Easy to use. Good ergonomics. Excellent metering. Eye control for focus/meter target.

No plastic lens or tripod mounts. Versatility - from point 'n shoot to full user control. Quiet motor drive. Quiet zooming. Bright viewfinder.

"Spot" metering at 9% could be tighter - a minor issue, almost non-issue, for me.

This was an upgrade to my faithful 20+ year old Konica T-3.

An excellent mid-range choice: IIe + 28-105USM + 75-300USM + 380EX flash = well integrated system.

I'd do it again ...

Customer Service

No comment as I've had no need for it.

Similar Products Used:

Canon Rebel, Minolta XTsi, Nikon F/N-80

Improved Eye Control Focus (tm) ,that
works in both vertical and horitzontal
positions (Elan IIE only).
Canon's exclusive AIM control system
that links the Elan II's 3-point
autofocus to multi-zone metering
for available light.
Choice of 10 exposure modes including metered manual with analogue scale.
6-zone evaluative,9.5% partial and
center weighted metering.
E-TTL (Evaluative Through The Lens)
flash metering to create a natural
balance when used with EX series speedlights.
Choice of 2.5 fps continous or single
frame shootinh with Canon's exclusive
Whisper Drive (tm).
11 custom functionsincluding mirror
lock and depth of field preview.


Accessories:
BP-50 Battery Pack with optional
BP-5B heavy duty external battery pack that uses D cells.
the BP-50 also acts as a vertical grip
with on/off switch.
Optional wireless remote control or
remote switch.
Conforms to ALL speedlites and
flash related accessories.

None

I compared the Elan II to Nikon's F-80 (N-80 U.S. model) and against Pentax MZ-5n
with Minolta STSI. NONE of the competition even comes close to what Canon has done.
Currently, Canon has surpassed Nikon in terms, of innovativeness and modernization.
Far succeeds both Minolta and Pentax in sales combined.
I played around with the Elan II for 3 hours in a camera shop, before making my purchase. It is very easy to operate and the accessories are very affordable unlike
Nikon. On my Elan II, I have a 28-105 f 3.5-4.5 USM lens, very high quality,
superb contrasts and FAST. Later on, I will be getting a 550 EX speedlite, along with
a 24-85 USM lens, a 100-300 USM and a BP-50 battery pack with the BP-5P.

Customer Service

David Lai and John Hadfield
c/o Gastown Photo Vancouver B.C.
Canada

Similar Products Used:

Pentax MZ-5n
Nikon F-70
Minolta STSI

DOF preview
Useful custom functions (e.g. leave film leader out for mid-roll changes and tie partial metering to selected focus point)
Thumb wheel
Controls are well placed; everything fits my hand naturally.
LCD panel on top shows all necessary info

None that I've noticed

This is a great camera. I've used it for about 2 years now and have never felt limited by it. Definately work the extra few bucks over the Rebel line.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

EOS Rebel

Lots of features for not a lot of jack. Custom functions. Ease of use.

The relatively unsophisticated 6 segment meter sometimes can be fooled by backlit situations.

This is an excellent price point camera. I bought it a few years ago when I decided I wanted to get serious. This camera saw me through many great adventures and only recently has seen less frequent usage since I bought my EOS-3. The eye control works very well although there are only three focus points. The motor drive is not very fast, but this is one way to cut price, and I don't think many of this camera's users even notice. The lack of a true spotmeter is decidedly inconvenient, but if you use a zoom lens and need the spot reading for the wide end, simply zoom in, take the reading on what you want and zoom back out. The meter can be fooled (and usually is) by backlit situations. This is something you get used to and becomes easy to compensate for. This camera has a very nice feel and is surprisingly large for an amateur camera. Overall an excellent value.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

F5, F100, EOS-3, EOS Rebel 2000, Leica R8

price...layout of dials and buttons...sharp image and color saturation

none

this is a really good camera for it's performance and price. the button layout is superb, i like the fact that it has separate buttons/dial for time and shutter settings in full manual mode. the grip is just about right for my hands compared to my old Rebel camera. and it works great with my 380ex flash.

the only problem i encountered with this camera is when i'm using my tamron 28-80 3.5-5.6 aspherical lens (i've been using this lens for almost 4 years now) and most of the time when i press the shutter button, the shutter would close and lock to that position until i turn off and on again the camera. i tried different settings and still the same problem. i e-mailed canon usa and they mentioned that it might be a problem with the contacts since i dont have any problem with my other two lenses which were made by canon. is anybody having the same problem with this set-up/combo?

Customer Service

very prompt response with my e-mail inquiry

Similar Products Used:

Canon Rebel Xs, Canon A2, Nikon N60, Nikon N80

Traditional knobs and dials are much more intuitive and easier/quicker to use than the confusing menu buttons on cameras from other makers. The light weight of the Elan II makes it comfortable to wear around your neck all day. Fast auto-focusing. With the 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 V USM zoom lens, I get perfectly-focused pictures with reasonably sharp images that are correctly exosed. Color rendition is excellent, with good saturation and an appealing warmth to the colors. Skin tones (white, bronze, and black) look very natural.

The absence of a dedicated ON-OFF switch is awkward, requiring you to turn the program mode dial to the LOCK position. It would be more convenient to flip a single ON-OFF switch and leave the program mode dial where it is. The manufacturer’s instruction booklet leaves a lot to be desired -- every owner should purchase the Magic Lantern Guide for the Elan II/II-E. It’s a vastly superior book for helping you understand and use your camera.

After 20+ years as a 35mm amateur, I finally upgraded to Autofocus. After months of reading specs and reviews, I decided that the Elan II is the best SLR in its price range. Also considered the Rebel 2000 and Pentax ZX-7, but they are too small for my large hands -- nowhere to park my fingers! They felt overly fragile, and I couldn’t believe they would be durable. The Nikon N80 is nice, but lacks mirror lock-up.

The Elan II felt very comfortable in my hands, and its fairly rugged construction should offer long-term durability. Everything about it looks, sounds, and feels solid. In the stores, I tried to “learn to love” the eye-controlled focusing of the II-E, but the more I experimented with it, the more I disliked it. Eye-controled focusing annoyed me in much the same way a VCR annoys me if it starts playing the instant I insert a videotape. This level of “presumptive automation” just isn’t for me; so I opted for the Elan II, and it’s a splendid choice for anybody looking for a camera that has the features to take you up through advanced amateur needs.

Customer Service

Not Applicable – haven’t needed to use it, but did purchase the Canon extended warranty.

Similar Products Used:

Yashica GS Electro-35 (Rangefinder)
Pentax Super Program (SLR)
Nikon One-Touch 100 (P&S)

Great feel, fast AF, max shutter 4000, features,features,features.

No spot meter, partial is acceptable

This is my camera of choice, it has a wonderful look & feel. The pictures are great. It also has so many features it is very hard to outgrow or justify the expense to upgrade unless you have money to burn. If you are coming from point & shoot, want a good upgrade camera, but don't want to much more then buy a Rebel. If you want a camera that can take you to almost pro level & are serious about photography the Elan II is my recommendation. Only praise!!

Customer Service

Never used

Similar Products Used:

rebel 2000, N60, point & shoots, X370

Modes and functions are positioned for easy access (important for composing shot); max shutter speed of 1/4000th and min of 30 seconds; extremely wide variety of choices for lenses; cable release; mirror lockup; red eye reduction; creative modes (aperture/shutter priority, full manual, shiftable program auto, depth-of-field); multiple exposures (up to 9); compensation modes (flash, exposure)

Lenses are very expensive; vibration is a problem at shutter speeds from 1/60th and below

A very well-designed and well-built camera with many functions and features for the advanced amateur/semi-pro. I have owned this camera for 3 years and it's given me no trouble and hasn't cost me any money in repairs. The lens that usually comes in a package with the camera is not satisfactory; it's below-average. But, I use it only for wide angle shots at family parties, etc. I take my best pictures with the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 APO HSM EX model lens which is superb.

Similar Products Used:

Canon AE-1 (very old)

Very User Friendly.
Metering is right on the dot, except spot meter. Solid feel compare to REBEL series. ECF works well for me (contact lens wearer). Excellent Price

spot meter. But I don't really used it that much.

Buy this camera w/ 24-85 or 28-135 IS. Do not get the 28-80 bundled lens or you will be sorry!
Even better get ef 50 f1.4 lens.

Customer Service

didn't need it.

Similar Products Used:

Rebel G/ various point shoot!

Very solid, very natural controls and easy to use. Wide spread of features, solid design. Good value for money.

Not the most modern in AF and metering, construction does not feel like the top models.

I did not think much of how great this camera was until this past weekend when I went to photograph the Gay Pride parade in New York City. I shot roughly 4 rolls of film within 2.5 hours in 92 F heat, and the camera was banged on the crowd control railings, people's elbows, had my sweat and water bottle dripping on it, and in many rush moments I quickly twisted and pressed its controls.

However, through the 120 shots, it never once failed on me. Every time it would autofocus extremely fast and accurately, meter, and take the shot. All the exposure compensations, aperture controls, and release of shutter performed exactly as I expected, and never did I feel like the camera got in the way of me capturing the moment. I guess that's ultimately the best thing I can say about any technological device.

Is it the best camera available? Of course not. But it includes many of the pro Canon features. It has a relatively fast 2.5-3 fps film rate for the price, allows you to decouple AF from metering using its custom functions, and lets you fully use Canon's USM focusing. I simply can not ask for more from a camera that's so intuitive and forgiving of my usage.

Perhaps in the future I will eventually upgrade the body to support heavier lenses, but I will definitely keep this reliable body around as backup. And in the meantime, I am very happy with this camera, and am without any hesitations to recommend it.

Customer Service

None so far.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N90, N70, N60, Canon Rebel 2000, Rebel-G.