-Strong Built -Backlit LCD -Improved Exposure meter in Viewfinder -Wireless ETTL -multiple spot meter -Excellent vertical grip/control with PB-E2 -uses most accessories of 1, 1n and 1v.

-weak bottom plate (with BP-E1 or PB-E2 is not a problem at all) -not 100% viewfinder (minor point) -noisy shutter/mirror (minor point)

I bought this camera for its superior built, AF and wireless ETTL. To take advantage of the 7fps feature, I also bought the PB-E2 with it. The camera turned lived up to its reputation! Great stuff and the built is a lot better than the lower end 50 and 5QD. Comparing to 1n, the feel is almost the same with the PB-E2. 1n still marginally stronger. I like the backlit LED allowing me to see the setup in the dark. I think the most impressive feature to me is the wireless ETTL. I have tried several times using 3 ETTL flashes (2x 550 EX and 1x 420 EX) and the results were quite stunning. The model light works quite well as well giving me the opportunity to view the light setup. Another good feature I find is the extra exposure bar in the viewfinder. This gives me an idea how much the background is over/under exposed which is similar to 1n. However, there is an additional column indicating the flash exposure. I find this a huge plus over 1n. The dedicated booster (PB-E2) provides vertical controls that old 1n doesn't. For vertical shots, this is very helpful. There are only three Canon SLR has it: 5QD, 1v and 3. On the downside, the bottom plate is kind of weak. With either BP-E1 or PB-E2, this is not a problem. No shutter curtain. Not 100% viewfinder and slightly noiser shutter/mirror than 1n. To me, these are minor points. Bottomline, this is a good camera. You can't go wrong with this one.

Customer Service

Excellent. Got my firmware upgraded for free.

Similar Products Used:

Canon A1, Canon EOS 620, 50e, 5QD, EF-M, 1n Pentax K1000

*Fast AF *Accurate Exposures *Excellent feel and great balance *Looks, feels, acts professional *The great Canon system to make everything complete *Excellent flash system *Great reputation

*Flash sync is only 1/200th. Could use 1/250 like in 1V or F100 for matter of comparison. *Noisy shutter. You can't be the unnoticed photographer in a quiet setting. The PB-E2 helps make it not so intrusive. *AF Assist light only activates in One Shot AF, would be nice to have in AI Servo mode. *Expensive accessories

After stumbling aroung in the dark ages with my dad's Minolta XD-11 for a year, I decided to buy my own camera. I went back and forth over Nikon and Canon and had my mind set on buying the Elan 7E. The day before I was to click the "Buy It" button, I was searching around eBay to find a better deal if I could. I stumbled across an EOS 3 that was used/refurbished and 10 condition being sold by B&H Used Dept. A week later I had an EOS 3 after only paying $600-- the deal of the century! This camera is the most feature-packed camera for the price, keeping in mind the system Canon provides. (I have a friend with a Maxxum 7--the best camera for the price and features--but he hates the Minolta system in comparison to Canon.) ECF gets a lot of guff for being slow and unreliable but I beg to differ. It's great for candid shots or things that don't require split-second reaction. I find I use it about 60% of the time and it is reliable 90% of the time given proper lighting situations. If you shoot sports for example, take it out of ECF and choose the center point or somewhere near the center to track your subject. You'll have a sharp picture every time, even with consumer lenses. Another great feature the Canon line offers is the ability to register the exposure lock button (*) as the AF button throuth CF 4. This makes the shutter only function as the release (as well as exposure lock depending on setting). This is an invaluable tool to sports photographers because with the default setting you run the risk of missing a shot while the camera tries to focus on an already-sharp subject. I can't say enough good about Canon's ETTL flash system. Canon sure has done a lot of research to find this perfect system. Hats off to the R&D teams at Canon. The camera as a tool is very useful. It fits into the hands very well and all the controls are placed with the user in mind. The Nikons don't feel as nice to those with long fingers. I never felt that I had a good grip on the camera when using the D1 for example. A note to those with large hands, buy the PB-E2 so you don't have your pinky hanging off the bottom of the camera. It also helps balance well with every lens, especially those longer lenses. It's also nice to have the 6fps and you can rig it to go 7fps with the pin trick. A side note on battery power: If you rarely use the camera, you're ok. If you use the camera on a regular basis, invest in either the PB-E2 or the BP-E1 and use AA litiums and you'll never go back. I used to go through a battery a month with the 2CR5s but now I go through a set of 8 AAs in 7 months. Not a bad contrast and a welcome change. Lithiums are lighter than alkalines and work 10X better in cold weather. I haven't had any issues with metering or underexposure of any sort. I find the Multi segment metering a very accurate and useful tool. The 8 spot metering points are very useful in tricky lighting. Finally, I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants to move up to a more capable camera. It has all the important features of the EOS 1V while being somewhat reasonably priced. I can't wait for a DSLR based off this wonderful camera.

Customer Service

None needed, yet

Similar Products Used:

Nothing to compare other than playing around with Maxxum 7, N90, F100, D1, EOS 1D, EOS 1V

Feels solid and I like the sound of the shutter crashing down. Confidence inspiring for me. I don't know about this vibration thing either, I love to shoot long exposures at 135mm and every shot is razor sharp.

I actually would not mind a bit more info in the view finder. In Australia, these are expensive cameras.

First up, some background. I have been using Pentax bodies starting from the very manual K1000, I then used an old z-50 with manual focus lenses. I used a Nikon F80 when I worked for a Media production agency and this was my first venture into the mid-range market. Now I am freelancing and decided to buy my own "good" camera. After some research, most of it on this website, I decided to go with the EOS-3. I like the features offered with the EOS-3 and not offered on the EOS-30. This was my main reason for choosing this model. I chose Canon over Nikon (or any other really) for price versus features and general user opinion. When I first sat down with the camera I was blown away by the features it offers, absolutely everything I need and much more. While the instruction manual is pretty skinny and skims over some of the more technical functions (like calibrating the eye-control), I was able to start shooting the same day, just hours after unpacking the camera. I also bought the 28-135mm USM IS lens with the body. These two products are simply fantastic (sure, I can only compare it with $300 equipment) and my first roll of Fuji Sueperia 400 I put through the camera have produced some of the most stunning photos I have ever taken. Eye-control focus is a gadget, it should not be the reason you buy this camera. I have found it to be a fun thing to use in good lighting conditions but I would never trust it over the 45 zone system, not when the shots are critical. I may be coming from years of manual, fixed focal length lenses and very simple cameras, but I can say that I know how to use and push those cameras as far as they can go. Now with the EOS-3 I hope to spend the next 5 years pushing it as far as it can go too. Overall, I think anyone that does not like this camera should probably be using an EOS-1 because there standards are as high as any professional. For the rest of us though, this is a beautiful piece of plastic.

Customer Service

I am hoping to never find out.

Similar Products Used:

Nothing I've used, including the Nikon, was as easy to use as the Canon.

Easier to use than Elan 7. Good solid feel.

Your all right, the shudder port rubber cover will get lost..

Purchase used at Adorama, an experience I will never do again. Camera is easier to use than my Elan 7. Shutter slap is loud, but I'm more worried about vibrations which with a long lens, are noticeable; Mirror lockup for sure. Read through the reviews everybody missed the point on the EOS3 upgrade patch which gives you CF19 and fixes the under exposure problem. Go to this link for more info http://www.techphoto.org/urllink.epl?html=/photo/equipment/canon/eos-3patch.epl

Customer Service

I guess my first call is to get the patch.

Similar Products Used:

Elan 7, Minolta 7000

All of the controls have been placed in location to the hand allowing for quick changes without severe manipulation. Quick eye control focus in most lighting situations

A little heavy

I purchased the EOS3 after using the Elan 7 for a few months. I have been extremely happy with the upgrade and the 45 point focusing system is a real bonus. The PB-E2 motor pack comes in handy

I can use it as a very expensive paper weight

It does not work

This was my first auto focus camera purchase. I was very pleased with the camera at first. The first problem I noticed was it was difficult to use the auto focus in a dimly lit situation. My most serious problem occured on my first trip to Europe. I got to Venice took out my beloved Canon Eos-3 and discoverd that it did not work. I did not have a back-up camera and was miserable without a camera. When I arrived back in the U.S. I sent my 6 month old camera back to Canon for repairs. They called me and told me it had water damage and was not covered under warrenty. It had never been exposed to water. I was told that living in a humid enviroment (Florida) could be the cause of my water damage. They have got to be kidding. I was stuck with a 1,000$ camera not even a year old that was worthless. Canon wanted 700$ to fix it. I was very dissapointed with my Canon EOS-3 camera I would never recommend any one buy a camera with such a faulty seal that mild humidity would cause water damage.

Customer Service

Canon was not at all helpful. I was put on eternal hold and told that my problem with their faulty equiptment was not important.

light weight, so many funtions, advaned flash system, enough film advance speed...

see my summary

I'm very disappointed in this body... huh... I used Contax N1 with Vario Sonnar 24-85 3.5-4.5 N lens, Leica R6.2 with 35 Elmarit and 90 Elmarit, and Contax G2 with Biogon 21, Planar 35 and Sonnar 90. Someday I decided to discard N1 system for simple and convenient shooting with reliable TTL flash system and fast AF. Therefore, I bring my N1 set to local camera shop and bater for this EOS3 set(body with one zoom and 550EX) This is my first Canon... I never used Canon since I had taken Yashica Electro 35, 20years ago... EOS3... AF speed is slower than F100 and cannot focus at vertical lines with my EF28-105 3.5-4.5 USM II lens. Instruction manual reads F2.8-4 lens have 1 cross sensor focus frame at the center of screen, but it doesn't operate with the lens. It can take horizontal lines only. I don't want 45 focusing frame not to operate properly. One operates perfectly is better... I payed about 920dollars for this thing, but this is just mass of plastic. I miss F100's metalic and robust feeling. And Images thisc amera make is somewhat under exposed and blurred by its inaccurate metering system and tremendous mirror shock... I regret to purchase this camera instead of Nikon F100... Curiosity is always the root of my misfortune...

Customer Service

not yet...

Similar Products Used:

Pentax MX, Nikon FM2, F80D, F3HP, F100, Leica R6.2, Contax N1, G2, RX, RTS3 etc...

Fast AF,light camera, make 50mm f1.8 go fast! easy to use and ETTL gives good lighting.

Eye control and to get 7 frames per second you have to buy a NI MH pack ( battery) which is expensive to get.

The EOS 3 is a good camera to have. I bought it in 1999, I got the EOS 3,Power booster E2 and 550 EX flash. I have used it in wedding, bridal shows, macro, people,sports and church. The Auto focus is fast thanks to the computer chip that has a 32 bit Risc processor, which make focusing on the subject very fast (except the EOS 1V much faster). U.S.M is fast. I was at a football match (Rugby league in Australia and esle where) I had the EOS 3,Power booster E2 and 75-300mm F4-5.6 U.S.M. I put in I.S.O 400 film 36 exp, and set 3 frames a second. The camera was great to handle. Got great action shots (especaily close ups) Did not need 6 fps, fast focusing did the job at 3 fps. The power booster is like the V 8 engine attached to the camera. I do not like Eye control, when I have to focus with my eye, it does work but it can get it wrong and strain the eye, I do not use it. I have read that people do not like the sound the mirror makes when it flip up when taking the shot. For me I like it, the noise it makes says is working fine, if there is no noise or change it means it time to go to the canon repair shop! The body of the EOS 3 is light becuase of the plastic so it is easy to carry and the handgrip is good because of the rubber so the hand has a good hold. I have found out any part of the plastic body gets damage it is cheaper to get it fix compare with the EOS 1V where it is metal and it is expensive to replace. I had the camera for three years and it has done a very good job. Its a real professional camera to have. If you are thinking to get one then go :) Michael from Australia

Customer Service

Good service and helpful

Similar Products Used:

EOS 5. EOS 630 and EOS 1N RS

Comfortable, good AF.

noisy, AF in lowlight conditions

Very comfortable camera, really fits into your hand. Quick and great AF in conditions with enough light, a bit slow when it's dark. Eye-focus isn't very great, but i know others who can use it. Noisy.

Customer Service

-

-Build -Shutter speed -AF speed (AI Servo) -Different ways of selecting AF points

-No dioptre control -No battery level indicator permanent in display

I was looking for a second camera to use with my EOS 300. I thought long and hard what to buy. After reading a lot of reviews on this site and others, I decided to check the EOS 3 out. I was looking for a camera with more speed than the EOS 300, so the choice had to be the EOS 1V or the EOS 3. In China I could buy both but the price/quality ratio was in favour for the EOS 3, so I decided to buy it. The camera is really superb. Altough I like the Eye focus, I hardly ever use it. What I really like is the AI Servo mode. It is really very quick. And when shooting birds or sports it gives sharp pictures every time. Combined with a shutter speed of up to 1/8000 and a big aperture lens like the EF 200 f2.8 L, you really get outstanding pictures with beautiful blurr. Often people complain about the weight of this kind of cameras. The weight is actually the good part. The combination of a very responsive shutter release and the weight of the body, makes that the camera is well balanced. The camera is easy to operate and the Custom Function are a blessing. For example, I normally use the camera with only 11 AF points instead of 45. Selection is now much quicker, but you can alter this at any time with the C.F.s.

Similar Products Used:

EOS 300 EF 35 f2.0, EF 50 f1.4, EF 85 f1.8, EF 100 f2.8 Macro, EF 200L f2.8 II, Speedlite 420 EX