Why an odd GAS journey? I am glad that I imagined you asked. I recently wrote a post on my blog about me finally caving in and getting a Vintage Digital (Disclaimer: “Vintage Digital” is a phrase I use on my blog for digital cameras more than 10 years old or more than two generations old. Digital being the key word here. I would in no way consider a 10 plus year old film Leica M to be vintage. The M240 was the oldest digital Leica M I would consider due to personal preference. Specifically a personal aversion to a crop sensor M and potential sensor corrosion issu…You know what? Nevermind. Bottom line. It was cut and pasted from my blog and no harm was meant. I come in peace. And back to the post.) Leica M after fighting the urge for years. It was a year one experience summary. In that post I wrote:
Soon after purchasing the M 240 Hamish Gill of 35mmc warned me of a Leica lens slippery slope. I responded that my plan was to salt the slope with knock off lenses. Add one “inexpensive” Leica lens to it and I have been successful thus far.
So that went as expected. Do you want to know what did not go as expected? Another vintage digital camera mount that was not supposed to go past one camera and one lens. When I picked up an old timey DSLR and nifty fifty intended to be daily carry solution. I wrote about it here. A Canon EOS 5D and EF 50mm f/1.8 STM.
In a review on my blog I boldly, and in retrospect foolishly, stated that buying more lenses would break the intended concept here. Well…. That did not last long. What first hooked me was an EF mount Tamron 85mm f/1.8 they had in my local camera shop. I went from, I do not need another lens to wait I like 85mm lenses <snap>…
…I must have this lens. But at $427, or far more than I paid for the EOS 5D and 50mm f/1.8, I successfully talked myself down. So this gave me the bright idea to get my default, have bought many times before, next DSLR lens after a nifty fifty. The <insert drum roll here> Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 XR Macro DI LD.
For the record this is deviation from my original plan #1. With this purchase I have now owned this lens in every lens mount variation that they made. Nikon F,…
…Pentax K,…
…Sony A (adapted to FE),…
…and now Canon EF.
After such a solid performance over the years this sort of makes sense, right?… That is what I told myself anyway. So that is it. I have wide to portrait length covered. No more… That is when I remembered that they had another 85mm f/1.8 at the camera shop…
Some thoughts about the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM on my website.
At less than half the price of the Tamron this 85mm f/1.8 is practically a bargain, no?… Dang it. Otherwise known as deviation from the original plan #2.
So that is it, right? A vintage digital classic and three lenses. Well, no. If that were the case I would not be writing this post. For the record, I did make attempts to stop myself here using the following rationale:
- You have a Canon DSLR, why would you buy a Canon SLR?
- Technically you have another Canon SLR, although one with a one and done AF solution… that I adore largely for its awfulness… and because it was old new (never sold) stock (more here).
- You have other brand SLRs already, why do you need another?
- Just stop it already.
None of this worked. Once the idea came into my mind that I wanted a Canon SLR to put behind these lenses it was pretty much a wrap. To pretend I was being a little bit responsible I set up ground rules and a wish list.
- $100 or less.
Ok. I had one ground rule. What of that wish list?
- 1/8000s shutter speed would be nice.
Ok. I had one wish list item. Then I went KEH to play find that camera and the needle on the spinning wheel landed on…
The Canon EOS A2. And we have arrived at deviation from the original plan #3 ladies and gentlemen. Logic dictates that like other cameras that find themselves just on either side of the transition from analog to digital, like the Minolta Maxxum 7/7D twins and the Pentax 645N/645D twins, there would be similarities. And there were. Especially when looking at them side by side.
They also shared some of the same specs like both topping out at 1/8000s shutter speed. None of that is surprising. Was also cool that they are both compatible with the Godox TT685 flash I picked up. But what did surprise me a little was that the SLR has a few things the DSLR did not. Well, two things anyways. A pop up flash and an AF lamp.
But both of these were addressed with that Godox flash. The pop up flash part is obvious, but I was surprised that with the Godox flash attached the 5D will throw out an AF light grid from the flash. Pretty cool in actual use.
But here is the thing. I am not bothered by these add on purchases at all. Because where a Leica slippery slope, as mentioned in the opening, would run me in the thousands, all the gear here was in the low hundreds. Binge away. The price of all of the gear mentioned above combined would not get you near anything with the name Leica on it. And I could not ask for more from the results. As good or comparable to Leica? No. Different animals altogether, but what we have here is no penalty box. So I sang the praises of the images I was able to produce with the 5D.
What of the Canon EOS A2? Excellent here as well. Add to that rock solid AF and AE and you have a film camera I reached to first when I wanted to test a roll of the newly released Harman Phoenix 200 film I first read about here at 35mmc (here and here). And it did not disappoint at all. (All film sample pics below developed at home with Cinestill CS41 and Cinestill df96 respectively.)
This camera has not put a foot wrong yet. Here are more samples with it.
What am I saying here?… Ok. Let’s see.
- As far as SLR’s go the Canon EOS A2 is a good one. Yeah… That is about it. I had never heard of this model before I found it on KEH. And there are a mess of other SLRs made by any number of brands that I am sure would perform as well. But another thought comes to mind. All of the other analog to digital same mount solutions I have discussed above have their disadvantages:
Minolta Maxxuum 7/7D
- The Maxxuum digital line did not live long enough to see a full frame digital option (Later Sony A models made it, but they get pricey though.) so crop was a part of the equation. 12.8 MP on the 5D is acceptable. 6 MP may be pushing it for me. Personal preference. Functionally plenty enough for most purposes as Ibraar pointed out in the comments.
Pentax 645N/645D
- While not pricey by medium format standards both of these require a substantially larger outlay of funds. With the 645D sporting a smaller sensor than 645 film there is a small crop factor to contend with using them side by side.
Pentax SLR/K-1
- I had this set up once, but Pentax joined the full frame DSLR game so late that the K-1 is far, far more expensive. Could buy everything mentioned in this post combined for less.
I have a SIGMA SA mount analog/digital pairing, but in addition to the digital crop factor they are both a little too odd to recommend to anyone with a clear conscience. The same kit could be done with a Nikon D700 and an F mount SLR for sure, but the D700 will run you a little more. Seems like a couple hundred more in similar condition. I could technically buy an EOS 5D and an EOS A2 combined for less than the D700. The D700 does have more features I will admit, like greater ISO and fps. But my spec requirements are low so the EOS 5D is the bang for the buck champion in my book. That being said any would be an excellent choice. And all are far less expensive than the Instathreadface darlings all over the internets. All great cameras. But this setup shows once again that one need not break the bank to have fun with photography. In short order, I have put more rolls of film through this camera than I have other cameras I have owned much longer.
There is a bit of additional good news, personally. Some time has passed since the EOS A2 purchase and I believe I am done with this EOS EF mount bender. No more deviations since.
There has to be a downside right? Yes. But not a big one. I find the effort required to move the mode dial off of “L” is considerably more than I would like. May just be my copy. But that is it.
Before closing, I will add a few more product pics for the heck of it.
Looking at these photos I have one more thought in closing. The Canon EOS A2 is a 1992 camera – it has held together very well. I have owned quite a few SLRs and have learned to accept the odd scratch or blemish. Heck, as much as I like my little Pentax *ist I must admit that the flash port cover has come off in my hand and I have had other SLRs where bits like some or all of the rubber eye cup have fallen off or disintegrated. But this camera looks practically brand new. Ok. Have gone on far too long. I swear I am finished now. All the best to you.
Eric L. Woods
I shoot a variety of new and old digital and film cameras. Industrial Engineer by education, IT is my vocation, and I really enjoy using, testing, and writing about cameras. All three of the latter are very therapeutic exercises for me. If you are so inclined my blog address is ewoodsphoto.com and I can be found on Threads and Instagram.
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Ibraar Hussain on Canon EOS A2 – An Odd Little GAS Journey.
Comment posted: 28/02/2024
The Canon EOS A2 is the Canon EOS 5 if I’m not mistaken
I’ve never had the GAS bug - never had a Nikon Leica nor Canon.
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Bob Janes on Canon EOS A2 – An Odd Little GAS Journey.
Comment posted: 28/02/2024
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Scott Edwards on Canon EOS A2 – An Odd Little GAS Journey.
Comment posted: 28/02/2024
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okto on Canon EOS A2 – An Odd Little GAS Journey.
Comment posted: 28/02/2024
Leaving aside how 12 years old isn't "vintage" by any reasonable definition, saying a 12-year-old camera from a company that's been around since 1869 is vintage is a bit silly.
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Gary Smith on Canon EOS A2 – An Odd Little GAS Journey.
Comment posted: 28/02/2024
Thanks for sharing Eric, I also read your: "Add one “inexpensive” Leica lens to it" blog post to see if I could find any pointers but it just appears that you have unbounded G.A.S. :-)
Comment posted: 28/02/2024
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grain_frame on Canon EOS A2 – An Odd Little GAS Journey.
Comment posted: 28/02/2024
Mostly I just enjoyed reading about your struggles with GAS and your thought process behind it - made me feel seen, lol.
Comment posted: 28/02/2024
Daniel Castelli on Canon EOS A2 – An Odd Little GAS Journey.
Comment posted: 29/02/2024
Comment posted: 29/02/2024
Matthias on Canon EOS A2 – An Odd Little GAS Journey.
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jason gold on Canon EOS A2 – An Odd Little GAS Journey.
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Comment posted: 29/02/2024