Canon EOS 650 - A 35mm Auto Focus Camera No One Talks About!

[@Fuzzynights]

Great video ! I managed to pick up an EOS 650 in a local thrift store, and it came with the 35-70 which had fungus and a very noisy motor. Threw out the lens and started using my collection of other EF lenses and this camera really shines ! The reason people seem to dislike it because it does everything so well without being a charismatic extension of your body (if that even exists).

[@kevmorris3000]

I purchased one of these EOS 650 cameras when it first came out in 1987. It was the very first model of the EOS line back then. And I used it reliably for about 15 years until I started using digital cameras. It never let me down. About 10 years ago, I did buy another EOS film camera because they were practically being given away. I forget the model, but it has a silver body and had more controls with knobs and switches. vs. controls via buttons and a scroll wheel that the 650 has. Paid like $15 for it. I like that system better. But I still have my 36-year-old 650, and yes all the motors and electronics still work fine.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

That's awesome, love hearing things like this. I still have the Canon T70 that my dad bought on a whim back in 1985 from AAFES (military store). It was always in a case in a closet and he never touched it, or let me touch it till I was much older. I still bring it out to run a few rolls through it once in a while, it was and still is a great camera. I do not know if our more modern digital cameras will ever be able to last as long as the older film cameras do. I am willing to bet that my Nikon FA, Nikkormat, and even my Nikon 5005 will outlast my Fuji X-T5.

[@juligonzalez686]

Hey Matt, thanks for this video. I have the EOS 650 and the EOS 10S - both of which my dad gave to me. I honestly can't remember which one came first. I used them so much many, many years ago. I only shot them in Auto mode. But I loved them and loved the photos I got from them. I would shoot travel, family and friends, as well as nature and sports. I got good images from them in auto. I have been through a lot of digital cameras since then and I love all of them. I have an Olympus OMD-Em 5 and I love it - it takes great photos! But anyway, I want to get back into shooting some film so I will pull those Canons out of my tub o'cameras and give them a try. Thanks for sharing info on this camera because it has been so long I can barely remember how to load the film. I need to look up what batteries they use. But I just wanted to say thanks!

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

@@juligonzalez686 you’re welcome! They are fun cameras, can be easy to use, and take fantastic photos! Get out and shoot! The eos 650 uses a 2cr5 battery if I recall. Tip on that is remove the battery, or just unscrew the battery cover a little bit. Otherwise it tends to drain it a little fast and they are not the cheapest battery out there.

[@juligonzalez686]

@@MattRyanPhoto55 thanks so much!

[@myke104uk]

These are awesome cameras and very very easy to use. They have their issues as a couple of people have mentioned in the comments below with shutter bumpers going gooey, but if you sort that (I have a video for that) boom! They are a bit loud without the shutter bumpers, but they produce great photos. I used two of them for years and its quite a lot of fun as people tend to not notice you are using a film camera, so you don't get the "oh your vintage camera is so cool" thing all day long. I've moved away as my main cameras these days and back to fully manual cameras, but I still keep them working and it's nice to have them. In short, they are GREAT! :) Happy shooting! x

[@utube321piotr]

Those first generation Canon EOS cameras are most beautifully designed. The undercut on the LH side is unique and gives the camera a sense of lightness. I've had a 630 since it was new in 1988, but recently have gotten a 600 and 650. I do like Canon's L lenses and my 28-105 IS mk3 works great with 630 w/ a bonus of image stabilization goes down to 1/8s. I know for a fact that a lot of Canon 50mm lenses on used market are counterfeit, including the newest STM version as well as the 40mm one as well. The Youngnuo lens you tout is a an example. The inexpensive Canon zooms are not very good. Great work Matt.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

I love the design! That cutoff corner is my favorite aesthetic of these. I have seen the fake lenses, it's kind of crazy. The Yonguno while not constructed as well as the actual Canon does take great photos for what it is. And yes the inexpensive zooms are not very good when compared to other Canon glass, but they can be good enough for just going out and shooting for fun, for people new to photography, etc.. which is what they are intended for. Thanks for the comment!!

[@NashyPhoto]

I've just bought it for £7. Intrigued being the first EOS. And yeah that 50mm will be tried. Not used film since I was a kid so I'm looking forward to it.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

It’s a great plastic film camera. The autofocus is fantastic

[@pdtech4524]

I enjoy using my £20 Canon EOS500n (Rebel G in the USA) complete with 28-80mm ultrasonic zoom lens, it's all absolutely mint and does the business very well. These 1990s cameras are just not considered 'cool' or even desirable, why? In my opinion it's because they look so DSLR like and not 'retro' enough. Essentially they came out after digital, so of course they had that more modern DSLR look. Digital was still in it's early days so most still hung on to film cameras until the transition to better resolutions and more features came along. These 1990s cameras are the pinnacle of film cameras, as good as film cameras got, in my opinion much more reliable than older 1980s cameras whose electronics will eventually fail.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

I agree, and it nailed it, digital was in it's infancy and a lot of photographers were still using film as it was much better and cheaper even. A lot of people then thought digital was a fad that would disappear like APS film etc.. I do so love my mechanical cameras, and retro's but I also love my 90's film slrs'. If I were to be hired right now for a shoot requiring film I would use the two 650's and with all of my EF lenses that I have and I would not worry much about it. At the same time I would feel pretty confident with my Nikon FA as well

[@certs743]

Great little camera. I had one a few years ago with a couple lenses. Gave it to my sister and not sure if she kept it. I get your comment about unpopular but good cameras. I shoot both Olympus mirrorless and a Pentax K5 IIS and they work great for me. I also love shooting all kinds of film cameras from 35mm to medium format. I have some popular cameras and some not so much. I got a full Minolta system for like $400 CDN. SOme of my favorite street photography cameras is a Foca Sport II from France, my Voightlander Vitos or my Zorki 4. And my first medium format camera was a Ciroflex TLR for $40.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

Nice! My first medium format is a Rolleicord III TLR. I just bought a Ansco/Agfa Speedex which is medium format. 1 testroll through and it's shite lol. Massive leaks and the lens is out of focus, so now I am ordering a Zeiss folder.

[@certs743]

@@MattRyanPhoto55 Cool. I had a similar Rolleicord but I found the focus screen really dim so focusing was hit or miss. I have since acquired a Rolleiflex F3.5 and really love it. Don't know if the focus screen is original or third party but much better. And Zeiss folders I have had great success with. I have 3 Nettars. :)

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

I love my Rolleicord. Been looking at getting another TLR, they are just fun to shoot. Can't decide if I want a Mamiya C330 or a Yashica Mat 124

[@certs743]

@@MattRyanPhoto55 I haven't used the Yashica Mat but I do have an older Mamiya C2 which is an earlier model of the C series TLRs and it is wonderful and if it is in good shape you can't go wrong. The only real downside to the C series is they are very heavy for a TLR so maybe not the best choice if you are doing street photography for example. But they are very well built and very versatile.

[@cabbagesandkings8447]

I do prefer the film to the digital on those shots. Just picked up a 650 for £26! can't wait to chuck my canon EF lenses on there and get shooting. Thanks for the video!

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

It really is a great camera for the price. And with the EF lenses it can take some fantastic photos

[@ianhand5006]

I have one, but I prefer my 600 (630 in the US). The EOS 5 (A2E) is rather nice.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

I will have to grab one and give it a try

[@marshalltravis3217]

I had a 650 for years and I learned a lot about photography with it. But the shutter ended up getting grease on it and it began sticking. I missed shots and I got rid of it. Years later I learned that the problem was my negligence because I didn’t know to keep it out of the hot car…

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

Lol yeah that will do it!

[@KombatFlix]

dope bro

[@BellaSchmoutz]

My autofocus on this camera wont turn off. Do you have any input to potentially fix this?

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

Do you mean you wish to use manual focus, or that the lens is constantly trying to focus and doesn't stop?

[@LesJoee]

maybe you’re using the AI focus mode. you can change focus mode to single to fix the problem.

[@gameuploaderish]

2:20 which Olympus is this ?

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

The E-PL10, with the older 14-42mm lens before I got the newer pancake version

[@Hondo-i7w]

Your choice of cameras should be only popular to you, who cares what anyone else thinks.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

Well said and I could not agree with you more!