The controls are well arranged and easy to get to. The choice of metering modes allows the perfect choice for any situation. The multispot metering in particular is very useful. I am slowly getting the eye control AF to work correctly, it has the potential of being a really great tool. AF works well, lots of options. Has mirror lockup via the custom controls.

Eye control hard to learn. Metering is uniformly underexposed by 2/3 stop.

A great camera for advanced amateurs and pros. An even better buy now that the price has dropped quite a bit.

Customer Service

Not needed for EOS-3 yet. Quick response when I inquired about my Rebel.

Similar Products Used:

Various Pentax 35mm, Pentax 67, Canon Rebel 2000.

It really has everything I can ask for to become a perfect camera. The only limitation now is my imagination. All the functions I ever wanted I now have .

Well, to fully optimize the camer You need the booster and the 550EX and that is quite HEAVY and...expensive...

The most coplete camera I have tested so far. Feel great and most of all produces great pictures. I think that I´m up to around 95% "keepers" since I upgraded.
Perfect system together with the Canon lenses and Speedlights!

Customer Service

Just asked for the firmware update so far and they were very kind and helpfull.

Similar Products Used:

EOS1, EOS100, EOS 5, Nikon F90X

Nice design, controls are easy to get to. Auto focus is fast and the 45 AF zones make good choices most of the time. Has clumsy mirror lockup but at least it's available! Multispot metering is really helpful, full complement of other metering choices. Viewfinder info is easy to read with glasses. Some weather resistance.

Eye control does not work at all with thicker-than-normal glasses. Evaluative metering (matrix) is typical Canon: underexposes everything by at least 1/2 stop.

Great camera for the money now that the street price has dropped below $1000 ($987 USA at Adorama). Lots of versatility, easy to use once you go page-by-page through the owner's manual.

Customer Service

Not required yet.

Similar Products Used:

Rebel 2000, full manual Pentax system, Pentax 67 system.

Ergonomics. This body fits my hand just perfectly and the balance is great as well. These characteristcs offset what to some is a heavy piece of equipment to have around your neck. I haven't found the weight objectionable.(Get an op/tech strap!)As I learn more about the camera and all the things I can do with it, the more amazed I am that it doesn't weigh a ton! I am in love with the eye-control and am having to train myself not to move the camera for off-center focusing:)As others, I'm carrying the manual around with me and having a ball trying out different features. I find the manual very comprehensive and easy to use.

A built-in flash. Nothing fancy, just to use when you want to use the camera as a simple point and shoot.The 'side-door' has a tendency to open to easily, my thumb tends to catch it and open it when I set it down. An always visible battery strength indicator would be appreciated.

The only camera I'll ever need. It has all the functions and options I need to create the pics I want. I will never out grow this body. It has a logical layout that will become second nature in no time, letting you focus on your surroundings instead of your equipment. I read all the reviews and it came down to this body or the F100. I tried out the F100 first and then when I picked this one up there was no question. For me, it's all in the ergonomics, logical function button positions, and awesome lenses.

Customer Service

Havent' needed it.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F100

Fast AF,Great Metering,Rugged and well designed

45 focusing points are a bit overwhelming

Canon sent me an EOS 3 with Booster and 550EX to try out and it worked beautifully.I must say if it had a built in eyepiece diopter I would have sold all my EOS 1n's and bought EOS 3's.The AF is absolutely FAST !!!! Faster than the 1n's and it's metering and flash system are flawless.But it took a few days to get used to all the focusing points.If you have good eye's and don't need the adjustable diopter than this is a near perfect camera..

Customer Service

Canon's customer service is the best

Similar Products Used:

All the Pro cameras out there

2 words: Custom Functions. With the array of custom functions, a shooter can custom taylor this camera to operate to their needs. AF is quick, metering (in all modes) is accurate. Comfortable to hold for long periods of time.

To truely use all of its features, you have to study the manual, maybe even carry it with you for a while. This could be considered a strength as you could try to master a new feature each day/weekmonth, and feel like you have a new toy.

I was switching from my old MF Canon to AF so I was essentially buying a new system. It came down to the Nikon F100 and the EOS 3. The Nikon is an excellent camera, but I personally was more comfortable holding the EOS 3 and liked the system. If you are a pro, this is a great buy. If you're a beginner/casual shooter, it may be a bit too much camera for you to justify the price. If you do buy it, get the 550EX flash. It was built with the EOS 3 in mind and the E-TTL is unmatched.

Customer Service

Not yet needed. Canon has a pretty good reputation for customer service.

Similar Products Used:

Canon A2E, Elan IIE, Nikon F100, Canon AE-1P, Nikon FM2n, Nikon EM

a lot of top Technology: ECF, flash FP, E-ttl

Well sealed for his line
Lightness for the buililding: less than an Eos 1 but though mot in heavy metal, it seems top be well built, better than my eos 50... I'am really happy to have such specs in so light slr...
Don't ask me for the BPe2, I'll will never take such heavy load for my eos becom a machine gun! My landscape doen't need such motors...
The last but not the least: the multi spot, fabulous for zome system adept or slides users...

the price, the 1/200s only flash synchro
the insufficient eye-relief
the under exposure problem, my eos 3 is permanently +0.3 sticked...

By the way a great body, even expensive but I bought it before the recent increasing of the price in Europe...

Similar Products Used:

eos 1
eos 5
eos 50

Ease of Use
Flexibility in the usage of the camera (different modes, custom functions)
Balanced, conmfortable to shoot

None

The EOS-3 combined with the line of EOS lens (especially the image stabilizer) lens makes a for a great package. I was able to pickup the camera and find my way around it without the manual. The polycarbonate grip/body gives the body a good feel and is comfortable to shoot in all weather conditions. As far cost, the price of the body varies. I paid $1200 and seen it as low as $1070. Vary resonable comparing it to the same price EOS 1N.

Customer Service

This is my third camera in the EOS line (elan and a2/e) and I've never had a problem with them.

Similar Products Used:

None

Focusing, metering, feel... all

Viewfinder, as the rest of Canons

I began to be interested in this wonderful body when I wanted spot metering, fast drive, ECF and, I must admit it, mainly when I was ready to spend about $1400. Finally, I fell in love with it in the store. Now it is difficult for me to let it down (although it is not very light).
I must say I am not a great photographer but this body allows you to learn and gorw up and the most important: EXPERIMENT. I strongly disagree with people that says that it is just a pack of "gimmicks". Everything is well engineered here: with no doubt, the most flexible AF system (we will see that from the 1V) and probably the best in performance (AF with f8 lenses), superb metering system, useful CFs...almost perfect. Here goes an explanation:

AF: You can choose using ECF, automatic or an efficient focusing point selection. 45 points or 11. Single point, "fat point": a point and the immediate surrounders (this option works very fine with ECF) or even a point and a set of automatically selected surrounding points. AF works great even with not USM lenses. Fast and accurate. May be less efficient with
METERING: superb. I think as many focusing point as possible is the ideal for Canon's evaluative metering as it estimates much better the size and brightness of the subjet. BTW here is multi-spot metering... simply perfect and didactic.

The only drawbacks are the information in the viewfinder, which doesn't show you metering and exposition modes and the eyecup itself, too small and not really comfortable (the Ed-E does not improve this point or does not work for me)

A model to refer to.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

F601F, EOS 500N, Practika

Exceptional quality, good fit, user-friendly control layout. Eye-focus capapbility. Outstanding list of features.

slight, calibrating the eye-focus, but gets better with a little time and some use. Some of this is due to you (the photographer) getting aquainted with this type system.

This body is slated to fall between the A2 and the 1N. After using it, I definitely wouldn't compare it to an A2, and couldn't justify purchasing a 1N instead (1N RS possible exception). Add the PB-E2 booster, and it's unbeatable in my opinion.

Customer Service

n/a.. haven't needed it

Similar Products Used:

Elan, Rebel, A2