Ready to buy... opinions wanted.

[Beltaine]

After spending the last few months takings shots with the Canon AV-1 that used to belong to my father, I'm ready to step up into the modern world.

Looks like I'll be going the way of Canon. I've grown to love the one I have even though it's nothing like the new ones. I have a cousin and an uncle that are also enthusiast shooters with Canon equipment so I'll have a quasi-support group already.

I had narrowed down my options to an Elan 7N, scrapping the 7NE because I wear glasses and know the eye-focus will be wasted on me. However, I took another look at Canon's website and for giggles checked out the Rebel T2 (the next step down from the Elan). I discovered the specs were really not that drastically different from the Elan. The T2 had a slower continuous mode at 3 FPS instead of the Elan's 4 FPS, doesn't have a mirror lock-up (that I could tell from the website), and doesn't have the "fastest/quietest in it's class" tagline that comes with the Elan.

The cost savings aren't really that much. Around $25-$75 less than the Elan for the body only. In kits with lenses the price difference was around $100. That would just about allow me to squeeze a good flash in on my budget by going with the T2 instead of the Elan. But, would it benefit me more down the road to go ahead and get the Elan now? I really don't care about how quiet it is, but I may end up wanting that mirror lock-up or that extra frame/sec. down the road.

This is worse than buying a car

[carney2]

Sounds as if you've done your homework. Only two thoughts from this demented mind:

1. At a time when the tide seems to be flowing FROM film TO digital, why have you chosen film?

2. As many folks at this site have said before, the camera is merely a light box. The more important decision is the lens.

Good luck.

[JTurner538]

I was reading an article in Popular Photography and it said that the T2 does have mirror lock. I'm the owner of a Ti (what used to be the highest level cannon consumer camera lol) I'm really happy with my Ti and I'm sure you'd be happy with a T2. However, you should really consider the Elan for its metal body. I love my Ti but it feels really fragile in my hands. The next camera i buy will be all metal...i suggest you factor in the construction of the two cameras. Just my two cents :-)
Justin

[mjs1973]

[QUOTE=Beltaine]
I had narrowed down my options to an Elan 7N, scrapping the 7NE because I wear glasses and know the eye-focus will be wasted on me. QUOTE]


My 2 cents... I stepped up to the DRebel from a Rebel G, and I have to tell you, I love the "eye-focus" as you call it. I'm assuming you are talking about the dial on the veiw finder that can adjust the focus. I can't think of the name for it... With my Rebel G, I didn't even know there was any information being displayed in my view finder... With the adjustable "eye-focus" on the DRebel, I can see everything perfectly. You might want to look thru the view finder of the 7N before you scrap it. And yes, I do wear classes too.

[Beltaine]

At a time when the tide seems to be flowing FROM film TO digital, why have you chosen film?

I have two reasons really.

1. I don't feel like digital is quite where it needs to be yet. It's leaps and bounds ahead of where it was 3 years ago, and in 3 more years, I may be able to afford it.

2. I tend to like the "roots" of things. My hobbies/interests are classic cars, blacksmithing, world mythology, and photography. So far, my experience with photography has been with a nearly full manual camera. Yeah, I hate it when my shots go bad (usually through an oversight on my part), but the rush of seeing a really great shot turn out makes it worth it. I guess you could call me a "purist" but that would be kind of extreme. Honestly, I think it comes from working in Information Technology. I tend to spend my free time with "low-tech" things. It's a release I guess.

So in all honesty my reason for going with film is 90% esoteric and 10% budgetary ;)

I also didn't realize the T2 had a plastic body vs. a metal body on the Elan, definitely a plus.

[Beltaine]

The Eye Controlled Focus is what I was talking about with the "eye focus"

Talked about here

I had heard it doesn't work well through glasses, and even with people who don't wear glasses had to be recalibrated fairly often. This is the only feature different between the Elan 7N and Elan 7NE, and so figured I'd save some money by getting just the 7N.

mjs, I think yu're talking about the dioptric adjustment, and having just checked, it appears the T2 doesn't have a dioptric adjustment, but the Elan does. Yet another plus for the Elan. I think that's pretty much going to seal the deal. Because of an astigmatism I have to wear my glasses. (This has been my biggest gripe with my AV-1, especially since it's manual focus )

Thanks for bringing that to my attention!

[Mig]

I have an EOS 3 which also has the eye-control focus and I absolutely love it - in fact, it's the only thing I wish my 10D had. I also wear either glasses or contacts - no problems using it either way.

Good luck!

Danielle

[Beltaine]

Mig, how often do you have to recalibrate it? You're honestly the first person I've heard from that uses it with glasses and has good luck with it. Of course, I'm only going by reviews and posts I've read. Funny how people usually only talk about things that irritate them and remain quiet when all is well.

[Mig]

I've never recalibrated it - although I don't really use my glasses too often. The EOS 3 also has the diopter adjustment and I prefer to take off my glasses and use that.

[mjs1973]

Yeah, the diopter thingy, that's what I was talking about ;)

[Outdoorsman]

I got the 7N, not the NE. I don't need the eye control, since I'm never in that much of a hurry to pick an AF point. And I didn't want to blow the cash, anyway. The camera is great, does everything I need it to and everything I ask it to. I would reccomend that you get the battery pack for for these reasons:
1)It makes the normal grip taller, so you don't have to try and squeeze you hand onto the normal (too small for me) grip.
2)It gives you a vertical grip (and AE lock button but no main dial- a major drawback) which is something I think should be standard on every SLR.
3)Most importantly you can use AA batteries, not those silly 12345CARXYZ thingies or whatever they are. I have a hard time finding them in convenience stores, or for a decent price.
Have fun with the new camera- hope you love it as much as I do!

[petemac]

I thought I would let you know that I use the elan 7e. I have dark brown eyes and wear glasses for a slight correction in vision. I do not need to recalibrate the eye focus very often, although I do find that sometimes I need to look slightly past the far left or right focussing points in order to highlight that point. I enjoy having eye focus but not as much as I thought I would. I learned to shoot on a camera that had one focussing point so i am in the habit of focussing on center and then recomposing. While I understand the draw of film, I cannot imagine having to deal with it again. If I had access to a darkroom I would still shoot film, however my last 11,000 pictures have been digital (10D, no eye focus there) and I do not regret it. I have learned a lot from those images.

One thing I have learned is that a camera is about much more then its features on paper. I encourage you to hold both in your hand and try the controls first. I also strongly agree with the notion that glass is most important.

-pete

[Cowgirl]

Canon is a great choice!

If you are serious about photography, spend your money on high quality lenses! The quality of the photos depend on the optics. Most people get quite bored with the kit lens quickly, or they just simply 'outgrow' them.

If you are on a more limited budget, go with the cheaper body, and invest in a high quality lens or two.

Now....back to the debate.....

Kathy

[CaSousa]

I bought the Elan 7NE this past May after my Rebel 2k bit the dust down in Mexico. I recently also upgraded to the 28-105 USM after using the kit 28-80 for the past 4 years, and I can say the extra money for the lens is well worth it. The learning curve on the Elan is pretty steep if you haven't had exposure to that type of camera before, as my mother is now learning after using a Canon FTb for the past 25 years. I think the main thing is getting used to all of the exposure controls and all of the extra 'goodies' available. I love having mid-roll rewind with the tongue of the film left out of the canister, and the mirror lock up is a great feature. The only issue i've had so far is that at 4fps, you can go through a lot of film really fast if you're shooting sports or wildlife.
As far as the eye control is concerned, I also haven't had any issues using it, even with my glasses. Although mostly I have it off, and just focus and recompose a shot.
The all-metal body makes things a little heavier, especially if you're running with good lenses, but that is a small trade off for a well-built frame.

If I had had the money at the time, i probably would have bought myself a 10D or something comparable, but for my purposes, the Elan is definitely high enough quality.

-Chris