International Camera Museum : Blue Moon Camera and Machine

Shop
Equipment
Film and Supplies
Sale Items
Typewriters
- Portable
- Desktop
- Other
Sundries
eBay
- eBay Outlet
Photo Lab
Culture
Sell Your Gear

- Log In / Sign Up

Shop

Back

Equipment

Back 35mm Cameras Point & Shoot 35mm Cameras Medium Format Cameras Large Format Cameras Lenses Lens Filters Tripods Light Meters Bags & Cases Darkroom Enlargers All Darkroom Equipment

Film & Supplies

Back Film Paper Chemistry Batteries Storage & Archiving Cleaning Accessories

Typewriters

Back Portable Desktop Other

Sundries

Back Apparel & Swag Books & Magazines Gift Certificates

Sale Items eBay Store

Photo Lab

Back Send Us Your Film Photo Lab Services Pricing Services FAQ Mailing Your Film FAQ Printable Order Form Printable Services Pricelist Digital Printing Image Analyzer

Sell Your Gear

Back Sell Your Gear Consignments: How it Works Consignment FAQ

Culture

Back Museum Codex Meet the Staff Customer Shows Social Landing Page Press Links Manifesto E-Mail Newsletter Signup

Support

Back Consignment FAQ Shipping FAQ Privacy Policy Return Policy

Account

Back Log In/Register

Get Social

Back Instagram Facebook X / Twitter Discord

Return to Museum Home

Canon EOS 3

How much fun would it be to have a camera that could read your mind? Fun, no? And if that camera that read your mind was packed with the best technology and was customizable to meet your specific needs, how great would that be? Well, that camera is out there waiting for you in the body of Canon's EOS 3.

Released in 1998, the Canon EOS 3 was the premier Canon film camera of its day and remains among the most sophisticated electronic film cameras in today's market.

The 45-point auto-focus system provides a grid of spots in the viewfinder from which the photographer may choose. Selecting the focus is a matter of either scrolling through them one-by-one with a thumb wheel or by calibrating the camera to follow eye movements. By simply looking at different squares in the viewfinder, photographers are able to focus very precisely on any part of a given scene. As impressive as this innovation is, it was not brought forward to future cameras, which makes the EOS 3 the highest specification camera with eye-control focus ever produced.

Even though that would have been enough to make the EOS 3 a standout in its own rights, Canon also gave it sophisticated programming that allows photographers to customize up to eighteen different functions including how quickly the film rewinds, 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments on the shutter and aperture stops, and the option to leave the leader out of the film can after rewinding. Additionally, there are eight different specialty focusing screens that can replace the standard matte screen.

As for power, the Canon EOS 3 has several options. The smallest and lightest power source for this camera is a single lithium 2CR5, but Canon produced a series of grips and battery packs that added different features, functionalities, and battery lifespans. Thanks to these options, EOS 3 users are again able to customize their cameras to fit their specific needs and shooting styles.

All of this technology comes with a bit of a weight cost, however. Before adding any of the battery options or lenses, the Canon EOS 3 tips the scales at a little under two pounds. Depending on the options selected, a hike with the EOS 3 may get pretty long indeed. If you prefer to think of taking the camera out as adding to your exercise, then the weight becomes a bonus!

Production of the Canon EOS 3 ended in 2007, but thanks to its rugged construction, there are plenty of good examples of this camera in the world. If you invest a little time in looking for one, you'll come across a bit of 20th century technology that is at home in the 21st century. Just remember to workout and take your vitamins as needed.

ar/js

Fomapan 200 35mm Sample Gallery - Canon EOS 3

Sample images made on Fomapan 200, rated at ISO 200, with a Canon EOS 3 by staff member, Zeb Andrews.

Canon EOS 3 and the Canon 11-24mm f/4 L

You might not expect it, but it was actually the camera that caught our attention in this combo! We know that it would be almost criminal to overlook this 11-24mm f/4 L lens, so this exhibit is about both, plus the test images we created with this pair.⁠

⁠Let's begin with the Canon EOS 3. A film camera doesn't have to be manual and all mechanical to earn our respect. This Canon EOS 3 had us at "hello," when it was first introduced in 1998. This camera is one of those rare unicorns that manage to be packed full of bells, whistles, and overall camera wizardry without feeling intimidating or confusing. We really enjoyed how easy it was to quickly familiarize ourselves with its layout. You can dig into its functions and customize the camera in countless ways, or simply pick it up and have it ready to shoot in about 10 seconds. The EOS 3 is also extremely good at auto-focus, especially for a film camera. Not only does it have 45 AF points, but also Canon's nifty Eye-Control. The camera watches where you watch, following your eye movement to know where in the frame to focus. It is so good it is kind of spooky.⁠

⁠Now on to that 11-24mm. This lens is amazing in its own way. It is one of the widest zoom lenses out there and, at 11mm, it's almost like it sees 180 degrees left and right (...it is actually 117 degrees but it feels wider than that). Canon pulled out all the stops with this lens. Not only does it have UD glass, it's got super UD glass too. And SWC, as well as ASC coatings. Oh and flourine coatings too! Plus a fixed f/4 aperture. And an onboard CPU for controlling the USM focusing mechanism. This lens is a marvel of modern lens engineering. It wasn't until we developed the film that we were able to fully appreciate its sharpness and contrast; when we were out in the field with it, we were simply enraptured by that 11mm focal length. ⁠

⁠These sample images were shot with Fomapan 200 35mm film.

Canon EOS 3 Shutter Sound

Not all great shutter sounds are of a purely mechanical nature. Surely the audible element of the Canon EOS 3 firing has become an iconic camera vocalization. Many a Canon camera still sound much like this. The cluhp-whir of the EOS 3 represents an electronic sophistication unlike anything the world of photography had seen before it. The echos of this camera resonate still today, in more ways than one.

za/sd

Canon EOS 3 During COVID-19

While the efficacy of face masks for stopping the spread of COVID-19 has been much debated, we have discovered that such masks are highly effective for eliminating this unwanted virus from our images. Time and again we have had a perfect composition spoiled by this marauding coronavirus... that is until we realized that even though we were diligently wearing our face masks, our cameras were unprotected and completely vulnerable. So we took this Canon EOS 3 out with a test mask fitted upon. The results were immediately obvious. We didn't even expect such a difference. Anyhow, we have included a few of our test images for you to swipe through. We dont feel like they need much more explanation as the differences between shots made with a mask over the camera and those without are pretty stark. So yes, face masks. ⁠

⁠

Coronavirus may be able to take many things, but don't let it get your sense of humor.⁠

⁠

Stay well and enjoy this brief bit of levity.

za/js

EOS 3

Do you enjoy sugar with your tea? Do you enjoy the features and advancements of digital SLR cameras, but want to dip your toes into a sea of film? If so, then consider an SLR manufactured in the modern era - like this Canon EOS 3.⠀

We recently had this EOS 3 stop by the shop before finding a loving home with a customer. These professional cameras, when first released in 1998, were met with an eager and positive response among many amateurs and professionals alike.⠀

What set them apart from other cameras at the time was their weatherized design, a 45 point autofocus area, and Eye Control Focusing - a nifty feature where infrared sensors track the iris of your eye, setting the focus to where you're looking in the viewfinder. The major downfall to this focusing is that some users who wear glasses or contacts have reported it to be inconsistent.⠀ ⠀

Canon produced these cameras until 2007. Keeping things user-friendly, they use a similar control layout on their current DSLRs. The EOS system is handy as it allows for the interchanging of lenses between film and digital bodies.

We do tend to prefer manual cameras here, but the merits of an electronic auto-focusing camera do have their benefit. How nifty that your eye can control the focus?! And with this particular camera, you can shoot up to 7 FPS - provided you have a power booster, which adds considerable weight.

We can make recommendations as to which camera you should use, but ultimately it's about personal opinions. What is yours when it comes to this realm? Would you rather have a manual camera with few added features or something more modern like the Canon EOS 3?⠀

Many savvy digital shooters have added in really robust, top-flight film equipment like the EOS 3 to their arsenals. With the right selection of glass, you may consider these cameras to work like the backs of medium format systems. Attach your lens to a DSLR for a digital picture, and then move it on over when it comes time to shoot film.

sp/js⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀