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Gerry Palo
Denver, Colorado
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Bill Simonsen
> Sent: Monday, September 03, 2001 9:57 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: EOS Elan IIe vs. 7e
>
>
> >>is a question for the host of Elan II users out there. I am a first
> time Canon buyer upgrading from my Pentax P30T. I would like to know
> what
> are the definite advantages of choosing the Elan 7 over a used Elan II?
> I
> have not seen either of these cameras, but the Elan II, I understand
> from
> the net, has a few advantages like<<<
>
> This is going to be tough, the group has really polarized into 7
> vs II camps- mostly over the ungodly, horrible, bothersome, utterly
> useless AF assist light on the 7. (But see, I am not prejudiced just
> because I have a IIE <g>.)
> You can get a laundry list of features in any of the camera mags
> and at many web pages, but obviously you want some real-life experience.
> The 7 camp mostly admits that the bright white assist is worthless, and
> suggest you use an external flash with its own AF assist light. The
> only problem with this is, except for the pricey Canon EX flashes, you
> are going to have to *manually* select the center focusing field for the
> flash AF assist to work. I have no idea how or why this exists and
> nobody has every explained it to me either, but that is the way it is.
> You are going to go back and forth between manual/center and eye
> controlled focus all the time when you are in low light or diffo
> focusing situations. Also, most people would rather do without a bulky
> flash atop their camera, it is definitely top heavy. I try to use the
> camera flash with slaves whenever I can to avoid this.
> Logic would say that if you bought a used IIE and worked with it
> for a few months while checking the 7 in stores, you could sell the IIE
> for little loss if you chose to change. You will take the hit on
> depreciation if you do it reversed.
Sounds like a good plan. To summarize a little, I found the main attractions
of the 7 to be its quiet operation and improved a/f functionality (more a/f
points), as well as a few improvements in other areas. For me the a/f
assist light was the zinger. Without that problem I would have bought the
7e, even at the higher price. If the above solution works for you, then it
is really a desirable camera. I had been eagerly looking forward to the 7,
and had even rationalized myself into getting it in spite of the assist
light, which I had only read about. It was when I actually tried out the
camera in a store that I changed my mind.
Another solution to the low-light focusing problem -- e.g. when you don't
have an attached flash and don't want to use the white a/f assist light --
is to get an f/1.8 50mm lens for use in low light situations and use manual
focus. Of course, the flashing white light may not be a problem for you
after all, in which case the 7e wins.
An alternative to buying the IIe and selling it later would be to rent a 7e
and try it out. I did this with the IIe when I was buying it for my
daughter. It cost about $35 with the lens she would get if she chose it, for
the day. I took a day off and we went out shooting. She liked the camera
and that determined our course (It was for her eighth grade graduation, and
she had earned it!). So, try a 7e out in the store, and then try renting
one for a day, and especially do some shooting in low light, trying out the
a/f, seeing how the assist light works, especially with people around. Also
try it without the a/f assist light and using manual focus. It may work for
you. (You might also want to pop for the rental of an add on flash to try
out Bill's solution described above.) You could do the same again with a
IIe, but that might start to add up. In any case, for a camera that costs
$500 or so it would be a small price to pay to get some real hands-on
experience with it before deciding.
Whichever one you get, I would say that the Elan is a marvelous camera which
gives you access to those great Canon lenses in a modestly priced body that
also has a lot of great features for the serious photographer.
------------------------------
Gerry Palo
Denver, Colorado
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