AboutScott Valentine Expertise Most anything about digital post processing (Photoshop, etc), effects, and image restoration, some technical information about digital imaging systems, light and electron microscopy, optical physics and image analysis. I can help with shooting basics, lighting setups, and getting the most out of your digital camera. I am also an 'expert' here for Photoshop (Computers/Technology > Software > Graphics Software > Photoshop).
Experience I've been an image analyst and advanced amateur photographer for over 6 years. I run an Adobe user group, focusing on digital media, and have lectured on digital image capture systems. Currently, I am an administrator for a rather large instructional Photoshop forum
Organizations Adobe User Groups, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Advanced Imaging Specialists
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Physics, University of California, San Diego
Awards and Honors Winner: Best in Show and several category first place awards - Imaging Professionals of the Southwest Print Competition (multiple years)
Expert: Scott Valentine Date: 8/2/2007 Subject: canon lenses
Question Hi Scott I am buying a canon EOS350D camera.I own a canon EOS 500N 35mm camera with a 28-80mm lens and a 75-300mm ultrasonic lens . will I be able to use these lenses on the digital EOS350D camera, if so will there be any difference in the zoom range or any other differences
Thank you
Regards Peter Cockle
Answer Hi Peter,
According to PhotoNotes.org, the 350D uses an EF-S lens mount, which is compatible with the EF mount of your 500N.
Canon's focal length multiplier for the 350D is 1.6, which means a 35mm lens will perform as a 56mm lens (35 x 1.6). Your zoom lenses will be more powerful, but you will lose some of their closeup ability. So your 28-80 effectively becomes a 45-128, and the 75-300 will be a 120-480 zoom.
Performance should not degrade, but do expect to see some changes in the fine details of your pictures. It's likely that these changes will not impact the overall image, as modern digital sensors are considered equivalent or superior to 35mm film in many ways. One benefit of the magnification is that the outer edges of the lenses, which typically are where you find problems like chromatic aberration and vignetting, will be cropped out of the image. In this sense, you are using only the best part of your lenses.
If you plan move to a full-frame sensor later on, do avoid digital-specific lenses, as these are made for the smaller sensors. Using them on full-frame cameras will result in an image 'spot', where only the center of the sensor is used for image capture. Everything will look like it's been shot through a hole in a door.
As an aside, I highly recommend you shoot in RAW mode for any pictures that you wish to archive or manipulate in a digital editor. If you start that way, you'll avoid any regrets about shooting in a compressed format that restricts your exposure and resolution flexibility.
I hope this helps.
Happy shooting, and congratulations on the new rig!
