Hello,

Recently my EOS100 started failing due to the sticky substance on the shutter blades. Since it is old enough (12/93) I decided not to fix it and upgrade. My mind is set on an EOS-3 because I don't want the same thing happening again. It was painful enough to loose a lot of pictures. Of course I could use some advice...

My current lenses are EF 35-80 f/4-5.6 USM, EF 75-300 f/4-5.6 II USM and EF 50 f/1.8 II. I also own a Speedlite 430 EZ. Do you think I should upgrade any lense? I've been reading that they are not specially sharp, except maybe the 50mm one. BTW, the most that I enlarge is 8x12.

I was pretty much satisfied until now, but I need to do something about it.

Thanks for any input.

-- Bernardo Movsichoff (musi22@netscape.net), February 25, 2002

Answers

If you are satisfied with the results you are getting from your lenses, there's no reason to change. You may want to add some lenses to your bag in the future but, if the lenses work okay and you get good results, why change?

-- Lee (Leemarthakiri@sport.rr.com), February 25, 2002.

Yes, I agree with you. The problem is that I don't know what I'm missing. I have no idea how better it can get with an L lense or a better(?) zoom like 28-105mm.

-- Bernardo Movsichoff (musi22@netscape.net), February 25, 2002.

Bernardo, I started shooting with a 28-105 (and still use it quite often, it's a very good lens) and have always been very pleased with the results. I did, however, buy the 85/1.8 a couple of years ago for low light and candid portaiture mostly, and the difference between the two is really very noticeable, even at 4x6 prints. It's not that the zoom isn't sharp, it's just that the prime lens has a snap to it that the zoom doesn't. The contrast is better, the backgrounds are more smoothly rendered (better "bokeh"), and of course you have more control of depth-of-field. I think if you are going to notice much of a difference in your pictures without breaking the bank, some good primes are the way to go. Think about the lenses you have now and at what settings do you most use them. Many people use their zooms mostly at the extremes, some like the middle lengths better. Maybe you could start out with the 35f2 and 85f1.8 in place of your 35-80 zoom, alot depends on your budget, but both lenses are reasonably priced and you won't be disappointed with their performance. Hope this helps somewhat with your decision, Jim.

-- Jim Simon (jsimon724@aol.com), February 25, 2002.

If you want to see how much better it can get, shoot some pictures with the 50mm f/1.8 at f/4 to f/11. That's about as sharp as anything else is going to get. If those pictures don't look substantially better that the pictures from the 35-80 and the 75-300, and you are still pleased with the results of the zooms, keep them.

The 28-105 has improved optics, but unless you look close you might not see the difference. But the wider view of 28mm is quite useful.

Also the 430EZ is a nice flash but the EOS 3 is capable of using an EX series Speedlite with E-TTL metering, Flash Exposure Lock and high speed sync. Depending on how valuable and frequent your flash pictures are, you might consider upgrading that as well.

By the way, fixing the EOS 100's shutter is not too hard to do yourself. If you search the archives here you will find the info on how to do it.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), February 25, 2002.

Do you live somewhere where you can rent lenses? You could rent a nice L lens for the day and compare it to your current lens and see how happy you are with the results.

Also, the idea of shooting with a 50mm 1.8 is a good one, particularly if there isn't anywhere near you that rents lenses. I have to say I was pretty depressed when I compared the results of a 50mm 1.8 with my 28-105 3.5-4.5, though. So be prepared.

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), February 25, 2002.

Thank you for your answers, they have given me some food for thought.

Jim, as for repairing it myself, I read previous posts on the matter. It is my understanding that after cleaning it as you described, the sticky stuff will appear again(after some time). Most of the time I had no indication that the camera was failing, but the last roll I took came back from the lab with only 5 of the 36 frames exposed!

Then doing research I found this site and all the info about it... looked at the shutter blades and looks like it.

I don't sell my pictures or anything, I'm just a serious amateur, but those were my holyday pictures. We've got a saying in spanish that if you allow me it goes something like this: If you burn yourself with milk, you see a cow and start crying.

Thans again for your advice

-- Bernardo Movsichoff (musi22@netscape.net), February 26, 2002.

Many people think that you should have $$$$$ worth of glass on as cheap a body as you can get away with. Many consumers tend to put stock in having the "best" camera they can, and don't pay so much attention to the lenses.

The truth of the matter is that you need to find the body that suits you, and the lenses that suit you. It's not up to anyone else to tell you how to spend your money.

I personally favour a good balance between body and lens. I used to use an EOS 5 with 24-85, 70-200 F4L and 300 F4L IS and a Canon 1.4X TC, but have just upgraded to an EOS 3 body, which takes advantage of these lenses much better, with its faster AF. So there is a balance to be struck, between lenses "worthy" of a given body, and bodys "worthy" of a given lens.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), February 27, 2002.

I tend to agree with your opinion Isaac. Of course the decision is mine, but i've been reading this site for a while and I appreciate some people's opinions. So let me rephrase my question: Are my lenses "unworthy" of an EOS 3 in your opinion? I can always go for an ELAN7 but I think I'll be much more satisfied with the 3.

-- Bernardo Movsichoff (musi22@netscape.net), February 28, 2002.

Like I say, there's no "worthniess" about it. If your lenses suit you, and the EOS 3 suits you better than a 30, then that will be a perfectly good combo. My own personal feeling is that I'd prefer better lenses (such as those I have) with an EOS 3. If I was spending the money you would to buy the EOS 3, I'd probably (in your position) buy an EOS 30 (Elan 7e) and a 24-85/28-105/28-135, and get rid of the 35-80 (I used to own that lens too). Keep the 50mm. Upgrade the speedlite if you use it a lot, otherwise keep it, and look to a replacement for the 75-300, eg a 70-200 F4L.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), February 28, 2002.