FAST AUTO FOCUS, FEELS WELL BALANCED IN HANDS, VERY QUIET OPERATION, GREAT FLASH EXPOSURE.

NO SPOT METERING, ONLY 2.5 FPS.

I MUST SAY CANON HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB. THIS CAMERA IS REALLY FAST AND QUIET AND THE EYE CONTROL FOCUS IS EASY TO MASTER WITH LITTLE PRACTICE. IT HAS A MORE THAN DECENT CUSTOM FUNCTION LIST AND GREAT AFFORDABILITY. IT'S A STRANGE FEELING WATCHING THINGS POP INTO FOCUS WHEREVER YOU LOOK....BUT HEY I'M NOT COMPLAINING. THIS CAMERA GIVES YOU A LOT TO GROW ON FOR YOUR MONEY.

Customer Service

NEVER NEEDED IT

Similar Products Used:

CANON REBEL G, NIKON N70.

Much better flash system than the Elan. Metering seems better too. The same feature set as the Elan, but the ergonomics are improved (with one exception noted below). A good value for the money. The mid-roll rewind function added from the Elan is a very useful feature.

The button to change ISO, set flash bracketing, etc. is too close to the rewind button. I have rewound film accidently while attempting to set a function on the camera. The camera's shutter release is a lot louder than the Elan but not as loud as the EOS 3.

This has been a good camera for me. It has many features that I rarely use, but which are critical for some types of photography (i.e. Auto Exposure Bracketing, multiple exposure capability). It lacks a spot meter, which could be off putting for some. My own experience with the evaluative metering is that it is extremely accurate for most everything. I have had no metering problems, as some have reported, but I use print film almost exclusively. The mid-roll rewind has been very useful. The E-TTL flash system with a 220 or 380EX speedlite is a big improvement over the flash system in the Elan. I recommend this camera highly at its price point for an amateur who doesn't need the advanced features of the EOS 3. The Elan II seems to have features that are more valuable to the amateur photogrpapher than the features of the more expensive A2. When matched up with a 380EX speedlite and a 28-135 IS zoom lens you have a system that for around a $1000 can't be touched by the competition for quality. The EOS 3 itself is around $1000, so the Elan II, flash/lens combo mentioned above it the true value package in the EOS system. Some smart camera company should sell it as a kit for $850 or so and clean up.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

Elan, Rebel G

User friendly layout, light, DOF preview,basically all the features you would need. fast focusing

One feature missing is spot metering which would be nice, the retro design, lack of grip in hot weather, tape fixed that problem, and not being able to use infrared films

The eos50 is a great camera to use, simple layout which will take no time at all to workout every function, like i said spot would have been nice but i guess you can`t have everything, works great with my 300mmf4 50mm1.8 100mmf2, and 20mm2.8, the bottom line is for the price it can`t be beaten so save your money on the light box and get some quality lenses.

Customer Service

never experienced any problems

Similar Products Used:

Nikon Fm2, Canon FTb

Solid, but light body. Great for travel. Many useful features for beginners and professionals.

Slightly larger and bulkier than some other SLRs in the same price class

I just bought the body for $300 after rebate based on comments here on photography.com. So far it has a great feeling to it, and all the features that I will ever use. I decided not to go with the eye feature because I felt that it was an unnesecary feature especially for me. It may be useful for others.
I am using a 28-80 tamron lense (6 year warranty)with it ($80 after rebate). I thought about purchasing the kit with the 28-80 canon lense, but I decided to buy them separately because of the 1 year warranty on the canon lense versus 6 years on the Tamron lense.
So far I am extremely satisfied with the price I paid for the whole package.
As for the camera and the quality of the camera it self, I will come back and post my experience in 2-3 months.

Customer Service

Not yet

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Maxxum 7000

Great feel. I learned on a totally manual camera (Minolta SRT 201) and this Canon has served as a perfect successor. The graduation was almost seamless with its "as manual as you want to get" settings. The icing on the cake is the fairly brainless auto modes.

It has an LCD but it's not as complicated as others....much less to fuss over.

Light weight. Very fast. Quiet.

Has proven to be durable and rugged when outdoors.

It's so versitile it will force you to "enjoy" most of your vacations through its lense.

Recommended by most sales people, and seems widely available - along with the Rebel.

Some decals have rubbed off.

Built-in flash doesn't pop up when needed sometimes. Have to switch to a more manual mode.

Eye control (for focus) sometimes misses. May need recalibration.

The exposure modes, with the way they are configured and operate, are a natural extension to the way I take pictures. When I've got the time and brainpower to take control of the shot, I set everything to manual. Less time -- switch over to the semi-auto modes. (I use the aperture priority setting a lot.) Even less time and low brainpower to get the shot -- switch over to totally automatic. My wife uses this - being a beginner user, and she gets great results. Leads me to one of the most important points. Both of us can use it comfortably; perfect fit....and I'm a pretty harsh critic.

Also, get the correct complimentary equipment for it and it'll become one of your best friends.... It becomes that comfortable. You'll be known as the one that always has his/her camera.

By the way, I didn't give it a "5" overall because I believe that nothing is truely perfect. I'm analytically and technically minded and I find that there's always room for improvement.

Customer Service

Good. I've called the retail stores as well as Canon directly - both were professional and responsive.

Similar Products Used:

Only owned one other camera...Minolta. I've tried several point-n-shoots as backups, but there's no compariso

Light, well built (made in Japan, a nice rarity nowadays), fast focusing and built-in flash, good AI focus

No spot metering. Film advance is inferior to Rebel X/S'. Rebel X/S will fast forward the film, count exposures, every taken exposure will advance back into the film shell. 28-80 USM V lens which comes in the kit is not a match to the body. Consider a better lens.

Best value. Paid $385 (after rebate) for the kit. Less expensive than I've paid for Rebel X/S kit in 1995 (thanks to digital cameras expanding market share). Excellent camera.

Customer Service

have not used

Similar Products Used:

Zenit E
Canon Rebel X/S

A very good camera at a low price. Lots of features to keep you interested for a long time. Full manual to Full auto. Multi AF-points. Quick focusing with USM lenses & silent too. Controls are very easy to use. Built-in flash is good within it's range. FEL with 380EX or 550EX flashes.

No spot meter. Partial meter too big. No LCD light.

A good camera with excellent feature to start on a budget.Canon USM lenses worth every $. The 50 1.8 & 28-80 lenses are good enough to learn photo techniques. The best at this price.Highly recommended. The N80 Nikon is just catching up.

Customer Service

Never tried or needed.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 3, Nikon F60,F70,F90,F90x,F601.

Great ergonomics, E-TTL, 3-pt autofocus, sturdy

Tendency to underexpose, battery compartment problem

This is a great camera for those who want to try to do more with their cameras. It's considerably bigger and heavier than the Rebels of today, so if all you want is a lightweight point-and-shoot SLR, stick with those. But if you want to do a lot more without breaking the bank, go with the Elan II family. Coupled with good lenses, this camera will probably stay with you for quite a while.

Customer Service

Haven't used

Similar Products Used:

EOS 650, Rebel S, IX

Great pictures, manual or auto modes, easy to use, built better than the Rebels

LCD doesn't light up in the dark, autofocus fincky in certain situations

Great camera for anyone aspiring to be more than just a vacation/family photographer. Does everything for if you're in a hurry to get that shot, or fully manual when you want it. I took some great shots of the Grand and Bryce Canyons recently. Probably more camera than I need but the price at cameraworld.com was too good to pass up. I haven't had any of the battery problems other reviewers mention. Check this one out.

Customer Service

Haven't needed this yet.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K1000, Canon Rebels, Nikon N60, Minolta

Lightweight
Eye control
Full Manual to Full Auto
EOS USM lenses
Mirror lock-up
Depth-of-field preview

You can't get anything better for 350 USD

2.5 fps
No spot metering
No PC flash cord connector

I use it for backup.
This is a wonderful amateur camera for the price
If you have extra money
buy BATTERY PACK/VERTICAL GRIP BP-50 ~ 65 USD
and Speedlite 380EX or 550EX

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

EOS 1v; EOS 3; A2E; EOS 1