Canon EOS 3 - a review after a year of using this 35mm SLR weekly
Spoiler alert: If I could only shoot one 35mm film camera for the rest of my life, it would be the Canon EOS 3.
This is my go to film camera for when I want reliable results fast. Being a electronic auto focusing SLR it's perfect for when I need to shoot quickly and don't want to think about anything else other than what I want to take a photo of.
Ok, I'm going to get the only negative thing I have to say about this camera out of the way: it's not going to win any awards for looking good. No one is ever going to stop you and tell you how cool your camera looks when you are carrying this. It looks boring and sensible and you can lean into that and make that a vibe, but that vibe is not going to resonate with many other people. I did pair it with a really cool vintage Canon strap for a while but it looked all sorts of wrong, even I found myself looking at it thinking 'cool strap, shame about the camera'. And that's coming from someone who loves the damn thing.
I purchased mine after reading Ken Rockwells Canon EOS 3 review and quite frankly if Ken loves it then it's more than good enough for me. His review is very in depth and features pixel peeping and all the features of the camera, I highly recommend you read it also.
Great things about the Canon EOs 3 35mm Electronic AF SLR
It's lightweight.
The Canon EOS 3 lighter than it looks. Do not be deceived, it looks a bit chonky, by it's really light. I use a very basic strap with mine (this one, the one you can see in the photos) and I like setting it quite short so the camera doesn't hang down too long.
It could be described as feeling a bit plasticy but personally I like this as it means I'm not carrying a hefty weight round my neck.
Easy to load and unload.
Loading the Canon EOS 3 35mm film camera
Advances on when you load the film and winds back automatically. This alone makes this camera a touch of genius. I can load and unload this camera whilst walking, that's how easy it is.
Auto exposure that will not let you down.
Set your f stop and the camera does the rest. If you are new to film photography, in a hurry, tired or just cannot be arsed then this camera has your back.
There's a little window that shows you what film is in the camera.
A handy reminder if you are the type of person who regularly doesn't shoot a whole roll in one go, picks up the camera after a couple of weeks and can't remember is it's color or black and white film inside. We've all been there.
As with any Canon camera, you get to use the cheap Canon range of lenses.
Personally I mainly use the amazing Canon EF 50mm 1.8 (and dirt cheap, like under £100) and the Canon 40mm 2.8 STM (around £135 currently from mpb.com). These are great lenses - and can also be used with all Canons mirrorless range of cameras using an adapter. I can't recommend these lenses enough for digital photography as well. Easily very nealy as good as some £4,000 lenses I've used previously, and if you drop one it's no biggie to just replace, there's always plenty of them about.
Good for travel photos when you want to take photos on the move
The Canon EF 50mm 1.8 buttery bokeh / depth of field vibes
Ergonomic as f*ck
It just feels right in your hand. There aren't many cameras you can hold and carry about as easily as a Canon and the EOS 3 is no exception.
Consistent results on auto mode. Every time.
Autofocus is amazing. Every time.
Better than digital Fujifilm, Nikon and Hasselblads. There. I said it. All the modern AI tracking bullshit can get in the bin. 🚮
Price
Price wise, expect to pay £200 - £300 for this camera via eBay / mpb.com / other online second hand camera retailers.
Image quality
If you want sharper clearer film photos and want to spend time taking photos very mindfully and don't mind spending 10k on a camera and lens or two then get a Leica. My own thoughts are that part of the beauty of 35mm photography is the grain, is the fact that it's sharpish but it's not crystal clear. If you want that, look into shooting medium format film. But if you just want that analogue classic look, the Canon EOS 3 delivers perfectly.
Final words
If you like the ease of digital photography, want to try film photography but are intimidated by the learning curve of setting exposure and factoring in different film speeds etc. then this is the perfect 35mm film camera for you. A gateway camera into the analogue world that I personally guarantee you will not regret. ✌️
