Canon Eos 3000n: cheap but useful

[DcAnalogue]

Yep, I know,
this camera is not so old (bought it in 2005 or so)... but it was collecting dust in my cupboard and, as it had been used just a little, I thought: why don't I test it...? I used it with its zoom kit lens (Eos 28-80mm), except a few shots with a Canon Eos 50 mm f/1,8 II (first shot)

The first test was made with Foma Retropan 320 (third shot), the second one with Kodak Trix (both souped in DD-X)

For those interested, more on my Film Blog (the link to the first test is inside)

Dead Link Removed

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

The EOS 3000N was a "remake" of the 500N.
In the 2000s Canon started by "re-issuing" its early small EOS SLR in a different dressing, normally with a lot of silver and black knobs, but the inside was from an earlier model.
Just for reference the 3000 was a 500 with a different design for the top and the buttons.
Nice shots!

 

[Paul Howell]

All the makers, Nikon, Canon, Pentax, and Minolta made good value for the money entry level SLRs. I have a Rebel that I bought to swap out the lens mount plate for that of Sigma SD9s, a Sigma body that will take EOS lens. I ran a roll of film through it, 35 to 80mm kit lens, not too bad at all. Have not gotten around to the transplant surgery just deciding which of 2 SD9s to sacrifice to gods of "why would anyone do such a thing?".

 

[DcAnalogue]

I decided to take this camera out from the shelf also because I have some good Eos lenses (used with my dslr before I discovered the mirrorless) to play with.....
Seen the results and easy of use of the 3000 I felt encouraged to buy a nice Eos 55QD too......

 

[blockend]

My 3000n has the 40mm 2.8 pancake permanently attached. If I had to pick one camera-lens combo it would be top of my list for compactness alone. The only known vice on my model is a propensity to take more than one frame in single shot mode if the shutter is held down too long. It's the only fully featured SLR and lens that is genuinely pocketable I know of.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Sigma SD9s

used with my dslr before I discovered the mirrorless

Oh dear!
Digitographer alert!
Exterminate, exterminate...

 

[gone]

I had that very same cheap zoom lens on a Rebel G. Loved the camera AND the lens. It actually took decent pics in the right circumstances. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a Summicron, but sometimes it did just fine, and the camera and lens combo were small and very light.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Any of the 28-70mm zoom lens of the time are optically decent lenses, higher contrast and resolution than the early equivalent MF lenses from the 70s.
What some lacked was control of distortion and, lets put this way, finesse in the body construction.
Many would become a bit wobbly.
Even a mid range lens like the EF 28-105mm /3.5-4.5 USM Mark II I bought new in 2001 would become a bit loose with use and age.
When I didn't see any adverse effect of the front part becoming wobbly, then I stopped worrying.

 

[jeffreythree]

I recently picked up its' Rebel K2 successor with a Canon 28-90mm zoom attached. Walked into the store and asked for the lightest SLR w/ zoom and manual override he had laying around that was also cheap enough I would not worry about it tromping around in the woods. I think it surprised me how something so light(~1.4# loaded) could work so well after working with vintage heavy metal. The first handful of rolls looked pretty good, and now I really want to get that little 40mm f2.8 lens.

 

[MattKing]

Keep up the good work - I need to sell a few of my Canon EOS film bodies.

 

[DcAnalogue]

I had that very same cheap zoom lens on a Rebel G. Loved the camera AND the lens. It actually took decent pics in the right circumstances. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a Summicron, but sometimes it did just fine, and the camera and lens combo were small and very light.

Great portrait....
Btw i've already made a couple of shots with the Summicron on this camera....

 

[DcAnalogue]

Yep guys..... I see many of you had the same positive experience of mine (and underlined the same flaws) with this cheap, almost "all plastic" zoom....
Sometimes... we are lucky and don't have to pay a fortune to get good tools....

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Here is a great site for comparing the features of Canon EOS film cameras side-by-side:

Dead Link Removed

The inexpensive plastic EF 75-300 III is said to be one of Canon's worst lenses. I'll admit that turning its zoom ring has a very rough "plastic on plastic" feel, but I've made good images with that lens.