iam trying to find out about eos 55 worth buying?

-- iain maclean (iainmaclean750@msn.com), April 28, 2002

Answers

The EOS 50/55 was replaced by the EOS 30/33 in 2000. Any remaining new cameras are old stock. However, it's a very nice camera if the price is right. Moreover, it has one clear advantage over the EOS 30/33: a near infrared AF assist light.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), April 28, 2002.

Puppgy face isn't 100% right here....

The EOS 50 was replaced with the EOS 33, and the EOS 50e was replaced with the EOS 30. The EOS 55 is a little different.

The EOS 55 is the same as the EOS 50e, but it is all-black, and has a "panorama" mask, which will mask the top and bottom portions of the image. It is a very smart-looking camera (much better than the silve/black EOS 50e in my opinion).

My local Jessops had one in stock recently (I don't know if they still have it), but they wanted similar money as for an EOS 30, which isn't worthwhile in my opinion.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), April 28, 2002.

The EOS 50 / 50E was marketed in the Americas as the Elan II / IIE and in Japan as the EOS 55. The EOS 55 model had some extras (panorama mask, black finish) and was marketed later in France and now in the UK.

Canon provides a table comparing the EOS 30, 55 and 5. The differences between the 30 and 55 are:

• AF points
• AF working range
• AF assist beam
• Viewfinder dioptric adjustment
• Nightscene PIC
• Frame rate
• Battery

What is not mentioned is that the EOS 55 has a near-complete implementation of E-TTL, and you might want to check that the one you buy can use modelling flash and wireless multi-group flash.

If you want to read more specs and reviews (positive and negative) about the EOS 30, see Links

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), April 28, 2002.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), April 29, 2002.

Yes, two versions of the 55 were sold in Japan - one black, one silver/black like the 50. Both have eye control and panorama masking.

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), April 29, 2002.

The optional black finish reduces unwanted attention drawn to a shiny camera body, whether hanging from my neck, or in a close-up photo. But that is just personal preference.

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), April 29, 2002.

I prefer the metallic look over black any day. Not only is it more handsome and easier to find in the dark, but it stays cooler when shooting in the hot Hawaiian sun.

When the Elan 7 has released in 2000, the used camera joints filled up with sliver EOS 55 cameras. Very attractive cameras. I guess we're closer to Japan so Japanese domestic models are frequently spotted here. However, I've never seen an EOS 50.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), May 01, 2002.

Fair enough.

As far as I know, officially, only the black EOS 55 was sold in europe, since I guess Canon couldn't see that people would want the camera just for the panorama feature...

As for the looks, that's personal preference, but I think the black version looks great.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), May 02, 2002.

Alas, all my EOS cameras are black. In a way that's good as they all look the same to my wife: she never can tell the difference when I drag home a new body!

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), May 02, 2002.

Puppy face, I thought I was the only one who thought that way. Although I did screw up when I took home my metal faced Elan 11e and my wife finally gave me the look.

-- joe cap (joemocap@yahoo.com), May 02, 2002.

Oh no! No how do I disguise my cream coloured 100-400 so that it is black, and looks like a 35-80 zoom?

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), May 03, 2002.

Gaffer tape.

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), May 03, 2002.

Glad to see that I am not the only one who hides the evidence - I am thinking of trading in a second hand 50e for a 55 for an extra £80 and the wife knows that one is silver - the other is black. If I survive I will let you all know

-- Kevin Tallant (kevtallant@aol.com), July 06, 2002.