The grip fits my hand well. Its rugged and will not wear out soon. It'll get the picture. Has all the professional features.

Weight, maybe. Price, though L lenses aren't cheap either. (I would have paid more.)

This camera is solid, focuses correctly, has many custom settings and remembers what the settings and lens were when the picture was taken. Everyone wants to know how professionals remember the settings when they can't: the camera does. The shutter noise is significant, but I think it sounds professional. This camera has many nice features: it doesn't take pictures with the lense cover on, for example. It has a light for the display. And I have set it for one button spot focusing. Focusing is fast and it works well in moderate light. The camera balances well with heaver L lenses. I've used in pertty heavy rain without a problem. It works with IR film.

Customer Service

Haven't used.

Similar Products Used:

A1, EOS 300, EOS 30 (Elan 7E).

Smart and elegance body (not ugly like Nikon F5). Perfect metering even under low light. Build quality.

It can't walk on its own

This Camera sets the standard for your work. Perfect metering makes your life easy when you are not in a mood of manual work. With the combination of Canon L- Glass 28-70 F2.8 and 70-200 f/4 I get the result I want to produce. Some one in previous review says about battries consumption ????. I buy them from www.7dayshop.com for £1.99 (panasonic-2cr5) which gives me 15 rolls of 36 exp, what else I can expect. With Speedlite 550ex I never have a problem.

Customer Service

Not needed yet

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Maxum 5000 Nikon F5

AF, build quality, acurate metering, electronics

have not found yet

I have been using 1v along with 28-70 2.8L & 70-200 2.8L. I don't know what I need to complain about above combinations. I have put thru 30 to 50 rolls so far, the resuts have been absolutely fantastic. The AF of 1v made my life so much easier for child photography. Somewhat I had little some irritation for battery(2Cr5)consumption, but that was not any serious. So far I am so happy with the system. I have tried for F5 which was too heavy to carry around.

Customer Service

no experience yet.

Similar Products Used:

Eos Elan, Eos 3, F5, F100

All of the above

None

I have experience with both the Nikon system (f100) and now the Canon system. I have to admit that without a doubt the 1V is the best camera that I have ever used. I did not want the weight of the F5 and Canon allows me to use the camera without the motor drive. It is perfect! The AF is superior to the Nikon f100 and it does have a mirror lockup, which I think is critical. The displays on the 1V are great - +- 3 stops for ambient and flash. It is the best designed camera that I have ever owned. The only slight edge that Nikon has is the flash system (and I think that the Nikon is only marginally better). The F5 weighs too much for me but does have a color matrix meter. That was not too important because I usually use the spot meter anyway. There really is no comparison. The Canon 1V is "state of the art" and the best film camera that anyone can own.

Customer Service

Nikon customer service is terrible. The Canon corp. is so much more customer driven. One of the reasons that I switched.

Similar Products Used:

F100 (no comparison to Canon 1V) but is comparable to EOS 3.

Build quality, electronics, shutter response time.

None

I have used canon eos cameras for the past ten years. I started with a 100 moved onto a 1n and then to a 3. The 1v was a must have when it was released and I have not been disappointed. Canon have also addressed the 'niggles' that most people had with the other cameras and I honestly don't think that it can be bettered. It is no surprise that Canon have continued to use the 1v as a basis for its pro digital models. The camera has a superbly made body which is sealed against the elements, it has all of the usual Eos 3 electronics which made that such a good camera, including the AF and metering patterns, ETTL flash control etc. The camera also has a button which can be used to select a favourite focus point (Brilliant idea) and the battery strength icon has been finally put where it should have been in the first place - on the top LCD. The reponse time of the 1v is amazing, the mirror moves so fast that you can almost see the image at the time of exposure. With a PBE2 booster attached this camera will eat a roll of film in seconds. Autofocus is fast and accurate even in low light, and exposure is very consistent, although I tend to use the spot metering mode for 95% of my pictures. Overall Canon have produced possibly the finest 35mm SLR ever, allied to the impeccable L series lenses this camera is an awesome tool.

Customer Service

Not had to use it

Similar Products Used:

Eos 1n & 3

Great feel. Strong. Feels very powerful. Feels like a brick of metal.

One time my tripod knocked and damaged my 550EX, and the hot shoe of the camera was damaged as well, and the camera started to give me wrong readings. I somehow expected the camera to be stronger. Called Canon and got it fixed under warranty with no hassle. If there is a complain, it would be the camera buttons. I have to push a lot of buttons just to get some functions. There are pretty much no dials or knobs on this camera, only buttons with sealing. So I have to push two or so buttons to do something with this camera (for ISO, bracket, or change compensation, change aperture in manual mode, etc etc.) Also, the back wheel is very useless because it's so loose you can accidently change the setting if you turn it on. So for the most part I just turn it off.

I switched from Nikon to Canon and this is the first camera that I bought (in fact this camera contributed a lot to the switching). I used to use Nikon manual cameras, and then F100, although F100 is great, but it's not greatest. Although a camera is just a tool, and an experienced photog can create similar photos using your basic all manual camera, but the 1v gives the user a great confidence and the connection to the camera. I've used the EOS3 for some time, and handled the EOS 1N, but find them lacking in that same feel. I don't think there is other good things I can add to this camera; It's camera at its best form.

Customer Service

Great. No hassle. Sent camera in, and got it back in a bit more than a week.

Similar Products Used:

Other cameras, don't want to bother to list.

It just feels right in my hand and I would not trade it for anything I hav found no down side The 100 400 IS lens with the wieght of the camra works super It feels good in your hands all controls are right there. If you buy one get the 550 flash and your good to go gm

cheap strap

I have had at one time or other about all brands. Been doing photography since high school class of 1960 I delepod a tremer in right hand so I was looking at IS lens I looked at the f5 but the only had one lens so I bought the 1vhs it is super one thing I use is the depth of field mode

Customer Service

na

Similar Products Used:

F4, maxxum, also own pentax 645n11

Features and performance - it takes well exposed shots! Ergonomics - a joy to use; build quality - superb; Falsh photography - delivers its promise; L series lenses - the best in AF; Comprehensive system.

None really that I have discovered. But you do need to spend time getting to know its finer points and re-read the manual many times. The PC link software should be included especially at the price of the body. Buy the HS model with the power grip as a separate add on as a bubdled price(dealer will help) rather than as a bundle in one box - this gives you the ability to use the body with and without the power grip when weight and size are an issue. The box bundle leaves you without the basic body grip without a grip cover.

In short it is brilliant and I would not choose differently. It is accurate, a beautify object of great construction and deleivers on all promises. I chose the 1V HS over the F5 after 20 years of great service from Olympus OM2n and OM4 with a full range of Zuiko lenses and flash equipment. It was time to change to auto-focus and the range of new electronic gadgetry was very confusing. I also did not want a pro body full of useless gadgetry. The size and weight change was frightening after the brilliant compactness and all metal construction of my OMs that never failed in 20 years. I chose the 1V over the F5 for: features; ergonomics; ability to remove power grip and carry less weight when taking happy snaps; E-TTL flash; system and lens family. It is brilliant to use; all features are useful; flash system is fantastic and prevents "bleaching"; accurate; and the personal/custom functions are ingenious. And now I am over the size/weight issue and never remove the power grip!

Customer Service

None needed, but Canon's enquiry/help desk is useless in Australia.

Similar Products Used:

F5; F100; EF 28-70 f2.8L; EF 70-200 f2.8L; EF 50 f1.4; EF 16-35 f2.8L; 550EX.

Construction is very good, the camera just "feels" solid. Metering is quite accurate, as is autofocus ability and speed. Large amount of creative control in custom function and camera operation mode selection, without being full of "useless" functions, very few of the functions seem to be only there for gagetery. Like that I can set the camera to use 1/3 stops for everything (setting shutter speed, aperture, etc.), so that it matches how ISO ratings rates film in intervals of 1/3rd stops. Ability to use infrared film, including Kodak HIE without worry of fogging film.

For those wanting lightweight, this camera isn't it, at least with the BP-E2 mounted on it...remember, you have the weight of the batteries in that also. Software to access the Personal functions and download the shooting data is quite pricy, and should have been included, or at least offered as part of a kit and discounted in price. Although overall I like the 45 focus points, sometimes it seems like overkill to have that many. Still, one can set the camera to use only 11 or 9 of them, if this is an issue for you. Price, although competive with similar models from other manufacturers (I.E. Nikon F5, Minolta Maxxum 9), is a bit high when you consider that one can get most of the same features, albeit in a polycarbonate body, in an EOS 3. Still, I like the "feel" of the mostly metal body in the EOS 1v, even the closing of the camera back sounds "solid"

Overall, this is a wonderful camera. Built like a tank, has just about every feature that one could want, yet operation overall is simple. Metering seems quite accurate, lack of focus assist beam not a minus, since the camera's autofocus seems accurate enough except in the very lowest of lighting conditions. I purchased the Eos 1v-HS model (Basically an EOS 1v with a BP-E2 booster sold as a kit) from Adorama in March, 2001.

Customer Service

N/A. Never had to have the camera serviced, with Canon or the store I bought it from.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 1n

Ergonomics Build quality Body balance

Can't say that I have found one

My first Canon, having used Nikons & Leicas, also first af slr. I have to say that I am extremely impressed, by it's handling and functionalty of buttons in the right place I have found the metering to be spot on, as with the focusing, have used the camera with a sigma 28/300 lens since last December. Will reccomend the combo to one and all

Customer Service

Jessops excellent

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM 1&2 Nikon F2 Nikon F Olympus OM 1&2