I'm looking to supplement my current A5 with a spare body. It would be nice to have a second 5 but not at the price. Considering the minor difference in price (at B&H) between an Elan II and the new Rebel 2000, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with both of these. The Elan may offer more features but the lack of a spot meter (and the infamous lockup possibility) are negatives. The metering and AF on the 2000 seems very interesting, but I hesitate with something new to the market. Any help in making this decision is greatly appreciated.

-- Keith Van Hulle (kvh@home.com), April 28, 1999

Answers

I don't believe the Rebel has Custom Function 4, which to me is the primary reason to use Canon EOS equipment. It may not be that important to you.

-- Dave Jenkins (djphoto@vol.com), April 28, 1999.

if you have to have a new camera then i'd get the elan II.

if you don't mind the idea of a used camera, you can probably get another A2 for the price of a new elan II.

another possibility if you don't mind used is the original elan. that would be the cheapest option of all and it's a good camera. i use that as my backup ESPECIALLY because it has a couple of features that none of the other cameras have. it's pluses are.

1. it's the quietest EOS camera.

2. it's controls are more like the A2 of any other EOS. (MUCH closer then the elan II is to the A2)

3. it has a handy IR remote that's more handy then a cable release. especially for taking pictures with you in them)

4. it has a smaller spot meter then the elan II (but not as small as the A2)

it's drawback are.

1. it's used (if that's a drawback to you, it's not to me)

2. it doesn't have CF-4

3. it only has one AF spot (3 for the elan II and 7 for the rebel)

hope this helps.

-- Sean Hester (seanh@ncfweb.net), April 28, 1999.

I speculate [ reasonably:-)]

It may not be apparent in the United States, where Canon body designations are different from the rest of the world, but outside the US, it appears that Canon are upgrading their product line thus (as explained by a camera store person)

EOS 3 supersedes the EOS 5 (A2E Stateside)

EOS 300 supersedes the EOS 500n (Rebel 2000 replaces Rebel G in the US)

EOS 3000 supersedes the EOS 5000 (Stripped down models not marketed in the US)

However, there has been no EOS30 to Replace the EOS50 (ElanII, IIe) line.

It would be reasonable to assume that such an upgrade of the Elan II and IIe is in the works, and should you be able to wait, the upgrade may be worth it.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), April 28, 1999.

I use the A2 extensively also. I know that I need to get a back up body also. I would get a used A2. you know the system, and you won't ahve any problems when yo uhave to pick it up and run. YOu did not mention what you shoot, but for my sports photography, I don't have time to think about the camera -- therefor the backup needs to be the same. You should be able to get a good one for not too much. Esp as folks start upgrading to the 3.

-- David (dprimm@isunet.net), April 28, 1999.

I had a look at the new Rebel the other day. It's a bit smaller than the Elan II, and seems to have some more bells and whistles. The dedicated DOF preview button is really nice, if you want to use this feature. The major feature that it lacks is the back control dial (I think the origional Elan also doesn't have this.). If you use this control on your A2 (or EOS 5, whatever it is), you may miss it on the Rebel. I've been using an Elan II and an EOS 5 for a while now. The only problem with the Elan is the "lock up". It was caused by the battery not making good contact inside the camera. I cured it with a small piece of plastic packing material between the battery and the door.

-- Geoff Doane (geoff_doane@cbc.ca), April 29, 1999.

I don't consider the EOS-3 a replacement for the EOS-5/A2/A2e. The A2 is the right camera at the right price for most 35mm photography, even at the professional level. In fact, I consider it one of the best all-round, day-in, day-out working cameras ever made. The EOS-3 is loaded with specialized features few of us, even professionals will ever need/use, and costs twice as much. All Canon really needed to do to keep me happy well into the next century was simply to fix the control dial breakage problem and add an on-off switch separate from the control dial. I would also like to be able to use Custom Function 4 and depth-of-field preview at the same time, as on the 10s. Maybe a few other small details, but nothing major. I will probably buy up a few clean used A2s and 5s and stockpile them to use for the rest of my career unless Canon comes out with something that really is a replacement for the A2 series.

-- Dave Jenkins (djphoto@vol.com), April 29, 1999.

the original elan DOES have the rear control dial. in fact i think it's the exact same piece of plastic that is used on the A2. (both cameras came out near the same time) that's why i said it was the closest to the A2 in terms of ergonomics.

i have no problem switching between the two for shooting. except for a couple of little things (setting film ISO, setting the self timer) that aren't in play for "quick shooting" they are identical. when i was thinking of getting an elan-II for a backup the fact that the elan-II and the A2 were VERY different put me off of the elan-II.

-- Sean Hester (seanh@ncfweb.net), April 29, 1999.