My first step into the world of canon cameras was the EOS 500 which at the time mid 90′s was about the best 35mm SLR on the market and as i had a trip to cape town planned i needed a camera which would take great photos so i could look back in the years that passed and remember the great holiday i had

The EOS 500 has the feel of a camera which you can rely on and could take a few knocks which it has done over the years plus comes with a menu system which like all canon cameras is easy to use as it can be run in full auto mode but if you want to tweak any setting there only a finger tip away.

Specification
Type 35mm focal plan shutter AF/AE SLR (single-lens reflex camera with built-in auto film winder, flash and [auto date function]).
Usable lenses Canon EF lens series
Lens mount Canon EF mount (electronic signal transfer system)
Viewfinder 90% vertical and horizontal coverage
Focussing screen Complete matte screen with fixed, AF frame, partial metering mark
Shooting modes Manual Automatic depth-of-field AE Aperture-priority AE Shutter-priority AE Program AE (with program shift) Full auto Programmed Image Control (four types) Flash AE (A-TTL with the built-in flash or A-TTL or TTL program flash AE with a Speedlite)
Film speed setting ISO 6-6400, automatically set according to DX code. (ISO 25-5000)
Exposure compensation Manual setting +/- two stops in 1/2-stop increments. (Cannot also be used in image zone)
AF control system One-shot autofoxuc/stop on completion or release on completion possible. AI Focus/ONe-shot autofocus, switches automatically to AI Servo. Manual/with the focus mode switch on M, manuall focussing is possible
Shutter speed 1/2000-30sec. and bulb. X-syncho on 1/90sec. (1/2 increment settings possible)
Batteries 2 lithium CR123A/DL123A batteries
Size 145 (W) x 92 (H) x 61.9 (D) mm.
Weight 355g, or 365g with the quartz date function. (Body only and excluding the two CR123A/DL123A lithium batteries)

Link to photos taken with Canon EOS 500

Related posts:

1. Canon IXUS 70
2. Olympus Trip 35
3. Canon IXUS 40

Zenit is a Russian camera brand manufactured by KMZ near Moscow since 1952 and by BelOMO in Belarus since the 1970s. The Zenit trademark is associated with 35mm SLR cameras. Based on the Zorki rangefinder camera (a copy of the Leica II). In transforming the Zorki into an SLR, the simplest approach was taken: the rangefinder housing was removed from the top and replaced by a ground-glass screen and prism; a mirror was added below, with a rope-and-pulley setting system and the M39x1 thread mount was pushed forward to make room for the mirror inside.

During the first years of production (until the Zenit-E of 1967) Zenit camera development coincided with that of the Zorki cameras. The Zenit-S had PC-synchro for external flash units (almost like the Zorki-S) and the Zenit-3M also had an RF-sibling, the Zorki-6.

Info from Wikipedia

Specification

Type Reflex SLR
Lens Helios-44M 2/58
Focus Manual
Features Timer
Shutter speeds 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500 of a second and “B”
Film speeds 16 to 500 ISO
Built-in exposure meter
Frame size 24 x 36 mm
Self timer

Link to photos taken with Zenit TTL

PS if your looking for a replacement battery for the Zenit TTL i managed to get a MRB625 1.35V battery which after reading a few camera forums is meant to work well as a replacement for the original from the Camera Centre who are in Hailsham, East Sussex

Also like to add that i ordered online at about noon and battery was on my door step the next day at 10 am so great sevice

Full Address
Camera Centre (Hailsham)
53 High Street
Hailsham
East Sussex
BN27 1AR
United Kingdom
Phone: 01323 840559
E-mail: robert@camcentre.co.uk
Website: Camera Centre

Related posts:

1. Fuji Finepix F40fd
2. Canon EOS 500
3. Olympus Trip 35