Camera is super light, yet large and sturdy allowing for comfortable picture taking. Shutter is SUPER quiet...it wont scare off the MUNKIMS when trying to get that precision wildlife shot.

Battery(2cr5)needed to run camera is quite costly.

All in all, this is an excellent camera for amatuer photographers who want professional results. Even if you are not all too familiar with photography, just pop it in "Program" or "Automatic" mode and have fun (you'll still achieve great results).

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

Canon A2E
Canon Rebel

Great ergonomics
Surprisingly tough
Excellent value
EOS lenses

No interchangeable focussing screen (I would like to fit a gridded screen).
No PC sync socket.
Only brackets in 0.5 stop intervals

A very good camera for both beginner and advanced amateur. The camera has loads of features and will give you as much control as you want as your photography progresses. The weaknesses I have highlighted are perhaps unfair as they certainly don't detract from everyday photography. I have used my camera in the rain and the only problem was the remote release stopped working. However, so did my friend's EOS 1n. Also it fell off a tripod and hit a rock when I was photographing on a windy beach in Scotland. Maybe I was lucky but - no damage! EOS lens range is best there is. I haven't noticed any problems with power drain, battery seems to last for ages. Maybe that fault is limited to certain units and not generic, however I don't use the flash a whole lot. The built in flash is excellent for adding a little fill in light to an outdoor portrait but shouldn't be expected to do the job of a separate unit. To sum up, the only trade up I would consider would be to an EOS 1n.

Customer Service

Excellent - when I had a problem with the battery contact they fixed it for free. The camera was out of warranty too.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 600
Olympus OM10 & 2SP
Bronica ETRS

Great autofocus, myriad of features, excellent built, wide range of lenses, precise meter, quality flashes and speedlites available, and all this for a mind boggling price!!! Well I have put around 20-25 rolls through it and the results neverfail to enthrall.....great camera....infact unbeatable considering the price! I am a big man with big hands and nikons feel to delicate to grip on to but this camera feels really goood and reassuring to hold on to with just the right amount of space on the handgrip and the right amount of weight.

None so far but if I have to go nit picking then I would say that there are just too many features to grasp and I end up discovering something new everytime!!!Feamles usually find this camera very heavy though guys never said so! Hence female photographers should think before going in for this piece of equipment since weight is an important factor which determines camera shake.

If u are an amateur then this camera is surely a stepping stone to your future aims and aspirations.

Customer Service

Never required but dealer is very prompt to respond to queries!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F60, Olympus IS 3000.......but they dont match up to Canon in any way!

Perfect ergonomics
Quite durable
Easy enough for a beginner but with enough features to keep an advanced amateur happy
DoF preview
Shiftable program
Eye controlled focus
Meters quite well
Quiet and fast shutter/advance/rewind
Excellent EF lenses

Built-in flash (just buy a speedlite)
No spot meter
Can't use IR film

I got this camera 4 years ago as a total beginner, and was immediately surprised at how easy it was to use. As my abilities grew, I started to take advantage of some of the more advanced features and have yet really to find a feature I want but don't have.

Eye control focus only adds to an otherwise great camera. I have never had any problems with it as some of the other reviewers have. Once calibrated correctly, it has worked flawlessly in all but the dimmest conditions. Add to this the great Canon USM lenses and accessories, and you really can't go wrong for the price. I worked in a camera shop over the summer and got to play with just about every SLR on the market, but never found one that could combine the features, ease-of-use, and value that this camera has.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Pretty much everything

All the most needed features. Fantastic lens selection. Inexpensive now discontinued!

Lack of spot meter but has 9.5% zone meter. CCD metering/ focus is a little dated but still works well.

If you are just getting in to photography or stepping up from a point and shoot then look no further. After much research I found that this camera had the most bang for the entry level dollar and will work with even Canon's most expensive lens. Has all the features you NEED. I just sold mine to a friend after buying the Elan 7e but with the Elan II discontinued and people upgrading - there will be bargains to be had!

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Some P & S stuff and old manual stuff from years ago.

E-TTL METERING.
SOLID FEELING BODY.
EXPOSURE & FLASH COMPENSATION.
EOS ACCESSORIES AVAIL. FOR THIS CAMERA.
QUICK AF IN ANY LIGHTING.
NO LIMITS IN MANUAL MODE.
FUN TO USE.

NO PC SOCKET.
VIEW FINDER READOUT DISPLAY IS DIM IN LOW LIGHTING CONDITIONS.

I FEEL THIS IS A EXCELLENT AMATEUR CAMERA. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED IN MANY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AND THE ELAN II PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY. DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR GET A EX SERIES SPEEDLITE FOR THIS CAMERA, IF YOU DONT HAVE ONE YET, I HAVE THE NEW 420 EX AND IT ENHANCES THE TTL CAPABILITIES OF THE ELAN II. IT FOCUSES IN ANY LIGHTING CONDITION EFFORTLESSLY, AND WITH ALL THE OTHER FEATURES OF THE 420EX COMBINED WITH THE ELAN II THE CAMERA IS TRULY REMARKABLE. IF YOUR A BEGINNER AND IN THE MARKET FOR A EOS 35MM SLR SPEND THE EXTRA CASH AND GET THE ELAN. I BOUGHT THE REBEL FIRST AND IT WAS OK BUT I FEEL THERE IS NO COMPARISON TO THE ELAN'S FEATURES AND QUALITY IN ALL LEVELS OF PHOTOGRAPHY.

Customer Service

NONE

Similar Products Used:

CANON A-1
EOS REBEL G

*Eye control
*Important controls on dial rather than stupid buttons
*Partial metering linked to focus spot
*Canon lenses
*Mirror lock-up with remote control
*Did I say eye focus?

*On/Off switch for command dial.
*How difficult can Canon make changing exposure compensation?
*Everything about the flash system.
*The manual but if lose that (like I did)- you are screwed.
*DoF button and focus.
*Did I mention the stupid on/off button on the command dial?

If it was not for the eye control focus there is very little to distinguish this camera from other AF SLRs. But I have had great success using this system with Canon, Tamron & Sigma lenses. I have it calibrated for when I use eye glasses or contacts. The more you use it the better it behaves. Being able to link metering to the focusing spot useful. If they had made a simple compensation dial in 1/3 stops, simpler TTL flash system and conventional DoF button this camera would get 5 stars in both categories.

Customer Service

No need

Similar Products Used:

Contax
Yashica
Pentax

Classic looks, Canon lenses and IS, Eye-Control, handy custom features. E-TTL

For the money when purchased, none.

I have used this camera for several years, learning from competent amateur to pro. I love Eye control and can't imagine sports photography without it. Metering is good and Speedlites open a new world. I like the retro styling and the whole EOS dial system, not the EOS3 type, but the dual dial thing. Truly intuative. Eye focus is simple to calibrate and works pretty much faultlessly (even with glasses), getting better the more you use it. It is not very fast on this camera but still totally better than doing it manually or letting the camera guess at what you want to focus.
I have bought a 30E for its (much) faster focus, film wind and for its quiet action (that's why I didn't get the 3)but have kept the 50E as my second body. I would never get rid of it and now it is an excellent b&w body.
Nowadays, I suppose it's not as great VFM as it was, given the introduction of the simply superb 30E, but if you don't want 4fps or whisper drive, the 50e will really be a good camera for you.

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Eos 5, Eos 30E

Good lens choices, eye control, light weight and quite.

No spot meter. Battery door doesn't like many brands of batteries (Sanyo's work great).

Great little camera. Vert grip is a great addition. Highly recomended.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Eos5, FM2,

ergonomics,
quality / price ratio (in france)
exposure correction

IR film can not be used !
need a manuall under exposure for slides

Good price in france. Excellent ergonomics. Use it with L series lenses !
take care of xposure with slides. A good product anyway.

Customer Service

not used yet !

Similar Products Used:

None