Some facts on the A2/A2e
Written: Jul 17 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: spot meter, ergonomics, EF lenses
Cons: almost useless on-camera flash, susceptible to high humidity
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| pieris's Full Review: Canon EOS-A2 Film Camera |
I bought the A2e (actually the EOS 5) from B&H photo about a year ago, to enter the realm of autofocus and EF lenses. If you are a serious amateur who likes quality glass on your camera, and you need such amenities as spot metering, fast motor drive, and predictive AF, this camera may be for you. If you are looking for something more rugged, check out the EOS 3. If you don't need spot metering, consider the Elan (which is otherwise very very similar to the A2). Eye control is, of course, a gimmick.
If you spend all your hard-earned shekels on the A2 and find that all you have left is enough cash to buy a cheesy zoom lens, forget it. Better to get the Elan 2 or a used EOS 620 or 650 (both under $200) and buy fast primes or L-series zooms.
Interesting pros and cons:
This camera molds to my hand. Ergonomics are very good (though Minolta still holds the monopoly).
If you get the grey-market EOS 5 you get match-needle mode in manual (absent on the US camera) but no official warrantee.
I've seen this camera called "light" - perhaps compared to the higher end models, but it's not nearly as rugged as its weight would imply.
The A2 consumes more battery power than any other EOS model that I know of. To conserve power, use the instant-off (rather than 6 second delay) to keep it from metering unnecessarily.
Built-in flash is sometimes cute, but it's about as dumb as my P&S camera's flash.
Familiarize yourself with the Custom Functions: they're a godsend.
The oft-included 28-105 zoom is Canon's second-best cheap zoom lens (the one with IS is better) but it's still a far cry from prime lenses. However, if you plan to shoot only print film, don't enlarge past 8x12, and don't shoot wide open, you'll notice no difference.
All the above taken into consideration, it's still a great camera. Autofocus speed is pretty fast (when coupled with a ring-USM lens) and metering is precise.
Note: I did not fill in "Photo Quality" as the quality of most photos has nothing to do with the camera.
Recommended:
Yes
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pieris
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