pretty handy,sharp,quiet
user friendly

battery weak too fast

Ai servo is very good in capturing sport events
spot metering excellent!!!

Customer Service

haven't try yet!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Canon A3
Minolta X700

I found ECF to be very useful, especially after you composed the perfect shot on your tripod or when doing people/photojournalism shots with wide angle lenses. I even got mine to work in Vertical by opening it up and disabling the orientation sensors..;) I wouldn't recommend others try it though!

Quibles about the flash not automatically popping up? lol!! Come on, this is obviously not the camera for you then. Get the Rebel or some Point n shoot.

1 feature I find indispensable is the mirror prefire. Much easier to use than on the EOS 3/1 based bodies and non-existent on Nikons. It's great for making sure you are getting the sharpest pics when shooting from 1/2-1/90 sec which is most of the time for me, especialy when you always shoot with polarizers and slow film like me. Locking up the mirrors with the F series Nikon is not as convenient and may move your composition.

AF is not as fast as others today but still good and certainly better than the F4. Shooting football on the sidelines, the AF was just barely able to keep up if you turned off ECF and selected the center sensor.

Fast frame rate is good to have. More importance is the complete silence of the drive! Especially when doing weddings, candids, animal, etc..

Also, you can leave the film leader out and you have full access to all your buttons when in vertical mold with the VG-10 grip, something that even the F5 can't do! The VG-10 REALLY should have incorporated AA batteries though, shame on Canon!

It is extremely light weight, especially compared to Nikons. This is the last of your priorities when shopping but when you are on a serious trek or climb to get that "perfect shot", you will really appreciate it.

First I'd like to point out is that I believe the review by "Jerry Price" below is an obvious bash from a Nikonfile. It seems he read about the problems with the command dial and decided to make up a story about how could only control his speed and aperture in one direction because of a bad Command dial but the comman dial doesn't control these settings! It controls your exposure mode. My A2E was one of the ones that had it's command dial break but only after a friend tried to use it without pressing down on the release button. It's not idiot proof.

I've had the camera since it first came out when I bought it direct from Canon while working at a camera store. It's been through alot of punishment and even soaked from the rain and waterfalls but has never failed. After 7 years, the lens release button did break off though after being jarred in Yosemite.

No Backlight or flash confirmation.

Bottom Line, I love my camera. It has performed great past 7 years. With the new alternatives out there though, I would have to say I would recommend the new Elans to beginners wanting to get serious in the art. If you have money to blow, the EOS3, EOS1v, and F5 are all top notch and the only way you can decide if it's for you is to take a close look and borrow one if you can. If you can't afford the F5, by all means go with Canon because all other Nikons give you squat for capibilities considering their price - IMO. Most notably, their lack of mirror lockups. N90 is great but it will add blur when on a long tele at 1/15 and there's not much you can do. I do like the F5 though for the mirror balancer and the removable prism. If you want to buy Nikon because of the "feel" or the "sound", ask yourself if you are hoping to be a good photographer or just feel like one? If the latter is the answer, just buy a Leica. It's much more posh and people will think you're cooler when they see one around your neck.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Just about all Nikons and Canons.

Another note, I think most of the Program modes are a waste but but they do come in handy when a sudden photo op pops up or when handing off your camera to someone to take a pic.

More powerful than a locomotive. This is a "Re-review" I like it better than before.

the metering and the auto-focus are simular to the 1n but not the same and I miss a few of the custome functions of the 1n like #4 & #11

I have been useing this camera a lot lately. I discovered that the centerweight meter is outstanding in Av mode! I use the center dot for tracking continueous shooting and find it to be very accurate. I shoot a lot of in-door highschool sports these days and use it as a second camera for lets say...basketball and fit it with an 85mm f1.8 usm or a 135 f2 usm and get great shots. I also do a lot of ballroom events where I need to focus on people in light darker than my meter can read in most cases with ISO 400. I fit it with my 28-70 f2.8 L usm lens without the lens shade and find that the people before me don't have to wait for me to futs with focus because it locks on them in single shot better than I can do it myself. My 1n can't do as well in these conditions so I bought a used A2 body with a VG-10 in mint shape for $500.00 as a back up/second A2. I like the brighter viewfinder and like the fact that it isn't a 100% coverage like the one in my 1n. I have a tendency to frame all the way to the edge when shooting and have gotten myself in trouble at times because most of the publications that I shoot for still use flatbed scanners and have me shoot color neg and have some place like a Ritz type shop print my film and crop out the edges. I thought by now the command dial would have been broken but...knock on wood...it hasn't. (yet) From time to time, I do some court coverage and choose to use the A2e and now my A2 for my courtroom cameras because when in session, one must not make a peep. The A2/e is quiet enough for a sitting judge to not be disturbed. I also used it to shoot professional Golf at the GMO here in Milwaukee. The GMO has a poloicy for picture taking that you must not disturb the players when they are on the green or on T-off. You are not suppose to shoot them when on the back swing because a player hearing your motor drive and you clicking away film messes up their consentration however, with a 300mm lens, I can fit it with the A2/e and get their back swing and a follow through stroke. Not bad for a 9 year old design. Aside from being out in the rain, it has survived the same punnishment that my 1n has. It has scratches and scrapes all over the body to prove it. On the bottom, it wears white paint from my 300mm lens smacking into the poor little body. It has held up well. I still like my 1n better but I do like this body and am now glad I bought it.

Customer Service

CPS is faster than speeding bullet!

Similar Products Used:

See my other review....Nikrap and Minolta MAXCRAP systems. Also I use to shoot with screwy Sigma and Tampon lenses.

Well built
easy to use
fast, with eye control
Built in flash with red eye reduction
16 point metering & spot
Custom functions
Quiet as a mouse
This camera has style

-Uses batteries like a caddy uses gas.
-VG10 doesn't hold AA's
-A-ttl flash metering as oposed to the e-ttl flash metering found on newer models
-Some people have trouble with the command dial

Remember this is a body that was developed almost 10 years ago. The metering system alone makes it well worth the money. Compared to the newest technology it may not be the "best". But if you looking for a camera you can grow into with many pro features and that's easy to use ~ this is it.
I would think a pro might like it for a backup, especially since it is so quiet. The EOS 3 should be this quiet.

Canon has taken this camera out of the line. Too bad, it once ranked # 2 behind the 1N, and is still a very competative camera. You can still get them for around $500.00.

If you new to photography, don't hesitate ~ buy it, the VG10 and either the 540ex or 430ex flash. You'll use it and be amazed at your ability with it.

Customer Service

Since mine is the EOS 5qd, i also purchased an extended warranty

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N70
Nikon N90s
Eos 3

Fast shutter speed 1/8000
Presets like the Elan II
Eye control
Built in flash, if you want it
Whisper quiet

Flash metering is not E-ttl
Battery drains way to fast, the VG-10 Grip doesn't hold AA batteries like the other grips do ~ dumb.

From all my reading, the EOS 5qd is better than the EOS A2E. I've only owned the 5 so my statemnets relate to it. It has been a dependable camera with many of the nice features found on the Pro bodies. Although not as heavy, or well built as the 1N, it has been sturdy and dependable for me. Too bad Canon is taking it out of the line. It was once the 2 from the top, and should have been upgraded with e-ttl flash metering, and made the VG-10 grip hold AA batteries (Poor design on the part of Canon with the VG-10 grip). That would have made it a perfect camera that out clases any competitior. Even so for the price I don't think you can go wrong. I don't use it as much as I once did, but I wouldn't get rid of for anything. It's great for a beginner, because it gives you room to expand. For a pro it's a good backup

Customer Service

Never had to use it

Similar Products Used:

EOS 3
EOS 1N RS
Nikon F100
Nikon N90S

Far too many to list.

What weaknesses? OK, I'm wary of the main dial. It's never let me down, though...
Looks and feels a bit flimsy - but it's not.
Evaluative metering not perfect.

What can I say? The perfect camera for me. It's survived drops and bangs, works in terrible weather, and has a well-nigh perfect spec.
Cameras don't come much better.

Customer Service

Not required for this camera!

Similar Products Used:

EOS 10, 50E, 100, 600

Far too many to list.

What weaknesses? OK, I'm wary of the main dial. It's never let me down, though...
Looks and feels a bit flimsy - but it's not.
Evaluative metering not perfect.

What can I say? The perfect camera for me. It's survived drops and bangs, works in terrible weather, and has a well-nigh perfect spec.
Cameras don't come much better.

Customer Service

Not required for this camera!

Similar Products Used:

EOS 10, 50E, 100, 600

Far too many to list.

What weaknesses? OK, I'm wary of the main dial. It's never let me down, though...
Looks and feels a bit flimsy - but it's not.
Evaluative metering not perfect.

What can I say? The perfect camera for me. It's survived drops and bangs, works in terrible weather, and has a well-nigh perfect spec.
Cameras don't come much better.

Customer Service

Not required for this camera!

Similar Products Used:

EOS 10, 50E, 100, 600

Other than Metering, it is perfect.
Too many to list, it includes all the functions that suit for casual to professional use.

Evaluative metering not that accurate when compared to Nikon;
Lithium battery 2CR5 can't stand for cold weather (not work prpoerly under 5C)
Other than that, perfect!

Very good bargain now, cost only USD500. Cover most of the functions from casual to professional use: pop-up flash with red-eye reduction, fast film advance (5fps), shutter speed up to 1/8000s, DOF preview, mirror lockup, second curtain sync, silent film rewind, bracketing, multiple exposure, different shooting mode, etc...

Customer Service

Not required for this camera

Similar Products Used:

EOS 10QD, Nikon FM, Nikon 501

Solid feel, great ease of use, powerful built-in flash, and has a great look. My camera before this one was a Contax RTS II, that camera I loved it, it took great photos and had lots of speed, seeing as I had the power winder and power pack. It must of weighed 10 lbs. in my right hand with a average lens fastened to it. I had to retire it for a autofocus camera, and the A2e filled it's shoes perfectly, I seldon look back. And if I do it's because over the years that camera became a part of me.

As mentioned by other photographers the mode dail feels weak at worst and delicate at best. I found that out when I prepared for a shot and whlie checking the gear out I found the dial just free spun, with an occasional click. I quickly brought it to Canon repair center ( only 10 min. away) and it cost 116.00 to fix it. Haven't had a problem since.

If I were to do it again, I would have purchased it sooner. I am new to Canon products but from what I own I can recomend it to any one, Pro or first time buyer.

Customer Service

when it was repaired, the people at Canon were great and very personable, good experience.

Similar Products Used:

I tried a relatives EOS rebel once and found it weak and delicate feeling simular to the mode dial on my A2e, the whole camera felt this way. Didn't like it.