DSLR Photography Forum

This may be a stupid question but, I have some canon eos lenses from my 35mm canon eos and I was considering getting a digital SLR. Am I able to use my exsisting lenses on any eos series digitals?

Yes

You certainly can. I'm pretty sure that the EF range of lenses came out for the EOS series of cameras with the older FD series being for pre-EOS but don't quote me on it!

Yes, it was a stupid question or yes I can use the lenses :/

I'm just learning now about digital having worked with Nikon SLRs for a while now, I'm wanting to convert from film strictly for cost reasons, as I still love film! I'm just trying to find the cheapest way to convert as I don't work much and will be stying soon

So why not go for a Nikon DSLR rather than a Canon?

I figured if I can use the lenses I already have then I can save money by just buying a canon body, I like the NIkon but I just need to think of costs at the moment. The sooner I can get my own gear the sooner I can get away from my current employer!

Ahh right Nikon owned by someone, now it makes sense.

That would certainly be a good saving then. Something like the Canon 350D might suit you if you want something cheap yet decent, it is a pretty narrow gap now between the 350D and the 20D.

Thats good to know that there isnt a lot of difference between, because I was looking at 20D but then realised 350D is a bit cheaper. I'm only starting really so the cheaper I can do it the better!

Hi Danielle,

I just bought a 350D (Friday just gone), and agonised over the options of a 300D, 350D, D20, and also the Nikon D70 for me too as I don't have any Canon lenses.

For me it pretty much came down to a choice between the 350D and 20D. The 300D is cheaper than the 350D, but not by much. I think it is worth the extra $100 difference between them for the extra 2 megapixels, much faster operation, better image quality, DigicII processor, "unlocked" features from the factory, and few other differences between them.
The D20 is a better camera again than the 350D. Same resolution, but better image quality, build quality, features, autofocus, and operation speed. But this time, the price jump is a lot more (supposedly almost $1000!).
For me, I couldn't justify that price jump in a camera that will become obsolete in the foreseeable future. I am satisfied the 350D is more than adequate for my needs at the moment, and put the $$$ difference into a cheap L-series lens (which won't become obsolete when the camera is).

All Canon EF lenses are interchangable between their Film and Digital SLR's, so any lens you have for a Canon EOS camera *will* work on any new Canon camera (basically any Canon lens made since the mid 80's I think).
In addition to that, Canon have now released a few EF-S lenses which *only* work on the 300D, 350D and D20 (and probably future DSLR's). These new lenses protrude slightly further into the camera than the normal EF lenses, so will not physically fit ANY Canon film SLR (and even their other Digital SLR's at the moment). The kit lens that comes with the 300D, 350D and D20 is one of these EF-S lenses, which means that you can't use this lens on any Canon film SLR you might have. They did this so that they could make affordable wide-angle lenses for their DSLR's which have a 1.6 crop factor.

For what its worth, the Canon RRP's of these cameras with 18-55mm kit lens are
below:

20D - $2899
350D - $1899
300D - $1799

Note that you should be able to buy these cameras for significantly less than these prices. I paid $1689 for my 350D, and have seen prices as low as $1285 for a 300D, $1469 for a 350D (which I ordered but would take too long to get stock in), and $2469 for the 20D.

A couple of links worth checking:

http://www.digitalcity.net.au/store/brow...9&brand=21

http://www.centre.net.au/Canon_000642.html

Note also the 20D and 300D "enthusiast kits".. The 300D kit from digitalcity comes with a CF card and EF 55-200 USM lens in addition to the EF-S 18-55 kit lens for $1649, and the 20D one comes with the gorgeous EF-S 17-85 USM IS lens instead of the EF-S 18-55. I was particularly interested in the 20D enthusiast kit, as that EF-S 17-85 lens with Image Stabilisation is supposed to be really nice and the price was only $2799 from centre.net.au (the lens retails for $1099 alone on the Canon website). But remember it is an "EF-S" lens, which means you would have a $1000 lens you can't use on your film cameras :o

Hope that helps!
Cheers
Adrian

I own a 10D, and am very pleased with the results. Whilst I personally would avoid the 300d, the 350 and 20D are improvements on the 10, so probably most excellent.

Ignore stupid stories of how hard it is to deal with dust. Thise stories are just that; stories.

I've used SLR and TLR for 30+ years, and have no complaints about Canon digital at all.



Ps.
James is a pornographer until he states otherwise.

Daniellestar Wrote:Thats good to know that there isnt a lot of difference between, because I was looking at 20D but then realised 350D is a bit cheaper. I'm only starting really so the cheaper I can do it the better!

Hi,

I see you're from Newcastle.....I assume that's not Newcastle in the UK, but just in case it IS, the Canon 300D is available here:
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=777 for £399 including VAT.

--NN

Newcaste, it says. Newcaste. Not Newcastle.

I am a pornographer and don't intend to state otherwise!

I got in trouble recently taking shots to be printed at a local lab as there was nudity in them and I didn't even think about that when I dropped them in.

Thats alright, I've taken a lot of nude lady photos, but I am a lady so I don't know if I'm still cl;assed as a porno photographer!! I'm from newcastle australia, I'm just stupid and can't spell!!! :/
thanks kombisaurus, I think you made up my mind!! now all I have to do is get a decent paying job and get it asap, I'm going to look into bar tending, Classy work!!!

Hey I like Newcastle, dirt and coal and all I've got a few friends over that way but I haven't been over in nearly 4 years now.

Nothing wrong with tending bar as long as it pays the bills!

So you used to shoot for a studio or something similar Danielle? Small world I know a Danni Star in Wollongong that is a photographer and a girl over here who is a Danielle Alexander but used Star as a stage name and for modeling!

Danielle and star just go well together! I'm working for a local website called www.stickybeek.com.au and www.modelsaustralia.com.au , theres just been a few problems with me promised full time work and nothing happening, especially when you've just moved out of home, it's a long story but i'll just say I was promised a lot and not much has happened. I plan to study graphic design soon, to broaden my field as I now know it's hard to make it in photography!!

Very nice site though, its a bit of a cuthroat business and there isn't a lot of money in the modeling side of things anyway unfortunately.

Yeah it's a pity it's not working out for me because it was a great opportunity photography wise, but I got a lot of experience and now know what I need to do to make it. I really like your site, my hope is in a few years I will be able to do web design so I can have my own site

Hey Danielle,

Just in case your original question wasn't answered (we do get a bit off topic over here sometimes... ok almost all the time).

Yes, Canon EF lenses can be used on Canon digital bodies as well. But not the other way, in some cases -- the EF-s ones for digital can't be used for bodies with full frame sensors.



Welcome to Shuttertalk, by the way!

Thanks for that! I think I've decided on a 350D, body only now! That will save me a bit! I'm excited now!! I just have to work on the money part now......................................................