Quiet operation and low weight Decent exposures Nice layout Low price

Not as high quality build as T-90 or upper end EOS series

I've had this camera since 2003, which is when I got rid of my non working T-90 camera. The T-90 set the benchmark for design and quality. I got the Elan 7 because it was the best I could afford at the time. I have plans to later get a used EOS 1V. I still use film more then digital even today. I already have a Rebel XT and Kodak Digicam. This camera seems well built for its price range. It doesn't have the solid quality of the T-90, but this could be partially due to its low weight. Exposure wise most shots I take with this camera are close enough to get a decent pic from. I like the way the controls are set up. The grip is pretty good as well and I suggest the battery grip for this camera if you have big hands. I got one on mine. The viewfinder is dim compared to older Canons and the 1 series. I like the silent quality to this camera, and it doesn't weight a lot which can be good on trips. I don't have a lot of focus issues with this camera, unlike my Rebel XT which gets the odd shot out of focus. And now that the 7n is out and lower priced, this camera is a good deal. I suggest it to anyone who still likes film.

Customer Service

Only needed this once. No issues.

Similar Products Used:

Canon T-90 Canon Rebel XT Canon AE-1

Many components shared with the EOS 3, i.e. auto focus CMOS. Good construction

pop-up flashes are never that effective, and this one proves to be the same.

Wow! For the price, the Elan 7 performs like a much more pricey SLR. When you hold it, it dous not feel like a cheep plastic toy as with the low end EOS's. I only wish that I had found this camera before I bought the EOS 3, which cost over double.

Customer Service

never used it

Similar Products Used:

EOS 3

Great metering system, Good weight.

Customer service

I received this camera in January of 2004. I got it to supplement my Canon AE1 Program, which is a tank of a machine. I have yet to get a bad shot with the AE-1. I have been do let down by the Elan 7 I can not express my frustration. When I first got the camera there was a problem with it draining batteries with in 48 hours. I tried everything, taking the lens off, making sure all power switches were in the off position, not leaving film in it when it was not in use, everything. I contacted Canon customer service who said there was a problem and to ship it back, they would take care of it. About 3 weeks later I got the camera back with the same problem. I once again contacted Canon customer service who said to ship it again and they would have another look at it. After another 3 weeks I got the camera back from the factory service center again. Once again I put in fresh batteries, and once again they were dead in 48 hours. I called customer service again and told them about the problem, I said I was really reaching a boiling point and I really thought they should do something to make up for my frustration. They agreed to pay for shipping to return the camera again. I Once again sent the camera to the service center and waited for 3 weeks to get it back. Once the camera came back I put fresh batteries in the body and waited. It held the charge just fine, until 2 weeks ago. It started flipping out on me, turning itself on and off and reading dead battery, when I had just put in a fresh set. I called customer service and they told me the problem is with the lens. I said this does not sound like a lens problem, and the camera acted the same way if the lens was on or off the body. I added that if the problem was with the lens it should have been fixed when I sent it back. He said he didn't have a record of the lens ever being in the factory. I felt that his attitude toward the whole situation was flippant and I was a waste of his time. He said he would send me a shipping label and for me to send the camera back. I talked to him on Wednesday morning; I didn't get the shipping letter until Monday. There was no letter, or acknowledgement of our conversation. I have to say at this point I am so tired of Canon and the complete disregard for customer service I am ashamed I ever trumpeted their brand. On a positive note, when the camera works it takes beautiful pictures. I am thoroughly impressed with the ergonomics and operation of the system. I just wish I could have a little faith in it.

Customer Service

Horrible

-Sturdy -Great feel -Fast -Silent film wind -Lots of useful custom functions

-LCD display not backlit. -DOF button is too small and badly placed.

This is a big step up from my eos 500n. Although the pictures normally aren't any better,it does do a lot better job in difficult lighting conditions. When using my 550EX flash I do get better exposures than with my 500n, seems like light metering is a level higher.Also it has a great feel and just the right weight, that is with the optional battery pack BP-300 which is a must-have imo. Control dials and buttons are all perfectly placed, except for the DOF preview button which is hard to reach and hard to press, it's soo small. Eye control may have been nice, but hey, if I wanted eye control I should have bought the eos 30. Next to that, the focus point that the camera selects is nearly always the one I would've used manually. I would have liked a backlit LCD very much because I do take quite some night shots and with the oculair cover on there's no way to tell the settings without a flashlight. But that't he only weakness I can find and it's fixed with the Eos 33v which I would have bought if I hadn't found this one this cheap. I'm not going to complain about it not having a true spot meter, 10% partial is good enough for me. All in all this camera is great value for money, especially with the price I paid I can't complain.

Customer Service

For my 500n, requested a manual and got it in the mail only a few days later. No further experience.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 500n Some old praktica

Features, quality, value for money. An easy to use intelligent camera that is hard to beat.

Could do with tougher film door like the rest of the body. Features would be perfect if partial metering was true spot metering. But these are very minor issues that do not really detract from the excellent camera this is.

In short the EOS 33 is sensational. It is an excellent package of quality, features and value for money. I purchased this as a backup body to my EOS1V. It is simple to use and quite intuitive as well as ergonomically excellent - wonderfully compact and light compared to the 1V. It has every feature one could need/want and is very well built. It is just a shame that the door on the back is not a solid as the main body. The light meetering is very accurate and gives the same results as the 1V. Evaluative meeting is very reliable in difficult, contrasty and back-lit situations although you must still compensate in extreme situations as is necessary with any camera. It would be the perfect combination of quality, features and value if the partial meetering was a true spot meter (or at least 4%). But do be careful when using it that you don accidentally depress the mid roll rewind button which is quite prominent on the back. I took it on a 4 week trip to China and ran 20 rolls through it. It got rough treatment while I switched lenses and bodies in temperatures as low as -4 degrees and it worked faultlessly. The pop-up flash is only good for emergencies (one can't expect anything more) or small to medium size group shots but it is very accurate. AF with L series and other USM lenses is quiet and quick. True to its reputation, the body is also extremely quiet. Low light AF is fine but limited - however, in that case one should have a speedlight attached which will add AF assist anyway. A fantastic 35mm camera that is probably the best in its class.

Customer Service

None needed for the EOS33. But when I used it for the EOS1v, I found it to be only satisfactory.

Similar Products Used:

EOS 1V; Olympus OM2, OM2n, OM4.

QUIET operating shudder and rewind Solid build Packed with features Feels comfortable in my hand Reasonably priced for its capabilities (practically a professional grade camera)

No true spot metering (what the heck was Canon thinking?) Focus assist strobe-warn your subjects! Low light focusing is not always reliable

For the money this is one fantastic Camera. Except for no weatherproofing and a functional spot metering capability this camera has everything that a professional would want (I guess I qualify since I have sold some of my stuff). It is solidly built, more features than I have been able to use yet, metering is spot on and the results with better Canon lenses (I use all USMs) are as good as anything shot with the higher end Canon Professional Cameras. I shoot a lot of travel photos and much of what I shot on recent trips to Europe and the Bahamas was visually stunning! I had considered an EOS 3, but I have been so impressed with this that I just went out and bought a second one.

Customer Service

Never needed with any Canon Product!

Similar Products Used:

Numerous other Canon 35mm SLRs

Price Mirror lock up DOF preview Quiet, fairly light Custom Functions Can manually set ISO #

Lacking true spot meter

This camera is SO quiet. I took a closeup of a chipmunk, when I pressed the shutter, the chipmunk didn't even flinch. Very helpful for wildlife. The 7 points are excellent and easy to use especially if you customize the dials with C.Fn-11. You can also turn off the annoying strobe w/ C.Fn-7. To remember what all the Custom Functions do I printed a little chart and taped it to the inside of my lens cover. Fast autofocus w/ 28-135 IS lens. Mirror lock up, DOF preview and partial metering are also very helpful features for a body this price. Doesn't drain battery overly fast. I was considering buying The Nikon F100 until I read tons of reviews about the camera malfunctioning. I also noticed that the stores used camera selection was predominently Nikons, I guess most people hold onto their Canons. Camera is well built and doesn't feel cheap or plasticky. The autoexposure does work very well but I would recommend using the partial metering and manually exposing for more control. I love this camera and use it for nature, portraits and just about everything else.

Customer Service

Hasn't been necessary.

Similar Products Used:

Canon Rebel

Build Cost Noise Features

None - for the money

Decided on the 33 rather than the 30 as the eye controlled focus I could live without. Despite what people say, this camera will do everything a 'Pro' camera will - except stand up to repeated beatings and keeping out water perhaps. It certainly needs the BP 300 grip - but once added, it really does feel a solid peice of kit. This will certainly last me a couple of years before I take the plunge into digital.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F90X Nikon F80 Nikon FM2n Nikon F50

Nice build for this new style stuff Many custom features-enable cf#11 to ON-very handy Very Light weight Nice battery life-18 rolls so far Good brite viewfinder-go to the edges Auto-focus works well, good selectability Built-in flash covered more than I expected in outdoor scenes at night So So quiet! I love it. Even my crappy compositions have come out technically superb-can't blame camera!!! Sweet Canon Lens!

Will this new polycarbonate resin last? Hate the strobing flash looking for focus-get the flash attachment. You can fool the auto focus sometimes-easy to over-ride though

To all who have submitted reviews, thank-you. I had to read about the new stuff after losing my 20 year old system/lens to theft. This camera rocks! I was leary of the new lite-weight equip. but bit the bullet. It was between the Nikon N-80 and the Canon as my other is a Nikon. This camera is fun!, works really well, and feels great after you get used to the new hand positon. GET THE f3.5/4.5 28-105 ZOOM LENS!!!!!. Do not go for the "kit" zoom--pay the extra!(and a value at that), it is far better! Pictures are tack-sharp, speed is not bad. The Canon is SOOOO quiet! (a MAJOR reason for me), didn't need the eye focus-don't miss it. Camera is very technical and will do a lot for you if you know how to ask it-way impressed there-I shoot very low light and many types of wierd exp. times in landscape shots.Got the 50mm f1.8 prime too and it works very well(like my Nikon at half the weight).Hey! it will get 25 shots out of a 24 exp. roll every time-go figure.It's fun, it's BEAUTIFUL, it's lite, I've covered many hiking miles w/it.So, that's my 2 cents, whatever you choose-take pictures, spread the beauty, have fun. I like this equipment. P.S. Abe's of Maine did EVERYTHING they promised and made me an upgrade deal on the lens.READ THE MANUAL it WILL HELP GREATLY.

Customer Service

Not needed so far.

Similar Products Used:

Rolliflex Med. Format Pentax SP1000 Pentax K1000 Nikon EM (1972) Nikon EM (1990) Tameron zoom 70-210

Good quality, good functions.

Missing a few goodies but it isn't cassified as a PRO. camera.

I acquired the Elan-7 as a backup to my 1n and it replaced the EOS 630. I have owned many cameras in my days and still do, I must honestly say that this is one of the best performing cameras I have ever used. I use the 1n when I need some features the Elan-7 lacks. I took it on a trip to Asia with a canon 28-135IS, 100mm macro and Vert. grip, it's all I needed for good results. The price makes it a reat bargain, I highly recomend it.

Customer Service

Not required

Similar Products Used:

EOS-1n Nikon F90S Nikon FM Mamiya 645