My previous experience with the Canon EOS cameras

My experience with the Canon EOS cameras

I started off with a Canon EOS 888 (Canon EOS 5000) system back in 1996 when I ka-cheowed my Dad to buy me a big, "professional" camera. It was the most affordable SLR on the market then, at a low cost of S$460, and it came with a 38-76/f4.5-5.6 Canon zoom lens and a 4-AA battery pack grip. I had absolutely zero idea of photography back then, except that using an SLR would make me more "pro" than the rest of my friends with their puny P&S (point and shoot) cameras.

The 38-76mm zoom lens, while made by Canon, was probably the worst lens Canon has ever produced. While not wide enough (35mm), it was also not long enough for anything useful. Even the humble 35-70mm zoom by Canon was better as it had a wider-angle of 35mm! What was worse was that the EOS 888 body was a P&S in SLR's clothing. It had limited shutter control (1/8s to 1/2000s in full-stop decrements), NO aperture piority, NO exposure compensation, no ISO control! I wasn't too concerned initially, shooting everything in the idiot modes (Portrait, Mountain, Sports, etc) and everything turned out sharp (relatively) and nice. However, as I read up more about photography, I realised the limitations of my system and began to dream for more.

My very first "upgrade" was the Canon EF50mm/f1.8 MkII lens in Dec 1998, on the day of HJC Prom Nite itself. After reviewing numerous reviews on various websites (e.g. the excellent photo.net), and reviewing the amount of money in my wallet - the 50mm prime was the only lens I could seriously afford. The prom night was fun, except for the fact that I had to switch back to my 38-76 zoom for wide-angle group shots which proved irritating at times, I had much fun taking photos of my classmates. When I got my prints, I was amazed. Indeed, the "power" of a prime lens was unmatched. Photos came out much sharper, and I got the blurred-backgroud effect which I had always desired, but was unable to achieve with the old 38-76 zoom. It was probably my most useful upgrade for the camera then.

my first shot with the 50mm prime
My very first shot with the Canon 50/f1.8, flash off.
(Exposure and shutter speed unrecorded, courtesy of the EOS 888!)

In Feb 99, I received the news that Faye Wong was coming down to Singapore for her concert. Although I had splurged on a front-row seat that cost my S$160, I did not have a sufficiently long lens to photograph her in concert. I began scouting around for a used telephoto and eventually found the Canon EF100-300mm/f4.5-5.6 USM zoom lens. While I could have gotten the 75-300mm USM zoom instead, there were much more good things that were said of the 100-300 than the 75-300, so I went with the former. (Of course, the 75-300mm USM IS is a totally different thing altogether).

Although I had played with my friend's 3rd party telephoto zooms coupled with a teleconverter before, I was awe-struck by USM. Ultrasonic Motor - it was a dream focussing the 100-300 telephoto. It focussed much faster than the 50mm prime, which used a "crummy micromotor" (Greenspun, photo.net), and with more accuracy and minimal noise too. Unfortunately, my camera was confiscated before the concert (photography was banned), and alas, I was unable to photograph Faye Wong in action. However, years later, she came down to promote her new Japanese TV-series and I was ready then.

Faye with my 100-300 telephoto
Faye Wong in Singapore, promoting Love from a Lie, captured at Far East Square using EF100-300mm.
(exposure and shutter unrecorded - photo digitally enhanced)

I grew more and more frustrated with the EOS 888 body. It offered little creative possibilities, leaving me with nothing to play with except for composition. I began my search for a new body. After reviewing the various Canon models on www.photozone.de, I narrowed my search to the EOS 50 (no eye-control), the EOS 100, or the EOS 10. After making several trips down to the Camera Workshop at Peninsula Plaza, I fell in love with the EOS 100. It offered just as many features as the EOS 50/Elan, including the control dial on the camera back, which is only found on the higher-end EOSes. I was faced then with a choice of getting the EOS50 with a new 420EX flash for S$700, or the EOS100 with a used 420EZ flash for S$600. I chose the latter. (Don't ask me why - I always like to do unconventional things)

I went home, happy with my purchase - here was a camera with "unlimited" creative possibilities. For the first time, I had exposure compensation (arguably useless, since I am still using print film), and aperture control, which meant I could get those blurred-background shots all the time (not too good, since I got such narrow depth of field that I often missed the focussing point on my EOS100 and ended up with blurred photos instead). I had a flash unit for the first time, which meant I could illuminate large group shots with minimal light fall-off. Ahh..the wonders of an SLR...

Just before I left for the USA for my studies in August 2001, I chanced upon a very interesting adverstisement on the Singnet classified ads. Someone was selling a Tokina 20-35mm wide-angle zoom for quite a good price. Here was my chance to get a super-wide zoom! Although I did not have a very good impression of 3rd party lenses before (even now as well), the original Canon 20-35 or worse, 17-35L lens was very much out of my league. The Tokina was solidly built, and a very good image quality as well, but the downside was that it was not compatible with the newer EOS bodies, from the EOS50/Elan II onwards. Phew...luckily I had bought the EOS100 instead! =p

me and my 20mm wide angle
So here I am in America... (Tokina 20-35mm ATX I at 20mm, f/8, 1/60, Canon EOS 100QD)

Digital cameras have been gaining in popularity and performance over these years. I am highly tempted to sell off my EOS system and go for a relatively affordable digital camera (probably the Canon Powershot G1), as it reduces cost in the long run and offers so much more convenience! (no need to send for developing, scanning and touching-up, etc) However, that would mean an end to my wide-angles and telephoto shots...

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