Body is light yet tough and strong, weatherproof, 45-point ECF, 18 custom functions, great with 550EX flash, multi-metering, etc.

None

An excellent camera with all the features I need. Great performer, easy to use and advanced. Many professional photographers use it, and love it. If I had to choose only 1 camera for work, this will be the one.

Customer Service

not required

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Metering system is nice, the 21 area matrix metering is nice feature, but in a test I did it isn't much better than the 16 area of my 1N RS. In fact the simpler metering system actually works better. For me the only really godd thing about this camera is the E-ttl flash metering. It works really well, and is the only reason i keep it

In all honesty, it's over rated. The 40+ area eye control is a joke. Canon should have learned, more isn't always better, plus the calibration nob looks like a "bolt" on Frankenstein's neck, and it's difficult to get calibrated. Don't try and use the oversized eye cup, it makes things worse. Where are the smooth, sleek lines of the Eos 1N, or even the Eos 5QD?? The side door is "junky" at best. The controls are a night mare. The mirror, and shutter are a far cry of the that found even on the EOS 1N. It's a strange looking and handling camera.

Run from this camera, Canon would have been better off to upgrade the EOS 5QD with E-TTL Flash metering, and adding a few more eye control points. They also should have done the same thing with the EOS 1N RS (The finest camera Canon ever built). The proof is simple to find. Look at the NY dealers who still have the Eos 1N in stock, they sell for more that the Eos 3. Why??? Because the EOS 3 is far from a easy to use, well built camera . Canon lost allot of ground to Nikon on this camera. The F100 blows it out of the water. Too bad. Not for an beginner, that's for sure

Customer Service

Canon always stand behind their proucts, even "Grey"

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F4
Nikon F100
Nikon N90s
Canon Eos 1N
Canon Eos 1n Rs
Canon Eos 5qd

Well built, extremely fast AF, very accurate metering, great ergonoimics (if you used EOS before, you know know what to do witrh this camera right out of box), E-TTL, optional split-image focusing screen.

1. Horribly loud and hard mirror slap. Old EOS1 (not to mention EOS 5, Elan's and probably Nikon F100) is much better in this respect.
2. awkward manual selection of AF sensors via electronic dial. Absoultely stupid solution.
3. 45 point AF area. No idea why I need this thing, sensors are too close to each other. I use a central sensor only, anyway! Why? Because, 12 years ago Canon came up with a great idea - you can reassign buttons and separate AF action from the metering. This (at least for me) completely eliminates any need in multiple AF marks. Try it yourself.
4. ECF. Read above and see that its merely a toy, IMO.
5. Sidedoor behaves like a window on the wind. Sweaty palm sticks to it and opens that hidden bay every time. EOS 1v has a magnetic strip in there that keeps door in place.
6. Viewfinder is way too small and has no high point eye relief.
7.

Besides mentioned above annoying problems camera left a very good impression. The metering was "dead-on", controls are so intuitive that I even did not read a manual. Just inserted the battery, loaded film, attached my favorite 50 mm lens and started to shoot. Camera is as sturdy as a brick but yet light. AF is too fast for my kind of photography. I am sure, people do appreciate such responsive AF action, but I am no paparazzi, or sport shooter. After the first roll all I could say was "WOW, this camera feels like a high fire-rate assault rifle". All slides came out just great. So, did I keep the camera? No. I ended up with an old EOS 1, which I find superior to EOS 3 in some, but very important for me aspects. Of course, EOS 3 beats the hell out of EOS 1 in terms of AF (and flash capabilities), but I don't need superfast AF.
I have to admit I was a bit dissapointed with EOS 3. It's nowhere as charming as EOS 1 or EOS 5. It does the job, and appears to be a reliable and very capable machine. Due to rapidly falling prices this camera might look very attractive for many amateurs

Customer Service

none needed.

Similar Products Used:

EOS 5, F100

Well built, extremely fast, acurate metering, acurate auto focus, good eye control, mirror lock up, and easy to handle

No diopter correction built in.

This camera is for serious amateurs and professionals. If you take teh time to learn the different functions and controls you will enjoy using this camera. By practicing the different setting for the camera you will not forget them.

Customer Service

When I received my EOS-3 it would not rewind the film at air temperature below 40 degree F. I called Canon tech support and was informed that 40 degrees F was the lower temperature of the EOS-3. I later contacted another person in tech support who told me that the operating range was a lot lower than 40 degrees. The tech support person had me send my camera in for repair. Within 10 to 12 days of shipping my camera off I had it back and it worked well at cold temperatures. The repair did not cost anything since the camera was still under warranty.

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Had a Olympus OM camera prior to purchasing the EOS-3.

2 words (eye control)
I use to own the elan 2e and hate only four dots but the eos3 does the job and it is built to take a beating and still fire

the side door is weak and the eye control has some problems in low light & vertical

I love this camera it is fast and hard.. but light. If you shoot weddings and need that one second to get the shot this it the camera..

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

elan 2e,nikon n2002

*Extremely fast camera
*Impressive strong body
*Easy to configure for my preferences
* and all that a professional photographer needs, and even more, in a light weight body.

*Battery check has to be done manually
*No dioptrie correction built-in
*and no finder blind.

In four days of use of my EOS 3 a little boy hit the top side of tehe EOS 3 with a rock with strenght. I very happy with the polycarbonate body, because even after the impact of the rock,my camera still be operating perfect. I change the top plate for an aesthetic reason,a little scratch. I really know that the shock could damage more a top plate made of metal and the circuits bellow. So polycarbonate body absorves very well the impacts and is lightweight.

Customer Service

very fast and efficient,but I just need for a little change in a piece with a scrath. Never for a malfunction.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F5,Nikon F100,Nikon N90s,Canon EOS ElanIIe,Canon EOS a2,Pentax PZ-70

1 Well built with a solid feel.
2 Better than average for use in adverse weather.
3 The 45 point autofocus great for composition when manually selected. With auto point selection it's like a net for catching action.
4 Metering is consitantly accurate.
5 Controls are easy to use and intuitive.
6 The viewfinder is excellent the image is bright and the data is easy to read.

The 45 point ECF doesn't work well for me although works well enough for my daughter.

Over all I find it an excellent camera. It's user friendly and produces consitant professional looking results. I have never been disapointed by this camera.

The only drawback for me is the EFC not working well for me but that appears to be because of the glasses I wear as it works well for my daughter who is a second year photo student.

I have heard of people having exposure problems with earlier production model but the one I have seems to be perfectly accurate.

The autofocus is fast and accurate for the way I shoot.

Overall I would say this is one of my favorite cameras in the EOS line.

Customer Service

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Similar Products Used:

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Fast AF
Multiple focus points (great for composition -- especially when set to 11 & linked to spot metering)
Outstanding flexibility & control
Accurate metering
Build quality
Price -- outstanding for what you get

No diopter
Side door seems a bit flimsy -- though no problems as yet
ECF doesn't work consistently for me, although I have a slight astigmatism.

This is an outstanding camera. I've used it for about 25 rolls so far, and results have been amazing. While at first the camera may seem complicated, in fact the controls are very intuitive, and the camera gives the photographer amazing flexibility. The EOS3's multiple metering modes, exposure and flash compensation, multiple AF patterns and selection modes and 18 custom functions allow you to do just about anything you'd ever want. For all doubters out there -- there is no camera on the market that doesn't have quirks. For my purposes, this camera has the best balance of features, flexibility and cost on the market. Plus, the EOS lenses are spectacular, particularly the L lenses. Having recently switched from Nikon (sorry guys, couldn't help it . . .) I couldn't be happier.

Customer Service

Haven't needed - but they stand behind gray market products (contrary to what you may hear!)

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS A2, EOS 1N, Nikon F100, Nikon N80

* Interface - Layout, Intuitive
* Interface - Speed, Quick to make complex things happen.
* Autofocus Speed
* Metering in complicated lighting
* Eye-control

The biggest - Can't save exposure data.

* The side door is flimsy. This is more psychological than anything. I have never had any problem.
* So much info is available in viewfinder its annoying when something isn't, like shooting modes.
* Noisy

I received my EOS-3 on a friday. I hadn't handled one before but had ordered it because sports shooters always say "the 3, the 3!" My first reaction was "This is a monster, I'll send it back and get an Elan 7." But I wouldn't be able to do that until Monday so I started messing around with it. By the time Monday came I was thinking about getting rid of my old elan and getting another 3.

Comments on other comments:
Many people don't seem to be aware viewfinder brightness has less to do with the camera than the lens. (bigger aperture = brighter) The 3's viewfinder is as good as any I've used and better than most.

It diopter adjustment couldn't be built-in because of the eye-control sensors around the viewfinder. One of the reasons 1V doesn't have eye-control.

Someone said the F100 has kept its price better than the EOS-3. I am not sure what he was on. Both EOS-3 and F100 have dropped about 45% from their original price. It isn't difficult to figure out why EOS-3 has dropped. The hype of 1V and Elan7.

For people who say the eye-control doesn't work I'll let you in on a little secret. Calibrate, calibrate, and calibrate again in different lighting and lenses. It's easy and quick. Calibrate different glasses and contacts on different channels. I have CF13-1 set. It works for me at least 98% of the time. The only time I have trouble is when it's very bright (snow) and I can't see the elipse. I was sad I didn't have the money for the 1V because of the 3's lack of exposure data storage. Now I don't think I would trade because I couldn't give up eye-control.

Someone said 1N still selling well. This isn't hard to figure out. It's cheap and if you have a bunch of 540EZ's the 1N is the obvious choice.

Though it is big which meant I had to get a new bag, I like the weight. It makes it easier to handle. It doesn't flop around. You know it will stay where you put it. With the elan I am always anxious my kids will knock it off the table or wherever. Balances bigger lenses nicely.

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I'll never regret getting the EOS-3, unless Contax develops eye-control and puts it in the N2 :)

I'm giving it an overall rating of 4 basically because I can't give a value rating of 6. And the lack of exposure data storage - Canon is late to the party on this.

Customer Service

I have a lens which is attracted to concrete. The camera always (twice) survives fine. Canon is always fast, and professional, if not cheap.

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None

Fast AF
Great control
Great price
Eye control excellent
Sturdy build

Side door flimsy
No diopter
battery check done manually
loud mirror slap

The EOS3 is a very reliable camera for me when I am out on the job. Canon top end cameras are all excellent in my opinion,even though the EOS3 has a couple of weaknesses I wouldn't use anything else.

Customer Service

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Similar Products Used:

Canon A2E
Canon 1NRs
Nikon N90s