Fast AF, controls layed out well and feels good in my hand, nice 45pt AF, lite w/bp-e1, metering is on Q.

None, I used it for 3 months in South Sudan, 2 weeks covering the earthquake in Turkey (3 days in heavy rain) and Kosovo and no problems.

Great camera, it's my main body now, the EOS 1n is now my backup.

Similar Products Used:

EOS 1n, 5

Wonderful focus, exposure, features, flexibility, FEEL, transport.

None, over the last 4 months.

I'm a race-motorcycle fan/owner. In our sport, carbon-fiber and advanced materials (expressed inappropriately as PLASTIC, in above reviews) have replaced important metal parts like WHEELS, and fenders and all sorts of strenth-related components. Implied in a 180-mph bike's use of these materials is durability and thoughtful implementation of the technology.

Do any of you critics of Canon "plastic" have any idea of what these advanced materials are, and what their stress ratings and such are?

No.

Do your homework. This camera is already quite heavy even with these NASA-based polymer materials. Do you want it heavier to please your uninformed need for a certain feeling you have always associated with strength?

It could be Kevlar, and you would ignorantly say it was more fragile than your Big Firm Metal, and you would be wrong by an ORDER OF MAGNITUDE.

Go buy a wool seat-warmer with your one-star ratings. There is a new advanced chemical seat-warmer out. You microwave it for several minutes, then it stays warm for hours. If you saw the chemical compounds which are inside, you would say "This ugly material obviously can't hold the heat that a good old IRON PLATE can hold!"

So then, take your iron plate with you to your next stadium event. Its solidity and apparent hardness should keep at least your FIXED IDEAS warm!

Bravo, Canon.

Customer Service

Not needed yet, on any of my Canons over 10 years

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F5, F100

Tough, solid, fast, accurate, dependable -- it delivers for the pro. Selectable Eye Control Auto-follow Auto-focus, multi-mode metering, A-TTL flash
with synch at 1/200 make it unmatched for night football. Switched from Nikon to EOS Elan II after 35 years, and have now have upgraded. Best sports camera in my 42 years experience. I hope some day to add the 300mm f/2.8 IS L to match this body. When the lenses you crave are $7+K each, what's $1.5K for a body?

Non-OEM lenses required software upgrades.

The EOS3 introduces a new generation, at a new level of automation, for professional use, affordable to an amateur.

Customer Service

Not used.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N90

Autofocus speed, mirror lock up, flash modeling light, ergonomics.

ECF took several tries to calibrate. Slow synch speed.

This is a good camera. The AF is fast and accurate, The ECF works well, however one has to remember that it is limited to the oval area. The ECF on/off switch is well placed - easy to go to the central sensor if necessary. I limited the number of focusing points to 11 and the camera thinks faster. The controls on the booster are of great help. The "plastic" body does not bother me. It is well sculpted and looks sturdy. Plus it disguises a metal frame underneath. Similar to EOS 1n. I have never heard of polycarbonte bodies cracking or breaking. So I do not anticipate any problems in this area. The metering is consistent. I noticed that the camera does not allow an overexposure in any metering zone. Flash exposure compensation scale is of help. I wish the viewfinder showed the current metering mode like the F5 does. Speedlight 550 EX is a full featured excellent strobe. Last but not least, the camera feels well in my hand, especially with the booster. I find it much more comfortable than the F5. I am looking forward to seeing the next top of the line EOS.

Customer Service

Quite professional

Similar Products Used:

Elan IIe, Nikon F4, F5

Technologically superior. Great ergonomics, sturdy build, sharp looks, pretty much everything.

None so far with the camera, but the accessories (550EX Flash, and Power Drive Booster PB-E2) are priced kind of high.

A great camera if you really like photography and take it seriously. If that's not the case, I'd recommend a lighter and more 'easy' to function "point and shooter" or a lower priced SLR. Just have fun.
Shop around for cameras also! Especially on-line, you can find them a lot cheaper and without shipping charges or sales tax! Be sure to look around.

Customer Service

Very helpful service. They send whatever informative brochure you can ask for really quick.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N6006, Canon Eos Elan

So simple to use!

Can't put it down!

I love this camera. I have been a long time holdout for an autofocus system. The last camera I bought was an F1! I found the eye controlled focus to be a snap to program and it works 99% of the time for me! My only complaint was that I had to buy the motor drive to get the vertical functions which I need but really don't need 7fps! I don't even mind the extra weight! I really like the quick acsess to all of the funtions and settings as well.

Customer Service

Not used.

Similar Products Used:

None

Extremely responsive, very simple, and built to last.

The user manual is very general. Also, calibrating the eye control takes time until one gets the hang of.

Once you set the eye control take the shot with the greatest ease. Of course, every photographer has to second guess his camera from one time to another ,but, with the EOS-3 you will find your kind self trusting it after the 10th roll of film you shoot.

Customer Service

Never needed.

Similar Products Used:

Canon Elan IIE, A2E, and Nikon F100.

Focusing

Feels Cheap, Bulky

I think the camera focuses extremely well but for the asking price, this camera feels very plasticy and cheap. Not built for real heavy use. I shoot Football games and when you are running to get into positon for your next shot, you're not thinking about- is my camera bouncing around? The EOS 3 makes me second guess myself when I'm out there, I DON'T LIKE THAT!!! Canon missed big time with this model, a lot of the guys on the field have switched back to Nikon because the F5 and F100 inspire more confidence. I'm well entrenched in EOS lenses so I'm not jumping ship but I am disappointed with this camera even if all the bells and whistles are nice. Canon can do better. Buy an EOS 1N instead or hopefully a new top of the line camera is coming shortly.

Customer Service

Slow, Not responsive

Similar Products Used:

EOS 1N, F5

For the advanced features (such as ECF), customizable options, capatiblity with all EOS lenses and flashes, handling, interface and overall ease of use.

Getting the ECF calibrated. It took many tries, but I finally got it to work. Canon could have done a better job making this feature work better.

Overall, a very fine camera. It makes the job of taking pictures much easier. Still, I would have preferred a metal body for a camera that is aimed for the pro market. I have no regrets in purchasing it.

Customer Service

Haven't tried it.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2n, N70, N90s, N8008s.