Jim Davis wrote:
> I think the best indicator of camera bodies is the number you find for
> sale used in the camera stores.
I think this would be true only if you knew why they were there. For example, at
my local shop someone not long ago traded in a bunch of Hasselblad stuff for
that new Nikon VR zoom lens (100-400?). Does this mean that particular Hassy
model (whichever it was) is no longer a viable product? Probably not.
> This tells me that perhaps the EOS 3 is not all that people expect or
> want in a camera.
Or perhaps it is *more* than some people want in a camera. What if someone
traded in a 3 because they found it "too complicated"? Or for a 1vs? Or a
Pentax 645n? Without that knowledge, there's no way to reach a supportable
conclusion regarding why they are there. And how much is it a reflection of the
local market?--at my local store, there are several Elans, and until recently
one A2e and one EOS 10--*no* EOS 3s.
> My own take on the EOS 3 is, it's nice but doesn't need the ECF, should
> have a built in flash, and cost too much.
I agree about ECF, disagree about a built-in flash. As for cost . . . well,
again, that depends on the market and prices relative to income. You can
currently buy a new EOS 3 from Delta International (grey, presumably) for
US$830, and a 1v for $1450--only $150 more than I paid for my EOS 3! So prices
are coming down, at least in the U.S. The situation may, of course, be different
elsewhere. Who knows: if our economy continues to go into the tank (again),
perhaps prices on big-ticket items will drop some more. :-)
> Oh ya, it's a bit heavy and bulky
> as well. I think a pro'd go for a 1N,
It is not clear to me that a pro, who can treat the cost of a camera as a
business expense in any case, would take the more technologically-limited 1n
over a 3. And for many advanced amateurs, the EOS 3--new, with warranty--for
less than US$900 represents a pretty good value, especially compared to the
1v--or a second-hand 1n. KEH, one of the "benchmark" dealers of second-hand gear
in the U.S., wants US$850 for a 1n in "excellent" condition. About the only
things the 1n offers that the 3 doesn't is a 100% viewfinder, built-in dioptric
correction, and a slightly higher X-sync speed (and an eyepiece shutter??),
while the 3 offers quite a few advancements over the 1n (including E-TTL flash
and more advanced AF), and it weighs less.
> That puts the EOS 3 in nowhere land. It wouldn't surprise me if they
> dropped it from the line, or replaced it real soon
I would be extremely surprised, especially given the example of the 5/A2, which
is still in the product lineup. IMO the EOS 3 will continue to be a very capable
camera for quite a while yet.
Cheers,
fcc
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