Canon EOS 650 – the cheap the good and the Phoenix

The title is probably confusing enough to prompt an explanation here in the first few lines. I bought a Canon EOS 650. Why? Because it was cheap, that’s probably the first answer I would give you if you asked me. The second answer, if I allow myself some time to think about it, is the autofocus. As for the Phoenix, I just had an old expired Herman Phoenix I roll in my fridge, so I did my film test with that one. Also, lately I did a lot of shooting trying to catch my daughter running towards me (she gets very excited when she sees the camera in my hand) or running/moving in general. With my beloved Canon A1, this whole process took a lot of effort and a lot of film wasted, which I don’t particularly like, as developing and printing doesn’t come exactly cheap.

So I said to myself, let’s have a look at what’s around with AF that won’t set me back a fortune. Little did I know that there is a plethora of these early EOS out there (37 to be exact, according to the Canon Camera Museum) on the market for very reasonable prices. All the models have extensive reviews here and there on the internet, and you can easily find which one to grab and which to avoid. I decided to go for the first ever produced, 1987.

Despite coming from the late ’80s, if you were to see a picture without knowing anything, you would have a hard time dating the camera. The body is very alike many recent cameras, including some of the digital ones. Then, of course, if you look closely, you’ll notice very few buttons and commands and, obviously, no screen on the back. Anyway, the design is nice and it sits nicely, although a tad slippery, in your palm while holding it with one hand.

The shooting experience is ok, nothing extravagant or extraordinary. It does what it’s supposed to do with little pushback. The 50mm with which the photos are taken is also an affordable second-hand option. I do now prefer, though, the 40mm in the picture above. It keeps the kit super light and small, and it’s perfect for the kind of “I’ll throw it in the backpack” camera setup I needed.

As for the Phoenix I, if you like something in between a full cinematic look and a vintage roll with noticeable grain and a tendency to go towards the reds and oranges, it is probably a good option for you. Expired rolls are also cheap, and normally deterioration can be overlooked. Is not my cup of tea if I am honest but hey… Anyway, easier to see for yourself with these few pics.

Share this post: