Using film camera lens on digital bodies: I still have a couple canon EOS film bodies ( 620 and 650 ) and a couple of Sigma lenses that went with them. When I switched to digital I...

nmw1004 Loc: Dresher PA

I still have a couple canon EOS film bodies ( 620 and 650 ) and a couple of Sigma lenses that went with them. When I switched to digital I stayed with canon but when I tried to use those lenses with them I would get an error message. I now am using an M 5 that a like a lot and I have an adapter for ef-efs to M. This morning with nothing better to do ( covid ) I tried using the film eos lens ( 70-300 ) on the M5 body using the adapter. It worked perfectly, auto focus worked great, no problem with different shooting modes. What I can't figure out is why this lens worked so well using the adapter when it would not work with the digital eos bodies.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I tried using my manual focus 50mm Canon f/1.8 lens (from my AE-1 Program film camera) on my Sony a77 with a Fotodiox adapter. The results were less than impressive - color, sharpness, etc, but it was a neat experiment. Maybe the 28mm or 70-200 would have provided better results. Here's the difference between my 40-year-old(?) lens and the new one. I'm not sure of the f/stops of the individual shots.

Canon 50mm f/1.8, SOOC,
Canon 50mm f/1.8, SOOC,...

(Download)

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I can't answer specifically, but I remember reading back years ago that third-party AF lenses had trouble moving from EOS film bodies to EOS digital bodies. If you google and search you might find some old online discussions. In the years since, Canon has probably addressed the root-cause of the subtle compatibility issue. The EOS 620 and 650 bodies were different from later EOS bodies, both film and digital, where even some genuine Canon EF lenses had issues.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I can't address your query regarding Canon equipment. I use Nikon/Nikkor equipment. I have quite a few pre-digital lenses and use them on my digital bodies. The results are exceptionally good.
--Bob

nmw1004 wrote:

I still have a couple canon EOS film bodies ( 620 ... (show quote)

b top gun

I totally agree with the above comment regarding Nikon/Nikkor pre digital era lenses especially manual focus primes on a D850 and now on a D780. One big reason why I am glad I chose the Nikon system years ago.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

b top gun wrote:

I totally agree with the above comment regarding Nikon/Nikkor pre digital era lenses especially manual focus primes on a D850 and now on a D780. One big reason why I am glad I chose the Nikon system years ago.

Try the autofocus when using your AI converted, AI and AI‑s Nikon F-mount lenses on the Nikon Z-bodies via the FTZ adapter, including even your 1990s AF-D lenses. So much for Nikon's much vaulted F-mount and upward compatibility .... All electronic solutions, like Canon's 1980s revolutionary EOS / EF-mount, continue to pay dividends as camera technology continues to march forward in the mirrorless 21st century.

bleirer

I have an old Canon 70-300 that works as well on mirrorless as it did on film. Just not a great lens to start with. Doctor, doctor, will I be able to play the violin after my hand surgery?......

bleirer

Yes you will.

bleirer

That's amazing

bleirer

Why?

bleirer

I couldn't play the violin before my hand surgery.

BebuLamar

CHG_CANON wrote:

The EOS 620 and 650 bodies were different from later EOS bodies, both film and digital, where even some genuine Canon EF lenses had issues.

I didn't know that. I thought all Canon EF lenses would work on new bodies.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

BebuLamar wrote:

I didn't know that. I thought all Canon EF lenses would work on new bodies.

They do, all EF lenses on new bodies, but if my memory isn't completely broken this morning, there was a new lens or few (or maybe just flashes) that didn't go back in time and work on specifically these two old bodies. Here and there in the manuals, some recent lenses will call-out film bodies other than the final EOS 1v where Canon mentions known problems.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Sigma film lenses in EOS mount have a known issue with Canon digital bodies wherein, the lens aperture will not stop down from wide open.....
.

BebuLamar

CHG_CANON wrote:

They do, all EF lenses on new bodies, but if my memory isn't completely broken this morning, there was a new lens or few (or maybe just flashes) that didn't go back in time and work on specifically these two old bodies. Here and there in the manuals, some recent lenses will call-out film bodies other than the final EOS 1v where Canon mentions known problems.

Oh I see some old bodies don't work with new lenses? In that case it's not bad though. I thought it's the other way around. As for third parties lenses some don't work but they don't count.