Push me toward an awesome, reliable 35mm camera that has autofocus

moodlover · May 7, 2017

I am looking at the Canon EOS-3 but wanted to get some suggestions on what are the best 35mm autofocus film camera for all types of portraits. I want to shoot full body portraits, medium portraits, closeup portraits, super close-up portraits (forehead to chin for ex). The reason I looked at this is because it has 45 points of autofocus (is it good though?) and for me I need to be able to focus on the eyes fast and I need a great built in light meter that I can control compensation with on the fly. My needs:

- Bright/clear/crisp viewfinder that helps me compose and make sure the eyes are sharp from far away even
- Fast autofocus, AF point selection is not necessary but would be nice since eyes dont always land in center
- Precise built-in light meter
- Overall a kick ass camera system

I own a Canon EOS 5D Mark III (digital) with a 35mm and 50mm lens set. Would these lenses by some freak chance work with this old 35mm film camera (EOS-3)?!

Sirius Glass · May 7, 2017

I am very happy with the Nikon N75 and the Nikon F100. The F100 has many extra refinements the are better than the F4 but much lighter. Either will work for casual traveling and snapshot as well as more very serious camera work. Both are auto focus and manual focus.

Les Sarile · May 7, 2017

I used an EOS3 with f2.8 zoom "L" lenses and it's AF is very fast and accurate even in what are considered fairly dark environments. I understand that the Elan 7NE incorporated the latest Canon AF system for film cameras and believe it should be as responsive but in a smaller and lighter body if that matters.

The viewfinders are big and bright as any AF camera viewfinder is concerned but they all have relatively smaller magnification as they rely on AF accuracy rather then manual/visual control.

Any Canon EOS lens should work fine on these "older" machines.

MattKing · May 7, 2017

moodlover said:
I am looking at the Canon EOS-3 but wanted to get some suggestions on what are the best 35mm autofocus film camera for all types of portraits. I want to shoot full body portraits, medium portraits, closeup portraits, super close-up portraits (forehead to chin for ex). The reason I looked at this is because it has 45 points of autofocus (is it good though?) and for me I need to be able to focus on the eyes fast and I need a great built in light meter that I can control compensation with on the fly. My needs:

- Bright/clear/crisp viewfinder that helps me compose and make sure the eyes are sharp from far away even
- Fast autofocus, AF point selection is not necessary but would be nice since eyes dont always land in center
- Precise built-in light meter
- Overall a kick ass camera system

I own a Canon EOS 5D Mark III (digital) with a 35mm and 50mm lens set. Would these lenses by some freak chance work with this old 35mm film camera (EOS-3)?!

Your Canon lenses will work well on Canon EOS film cameras.
The closest I have to the EOS 3 is a Canon EOS 30/Elan 7e.
I like the seven point, eye control focus on it - I find it reliable and effective - but it doesn't work for everyone.
I would certainly consider one of the single digit Canon EOS cameras if you are looking for higher end durability.

moodlover · May 7, 2017

Thanks for the input guys. How exactly does the "eye control focus" work? Is it accurate/reliable? For some reason the name makes it sound like some sort of focus-where-your-eyes-look magic/sorcery.

MattKing · May 7, 2017

moodlover said:
Thanks for the input guys. How exactly does the "eye control focus" work? Is it accurate/reliable? For some reason the name makes it sound like some sort of focus-where-your-eyes-look magic/sorcery.

The eye control focus works by measuring how light reflects off your eyeball. You "train" it by calibrating the system - essentially looking at the various focus points in the screen when prompted. Then when you use it, as you look at various parts of the scene, the indicator for the closest focus point to where you are looking lights up, and that is where the camera focuses.
I have my two different eye control Canon models calibrated for me both with and without my eyeglasses.
It works for me - accurate and reliable. But it doesn't work for everyone, so the system was probably a marketing nightmare.
If you turn it off, the camera does a really good job of auto-focusing on its own, but there is nothing built into the auto-focus system that recognizes your subject's eyes, so don't expect that sort of artificial intelligence wizardry.
Mike Butkus' manual website has manuals for the various Canon options.

zanxion72 · May 7, 2017

Nothing less than the Nikon F6. If it comes to be too expensive, the F100. For the eye controlled focus, I had the EOS 5 and it has been a hell of a trouble using it. The camera was o.k., but I had to train me as well to using it. Distractions of the very last moment resulted to misfocused photos many times.

choiliefan · May 7, 2017

Whether you go with Canon or Nikon take note of which battery it uses. Two CR2's are fairly expensive to replace and not available everywhere.

Cholentpot · May 7, 2017

choiliefan said:
Whether you go with Canon or Nikon take note of which battery it uses. Two CR2's are fairly expensive to replace and not available everywhere.

Pain in the bottom. I'd use my EOS A2 every day all the time but that darn battery will make me think twice every time.

Sirius Glass · May 7, 2017

choiliefan said:
Whether you go with Canon or Nikon take note of which battery it uses. Two CR2's are fairly expensive to replace and not available everywhere.

The Nikon F100 uses AA batteries. The Nikon N75 uses CR2 batteries iirc.

Chan Tran · May 7, 2017

moodlover said:
I am looking at the Canon EOS-3 but wanted to get some suggestions on what are the best 35mm autofocus film camera for all types of portraits. I want to shoot full body portraits, medium portraits, closeup portraits, super close-up portraits (forehead to chin for ex). The reason I looked at this is because it has 45 points of autofocus (is it good though?) and for me I need to be able to focus on the eyes fast and I need a great built in light meter that I can control compensation with on the fly. My needs:

- Bright/clear/crisp viewfinder that helps me compose and make sure the eyes are sharp from far away even
- Fast autofocus, AF point selection is not necessary but would be nice since eyes dont always land in center
- Precise built-in light meter
- Overall a kick ass camera system

I own a Canon EOS 5D Mark III (digital) with a 35mm and 50mm lens set. Would these lenses by some freak chance work with this old 35mm film camera (EOS-3)?!

While you are looking at the EOS-3 then you should consider the EOS-1VHS. I don't know if the view finder and AF performance is up to your expectation but unlikely there isn't anything better. You should expect the meter to be accurate within 1/3 stop by definition. It won't necessarily gives you good exposure though so keep that in mind. There is no camera system I've known can kick ass.

jimjm · May 7, 2017

If you're already a Canon user, it sounds like there are a number of good options as others have noted above.

For Nikon, I'll add to the chorus of praise for the F100. It meets all of your requirements, is relatively small and light in standard configuration, and can be found used for $200-300. If you add the MB15 battery pack, it uses 6 AA batteries instead of 4 for the body alone, but you get an additional shutter release and control wheel when holding the camera in vertical position. I've done some sports shooting with mine, the meter is great and the AF is more than fast enough. Plus it's also compatible with the newer Nikon VR lenses. In terms of AF lenses for portraits, there's plenty to choose from (fixed and zooms) but the 105/2 DC is notable as it allows you more control in softening the focus in foreground and background areas.

An F6 would be the ultimate, but used prices are still pretty high.

Les Sarile · May 7, 2017

If you have quality Canon EOS lenses - specially the "L" types, then no other lens system need to be considered as they will not be a better and no other system has ECF.

If you are shooting negatives or b&w - films with extremely generous latitude, then exposure control will not be a concern unless there is a catastrophic failure or you manually set controls incorrectly. If you are shooting slides in extreme contrast settings then you still must know how to meter correctly - or know how your meter will compromise, to achieve the results you are looking for.

film_man · May 7, 2017

As already said your 35 and 50 will work with any Canon EOS film camera. Your options are basically these:
1V: Don't know how fast the MkIII AF is but from what I've been reading the 1V has faster autofocus than the MkII. You get 100% viewfinder, weather sealing and basically a camera body that is built like a 1D series camera.
3: Pretty much like a 1V, the interface and button layout are the same. AF almost the same but you do get eye control. VF is a bit smaller.
1N: If you don't want to spend the cash on a 1V but want 100% then this is the one.

Stick a Ec-S screen on any of these and your set.

Two23 · May 7, 2017

The Nikon F100 was the best camera I've ever used that has AF. Very fast, very accurate, and a well thought out camera. Nikon TTL flash is also the best system.

Kent in SD

fstop · May 7, 2017

Nikon all the way, backward and forward compatibility in both film and digital. F100 is a good body as is the F-5 and F-6.

cooltouch · May 7, 2017

Since you already own an EOS DSLR and EOS glass, I would stay within the EOS system, if it were me. I think your choice of the EOS 3 is a good one. The only one I think might be a bit better, at greater expense, is the EOS 1v.

I recommend you pick up a clean, used EOS 3 and if, for some reason you don't like it, you can probably re-sell it on eBay for little, if any loss. Then put the funds toward an EOS 1v. If you're not happy with either, then perhaps the EOS system is not for you, and you might want to look elsewhere. With regard to Nikon, I'd recommend an F5. It can handle most any AF chore you can imagine.

Sirius Glass · May 8, 2017

The Nikon F100 was the best 35mm slr that Nikon made feature-wise in an electronic camera. Some do find fault with it because the plastic back can be weak, but I never had a problem with the camera having a plastic body.

ic-racer · May 8, 2017

I think the F6 is the only player. Unless you intend on getting a used camera. In that instance, condition is more important than brand or model.

Hatchetman · May 8, 2017

I have the EOS 3 and 5Dii. Might as well stick with Canon. Eye control works but can be fidgety. I don't use it.

Ko.Fe. · May 8, 2017

I have briefly EOS 3 while I have L lenses and EOS DSLR. Eye focus worked fine for me within its limit. Even if it was something like 45 af points, the array itself was not covering entire frame, but more in the middle. Special batteries were expensive. And it was too heavy for carry on and around camera. Sold it quick and kept trusty, light and simple EOS 300. It is using less expensive batteries or just regular AA in the grip.

Eye controlled AF point selection is saving time for reportage pictures. Portraits... Yes, where is DSLR crowd at forums with fast lenses and portraits taken at f1.2 with nothing, but one eye in focus. I was in this crowd as well. Then I skipped forums and started to study portraits taken by known and realized what AF is least important part.

4season · May 8, 2017

EOS 3 sounds like a winner, but so do the Elan and Rebel series. No depth of field preview on the Rebels, but they weigh and cost practically nothing. I bought a Rebel G and current 40/2.8 and that is a featherweight combination. Not very "retro", but very useful.

CR2 batteries: Buy rechargeable CR2s: Bundled with charger, they can be very economical and result is a smaller and lighter camera.

MattKing · May 8, 2017

+1 for the 40/2.8.
Just be aware that the STM lenses take a little bit of getting used to - focusing "by wire" seems strange if one has almost always used manual focus.
And you will need something longer than 50mm if you want to do close-in portraits.

RichardJack · May 9, 2017

I agree with those who said a Nikon F100. You have a larger amount of lenses available than Canon (including MF lenses) and it is much better constructed and sealed against weather.

OptiKen · May 9, 2017

The vast majority of my out of focus shots come from cameras with auto-focus

just sayin'.............

Push me toward an awesome, reliable 35mm camera that has autofocus

moodlover

Sirius Glass

Les Sarile

MattKing

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moodlover

MattKing

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zanxion72

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fstop

cooltouch

Sirius Glass

ic-racer

Hatchetman

Ko.Fe.

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Push me toward an awesome, reliable 35mm camera that has autofocus

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