Original Elan - why trade?

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After a love/hate relationship with the original EOS 620 (I lost a lot of shots while the auto-focus hunted back and forth), I bought an ELAN when it first came out. Yes, I'd like a leader-out rewind, and 100% viewfinder, and a tripod socket on the accessory hand grip. And yes, the shutter had to be cleaned of lubricant after 10 years because it was getting erratic. But despite "improvements" in the EOS line, I've never found a later model which I like as well. I wonder if many others feel this way too?

-- Willhelmn (bmitch@comcast.net), May 27, 2002

Answers

There is no perfect camera. As such, you'll find something which is closest to what you want, and then you might as well stick with it. EOS 1V is probably that camera for me, but unfortunately, I can't afford it, so I bought a 3 instead. Since AF is a killer feature for me, the EOS 3 and 1V are FAR more capable than anything that has gone before.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), May 27, 2002.

I have bought, used & then sold dozens of Canon cameras. Finally settling on an Elan and an Elan IIe. I prefer the Elan IIe for most things, but often find myself using the original, Elan because if I drop it in the water I won't feel so bad. Nice camera & it does what I want, but the AF is still a bit slow.

I would like a 3 or 1V, but every time I get enough money scraped together, I find I would rather spend it on a new lens or a kayak or something else. The truth, is I find what I have is quite adequate & choose to spend my money on other things.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), May 27, 2002.


I bought a IIe in 1996 after using a 650 since 1987. I would love to find a reason to upgrade to the 7e (I'm no longer a pro.) but my IIe has never let me down or had the problems others have had. Bottom line? If you like it, keep it. Intuition is what we use as photographers regardless of whether we are pros or not. I think the same might apply to the hardware we use as photographers to make the images we have in our minds a reality.....

-- Victor Kunkel (Catmanman@aol.com), May 27, 2002.

Don't. I have the ELAN for 10 years and think it's great. I am spending my money on lenses, L ones (bought one, a second will follow). Sure, if I had more money I'd buy the 3 or 30(7E) but then again, if I had more, I'd buy the D60. I think I'll wait a few years and do just that.

-- Yakim Peled (yakim.peled@orange.co.il), May 29, 2002.

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