Any list of Classic AF cameras would need to include the first generation EOS film SLR cameras. The first generation EOS 650, 620 and 630 (sold as the 600 in Europe) were released between 1987 and 1989 and set standards in performance and design that continue in Canon’s digital cameras.
Canon EOS film SLR cameras are cheap and easy to find – Canon made millions of them – and they all use the same EF lenses as Canon’s current full frame DSLRs. Buy an EOS film camera and you can use any EF lens with it, from ultra-wide to ultra-telephoto.
Canon EOS SLRs: 23 Years and 30 Models
Think “analog street photography” and you’ll probably think of a metal manual focus SLR camera (or rangefinder) on a neck strap, or sitting on a table next to a cappuccino… black plastic and auto-focus is too modern to be classic, right?
Canon’s first generation of EOS auto-focus SLR film cameras were introduced in 1987 and are now over 30 years old. Canon produced over 30 different models of EOS film cameras over a 23 year production run, so there are a lot to choose from.
Want a professional, fully weatherproof film camera? Get an EOS 1 series. Want something small and light? Get an EOS 1000 or EOS 500 series (the Rebel and Kiss in USA and Japan). Something in between? There are a dozen other models to choose from.
Each and every EOS film camera is fully compatible with every EF lenses produced from 1987 to the present day: you can get an EOS 650 from 1987 and mount an EF 85 f1.4 L USM IS released in 2017 and it will work. There is no other system that offers greater choice and compatibility.
Which cameras from this 23 year production are the best? It’s easier to list the cameras to AVOID!. A small few of Canon’s early entry-level models omitted the front control dial and had limited exposure modes in an effort to simplify operation and reduce costs. (None sold particularly well.) The limited exposure control might be worked around but the lack of front control dial limits the camera’s functionality. The models to avoid are:
- EOS 750
- EOS 850
- EOS 700
- EOS 5000 (EOS 888 in Asia)
These early entry-level models were not particularly successful, some like the EOS 750 and 850 lasting less than a year. It wasn’t until Canon combined class-leading autofocus with auto-exposure exposure automation for point-and-shoot simplicity, plus the option of full camera control that Canon found success, first with the EOS 1000 (Rebel in USA) and later with the EOS 500 (Kiss in Japan, Rebel XS in USA). These all-plastic wonders are small and light and make GREAT little street cameras.
AF Classics: the First Generation EOS
A list of Classic AF cameras world have to include the first generation EOS cameras. The EOS 650, 620 and 630 (also sold as the 600) were released between 1987 and 1989.These cameras set standards in design and technology that continue in Canon’s digital cameras.
The EOS film cameras are probably not considered “classic” because they look and feel very modern. That;’s because Canon’s digital EOS cameras are directly descended from the original EOS 650.
The First of the First: EOS 650 and 620
The EOS 650 was released on Canon’s 50th anniversary, 2 March 1987. The EOS 620 was released just two months later in May 1987. Canon bet its future on these two EOS cameras and could not afford failure, so the entire system of EOS cameras and lenses were designed and built to high standards and levels of performance.
The EOS 650 offered an integrated 3.5 frames-per-second film advance and motorised rewind, 1/2000 to 30 second shutter and fully electronic exposure control with Program, Aperture and Shutter priority, and Manual modes.
The EOS 620 added a 1/4000 to 30 second shutter, LCD backlight, exposure bracketing and multiple exposures, and was marketed as a more “professional” model. In hindsight it was a stop-gap while Canon worked on the EOS 1.
Upgraded: the EOS 630/600
The first real upgrade occurred in 1989 with the release of the EOS 630/600. Sold as the EOS 630 in Japan and North America and the EOS 600 in the rest of the world (Europe, UK, Australia), this model offered several improvements over the 650 and 620:
- Second generation auto-focus: 2x faster, better in low light, AI-prediction
- 7 custom functions, including back-button focus and film-leader out
- 7 PIC (Programmed Image Control) modes
The EOS 630 was available in two colours, Black (the colour of the EOS 650 and 620) and Metallic Grey, while the EOS 600 was only available only in Metallic Grey.
Real Time: The EOS RT
The last 25,000 bodies of the EOS 630 production run were used as the basis for the EOS RT – a small number considering that over 4.5 million Canon AE-1 cameras alone were sold in the late 1970s. The EOS RT (short for “Real Time”) features the same 5 fps motor drive, improved auto focus and custom functions as the 630.
For the EOS RT, the moving reflex mirror of the 630 was replaced with a fixed semi-transparent flat film pellicle mirror that transmits 60% of light from the lens to the film and directs the remaining 40% continuously to the viewfinder, so the image never blacks out during exposure.
The EOS RT features an “RT” mode that reduces the shutter lag from 40 milliseconds to just 8ms. Shutter response is almost instant – hence Real Time. The RT mode reduces shutter lag by closing the lens aperture and preparing the shutter for release when the shutter button is half-pressed. When the button is fully pressed the camera only needs to open and close the shutter.
The lack of moving mirror also allows the RT shutter to be almost silent. The RT has a custom function that delays the film advance until the shutter button is released, making the camera very discreet during operation.
When buying an EOS RT carefully check the condition of the pellicle mirror. Unlike a normal SLR mirror which moves out of the way during exposure, the pellicle mirror always remains in the light path so imperfections like dirt and scratches on the surface will affect the image on film.
EF Lenses: Spoilt for Choice
Canon EOS 620 with EF 20mm f2.8 USM. This ultra-wide lens was introduced in 1992 and was in production for over 20 years.
You have a huge choice of lenses for your Canon EOS film camera. All EOS film cameras use EF mount lenses, and all EF full frame lenses work with all EOS film cameras. Thousands of EF lenses have been made so they are easy to find and usually reasonably priced.
Canon’s EF lenses work just as well on Canon’s EOS digital cameras as the EOS film cameras, so buying-in to the Canon EOS camera and EF lens system means your digital and film camera bodies can share the same lenses.
Most EF prime and zoom lenses are good performers. All EF prime lenses are excellent; some zoom lenses intended for entry-level models were built to a price, and better alternatives are easy and cheap to find. These zooms can be identified by their plastic mounts. If you can pick up one for cheap or free then have fun with it, but there are many other lenses that produce better results.
Canon’s wide prime lenses are cheap today because people now prefer zoom lenses. Canon’s EF 20mm f2.8 USM ultra-wide is cheap because a few more dollars will get the EF 17-40mm f4 zoom. The 20mm is sharper, smaller and lighter than the zoom. The same goes for the 28, 35 and 50mm lenses. Most were in production for over 20 years, and some like the 50 f1.4 and 85 f1.8 are still in production and are available new.
Recommended: The EOS 630/600
Any of the first generation EOS cameras are usable classics. The exposure metering systems are accurate and comparable to today’s best. The auto-focus of the 650 and 620 is fine in good light but lower levels particularly with slower lenses will find the focus hunting occasionally. The improved autofocus of the EOS 630/600 combined with 5 frames per second film advance and custom functions makes this model stand out as the most usable of the first generation EOS film cameras. Classic AF.
AF systems work best with fast lenses so I recommend primes instead of zoom lenses. This is a recommendation I’d make to anybody starting out in street photography anyway.
All EOS film cameras work equally well with the newest EF lenses, so if you already have full-frame lenses just buy a film EOS body and get on the street and start photographing.