EOS Elan 7E vs. EOS 3 (also the IS lenses)

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Hello there.

Sorry for asking this question in my previous post and this one but the previous post was ment to be more focused on the speedlight question.

Anyway I am hoping to replace my current 650 rig with either the EOS3 or the Elan 7E. I am anxious to hear the real life stories/opinions/experiences from real people to help me make my decision. I am finding shops like http://www.shopphotoking.com (I think that is it) that offer pro packages bundling the 28-135 and the 70-300 for both of these cameras at very similar prices (about 250 dollars difference).

Is the quieter nature of the 7E significant considering I am coming off a 650?

If the 7E's flash really useful or just a battery hog?

Comfort differences?

Quality differences?

Anything else anyone would like to throw into the discussion?

Thanks for the opinions....

-J

P.s. As long as I am asking for informed opinions..... I currently have the old 35-105 and the old 100-300. I am anxious to also hear opinions on the new 28-135 IS and the new 70-300 IS as compared to my old lenses. Is it worth it to upgrade?

-- Jonathan A. Papillo (papillo-j@erols.com), November 25, 2001

Answers

"Is the quieter nature of the 7E significant considering I am coming off a 650?"

The 3 is considerably louder than the 650 and the 7E is definitly quieter. I'm not sure how much difference that makes to you. It depends on where you're going to use it. I wouldn't use the 3 for wedding photography because of the noise, but I know others that do, so maybe I'm just self concsious.

"Is the 7E's flash really useful or just a battery hog?"

It's of limited use as far as I'm concerned. It works well for close up daylight fill flash. Otherwise it looks too lifeless. It certainly does drain the batteries faster & since the 7E uses a smaller battery that can be important. The optional vertical grip can hold AA batteries though.

"Comfort differences?"

Personal preference. I prefer the 7E, but I have rather small hands & the 7E is not as simple to control. Also 45 AF point are too many but you can aways limit them, so that's not really a factor. The 3 has a more substantial feel and the optional vertical grip is better.

"Quality differences?"

The 3 is built better, sealed better, feels better and will probably hold up better.

"Anything else anyone would like to throw into the discussion?"

You ought to go to a reliable camera store & try them both out. How they feel to you will be much more important than our opinions. They are both great cameras, whatever one you buy, you will most likely be happy with.

The 3 has a real spot meter. For some that alone is the deal maker.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), November 25, 2001.


I said, "the 7E is not as simple to control."

Make that, "the 3 is not as simple to control."

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), November 25, 2001.


I forgot to comment on the lenses & I always have an opinion.

I have owned the 35-105 and the original 100-300 f/5.6 (as well as the newer 100-300 f/4.5-5.6 USM) I now own the 28-135 USM IS and the 75-300 USM IS.

The 28-135 is sharper and focuses faster. The 28-135 also has full time manual (FTM) focusing along with the IS. It is larger, but the IS is great for medium-low light work.

The old 100-300 f/5.6 is a bit sharper than any of Canon's 75-300's or the newer 100-300 USM. It's not as sharp as the 100-300 f/5.6L however. Unfortunately, it's a clunky old lens that is large & slow focusing. The 75-300 IS is also slow focusing (the 100-300 USM is faster) but the image stabilization is worth the wait in my opinion. If you are the type that carrys a tripod (or even a monopod) the tele zoom you have is probably a bit better, but if you want to hand hold the thing the IS version is definitly better.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), November 25, 2001.


I bought my EOS 3 a couple of months ago as an upgrade from my Rebel G. I needed a camera that focused faster and had a faster film advance. The EOS 3 does a great job of meeting these requirements. I like how it has spot metering and lets me select the grouping of focus and metering points. And I've already gotten used to the red square coming on to show me where my focus point is. When I now use my Rebel G I find I miss that, especially in lower light. I also like the feel and weight as it is a good size to fit my hands.

After almost 30 rolls of film, there are a few things that I either don't like or haven't gotten use to yet.

The first one I noticed was the single button, that is on my Rebel and like I had on previous cameras, to open the back is now a slide and button combination. I can do it with one hand, but it's not as quick nor as easy as the single button or slide. In the 30+ years I've used 35mm cameras, I've never had my back come open by accident. I did have the back on my Mamyia RB67 open a couple of times, but that was my fault.

The other thing I noticed is that you put in the film opposite of the Rebel and what I'm use too. In the EOS 3 you put the top of the film in and then push the bottom down and pull out the leader. In the Rebel it's opposite and it really slows me down when I'm trying to swap film fast. I don't know why they did it this way.

I've found the EOS 3 to have a hair trigger too. A number of times when I push the button down half way to get focus or a meter reading, it takes a picture. Or when I only wanted to take one, I take two. I wish the shutter button was just a little firmer.

When I'm shooting in manual mode, like when I'm using my studio lights, and I'm using the big wheel on the back to set f/stop, I find that my thumb will hit it and change the f/stop setting while I'm taking pictures. You can't use the +/- button one handed because it's too close to the shutter button. With the Rebel you could do f/stop compensation quick and easy with the +/- button. What I do now is set my f/stop and turn the wheel off. That way it on accidentally change, although I can't change it easily while I'm looking through the few finder.

The camera is loud (although not as loud as my RB67 use to be) and that hasn't bothered me too much. In fact I've used it a few times when I was taking pictures and someone would stop in front of me (when there was lots of space around with just as good a views), blocking my view. If I could move over, I would, but a few times I wanted to be in that spot, for the angle and object I was photographing, so I'd lean forward and put the lens right behind their ear and take about 3 or 4 quick shots over their shoulder. That usually got their attention that they were standing in front of me and they would move off.

Anyway, that's a few of the things I've noticed over the last two months. I wish I could get at least one L lens for it (I'm using a 28-105 USM and 100-300 USM lens) but they are out of my price range right now. And I also need to get a flash for it (probably the 550ex) since it doesn't have one like the Rebel. Although I don't use the one on the Rebel that often, it does come in handy sometimes.

I did look at the 7E and decided on the EOS 3 for some of the features it has.

Hope this helps.

Mike Hillsboro, OR

-- Mike Jordan (mjordan@europa.com), November 26, 2001.


I own both cameras and agree with all of Jim's points except the comfort issue - which, of course, will differ with each user. The feel of the EOS 3 was a very big part of my decision in buying it, and had the 7 been available at the time I would still have chosen the 3 for this reason. It feels great in my hands (which are on the large side). I find the Elan 7E akward to hold without the PB-300 grip - with grip attached I still like the EOS 3 just a little more.

I don't get any use out of the 7E's pop up flash. I use a 550EX or 420 EX if I need a flash on either camera and they both do a great job - E-TTL works very well.

I like, and use, both cameras very much. But for $250, I think you are getting more for your money with the EOS 3. Read the previous posts for my reasons.

Having said that, if both cameras suit your purposes buy the 7E if: 1. You will shoot primarily niose-sensitive events (weddings, funerals, whatever) and you are very concerned about calling attention to yourself. 2. You will rely HEAVILY on ECF - the 7E's ECF is quicker and more consistant (probably because there are only 7 AF points vs. 42 on the 3).

Like Jim said, get both in your hands and play with the buttons and dials. You'll likely choose based on which one just feels better.

-- Derrick Morin (dmorin@oasisol.com), November 26, 2001.



The reason I chose the Elan7e was I felt that with all it had to offer it made a obvious upgrade from what I was used to.At this point I am p;eased with the choice.Remember,if upgrades are needed in the future all lenses etc.that you obtain now with this unit can be used on upgrades too.This means at the very least the Elan7e will someday make a very capable backup.

-- John AnthonyWw (standrock99@compuserve.com), November 28, 2001.

I bought the 7e and it is very quiet. It's nice if you plan on doing any wildlife photography. I'm sort of in the same boat as you are though, I'd also like to upgrade but I'm not sure if it's worth it just yet. I get great results w/the 7e and for how much it costs it really has a lot of nice features. A few months ago I was shopping at B & H and a gentleman stopped me (I had my camera around my neck) and asked if it was the 7e, he told me he really wanted to buy it but because his hands were on the large side he had to go w/the 3. So, that's a pretty big factor too, you have to be comfortable.

-- cahughes (cahughes@adelphia.net), November 28, 2001.

wow! you've got exactly the same problem that i do (and probably about a million other people i guess).

2 things to throw into the mix:

1).

the eos 3 is the oldest camera in the canon lineup, with a problem similar to that of the rebel 2000 (which seems to have gone from class-leader to somewhere in mid-field 'cos nikon and minolta have upgraded theirs recently). yeah of course there's also the A2E - but, come on, that things been around since '92 so it shouldn't even be considered in a NEW camera purchase debate. when i look at how fast the other manufacturers are moving i just hope canon get its ass into gear sometime soon. not that the 3's not great - it is - but its great technology from 1998! maybe thats the reason why the 3 is going so cheap at the moment - to get rid of stockpiles before they bring out the replacment.

2).

a camera is a light-tight box. the lens makes the picture. you can probably get better pictures - of course with less custom features etc. - by buying the 7e and a nice shiney new lens.

-- carl weller (carlweller@yahoo.com), November 30, 2001.


I find both to be good cameras. If you want a camera that can do everything, get the EOS 3 with a 550EX. Its big and heavy but is also a powerful tool. I have both the EOS 3 and the Elan 7e. I haven't had the 7e all that long, maybe 2 weeks. I like its compact design, but I know I'll use the EOS 3 more. I find the ECF works great, and in conjunction with the 45AF points, I find it an excellent tool for action photography. Some people find trouble in using all 45, and say its too much. yes you can limit them, but I am personally quite content with what affect it might have on my AF performance. I am sure that in low light it will give the camera an easier job if you limit it to 11 AF points, but for the most part it is still extremely fast.

-- Carl Smith (emorphien@mail.rit.edu), December 03, 2001.

I doubt the EOS 3 will be replaced soon. It may not be the newest, but it still competes with the highest end cameras. And personally I think the comment about the Rebel 2000 to be way off. I was impressed with the capability it has on a low end camera such as it.

-- Carl Smith (emorphien@mail.rit.edu), December 06, 2001.


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