Fast AF, solid build, comprehensive features, excellent eye-level controlability.

Big spot meter circle, fussy mode controls, control placement and design inconsistent with other EOS cameras.

A very sound camera. The best buy for the money on the market right now. Almost pro-quality, but somewhat reduced by:
1. subtle but important omissions of true spot meter.
2. Unfortunate retention of eLAN-2 style controls that are fussier to use and inconsistent with higher level EOS bodies.
3. High granularity in exposure compensation.
Over all, this camera edges out N80 as the best camera for the non-professional.

Customer Service

No experience

Similar Products Used:

N80, F100, N70, N6006, N50, FM, FE, etc

ECF focus
7 focusing points
4f stops
mirror lock
depth of field preview
battery pack
low noise
battery pack

Size, without battery pack

This is clearly the camera that knocked the N80 of the throne as the best camera in the 600 and under dollar range. The Elan7E has more features that give it a slight edge over the very competent N80. I looked at both cameras when looking to upgrade from my rebel. I decided that the faster focusing plus the 4 frames per second and the added feature of mirror lock gave the Elan7E the advantage over the N80. The slightly better built plus a more functional battery pack also influenced my decision.
I have very few bad things to say about the Elan7E, the only negative is that I find it a bit to small for my hands but the battery pack solved that problem. I highly recommend the Elan7E it will satisfy the person looking for a mid-level camera.

Customer Service

Very good.

Similar Products Used:

Rebel, ElanIIE, N70, N80.

Quiet, 4fps, Quick Autofocus, Built-in Flash, Light weight for all the features it has, great value.

The Autofocus has difficulty in very low light.

This has most of the features of a top of the line, professional Canon or Nikon. Is light weight enough my wife is not intimidated by it. And takes great pictures with the 28-135 IS lense! My dad has already blown up 4 pictures to 8x10 from the 3 roles I took over Christmas which look great at the larger size! I am very pleased with this purchase and have plenty of camera to grow into.

Customer Service

Have not had any problems.

Similar Products Used:

N80. My dad has been a Nikon owner for over 30 years and I broke tradition by going with the Canon. I chose the Canon for the Image Stabilization feature in a <$500 lense and the Canon has slightly higher ratings on their lenses than Nikon.

7 point AF
Eye Focus System
Lens Compatibility
FPS
User Interface

Auto Assist Light
No illumination on LCD

As my first SLR camera, my experience is admittedly limited, but so far I have found the EOS 30E an intuitive and easy to use camera. The size is a bit small for me but then I have big hands. Given its price range is far and away a better camera than Nikon F80; perhaps that is why Nikon are planning an F85 in the near future!
Would also like to say a quick qord about the 28-135 IS lens. Dont buy the camera with the kit lens; spend the extra dosh on the 28-135. A fantastic lens. With the EOS 30 body, it is a great combination. I heartedly recommend this camera to anyone planning on buying an SLR in this price range

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F80
EF 28-135 IS

User-Friendly - easy to operate, as well as comfortable, buttons and dials. Very smart, quick, and quiet. Eye Controled Focus. 13 Custom functions. LCD is organized well. LED is easy to read. Dioptric adjustment. Seven focus points. Shutter, Aperture, and Depth of Field Priority - user selects first and last objects in focus. Looks good.

There is no spot meter, but there is 10% partial metering which can be centered around the user's selected focus point. It doesn't focus well in dark situations. The flash focus assist doesn't work well.

I am very satisfied with this camera. I have used several Nikons, Pentaxs, and Canons in or close to the price range of the Elan 7e, and none of them compare with its performance, functions, or user-friendliness.

Customer Service

None.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N80. The Elan 7e is easier to use, has more functions, and is faster and quieter.

Metal shell
Mirror lock
Low noise
4F stops
User friendly, ergonimics
Price
Eye controll focusing
Focusing speed
Depth of field button
Optional battery pack
Metering accuracy

Low light auto assist strobe.

Hands down the best mid class camera on the market. The only camera that came close was the N80, but the Elan7e has more fetures and options. The fact that Canon has USM and IS also influenced my decision. I also bought the 28-135mm IS lens, it does produce great photos with the Elan7e. Go out and check several other cameras, I don't think you will find the performance and features of the Elan7/7e in any other camera in this price range.

Customer Service

very good.

Similar Products Used:

ElanIIe, Nikon N80

FPS
metal top
Lens compatibility
MIrror lock up
film leader options
EOS

auto-assist focus light
low-light focussing

To summarise I would first like to say, Guys lets not make personal comments about other user's opinions; particularly if they are rude or defamatory. Libellous comments like those made by Martin Burns are of no value here and to use his own words "do nothing to promote this site"!

The EOS 30 is alot of camera for its price. It offers a whole plethora of options for the serious advanced user and only the F80 compares to it in the price range. The F80 in my opinion is a slightly inferior camera although there is not alot in it. Certainly the mirror lock up function is good, and the 4fps is great if you are into sport photography.

The feel of this camera is much improved when combined with the Grip (which includes vertical shutter button, where as the grip for the F80 does not).
Also I have to agree with many of the other reviewers here with regards to the EF 28-135 IS USM lens. This body and that lens are a hard combination to beat!

Customer Service

Never had to use it

Similar Products Used:

F-80

fast and accurate metering and focusing
good handling with BP-300.

Increased weight with BP-300, focus-assist flash is scaring, you need to bring the instruction book with you when choosing customer functions.

One of the best choices in this range. Just go buy one with a 28-135 IS, the best combination for a intermediate photographer, and may last for decades.
I have carefully readed all the comments here before I made the decision. I should say, I strongly disagree with one of them, the "Expert Photographer from Japan", an expert won't choose EOS 30, and I doubt whether he or she is an expert. EOS 30 is for intermediate people, and for them, it deserves 5+ stars.

Customer Service

no experience.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 1N, EOS-3, EOS-5, EOS-300
Nikon F-100, F-80

Feture rich, fast focusing, built quality, 4 frames per second, mirror lock

None yet

I really am happy with the Elan7, I think it gives me the most features of a camera in the mid class category. It delivers very good performance at a very reasonable price. It's hard to find 4 frames per second, mirror lock, all servo focusing, depth-of-field ae, eye controll focusing and all the custom functions that the Elan7e has at such a reasonable price. If you buy the Elan7e you won't be disappointed.

Customer Service

Never used.

Similar Products Used:

F80, Maxxum7

4 fps
Mirror Lockup
Silent (nearly) rewind.
Continous predictive focussing.
Attractive Black design
Build Quality
Depth of Field Preview

Left hand grip too small
focussing aid distracting.
Custom Functions should have names not numbers.
Film rewind button easily pressed by mistake.

Excellent mid range camera suitable for everyone from a beginner to an accomplished amateur and would probably suit professionals as a spare body if they are on a tight budget. Main gripe is the size of the left hand grip which I have to grasp tightly to prevent my hands slipping and I have only small hands. Maybe it will be better when I get the Battery Pack. Impressive speed both for focussing and picture taking (accidentally took four (nearly) identical shots the other day ;-). Metering seems generally accurate although one or two shots seem massively underexposed when using an external flash but that may be because the flash did not have sufficient power with the manual settings I had given the camera.

Customer Service

No online manuals available.

Similar Products Used:

EOS 50E
EOS 3
EOS 300