Canon SLR Film Lenses

[olds]

Are all older Canon SLR lenses compatibile with a DSLR such as the XSi?
I've been seeing some for reasonable prices with SLR cameras on Craigslist.
Or did they use different mounts?

 

[ghostman]

No such luck. The older Canon SLR's used a different mount (FL, FD...). The XSi can only take EF and EF-S mounts. If the Canon lens is not EF or EF-S, it won't work.

See the list of mounts here (bottom):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EF-S_lens_mount

From what I understand, adapters for the FD-to-EF exist, but they are expensive, only work on a small set of lenses and degrade quality. I should note, however, that if you don't mind doing everything manually (manual focusing, manual aperture setting), you can mount old Nikon lenses (and some other brands) on Canon bodies using cheap $15 adapters that do not degrade quality. I would know, since I have a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 E Series lens and a S-M-C Takumar 50mm f/1.4 lens (m42 mount) for my Canon XTi.

EDIT: typo

 

[Aharami]

how do you manually control aperture?

 

[rudder]

How old of a canon? My Rebel 35mm takes EF lenses. I bought it in 1996... and the reason I went with a canon DSLR was because I could keep my lenses.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Aharami
how do you manually control aperture?

on the lens itself.

 

[ghostman]

Originally posted by: Aharami
how do you manually control aperture?

Older lenses have a separate aperture ring:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com...2719155_7e479e8afe.jpg

Given that the OP mentioned he's seeing reasonable prices on CL for some of the lenses, I'm guessing the "older" Canon SLR lenses he's seeing was for non-EOS, non-digital SLRs. If it was EF lenses, then it would be compatible with Canon DSLRs and the prices would generally reflect that.

 

[olds]

Thanks for the answers.
Just one example of what I am seeing, didn't look up the mount type on this camera:
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/ele/1225021524.html

 

[randomlinh]

that isn't that old, it's EOS. you're good

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: ghostman
Older lenses have a separate aperture ring:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com...2719155_7e479e8afe.jpg

I wish that current lenses still had that capability so that a "M" (Manual) setting could be completely manual and easy. This is a look at the controls of my 80-200mm Zoom Nikkor that goes with my venerable Nikon F2AS system.

This gave the user total control without having to look through the viewfinder and search for very small digits. And, the auto function was there as well.

Manual

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
that isn't that old, it's EOS. you're good

however, the lenses may not be worth what they're asking. the 80-200 isn't exactly good.

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: randomlinh
that isn't that old, it's EOS. you're good

however, the lenses may not be worth what they're asking. the 80-200 isn't exactly good.

Agreed. Both the 28-80 and 80-200 (not the f/2.8 version) are bargain-basement lenses that are no better than your 18-55mm kit lens. Worse, actually, since your 18-55 has IS.

However, many Canon film lenses work beautifully on digital. As long as the lens you are looking at is an EF lens (for the EOS system, not older FD or FL lenses), then it will mount and work fine on digital SLRs made by Canon.

A few very nice lenses that originally debuted for film cameras are:

-The 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro
-The 70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 Ultrasonic (I have one of these)
-The 80-200mm f/2.8 AFD

In fact, many of Canon's current lenses originally debuted on film. For example, the 135L, 200L Mk. I, 50mm f/1.8 Mk. I, and many other lenses were first released before Canon mass produced a digital SLR.