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It’s been a long time since I went down the Canon rabbit hole, mostly because I already have more of their film cameras than I have fingers. But the last-gen Canon SLRs have a special place in my heart, so I found myself reading up on the EOS 30. Also known as the Elan 7, it came with the same alien technology that graced the EOS 3: Eye Control.
A few days later, one popped up on Marketplace, apparently untouched since the year 2000 and still with its box and papers. The only catch? The seller wasn’t sure it actually worked. So naturally, I decided to gamble. And the rest, as they say, is history.
PRO
Peak film days
Accurate metering
Build quality
CON
Display does not light up
SPECIFICATION
35mm SLR
EF mount
4 fps
580 grams
From 200 AUD
RELATED ENTRIES
ANALOGUE: Pentax 17
ANALOGUE: Mamiya 7
ANALOGUE: Leica M6
When it arrived, the rubber bits had degraded into that sticky, tar-like mess that leaves your fingers looking like you’ve been fixing cars instead of shooting film. A quick rub with hand sanitiser sorted most of it out, although now the camera smells faintly of vodka martinis. I loaded in two CR123A batteries and it is year 2000 again, the EOS 30 came roaring back to life. Every dial clicked, every switch felt tactile, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the previous owner had been doing for the last 25 years while this thing sat in a box.
The headline party trick here is Eye Control. And, it’s still witchcraft. You calibrate it to your eyeball and suddenly the camera is choosing your focus point just by where you look. Manual focus point selection? Never heard of her. Every time I use it, I’m equal parts amazed and confused about how Canon pulled this off two decades ago. It’s 2025 and we’re still waiting for anyone to put it into a modern EVF.
Functionally, the EOS 30 is like any other Canon film body but with sprinkles of tech borrowed from the range-topping EOS 1V. It sits below the pro line, but crucially without the bulk and wrist-destroying weight, which makes it a much more enjoyable all-day shooter. It also offers faster shutter speeds and a smarter metering system than the midrange and entry-level Canon SLRs.
Now, if you’re considering buying one, here’s the deal: the EOS 30 is one of the best value-for-money Canon film SLRs out there. It’ll take every EF lens ever made (from cheap thrift-store zooms to modern L-glass), so you don’t need to start a whole new lens collection just to shoot film.
Batteries are still easy to find, the autofocus is quick enough for fast-paced shooting and the build quality is leagues above the plasticky Rebels that usually get recommended to beginners. If you want a reliable workhorse, the EOS 30 is a sweet spot between price and capability.
In the hands, it feels solid and dependable. I trust its metering even when I’m shooting in tricky light and although it’s not the prettiest camera Canon ever made, it gets the job done with zero fuss. Honestly, I trust the EOS 30 more than most other film cameras in my collection. The only downside is the creeping guilt of putting rolls through something that sat untouched for 25 years in its original box.
Shot on Canon EOS 30 paired to a Canon EF 35mm f/2
