These things are amazing. Someone bought me a voucher for a local camera shop one Christmas. But - since I only owned older film cameras and I had to use the new voucher on 'new' equipment. I bought a 24-70 F4L with IS for the 650. The lens has ordered by the camera shop, from Canon, as they had none in stock. It has a production date of May 2019. The camera body has a production date of October 1987. Everything works. Including Image Stabilisation. And the Macro-mode image stabilisation. The lens reports it's focal length as it zooms to the flash, which auto-zooms to match. It is a level of backwards compatibility that I doubt anyone in Canon ever intended or tested. I doubt they ever expected anyone to be made enough to do that. But in the modern era where 'backwards compatibility' is a dirty word in the face of sales targets it is genuinely impressive. It just 'works' If I finally bought an EOS R --- it'd work on that thing too. A unique level of madness.
Isn't the EF mount fantastic! It's a shame that other companies took so long to get into the same level of compatibility! Nikon had it for years with their manual focus offerings. But the most recent Type-E (different from series E) will only work on some of the F6! Glad that your lens works flawlessly with the 650! It's a solid piece of camera, and thanks for watching! 🍻🍻
Hi from England you have done an excellent job of showing how an older camera can still be relevant in 2023 your passion and knowledge of photography really shows in your videos - I am new to photography and have just bought a 650 and a 600 in the US the 630 model both in mint condition your video has helped me to know controls and suitable lens to purchase thank you and good luck with future video productions - Regards Sir John.
@Alex Luyckx You can fix that sticky command dial with a shot or two of contact cleaner (tuner cleaner). Just make sure the camera is off, (I also removed the battery) give it a shot or two while rolling the command dial both ways. Let it dry and you should be in business. Mine would not reliably select the proper aperture before cleaning the contacts, but now it works like a charm. 🙂
I remember drooling over the EOS 620/650 brochures a bit around the time I first got into photography. I ended up with a Pentax P3n (after shooting borrowed Konica Autoreflex T3 and Pentax Program Plus), and I still love all these cameras. Turns out that I've never owned a Canon SLR but many from Pentax. Canon really made lemonade from lemons when it made the big move to change to a modern lensmount. Seems like they went from one of the worst mounts to possibly the best (roomy for fast glass, modern, friendly for adapters) -- possibly due to circumstances they felt they had little choice -- while most competitors felt they'd be better off evolving and leveraging their legacy mounts.
The P3n isn’t a bad little camera for what it was! And yeah the EF was a big leap for Canon and changed them into a real market force! Thanks for watching 🍻
I got a 650 in either 88 or 89 from the camera department at K-Mart. I got it for the autofocus more than anything else. My eyes weren’t the best and the autofocus really helped. Wish I still had it but I still have all the EOS system lenses and with an adapter they will work on the EOS R I have and also my FujiFilm GFX 50SII. When I started using film again I got the Nikon cameras I always had lusted after when I was younger but the Canon is my go to for the digital 35
I use a Pentax SFX, also introduced in 1987. The controls are quite different to the Canons and Minoltas of the same vintage, and it is a bit noisy and slow to focus, but a very nice camera just the same. I picked it up to replace the last of a series of Minolta 500si units that sadly passed on.
The Pentax SF is a little odd compared to the more typical modern AF SLR but I mostly like it. The buttons and up/down slide/jog switch don't bother me at all. Having to use both hands for exposure comp is strange for a modern SLR but was quite common on manual film SLRs (if they even offered the feature at all), so it's pretty good compared to that. It's a bit noisy and a little bulky, AF is a bit pokey but accurate. I miss DoF preview and viewfinder aperture readout a little.
Sorry for the late comment, but there is an easier way to deal with difficult light situation. Instead of changing the ISO setting, I work with the exposure compensation function to get the desired result. Works for me. Best regards from Germany - Helmut
if you can get a sample camera..if would be nice to try a canon or Nikon rangefinders (especially the Millennium S3 or the 2005 SP, superb craftsmanship and glass)
These things are amazing.
Someone bought me a voucher for a local camera shop one Christmas. But - since I only owned older film cameras and I had to use the new voucher on 'new' equipment.
I bought a 24-70 F4L with IS for the 650.
The lens has ordered by the camera shop, from Canon, as they had none in stock. It has a production date of May 2019. The camera body has a production date of October 1987.
Everything works. Including Image Stabilisation. And the Macro-mode image stabilisation. The lens reports it's focal length as it zooms to the flash, which auto-zooms to match.
It is a level of backwards compatibility that I doubt anyone in Canon ever intended or tested. I doubt they ever expected anyone to be made enough to do that. But in the modern era where 'backwards compatibility' is a dirty word in the face of sales targets it is genuinely impressive.
It just 'works'
If I finally bought an EOS R --- it'd work on that thing too.
A unique level of madness.
Isn't the EF mount fantastic! It's a shame that other companies took so long to get into the same level of compatibility! Nikon had it for years with their manual focus offerings. But the most recent Type-E (different from series E) will only work on some of the F6! Glad that your lens works flawlessly with the 650! It's a solid piece of camera, and thanks for watching! 🍻🍻
Really interesting history Alex, thank you!
Cheers! The history bit is probably the hardest part to research, write and present! So I appreciate the kind words and thanks for watching 🍻
Love that 40mm f2.8 pancake lens, don’t love those 2CR5 batteries haha. I don’t have any of the 6/7/800 series, but I love my Rebels and Elans!
Yeah that 40mm lives on my Elan IIE now! And I also got the BP50 to use AA! (Elan IIe review in April!) Thanks for watching 🍻
Wow great introduction. 10/10
Thanks for watching 🍻
Hi from England you have done an excellent job of showing how an older camera can still be relevant in 2023 your passion and knowledge of photography really shows in your videos - I am new to photography and have just bought a 650 and a 600 in the US the 630 model both in mint condition your video has helped me to know controls and suitable lens to purchase thank you and good luck with future video productions - Regards Sir John.
Thank you for the kind words! Enjoy working with the cameras! Thanks for watching 🍻
@Alex Luyckx You can fix that sticky command dial with a shot or two of contact cleaner (tuner cleaner). Just make sure the camera is off, (I also removed the battery) give it a shot or two while rolling the command dial both ways. Let it dry and you should be in business. Mine would not reliably select the proper aperture before cleaning the contacts, but now it works like a charm. 🙂
Ah! Thank you! Will give that a shot! Thanks for the suggestion and for watching 🍻
Interesting!
I had a 650 that I gave to a friend, I didn't have a use for it myself so it was better that someone else gets to use it
The best camera is one that is used and loved! Even if it’s by someone else! Thanks for watching 🍻
I remember drooling over the EOS 620/650 brochures a bit around the time I first got into photography. I ended up with a Pentax P3n (after shooting borrowed Konica Autoreflex T3 and Pentax Program Plus), and I still love all these cameras. Turns out that I've never owned a Canon SLR but many from Pentax. Canon really made lemonade from lemons when it made the big move to change to a modern lensmount. Seems like they went from one of the worst mounts to possibly the best (roomy for fast glass, modern, friendly for adapters) -- possibly due to circumstances they felt they had little choice -- while most competitors felt they'd be better off evolving and leveraging their legacy mounts.
The P3n isn’t a bad little camera for what it was! And yeah the EF was a big leap for Canon and changed them into a real market force! Thanks for watching 🍻
I got a 650 in either 88 or 89 from the camera department at K-Mart. I got it for the autofocus more than anything else. My eyes weren’t the best and the autofocus really helped. Wish I still had it but I still have all the EOS system lenses and with an adapter they will work on the EOS R I have and also my FujiFilm GFX 50SII. When I started using film again I got the Nikon cameras I always had lusted after when I was younger but the Canon is my go to for the digital 35
Nice! They are solid cameras despite their age! I also am a primarily Nikon user, and they remain my main system! Thanks for Watching!
I use a Pentax SFX, also introduced in 1987. The controls are quite different to the Canons and Minoltas of the same vintage, and it is a bit noisy and slow to focus, but a very nice camera just the same. I picked it up to replace the last of a series of Minolta 500si units that sadly passed on.
That's too bad about your 500si! But that SFX looks interesting! Thanks for watching!
The Pentax SF is a little odd compared to the more typical modern AF SLR but I mostly like it. The buttons and up/down slide/jog switch don't bother me at all. Having to use both hands for exposure comp is strange for a modern SLR but was quite common on manual film SLRs (if they even offered the feature at all), so it's pretty good compared to that. It's a bit noisy and a little bulky, AF is a bit pokey but accurate. I miss DoF preview and viewfinder aperture readout a little.
Sorry for the late comment, but there is an easier way to deal with difficult light situation. Instead of changing the ISO setting, I work with the exposure compensation function to get the desired result. Works for me.
Best regards from Germany - Helmut
Yes! The EV adjustment I want to play a little more with! Thanks for the top and for watching 🍻
if you can get a sample camera..if would be nice to try a canon or Nikon rangefinders (especially the Millennium S3 or the 2005 SP, superb craftsmanship and glass)
I would love to review a Nikon and Canon rangefinder! I’ve heard amazing things! Might have a source for the Canon rangefinder who is local.
or try reviewing a Contax iiia or iia - with the 50mm f1.5 glass....just sublime.
I have a IIIa with the 50/1.5 Sonar!
I just bought this camera at a yard sale, and it has the battery,but its dead. Is there a charger that came with it?
Sadly these cameras where made before camera batteries could be charged. You will need to get a new 2CR5 battery. Thanks for watching 🍻
@@AlexLuyckxPhoto thanks for the reply.
Best camera I ever had, so far ahead of anything else at the time
Indeed! And still stands up today! Thanks for watching 🍻
Still one of my favorite cameras. I still prefer the 630, but the 650 can accept the GR30 grip so you can you that silly cable release.
They do have a certain charm! Yes that cable release is weird! Thanks for watching 🍻
@@AlexLuyckxPhoto I watch 'em all. =)
Finally someone from North America who can pronounce Nikon properly...!!! hahah
I was corrected a couple years back by someone who worked for Nikon! And make a point to do my hardest to always say it right! Thanks for watching 🍻