Light weight.
Focus point selection options.
Creative control

Flimsy construction compared to Elan IIe.
Lack of IR focus assist which comes with the Elan IIe.

Initially, I was incredibly disappointed with this camera. Any attempt to focus on objects with uniform color/shape (i.e. a flat white wall), were unsuccessful. Where the Elan IIe, with the IR focus assist, had no problem, the 7e fell on its face.
However, after using the Elan 7e for a couple weeks in real life, I've come to appreciate several things about it:
1)Focus selection. With 7 focus points and a handy selection pad on the back panel, focusing without eye control beats the Elan IIe hands down.
2)Eye control focus. The calibration and use of EC on the 7e is much easier than the IIe.
3)Light weight.
4)It would appear that, in real life use, the lack of the IR focus assist doesn't really pose a problem. I've had no focus issues yet, and the autofocus is, amazingly, even faster that the Elan IIe.
Overall, great camera.

Customer Service

Never used.

Similar Products Used:

Elan IIe.

auto focus is very fast, many features, with manual overide on most, diopter adjustment!!!

being a manual focus/manual exposure type of person, this is my first auto everything camera, it has been a challenge to learn all the functions.

I chose this camera primarily to go with the Canon 100-400 L IS zoom, Many features, the diopter adjustment mechanism is a must for me. Canon offered a rebate with the camera which was promptly mailed to me. This was purchased with the 28-90 zoom. The eye tracking system is amazing! Very please with the camera.

Customer Service

N/a

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N80

7 Focus Points
Eye Controlled Focus
Ease of Use
Value
Fast AF
Light weight
Quiet Operation

None for a Right Hander

I would say this is one of the best value camera Canon has ever produced other than the manual T-90. The camera is packed with USEFUL features, I was really amazed by the Eye-Controlled focusing. The camera operates exceptionally quiet which is good for outdoor/wildlife photography. I won't regret buying this camera and sure it will be my best equipment in the next few years.

Customer Service

Not used.

Similar Products Used:

EOS 500N

UNBELIEVABLE!! -
I just return from a 5 day cruise and took 12 rolls of pictures...all I can say is WOW!!! The pictures were vibrant and as sharp as could be. The Eye Control is wonderful and works perfect everytime. Best Camera I have ever used!

too little time...not enough pictures

This is the camera. Everything is wonderful...COULDN'T BE ANY BETTER!!!

FYI - Pictures taken with a Tamron 28-300 lense

Customer Service

haven't tried it

Similar Products Used:

comparable Nikon products

7 AF Points
Eye Control
Easy Use
Can Be Used Fully Manually or Automatic
Custom Functions

Hard to Remember Custom Functions, but could learn with time

With the Elan 7e I also purchased a 70-300 and 28-80 lens, a Speedlite 420EX and the BP-300, for my uses as my high school newspaper's photo editor it works great, i like the speed and versatility, its great if i need to shoot sports, news, or feature photography. At first, I didn't know if switching from an AE-1 to the Elan 7e would be what i wanted but i now know that it is definitly worth it!

Customer Service

Haven't needed it

Similar Products Used:

none

-Light weight yet solid.
-Unbelievably quiet.
-Nicely expanded eye-control focus points (from Elan IIe) and not the overkill of other models.
-Better control layout than other models.
-Excellent selection of Custom Controls.

-Though a great convenience when you're stuck without your strobe, like all cameras with pop-up flashes, you are likely to get a crescent shadow if you use a larger/more pro-quality lens than the short-range zoom that comes with it.
-It would be nice if the display screen was lighted.
-The depth-of-field preview button could be a little more pronounced.

I am thoroughly impressed with this camera. My immediate reaction to holding it was: I love this. My immediate reaction to shooting with it was: I love this. And my reaction to the shots I come away with? You guessed it!

I used to shoot professionally and lugged around two F-1 bodies and a bunch of prime lenses. Now that I shoot just for my own pleasure I didn't want to invest in the top-of-the-line models, so I picked up an Elan IIe - which I like and still use as a second body. But, if the 7e was available last year when I was shopping around, I never would've picked up a IIe. The 7e was the camera I was looking for - advanced, solid, not complicated yet sophisticated, light-weight, and very sound mechanically. And - about all the claims Canon makes about how silent this camera is? Absolutely true. I have to hold the camera up to my ear if I want to hear it rewind.

I think the body without the battery pack is a bit on the uncomfortably small side. I really think the weight and ergonomics of it with the battery pack is perfect. Fits naturally in my average-sized hands and all the controls fall naturally within easy reach.

I recommend this camera without hesitation to the serious amateur or as an additional body to a pro.

Customer Service

Not yet!

Similar Products Used:

Elan IIe

AF Speed, 4 fps, near-silent motor drive, 1/4000th shutter speed (for this category), EF lenses, rugged look

LCD backlight...that's it

when i first saw this camera, i just had to have it. i fell for the looks, the (as advertised) performance. its speed, silent operation, eye controlled focusing and nearly unreal 4fps shooting got me hooked. i was shooting rolls of film within days, and i mean rolls!I've had l respectable cameras before but none matches the Elan in terms of speed and accuracy, though i do admit the IR assist light in the IS-1 is better than that of the Elan's AF-assist light. it's not as annoying. Highly recommended for those who want the best!

Customer Service

never used

Similar Products Used:

Canon A-1, Olympus IS-1, IS-20QD

Lightweight
great eye focusing system
very quiet and quick

rear thumbwheel awkward
cannot use eye focusing with sunglasses on

After using this for a few weeks now, Ive come to a strong conclusion that cannon has always never disapointed me. I think they should change the design placements of the controls, and make them alittle more finger userfriendly for us "big fingered" guys. The best features are the output of the pictures I get. Everthing is dependent on your focusing, no matter what you adjust on the exterior of your camera. This camera is very fast, very intuitive selecting what subject I focus with my eye ( a great feature)and secondly, the lightweight of the camera justify's the pleasure of long sessions. If you have to consider a digital vs 35mm, you would still have learn the complexity of digital imaging, and be pretty much "computer literate" and have the proper equipment and hard drive invested to house your pictures and more space to edit them, than to place alittle roll of film with as much or better quality. This camara would and should be your choice without a doubt, a great investment.

Customer Service

Never used (knock on wood)

Similar Products Used:

Nikon n80
Cannon D30
Nikon N90

-Top/front contructed of REAL METAL, not plastic
-Metal lens mount
-FAST 4 frames per second rivals that of some top-end pro cameras
-Very, very, very quiet
-All-black camera looks more professional & less "trendy"
-ETTL flash metering & FP (high-speed sync) flash is outstanding
-Depth-of-field preview button fires a modeling flash (nice!)

-no AF assist on camera (which really isn't a problem for me, as AF assist is available if using a Canon Speedlite, which I almost always do)
-when used with the BP-300 and a flash bracket, the vertical shutter release can be accidently pressed while rotating the camera (this is my biggest problem with this camera)
-no Eye-Controlled depth-of-field preview, unlike the Elan IIe
-Depth-of-field preview button is in a terrible location when the camera is used on a bracket (I'm really not too happy about this either)

I traded in my EOS 3 for this camera, much to the surprise of my peers. Hey, it's lighter, faster, quieter, has a better metering pattern, better ECF, and a built-in flash (who says that a "pro" camera can't have this option?) Oh yeah, it's cheaper, too. If you plan on purchasing this camera, go ahead and figure the cost of an EX-series Speedlite as well (I recommend the 550EX). The built-in flash or an aftermarket flash is OK, but you're really selling yourself short without a Canon EX Speedlite.

Customer Service

Never had to use it yet (knock on wood!). I have had a few technical questions I would have liked to have answered by Canon, however. It would be nice if Canon had a user forum on the web. Mamiya has one that's awesome.

Similar Products Used:

Rebels (all of 'em)
Elan IIe
EOS 3
A whole bunch of EF lenses

Fast 4fps
Eye control
Plenty of accessories
Super quiet

LCD display should be back-lighted, Canon dropped the ball on this

Have not been dissappointed. When coupled with a 420EX or 550EX Speedlight almost anything is possible. Switched to Canon when I experienced the silent and super-fast response of the EOS lenses and am happy to say that their camera bodies are just as pleasing to use. Would recomend to beginner as well as more experienced photographers.

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

N80, N4004S