<<SNIPPED>> > > I am looking at getting a 2nd body for a number of reasons. First, when > travelling I want to be able to have the 17-35mm and 70-200mm > both available > quickly because at the moment I tend to keep the 28-70mm on most > of the time but > always use it at either extreme and very seldomly in the range of > 35-70mm. > <<SNIPPED>> > > The second reason is that my girlfriend also likes taking photos > but given that > I lug everything around she tends to leave the taking of photos > up to me. She > is quite keen to keep a camera at hand, although she will > probably prefer to > carry the 17-35mm than the 70-200mm. > > The third reason is that in some situations I want to be able to > have different > cameras fitted with different film including infra red, which the EOS 5 > obviously doesn't handle very well. > > So, I am currently looking at the EOS 620 because it seems solid enough to > handle the heavy lenses without being too heavy itself, it > doesn't have an infra > red film counter, it has a pretty good top shutter speed (f2.8 > gives you some > requires 1/4000 quite often on a sunny day), seems pretty simple > to use and it > isn't priced ridiculously (my next big expenditure is going to be > digital). The > other camera I am looking at is the EOS 10, which has the same > feel as the 5 but > for the extra cash doesn't really seem to add much to the 620. > > So before I lash out is there any other body I should consider? > I know the 620 > won't get the most out of the lenses that I have (eg focussing) > but I figure for > difficult photos (high speed objects, high contrast exposure or > in low light) I > can just use the EOS 5. > > Any advice would be greatly appreciated. > Nigel. >
Hi Nigel, >From the sound of it the EOS 5 body is the one to buy with the exception of IR film use. Are you sure about IR film? Don't get me wrong IR is interesting and impressive prints can be made using IR films, just checking how committed you are to IR film use. The EOS 5 has everything you need in a travel camera, they're light weight, full featured and with the pop-up flash for fill very handy indeed. But for the IR issue, oh well... Anyway, from your description of the second body's use I'd be inclined to say that you don't need blazing AI Servo speed or 10FPS film advance speed so these features are secondary. Weight can be an issue but isn't usually critical unless you are backpacking or have some severe physical disability. So the features you may want to look for would be, good reliability, metal lens mount, good dust/moisture sealing, cross AF sensor, good low light AF, good metering with >+/-3 stops exposure compensation, fine spot <3% and center weighted metering, Quick Control Dial (for an EOS 5 user, a body without one is weird, trust me!), moderate film advance speed but reasonably fast AI Servo AF speed, sprocket film counter, bright 100% finder for slide film, compatibility with existing EOS accessories like A-TTL flash etc., compatibility with existing lenses, balance, future flexibility, cost. This should about sum it up yes? Let's start with the obvious, a metal lens mount and Quick Control Dial, this eliminates most of the low-end, mid and older EOS bodies as does the cross type AF sensor and low light AF performance. Fine spot metering (3%), and the IR film requirement will cull even more of the bodies. So what's left of the EOS bodies? EOS 1v, EOS 1n, EOS 1nRS and EOS 1 all meet the full requirements listed above. The EOS 1v is too new/pricey for a secondary body 8^), the EOS 1n is a great camera but would become your primary camera, the EOS 1nRS while a fantastic sports/action tool is very narrowly focused and best used as a specialty body, EOS 1, ahh just right. The EOS 1 fits all of the requirements I listed above, a step up from the EOS 5 but adds just a few bits to increase your EOS camera system's flexibility. The EOS 1 adds IR film capability, the option of faster AI Servo AF performance with the addition of a Power Booster E1 and has Canon's bomb-proof construction, better low light AF, a night light for the top deck LCD, 100% finder, 2.5% fine spot metering, faster X-Sync speed. It will also balance better than your EOS 5 with all of your lenses and works much like your EOS 5 does with the QCD on the back, will work with your 540EZ/430EZ flash, has a wider exposure comp range and can be used with cheap AA OR 2CR5 batteries with the addition of a BP E1 grip. The EOS 1 is heavier though but they are available used at very reasonable prices. An EOS 1 in excellent-mint condition can be had for as little as $300-$350 and with a booster $450-$500. Then a step or two down are the EOS 10/10s bodies which are not as well built and lack several key features, moderate low light AF performance, no Quick Control Dial, no fine spot metering are the main problems. Also not bomb-proof, slower X-sync speed, slower shutter (1/4000), and no second curtain flash sync, lack grip/booster capability. But it does have a built-in flash, 3 AF points, good AI Servo AF speed and a lower cost than a similar condition EOS 1. Last there are the EOS 600 family bodies, models 600/630, 620 and 650. They all are capable of IR film use without fogging but are lacking even more features than the EOS 10/10s primarily good low light AF, cross AF sensor, AI servo AF speed etc. So for a second body that MUST not fog IR film the EOS 1 is IMO the best candidate by far and the EOS 10/10s a distant second and the lode EOS 600's a last option. Regards, Chip Louie * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
