suggestions for eye controlled 35mm SLR?

[kimberlyjing]

I guess you could call me an "intermediate" photographer since I'm currently a Photo college student. Currently I use a manual focus Olympus-OM4. I've traveled with that camera and taken great photos, but truthfully it is just too heavy and clunky.

I'm interested in getting a new camera with eye control. I've been reading the reviews and am considering the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7 OR Canon EOS Elan 7NE .

If anyone has advice on these models or similar ones, I'd greatly appreciate it! Keep in mind I have a budgut of under $500, including acessories like lenses & etc.

[Lionheart]

I guess you could call me an "intermediate" photographer since I'm currently a Photo college student. Currently I use a manual focus Olympus-OM4. I've traveled with that camera and taken great photos, but truthfully it is just too heavy and clunky.

I'm interested in getting a new camera with eye control. I've been reading the reviews and am considering the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7 OR Canon EOS Elan 7NE .

If anyone has advice on these models or similar ones, I'd greatly appreciate it! Keep in mind I have a budgut of under $500, including acessories like lenses & etc.

You might also consider a used EOS-3. As I recall they also had eye control focus, but I could never get mine working with glasses on.
Just a suggestion.

[Clemmie]

I have, and dearly LOVE, the Maxxum 7. Feature-wise, it is truly the Ultimate film camera - one you'll never 'outgrow'. B&H's price for the body is $399.

The other $100 in your budget will allow adding one New lens to the order, with several to choose from - or pick up two or three excellent used ones on eBay.

I use the Minolta 28-100 'kit lens' as the base lens with my Maxxum 7, with excellent results. Over the course of this year, for about the same total cost as the body, I have amassed a collection of 10 lenses - 9 Minoltas, with full and overlapping coverage from 28mm to 300mm - and a recently acquired Opteka 500/1000 kit, for some 'super telephoto' work. About half the lens money has gone for just two lenses - the Opteka kit and the Minolta 50/3.5 Macro - which ran me $110 each. The other eight - a mixture of New, like-new Refurb, and Mint Used - are fine examples of the excellent values which can be found on Minolta lenses.

Feel free to check out my Photo site (link below my signature), to see plenty of examples of what a Minolta can deliver.

[Michael Fanelli]

I have, and dearly LOVE, the Maxxum 7. Feature-wise, it is truly the Ultimate film camera - one you'll never 'outgrow'. B&H's price for the body is $399.

But he was asking about cameras with eye-controlled focus. The Maxum 7 has "instant on" but the focusing is conventional.

[Clemmie]

But he was asking about cameras with eye-controlled focus. The Maxxum 7 has "instant on" but the focusing is conventional.

I took that to be eye-controlled turn on - not eye tracking like you're suggesting.

Personally, I don't use the eye control, because they don't work that well if you wear glasses, as I do.

[kimberlyjing]

What's the difference between the two???

[Michael Fanelli]

What's the difference between the two???

The Canons have the ability to track your eye. Where ever you look, that's where the focus is set. It is extremely cool (and very accurate) but works best for people without glasses.

The instant-on viewfinder senses that your eye is covering the viewfinder and turns the camera on. There is no focusing involved.

[mattdanielson]

I've had an Elan IIE, basically the predecessor of the 7NE, for 5 or 6 years and I really like it. The eye controlled focus is extremely accurate, and the camera has enough features so that you can keep it as your skills grow. The only drawback for the Elan IIE is that it only shoots about 2 FPS, but I think that problem is fixed with the 7NE. It is a much faster camera overall. The other great thing about the Elans is that they are super super durable. Mine's been dropped, kicked and sat in an unpadded bag for a 2000 mile bike tour, and it still looks great and works fine. From what I've read, 7NE is more accurate, durable and faster than the IIE. It looks cooler too. Calumet has a deal now for 449 with lens, strap and 2 batteries as well.

Hope this helped.
Matt

[kimberlyjing]

Matt,
Thanks for the suggestion about the Canon!

[magoo]

I own and use the older model Elan7e and the eos 3. The elan7e is basically the same thing as the elan 7ne except it don't have ettl II but the eos 3 doesn't either and the new elan has an illuminated lcd screen. My elan 7e has 1/4000 and 4 fps and has never failed me, very easy to use, never had a problem w/exposure light weight and a very quiet shutter. In fact now that the new model is out you should be able to find the older model Elan 7e at a pretty good discount or if money allows the Eos 3. The eos 3 has more focus points, quicker autofocus and much a 1/8000 shutter speed etc.


Magoo

[kimberlyjing]

Magoo,
So are you suggesting that the new features on the Elan 7NE are not worth it? Actually, I was thinking of starting a poll. The question would be:

Is having the eye control (or tracking - still confused about the correct term) on the Elan 7NE worth having?
AND
What camera do you currently use/own?

Oh, and instead of a new camera for the holidays, I recieved eye contacts instead. Is this a factor to also consider? I really really would like a new camera, but am hesitant about buying one. I'm just a starving college student who wants the best camera for her money.

[magoo]

well, the new features to me aren't worth the extra money, if you can find the older model and I see them alot on ebay some of them nib I think it would be a better deal. As far as is the Eye focus necessary, no but once I had it on my Elan 7e and I was looking for another camera I fell in love with it so I got the EOS 3. if you are covering action it is alot nicer to just select the focus points with your eye than manually moving the focus points. It's easier to calibrate the ELAN 7e because it only has 7 points compared to 35 on my eos 3. You shouldn't have a problem with the contacts since it's right up on your eye. the Eye focus once calibrated shoots an infared beam into your eye and reads what focus point it's reflected on. It is the same camera basically except for the ettl II and the luminated lcd screen. The canon pro film cameras such as the Eos 3 and the Eos 1v still use regular ETTL. If you don't mind slightly used equipment I suggest KEH.com. I get alot of my lenses and such from them. I once had a lens I bought, it's had a manual shutter and the timing was off. I had a wedding I was shooting for a friend and let them know. They overnighted a new one to me and told me to just send in the other one when I got a chance. I am always happy with their service

Magoo.

[Michael Fanelli]

It's easier to calibrate the ELAN 7e because it only has 7 points compared to 35 on my eos 3.

FWIW, the number of focus points on the EOS-3 can be reduced using one of the built-in functions.

[Trevor Ash]

Since no one else seems to have suggested it directly, I suggest trying out the eye control focus on one of these cameras before you spend money for that feature. The reason I say thia is because I shot with an EOS-3 for a few years and could never even complete the calibration process. Mayeb my camera was broke, who knows....but I could never get it to calibrate and thus was completely unusable.

There are people are there very satisfied with it as well. My suggestion is to simply go to a store, pick up the camer, and make sure you can complete the eye focus calibration process.

[Lthlwpn1979]

Magoo,
So are you suggesting that the new features on the Elan 7NE are not worth it? Actually, I was thinking of starting a poll. The question would be:

Is having the eye control (or tracking - still confused about the correct term) on the Elan 7NE worth having?
AND
What camera do you currently use/own?

Oh, and instead of a new camera for the holidays, I recieved eye contacts instead. Is this a factor to also consider? I really really would like a new camera, but am hesitant about buying one. I'm just a starving college student who wants the best camera for her money.

Hello:

I purchased a used Elan 7E over Ebay a year ago and I love it. The eye control focusing I don't use very much, but it works when you callibrate several dozen times. I like the nearly silent shutter and rewind operations and the mirror lockup feature. I shoot grizzly and black bears up close and want as little noise as possible. With the mirror lockup I can use the Kodachrome 25 I have on ice and not worry about camera shake. You can find great deals on Ebay. I got the Elan 7E with battery pack and 12 rolls of slide film for $300. Shop around and you will find some good deals.

Michael