All the features you need for a serious amateur, except for a true spot metering; satisfactory quality.

auto focus system, lack of a true spot metering.

I just found out this wonderful site as I am planning to buy some equipment. Having get many useful information here, I though I should make some contribution.

I have been using an EOS Elan for 8 years, my previous camera is Minolta 7000I. After 8 years of abuse, the built-in flash ocasionally refuse to pop up, other than that the camera still works fine, (the Minolta only lasted 4 years for me), I am happy with the quality.

The reason that I switched from Minolta to Canon is that this camera has the feature I need. Auto-exposure braketing, absolutely essential when I starts to shoot slides; being able to manually adjust flash power in adition to over all exposue can be important sometimes when lacking A-TTL; mirror lockup was another feature I loved to use (well, after I had a family, I got more casual in photography, when you take the kid out, you don't even have time for a tripod, that's another story).

Minolta at the same price level just don't have these useful features. Nikon, on the other hand, don't offer built-in flash for cameras on the same level, that's too profesional for me.

Having used a Minolta before, my hardest criticism for the Elan is its autofocus system. Despite all the bragging of their silent autofocus system by Canon, despite being 5 years younger than the 7000I, Elan's auto focus system just don't perform as well as the Minolta, especially in low light, and just as quite. OK, still, Canon's autofocus seldom fails, but Minolta almost NEVER fail.

Also, Elan's autofocus works in a region fairly small in the center, while the 7000I works in a large region and focuses on the closest point. It is easier to make mistake with the Elan, I had got hurt when doing close up photography.

Another thing which is to be desired is a true spot metering, Elan does have a center metering mode, but that's not enough, it has hurt me. Of course, sometimes you can use the zoom to help with spot metering. I heard even the new Elan 7E don't have a spot metering, hmmmm ....

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 7000I, Canon EOS Rebel 2000

Size (I have large hands!)
AF is quiet and fast
Good range of canon & 3rd party lenses
All the modes I need excepts...

Lack of spot metering...if a T90 can do it, why not modern cameras??!?

I've had this camera for 8 or 9 years after I switched to AF cameras from a Canon A1 when I realised how bad my eyes were getting! I've had a lot of good shots, and the bad ones were usually down to me being lazy and not using all the controls the camera has to offer. I recently bought an EOS 300, but it offers nothing new (I don't need 7 autofocus points, really) and sometimes wish I'd waited until I could track down a 2nd hand EOS 100...

Customer Service

Not used in 8 years

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 300, Canon A1, Yashica compact

The camera is very silent comparing other motordriven SLRs (Even comparing to other Canon bodies exept for EOS 5. This very helpful when taking pictures on wild animals.

The camera is easy to use, the controls are logic.

The autofocus and exposure metering works well in bad light conditions.

The camera runs out on battery to fast when it is cold weather, the body is hopeless when it is zero degrees (Celsius. Was it Farenheit that invented the refrigerator?) or lower. I am suspicious of that inbuilt flash, maybe that is the crook who drains the battery. Even if I not flip the flash up there is a low sound when starting the camera, it sounds that the flash is loading up to be prepared to use. Although, the battery is not all worn out when the EOS 100 says so! If I put the same battery in my old EOS 600 it is possible to take some rolls more.

Don't pay more money on the camera body than is nescessary, the pictures don't get better. Put the extra money on good lenses instead. For example, I think that an used EOS 100 is a better buy than a more expensive new EOS 50. You only get one autofocus point instead of three but it is more light sensitive, and the other functions is almost the same.

What you can miss if you buy this camera are:
1) There doesn't exist a vertical grip. The extra grip GR-70 is only making the usual grip more confortable.
2) You can not use a wire remote control. There is only a wireless choice that will work up to approx. 5 meters.

I have also used this camera with EF28-105/3,5-4,5 on holiday trips to cities etc. It is a very good street camera. Here the low sound is very useful and the camera isn't that expensive that you have to be paranoid to expect everybody to be thieves.

Similar Products Used:

Other EOSs, mainly EOS600.

cheap, easy to use, lots of creative posiblilities, sturdy.

Occassionally the shutter locks up. Turning the camera off and back on seems to "fix" that.

I've been considering moving up to a "better" camera, but I've been doing a lot of researching of the newer models and haven't decided if they really are better! THis has really been a great camera for me.

Customer Service

Checked because of the shutter thing, but it checked out ok.

Similar Products Used:

None, yet.

Great value. Incredibly durable (more so than some higher end bodies). Good feel. Solid features.

For what it is, none.

This is a great camera that has been discontinued. You can pick it up used for around 200 dollars. I used mine for a couple of years before deciding to upgrade, but am keeping it as a reliable backup to my EOS 5. This camera has accompanied me into some fairly rugged areas throughout Asia, and has never let me down. If you're looking for a first SLR you can grow into, this is a great choice.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 5.