 500D (http://www.canon.com.au/en-AU/For-You/Digital-Cameras/EOS-Digital-SLR-Cameras/500D). Since that I have bought a EFS 17-85 f4.5-5.6 IS USM.

USM is Ultrasonic focus.

Also note that EF lenses are for film and EFS for DSLR

Best of luck
Brian

[Franz]

I also have an EOS620 and use the 35-105 and 100-300 on my EOS400D. They both work OK but you don't get the full 35mm or 100mm view with a DSLR.

Best way to find out is to try them - the results can be seen immediately :D

Cheers,

Franz

[PSi]

EF lenses can be used on all EOS SLRs and DSLRs.
EF-S can only be used on DSLRs with APS-C sized image sensors. (Only Canon cameras with the APS-C sized sensor released after 2003 support the EF-S mount.)



Canon EF lens mount - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Canon_EF_lens_mount.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Canon_EF_lens_mount.jpg/220px-Canon_EF_lens_mount.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/0/05/Canon_EF_lens_mount.jpg/220px-Canon_EF_lens_mount.jpg

Difference between Canon EF EF-S lens which should you buy (http://www.slrphotographyguide.com/camera/canon-digital-slr/EF-EFS-lens.shtml)

[feral]

Thanks guys.

That confirms what I have found throughout the day.

Its now a toss up between models that will be usefull. It looks like between a 550D or 60D. Eventually a EFS lens will be purchased, just a small one 18mm - 55mm or there abouts.

Any opinions on the above cameras would be appreciated.

Cheers.

[KarlB]

There are a range of differences between the two which you can readily pick up from the Canon website, but to my mind, a particularly significant advantage of the 550D is its weight (475 g) compared to the 60D (755 g) (it is also physically a bit smaller). There is not much difference in price (rrp of $1349 vs $1599). If you are prepared to drop a level and consider the 500D (still a bloody good camera) then there is a significant cost saving (rrp $899). Any saving can be put toward the far more important lens. You need to ask yourself, are the differences between the models, that I am paying extra for, features that I will actually use. What ever body you buy it will be 'old hat' within 12-18 months, but a high quality lens will be a high quality lens for many years.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[Taz]

It can be a bit hit and miss when it comes to using film lenses with digital sensors. There are plenty of folks who have enjoyed good results and there are also those that have not. In general, lenses designed for digital sensors require additional anti-reflection coatings on the rear element to prevent internal reflection from the shiny sensor (film is less reflective, so the rear AR coating is not required). It is also easier to achieve good performance with EF-S lenses as they only have to perform over a smaller image area.

I've no experience with the 60d, but I have with the 550d. I was actually doing some 100 ISO RAW dynamic range comparisons with the 550d, 20d and a 5dmk2 today. I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the high pixel density 550d at first, until I noticed excessive noise in the highlights. The shadow noise was not that dissimilar to the 5dmk2 and 20d (both share the same pixel density), but the contrast in the shadows of the 550d was noticeably lower. Mid range noise was pretty good on the 550d (at 100 iso) and there is plenty of resolution at F5.6 and below, much above that and you hit diffraction problems (I was using a 50mm L series lens BTW). Diffraction doesn’t begin to impact the 5dmk2 or 20d until more like f11. Real world image quality of the 550d at high ISO’s is pretty much what you would expect for that price point. I’ve also experienced some weird color shifts with the 550d. The 550d is easy to use if you’re new to DSLR’s (I hate the on/off switch location thou), otherwise the 20d and 5dmk2 are preferable with the extra control wheel and top display. I think the easily accessible 3 custom functions on the 5dmk2 are a most under rated function. In comparison the 5dmk2 performance is nice but comes at a price. A good condition used 40d may also be worth considering. If you’re interested in landscaping then the higher costs of full frame bodies is partially off-set as fast wide angle lenses are cheaper compared to that for APS-C bodies. However if wildlife is your focus, then APS-C or even 4/3rd bodies have the lens cost advantage. Video is another thing all together. These are just my experiences and are not intended to steer you in any particular direction. There is no perfect body for all occasions and budgets and it really does come down to what you want to do. Good luck.

[feral]

How about a 7D but as a grey import to get that $$$$ figure down?

I thought I would just throw that out there :angel:

[KarlB]

On the grey market, you will get the 7D for about the same price as the rrp for the 60D. But you are heading in the direction of a better and better body to hang off a less than optimal lens. IMHO you are better off getting something like the 500D on the grey market (~$625) (or a 2nd hand 50D) and spending the savings on a really good lens.

Cheers
KarlB
:)