About 2 years ago I had a very adequate EOS 650 system I used for my small, side wedding business. I sold the unit in favor of a manual focus OM system with prime lenses, but regretted this decision since I found the auto fill flash capability of the 650 and 430EZ a major asset. I found the 650 body to have all I needed, solidly built, and sufficiently simple not to confuse me during the heavy visual demands of a wedding. I just bought another 650 system with 3 very good EF lenses. My question is this: I will need a second compatable camera body, and I am thinking of an EOS A2, but AF speed is not critical since I rarely use AF at weddings. Never having used A2 camera, what practical advantage might an A2 have over getting another 650 body (at much less cost) for my purposes in 35mm wedding photography applications?

-- Todd Frederick (fredrick@hotcity.com), April 24, 2000

Answers

It's been 10 years since I used a 600 series EOS, but the main A2 advantage over the 620, 630 & 650 is its faster and much more accurate autofocus. The central cross sensor is a huge improvement--it can lock on to almost anything. The 5 sensors allow off-center composition without the focus & recompose tango. Of course, if you don't use autofocus this is a moot point.

The A2's grip extender with vertically oriented command dial, exposure-hold & release is another advantage over the 650 if you do a lot of verticals. I never take mine off.

You can move autofocus activation from the shutter to a thumb button and use the shutter only for locking exposure & tripping the release. This is handy if you like to jump quickly from manual focus to autofocus (with USM lenses) or if you like to meter off a certain object and autofocus on something else.

Finally, the rear command dial along with the main command dial allow rapid setting of shutter & aperture or exposure compensation without pushing extra buttons or taking your eye away from the viewfinder (if you use manual mode much, you may want to consider the gray market EOS5 as it has a better analog exposure scale).

The faster motor drive & focus tracking of the A2 won't matter much for weddings. What's the down side of the A2? It doesn't feel as solid as a 650, but it's good enough (mine has survived several drops & many bangs). The 620, 630 & 650 feel as solid as an EOS1 but lack the weather proof seals.

Hope this helps.

-- puppyface (puppyface@aol.com), April 24, 2000.

One problem I have had in the past regarding autofocus and weddings is that, without exception, when the bride is entering the church the AF sensors will not lock on her dress...this was true with both early Nikon AF and with the EOS 650....same problem with dancing in the dark.

From the above response, it seems the A2 autofocus will lock on almost anything...does that also mean a plain white wedding dress? If that is true, then that camera body would actually be an advantage in some wedding situations.

I also understand that the A2 is extremely quiet, which would be a plus as well.

I believe that the A2 was first released around 1992...that being the case, it has had a long run! Must have something going for it.

Right now I use a Hexar as a reception/dance camera (that IS where I need AF...quick group photos and dancing in the dark,...and the Hexar does that nicely), but I'm toying with the idea of selling or trading the Hexar for an A2 body and use the 650 as a backup.

The above response indicates that the A2 does not feel as solid as the 650...is that due to more plastic materials in the A2? Also, is the A2 lighter in weight...which is another plus at weddings.

I appreciate the responses...I usually try to avoid "which is better?" questions.

-- Todd Frederick (fredrick@hotcity.com), April 24, 2000.

With a EF85/1.8USM or EF200/2.8L mounted, my A2 will autofocus on almost anything: a white cloud, a white wall or a smooth light-skinned forehead or cheek in most light (my 630 & 8008s could never do that). I haven't tried a white wedding dress, but it should work. It won't autofocus on a clear blue sky. When it is dark--too dark to focus manually--it projects a dark red pattern and thus will lock on to that. However, the A2 doesn't focus as well with some older zoom lenses. For example, my EF100-300/5.6L racks back and forth on low contrast objects every time. However, it autofocuses my EF28-135 USM/ IS almost as well as my prime lenses.

Yes, the A2 is solid plastic except for the lens mount. I think the 620, 630 & 650 had heavier plastics and a cast aluminum mirror box. The A2's motor dive is totally silent but the mirror does make a click louder than a Hexar shutter.

The A2 syncs to flash at 1/200 vs 1/25 for the 650--a little more flexibility for fill flash shots.

The AF auxiliary light may be cancelled with custom function setting #7. Unfortunately, the A2 doesn't activate the AF light on my 430 flash (I don't know about other Canon flash units). However, the camera's AF light works great so it's no big deal except when I mount a large lens. My EF300/4L blocks the AF light and I bet the 70-200/ 2.8L would also.

-- puppyface (puppyface@aol.com), April 25, 2000.

Todd, my "Rock City Barns" book, which you have, was photographed almost entirely with a pair of Canon A2s which are now over five years old and still going strong. I believe the A2 is one of the very best cameras ever made for day-in-day-out professional work. They are quick, quiet, precise, reliable, and durable. Once you get used to the A2's autofocus, you will find yourself using manual focus less and less. When I first changed to autofocus, I got a Nikon 8008s and a 6006 which hunted for focus like a pack of houndogs. But the A2 locks instantly on focus like a bulldog in just about every conceivable situation.

As for the plastic, it's tougher than metal. One of my A2s, with 80-200 f2.8L zoom attached, fell about four feet from the seat of my four-wheel-drive pickup onto a hard road surface and landed on the corner of the baseplate. The damage? A crack about 1/2 inch long which does not affect operation. I have not even sent it in for repair. I heard about a Nikon F-100 on photo.net which took a lesser fall and broke into three pieces.

-- Dave Jenkins (djphoto@vol.com), April 26, 2000.