Elan 7E You can't go wrong for $600
Written: Feb 24 '02
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Pros: Solid, Fast, Comfortable feel, Canon EOS compatability, reliable.
Cons: Eye controlled focus seems a bit "off" sometimes.
The Bottom Line: Not a "pro" camera, but it's missing a pro feature, $2000 price tag. If you want more than an entry level SLR, the Elan 7/7E is perfect for you.
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| a6equj5's Full Review: Canon EOS-30 35mm Film Camera |
You may have read my other review of the Nikon Coolpix 995 digicam, which was less than stellar. I moved on to an Elan 7E and I couldn't be happier. This camera is called a mid-range camera, but has features of higher end cameras, such as eyepiece diopter adjustment, mirror lockup, mid-roll rewind w/ film leader out, depth of field preview, 1/4000 top shutter speed, 1/125 X-Sync, flashing focus point indicator in the viewfinder, auto exposure bracketing, and 13 Custom Functions with 34 settings.
It features a whisper silent film advance for shooting in delicate situations such as weddings or wildlife photography. 4fps film advance, the fastest of all cameras in it's class. It includes user selectable metering modes, although I haven't played with that feature very much yet. 35-zone silicon photocell metering (evaluative metering, partial metering, and centerweighted averaging metering) The controls are well laid out and the dual dial layout is much easier to use than a single "push, hold, turn" system. There's a dial near your index finger near the shutter release, and another where your thumb rests on the back of the camera. There is also a "D-pad" for selecting a focus point.
The one part where I've run into a snag with this camera is the ECF (Eye Controlled Focus). You have to calibrate it (about 10sec) before using it. The camera holds several ECF profiles, so if you wear glasses, calibrate one with glasses and another without just in case. It takes many calibrations to get the ECF working in a useful manner. It can be frustrating, but it's a minor problem if you're willing to overlook it. The Elan 7E is a bit more expensive than the Elan 7, but some people say that the ECF is worth it, especially for ECF controlled depth of field shooting.
The camera itself is heavy without being a burden, and feels good in the hand. I have the optional BP-300 battery pack that attaches to the bottom of the camera, and I highly recommend it if you have large hands.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 600.00
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Epinions.com ID:
a6equj5
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Reviews written: 2
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