Canon lenses from the 80's-anyone used a 70-210 F4 ?

[fairy bombs]

Hello Folks

My son is doing a film and Television course,and from time time
makes and edits movies etc. I just bought a 600D Canon for him
as the video feature is what he is keen on-he uses 7d's and 550d's
at the school.He also is starting to do a bit of photography with my
gear when he is at home.

Now,looking for some cheap lenses-just to get him started-I see these
Canon lenses from the Eighties,have reasonable reviews-the build quality
is suppose to be sound.I've been offered a 35-70 and 70-210 F4 for $160
includes postage,I have a 18-55 IS mk2 kit lens I can give him.

What are these 80's lenses like? the 70-210 F 4 is mainly what he could use
most.After I pay for all this to get him up and running-he can save for his
own 'L's'

Thanks for any advice-Cheers

[MarkChap]

The lenses you speak of, '80s lenses will be FD mount and will not fit the current range of Canon bodies.

You have to be sure to get EF or EF-s lenses for the 600D

[dannat]

They are EF mount (metal), review here http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/70-210mm.htm

[KeeFy]

Hey fairy bombs,

I noticed you put this "17-55 F2.8 L" in your signature. As much as it seems like a L lens , i call it a 1/2 L, it is not? LoL.

[William W]

Canon made an EF 70 to 210F/4.
It is a push / pull zoom.
The 35-70 and the 70 to 210 were used as a pair, I expect.

I have not used either lens: but yes generally those lenses were "solid".
If necessary, the repairs / spare parts would be an issue.

Have you thought about putting the $160 towards a new EF-S 55 to 250F/4~5.6 IS.
I have used that lens and it is good value for money.
Does IS have value for his Video work?
I understand that this is a varying maximum aperture zoom (and the impact of that on some video work) and that also it mostly will be 1 stop slower, than the 70 to 210/4, but it is new and lens design especially zoom lens design, has progressed a lot since the 80’s

WW

[Cyza]

can't answer your actual question, but if your son is using his DSLR mainly for video I have recommend Magic Lantern firm ware for it.
http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_Lantern_Firmware_Wiki


makes a world of difference, for video.
adss things such as audio monitoring via AV port, control audio peaking, display zebra graphs to name a few of the awesome features.

[William W]

What did you decide?

WW