EOS 100D / 1200D / 1300D with vintage manual focus lenses via EOS adapter

fletchdirect wrote:

Hi All

I have a large collection of vintage lenses left over from my film days - M42 manual focus Pentax Takumar primes and Contax Zeiss 50mm prime and 28-85mm zoom.

I still shoot film but would like to experiment with these lenses on a digital body. A bit of research has shown that a Canon body would be the most compatible by way of an adapter, and used in A mode.

For DSLR, a Canon DSLR body is best, yes. Because of the flange distance and mount diameter, And because of the metering system working, even if the camera does not know the lens. And the good live view implementation.

Mirrorless cameras can also be used (Sony FF and APS-C, Canon APS-C, Fuji APS-C, Olympus and Panasonic MFT).

I don't want to spend a fortune so have been looking at primarily the 100D. 1200D if I can find a new one still and a 1300D.

From these, the 100D is the most attractive. The lenses will have a more narrow FOV than when you are used to on film, because they are APS-C cameras. Best body for this is the Canon EOS 6D, it gives the same FOV as with your film cameras, and has a focus screen available from Canon to better judge focus with shallow depth of field/large apertures.

Does anyone have any experience of using these specific cameras with older lenses with an adapter? Research told me that the old 5D mk1 had an issue with its mirror hitting the back of the lens.

Which lens? It mostly is an issue with lenses made for shorter flange distances, like Canon FD.

I am in the market for one of these entry level Canon bodies and just want to be sure that they will work ok.

They all will work ok.

Many thanks

Julian