sy Reflects | The Camera My Grandfather Gave Me That Kept Me Photographing | Canon EOS 7 | Knowledge #495

Creators who are passionate about photography share stories of their cameras and the narratives behind them. A 'beloved camera' often reflects one's personal philosophy and values. In this feature, we meet sy, an avid user of the Canon EOS 7.

Recently, more people have been drawn to photography by the allure of classical design, analog controls, and the atmospheric, nuanced rendering unique to film. Yet, everyone encounters film cameras in their own way.

This time, sy tells not the story of a 'dream camera,' but of a camera received from their grandfather—one that made them want to keep taking photographs.

The Canon EOS 7 is a 35mm film SLR released by Canon in 2000. With features such as eye-controlled autofocus and a large LCD panel, it offers a modern user experience, delivering comfort akin to digital cameras despite being a film model. Its compatibility with the EF lens lineup also makes it accessible for current Canon users.

Five years ago, when I was a university student, I started photography, swept up in the film camera trend.
At the time, what I sought in a film camera was a retro appearance, the tactile feel of manually advancing film, and the 'emotional' quality that comes from slightly out-of-focus images.

My grandfather used to be a camera dealer, so our house was filled with cameras. I think he owned around 300.
I asked if he could give me one, fully expecting a classic film camera to emerge from his collection.

But what my grandfather actually handed me was the Canon EOS 7.

Released in 2000, the camera looked somewhat digital. It had automatic film advance, autofocus, and even burst shooting. The handling felt very contemporary.

My grandfather probably chose it with the best intentions, but honestly, at first, I felt, 'This isn't what I had in mind.'

As someone who admired film cameras, I had imagined something more inconvenient and more classic.
But since it would have been rude to refuse, I decided to give it a try—and it turned out to be incredibly easy to use.

I could check exposure on the LCD monitor, and autofocus was extremely convenient for snapshots. For better or worse, it didn't feel much like using a film camera, but thanks to that, I found myself enjoying the act of photographing rather than focusing on the camera itself.

If I had been given a more idiosyncratic camera at first, I might not have continued with photography for so long. This 'unexpected convenience' took me to many places and allowed me to take countless photographs.

Whether it was on trips, nighttime walks, or casual moments with friends, I found myself capturing many memories with this camera.

When I first started with film cameras, I was drawn to 'what kind of camera I used.' But looking back now, perhaps what truly mattered was 'how naturally I could bring it along.'

My grandfather didn't give me a trendy film camera. But now I realize he gave me a camera that kept me photographing.