I recently have an Elan IIE and like it very well. I want to upgrade and am torn between a 7E and A2E. I shoot high school basketball and mostly my family just for pleasure. Do you have a suggestion or any advise on which camera to chose? Thanks for your time Scott

-- Scott Smith (jsmithscott@yahoo.com), February 17, 2002

Answers

Scott, before you get more advice on this topic, what makes you feel that you need a new camera?

-- Roger S. (rashrader@hotmail.com), February 17, 2002.

Yes, why are you upgrading? Do you have money burning a hole in your pocket? Or do you have a legitimate reason, your old camera is dead or you need a backup. There aren't many differences between these cameras, only some minor ones.

-- carl (cgs2794@rit.edu), February 17, 2002.

Well, I won't question your need for a new camera. Even if it is just a case of the "I wants."

I don't think the difference between the Elan IIe and the Elan 7e are that big. The Elan 7e is a bit faster, focuses a little faster and has faster/better eye control along with more AF points, and it's somewhat quieter. But the Elan IIe has better low light AF & a near IR AF assist light. None of those are big enough differences to entice me to trade up.

The A2e is a step backward in the flash department, the ECF & AF is slower & less reliable, and has a reliablity problem with it's Command Dial. But it does have a spot meter and a better optional vertical grip. In my opinion it's a better camera in many respects, but it's an older design and lacks in several areas.

I think, if you need a spot meter, get the A2e. Otherwise keep what you have. But if you really want a new camera, get the Elan 7e.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), February 18, 2002.

Keep the Elan IIE and add a second body. Having two bodies is great as you have a backup and can keep a different lens and/or film ready for action. If you use external E-TTL flash, you might consider the Elan 7E as it uses the same flash circuits. However, if you don't use external flash or prefer TTL (as many do), the A2 has a lot going for it. That is, advanced features lacking in the Elan series such as interchangeable screens, PC socket, 5 fps motor drive, shiftable DEP mode, 1/200 flash sync, full set of controls on vertical grip and 2 or 10 sec self-timer (with mirror lockup if you like). CF 16 allows you to cancel automatic flash reduction for fill-in flash, a significant feature if you need control of fill flash instead of the camera controlling it (the Elan 7 lacks this CF).

Jim comments that the A2e's "ECF & AF is slower & less reliable."

I use both the A2 and Elan 7E almost daily--& love 'em both--and the difference between in AF speed in good light is small--they're both fast. With only the center cross sensor set, they both rip (my fav mode). Yes, I think the Elan 7 is a little faster in bright light, but the A2 is more reliable and sure footed in dim light. The better low light performance of the A2 is due in part to a more sensitive AF sensor (1 EV more sensitivity in the lower range) and the inclusion of a patterned near infrared AF assist light. The A2 viewfinder is bigger and much brighter than the Elan 7, further enhancing low light ability.

The A2 feels better in my hand as it is bigger and heavier than the Elan 7. Large lenses balance better. In contrast, my wife (she's 5'2") prefers the petite Elan 7.

Both cameras use plain TTL popup flashes. However, the A2 has an autozoom flash vs a fixed popup on the Elan 7.

For external flash, my experience with E-TTL has been somewhat mixed. Perhaps I'm still more comfortable with A-TTL and TTL as I can always get it to do what I want (took me years to figure it out!). Fill and bounce modes seem about equally good with E-TTL and A-TTL. With direct flash, I have to play with the flash compensation (usually + comp) more with my E-TTL 420EX and Elan 7E. A-TTL with my old 430EZ/A2 requires less thinking. Although, E-TTL is better at off- center flash than A-TTL (as long as you activate all AF sensors don't use the lock AF-recompose technique!).

The wireless multiple flash, lighting ratios, modeling light features of E-TTL are very exciting and they have sold me on E-TTL more than any supposed exposure accuracy increase.

Will the command dial of the A2 break? Perhaps. My 1996 A2 had a command dial failure 3 years ago, but at least the replacement dial is still going strong. My 1992 A2 is all original (but badly scratched from being dropped and banged!). However, the thin plastic strip that holds the battery door on the Elan 7 is a whimpy design feat and one must be careful with it, especially during cold conditions where it can easily snap off.

The strange thing is that I bought the Elan 7E to replace my A2 last year. However, I found I just couldn't part with the A2 (especially the grid screen) and the strengths and weaknesses of both cameras compliment each other well.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), February 18, 2002.

I was not questioning the "need" to buy a camera, I was thinking that perhaps there was some specific need that would make one camera better than the other.

-- Roger S. (rashrader@hotmail.com), February 18, 2002.

Sold my A2E last year after only having it for a couple of months. Didn't like the fact there was no vertical AF and it was noticably slower than my Elan IIe I thought.

Having said that, I have been thinking the same thing - trading (selling) my Elan IIe QD for a 7E for the quieter/faster focusing and for the additional (7 vs. 3) eye control focus points. But having said *that*, if I only had the Elan IIe (and I have an EOS 3 as well), then I would keep the Elan and get the 7E as a second body as someone else already suggested.

I've always had two bodies when doing sports shots: one with a faster film than the other... use the 100 film for close-ups and the 400/800 for longer/moving shots.

-- Keith Quigley (keithq@yahoo.com), March 10, 2002.