Built like a tank, handles like a dream. Solid, robust and sturdy. Blazing fast AF and accurate AE.

A bit heavy.

Nothing I have ever used beats this body in terms of handling, speed and robustness.

Customer Service

Excellent

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Almost all EOS and Nikon pro and amateur bodies

quickest focus in town
dead bang metering
focusing options galore
great software interface
rugged, solid feel

absolutely none I have encountered or heard about. Sure it's expensive, but you get what you pay for in photography(most of the time)

I thought the EOS3 was the end all for 35mm until I got my hands on this gem. My EOS3 was on ebay as soon as my first 10 rolls were developed after only one field excursion. You can set up so many autofocus options and select them instantly, I don't even miss the eye control focus of the EOS3 anymore. Even though it is an extra cost option, get the ES-E1 software. Getting the exposure info. from every frame you shoot, and attaching it to a thumbnail of your scanned image is an invaluable training tool to make you a much better photographer. Highly recommended.

Customer Service

Have never needed it with any Canon product in the last 15 years

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AE1, A2, EOS3

Well balanced feel.

Very heavy w/booster, AF tracking, Expensive

Compared to a friends F5, I expected more and was surpised at all of the hype about the 1V, The AF tracking is not as good as the F5, It's not in my opinion Canons answer to the F5 as I had hoped. I will be turning this one in for the F5. But hey judge it for yourself.

Customer Service

Too early to tell.

Similar Products Used:

AE-1, EOS-3

Build quality,
Exposure accuracy
AF speed,
Ergonomics

a bit too heavy

This camera will stay with me forever. I dont know any other camera of such quality. There is nothing to complain about 1V. It's built like an icebreaker and effective like a japanese sword - incredibly fast and accurate. This is an ultimate photo tool, I an glad that I have it.

Customer Service

none needed

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EOS1N, F4, bunch of other SLR's

This baby responds to what I want in a split-second. I didn't miss a single hot since I have this one...
And besides that: very accurate evaluative metering, very well balanced flash exposure with the 550EX, and last bot not least: the L-series lenses!!!

None...

This is by far the best camera I ever owned. Every day I feel lucky to be able to work with it. I makes everything so much easier... I don't care it's price, this is the best thing so far!

Customer Service

I don't think anyone is going to need it with this body, but make shure you get the CPS pass, just in case.

Similar Products Used:

Eos 1N, 50 and 5!

High Speed, features,

Weight, strap and high speed 300mm lens on and it gets to be quite heavy, but it is very well built. Price it's not cheap. But you do get a lot of camera for your money.

The Eos1v is my 3rd Eos1 that I have owned,and before that I have had 18 other Canon Cameras. I have the RS model that has just hit the shops before photokina. My main subject is Formula 1/Ralling, the shots I get form my Eos1vRs/1nRs, are proberley my best work which I sell to publications all around the world. Thanks to the speed and mirror lock up. I never miss a good shot.

Customer Service

Canon's after sales service is always been first class

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Nikkon F5, Dynax 9. They just can't compete.

Canon has learned a lot from the other EOS series and has perfected the dial and button placement to create a body that is very well balanced, intuitive. It has an almost overwhelmingly large amount of customization to your own shooting style. Expect at least a couple months of shooting before you can focus on your subject rather than the camera settings.
It has the best evaluative metering I've ever used.(See below)

Weight! I just got back from a 2 week assignment in Italy. My bag had 2 EOS-1V bodies, (one w/ HS booster) a 550EX flash, a 17-35 lens, 70-200 f4 and the 300 f4 IS. Man I thought I would die before the assignment was over.The weight was too much for fast street/editorial type shooting.
Also the grip/battery compartment on the standard body tends to come lose with vibration. That tends to make the battery lose contact thereby causing the body to lose power without warning.

Things happen fast shooting travel photography. I started to walk around with the body in Evaluative metering mode to get the first few shots and then if time permitted, would shoot a few more in Spot mode. When I got back I was amazed at how many of those "first" shots were right on, even in difficult lighting! I very rarely "lost" a shot.
I also bought the EOS-link software and use it to keep track of shooting data. It is simple to track 2 bodies, multiple lenses, exposure settings and any altered ISO ratings. Just make sure your lab knows what you mean when you ask them to "save the entire film leader" Otherwise your shooting data is useless if you can't match it up to each roll of film where the roll number is imprinted.

Customer Service

Haven't had to use Canon's service for this body.

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F-1n
T-90
EOS-3

Very strong, water and dust proof camera body.
Fast AF, very good light metering system, good to hold and nice to listen to.

Very large and bright viewfinder, - together with EOS3, the best in the business.

Expensive, though at the same as a Leica M6.
Heavy
Gives photgraphers a false feeling of water- and dustproofness,
and solidity. Nothing is stronger than the weakest part of the chain.

Plastic film or cover over the magnesium body gets ugly very fast. Looses finish after short times use.

This is a better camera than Nikon F5. Lightmetering, which has generally been better on Nikon is now matched in EOS3 and EOS1v. All the 'functions' fill a thick book. Particularly is EOS1v advanced in combination with the new EX-flashes. One should afford to buy two EX550 along with the camera body and get rid of 'amateur-like' flash pictures once and for all. EOS1v is the camera for the profesional, or the amateur who likes advanced mechanics and love to read advanced manuals. 'Modes' and possibilities are endless.

EOS1v lacks totally eye control autofocus. This means that one is dependant on a 'lottery-type of of AF'; automatic AF. On EOS3 you can choose between both 'eye control AF' or 'automatic AF'. If you have experience with EOS5 (Elan) and find eye control preferable; go for a EOS3 instead. If you are 'unsure', still; go for a EOS3, which has both.

It's unbelievable that Canon could not afford to put in eye control as a option on a camera costing twice the price of a EOS3.

View finder is 'excellent'. Together with EOS3 has EOS1v the best viewfinders in the business; actually quite elementary in making a excellent camera. Info on what the AF is focusing on is tremedously much better than on Nikon F5, - with a bright read square marking the object in focus. - Again; this is elements that EOS1v shares with the half priced EOS3.

So; there is nothing a EOS1v can't do that the EOS3 can't do just as good, - or even better. Exceptions are the solid body which is supposed to be more water and dust proof than EOS1n and Nikon F5. - Although, I think that these kind of cameras lure their owners into believing they are 'waterproof or dustproof'; which they are not. The Nikon F5 has the interchangable viewfinders which is not tight enough to be called either. EOS1v share the booster (built in magnesium) with EOS3, and the joint between camera body and booster certainly is neither water or dust proof.

The plastic cover over the magnesium body get 'old' very fast. Again; compared to EOS3's diamond-hard polycarbonate surface, EOS1v get worn and ugly. - Particularly if used as intended; rough profesional handling. Still; the plastic cover on right-side pistol grip on both EOS3 and EOS1v is solid and good to hold. Not so good perhaps as Nikon F5's, but then this rubber on the Nikon has a tendency to come off all together.

EOS1v? As mentioned certainly better than Nikon F5, but not neccessarily better than EOS3.

Customer Service

Excellent.

Similar Products Used:

EOS3, Nikon F5

Split second reaction autofocus, excellent predictive autofocus, built like and feels like a tank. Excellent ergonomics and balance, even with a heavy lens. FAST FAST FAST!!! Oodles of custom functions to tailor the camera to your personal shooting style.

Big owie in the wallet. (but worth every penny)

This is my 3rd and possibly last EOS camera (especially with photography going digital). I love this camera, it makes just the sweetest sound when that shutter goes off.
The weight isn't nearly as bad as I expected from reading every one's review. I shot my first roll indoors with an EF70-200 f2.8L USM, no tripod, but the combination was so balanced that even hand held at speeds of 1/60 sec. the pix were still sharp enough for 8x10 prints. If you don't have one yet, get one, you won't be disappointed.

Customer Service

Never had to find out.

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EOS A2, 630,

All the best of the 1n combined with the best of the 3...with several very nice improvents over both thrown in! Handles well, dead on metering, very fast AF, flexible with many options, etc.

Some folks complain about the price, but it seems worth it to me now that the street price is at $1700 and lower. Some people may also miss eye control, bot the manual selection of one of the 45 points seems to work fine for me. My only very minor quibble is that the mirror lock up still takes a step or two too many for my taste.

A wonderful body. The best that I have ever used.

Customer Service

My only Canon experience: I recently needed a couple of repalcement caps (those little ones like the remote socket cover, motor drive coupling cover, etc) and Canon shipped them fast.

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I now use the EOS 3 and A2E. I liiked ar the 1N as well.