Has anyone got an EOS30/Elan7e, that has a poorly aligned built-in flash? (With its front metal panel.)

On several examples I have noticed that the front right-hand side of the flash sits closer to the left hand side when it is in the closed position. This is quite obvious when you look at the camera from above, holding it lens forwards at chest height.

Is this limited to a poorly built batch, or are all of them the same?

-- Sam Hassall (samhassall@aol.com), August 12, 2001

Answers

Thanks for the feedback. Can you tell me if you bought the 7E as a kit with that 28-90mm lens, or body only?

-- Sam Hassall (samhassall@aol.com), August 13, 2001.

I bought both cameras as body only (I'm a long time EOS user and have lenses already). However, if I was a first time buyer, I'd spend a little more and buy the body with either the EF 28-105 3.5-4.5 USM or the EF 24-85 3.5-4.5 USM.

The 28-90 kit lens is a bow-wow: plastic mount, no FT-M, front element extension focusing, no distance window and slow (F5.6) at the long end. In contrast, the two above mentioned lenses have a metal mount, internal focusing, distance window and are a little faster (F4.5) at the long end. Plus, they just feel better and are a little better optically.

Aloha

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), August 13, 2001.

My suspicions are proving correct! All kit models I have looked at have had this flash fitting problem, whereas a demo, body only model with a Sigma 28-300 was fine. I wonder if Canon have assumed that less critical kit buyers would not notice a lower level of build quality, and kept all the good batch for body only models? I had already changed my mind about the 28-90mm, and think that I will go for a 28-105 USM II. The impression that I get is that the 28-90mm is a pretty dire piece of kit, as you say. Other websites such as camerareview.com and photographyreview.com slate it no end!

Thanks PuppyFace

-- Sam Hassall (samhassall@aol.com), August 13, 2001.

I very much doubt that Canon has 2 "qualities" of cameras. The difference may be simply caused by a difference in production series/dates. Furthermore let's not be too negative about the "kit" lenses. Although they are not my first choice either, their performance is adequate, you get what you pay for.

BTW, I have noticed the poor fitting of the flash of the EOS-30 as well, I can't remember where I saw it. On my EOS-30 the flash fits nicely as it should be.

-- Jos van Eekelen (jos@compuserve.com), August 13, 2001.

Thankyou for your response Jos, it is much appreciated.

Was your EOS 30 bought as a kit or body only?

When did you buy it?

Thanks

Sam

-- Sam Hassall (samhassall@aol.com), August 13, 2001.

Sam, I bought only the EOS-30 body, in the beginning of 2001. I must have seen the camera with poorly aligned flash before that time, probably at the Photokina in Cologne or in a magazine. When the command dial of my EOS-5 broke down in Morocco a few months ago I had to take all pictures with the EOS-30. No problem whatsoever.

-- Jos van Eekelen (jos@compuserve.com), August 13, 2001.