Canon EOS Elan 7 35mm SLR Camera Kit w/ 28-90mm Lens
by Canon Cameras US

List Price: $579.99
Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details

• High-speed or silent rewind modes
• Auto advance to the first frame
• Fixed new laser-matte screen with 7 focusing points
• Smaller and more compact design
• 35-zone evaluative metering system

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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon EOS Elan 7 35mm SLR Camera Kit w/ 28-90mm Lens

Customer Review: Elan 7/7E a Wonderful Camera...But...
Summary: 4 Stars

I had considered the Rebel but got turned off by the plastic body and savvy buyers' concerns about ruggedness (the Elan 7 has an aluminum body). See the reviews of the Rebel 2000 and several buyers' admonitions to buy the 28-105 USM lens rather than the cheaper--and more cheaply made--28-90 that comes standard with the "kit." I bought the 28-105 and love it even though it's ... more expensive.

If you want very detailed information about the camera, go to the Canon web site where you'll find lots of info and recommended accessories (most of which Amazon carries). In addition you can find out more detailed info about the EF line of lenses.

The camera is smooth, quiet, and feels very solid. It operates like a dream, although I was a bit overwhelmed by all of the options the camera provides and the information I had to absorb (I'd never used anything except totally manual SLRs). The 7-zone autofocus system works well but does take some getting used to. One advantage to the zone system is that you can select a single focus point (or have all 7 in operation) to help you key in on an essential detail that absolutely must be in focus.

My only gripe, and it's a big one: there's no fine focusing center spot prism and the prism is fixed (not interchangeable like some of the higher-priced bodies). While you can switch the lens and camera to totally manual operation (something I'm doing quite a bit), there isn't the traditional center spot fine focus prism arrangement like there was in the older cameras in the mid-priced line. As a result, you have to depend on the autofocus (which you can still use even in the manual mode if you like) or you have to trust your eye to focus the whole image in the viewfinder. So, especially on outdoor and distance shots where there's a lot of detail and varying depth of field, I usually stop down the lens a bit just to be on the safe side. It does have depth of field preview which helps a bit. Nikon's center circle split image and the older Canons' center circle fine focus systems provided much greater control, however.

I bought the Elan because I've used Canon products for 25 years and love the construction, optics, and feel. The newer EF-mount lenses are interchangeable with Canon's digital SLRs as well so being able to use the same lens on both film and digital bodies is a plus. The USM (ultrasonic motor) lenses are accurate and quiet.

From the reviews I've read, people love the Rebel--especially with the better 28-105 USM lens. If you want greater control and a more rugged camera, upgrade to the Elan 7.

BTW: the Magic Lantern camera guides are an excellent investment. While there isn't one available yet for the Elan 7 since it's so new, I did buy the Rebel 2000 guide when I was considering purchasing the Rebel. It answered many technical questions about the Rebel's features--all (and more) of which are included in the Elan 7.

Description of Canon EOS Elan 7 35mm SLR Camera Kit w/ 28-90mm Lens

A highly advanced metering system, comprised of 35-zone evaluative metering sensors, is linked to the seven focusing points. Whether shooting indoors or outside, day or night, a seamless integration of exposure and focus ensures remarkable clarity and contrast in any image. This system gives the photographer accurate control over situations that combine light and shadow or that feature strong backlight. When metering subjects against very dark or very bright backgrounds, partial-area metering measures 10 percent of the viewfinder around the chosen focusing point. This provides accurate image results when dealing with shadows or highlights. The photographer can also use the Elan 7's center-weighed metering function. This mode places greater emphasis on what it reads as the center of the frame by measuring the entire scene. No matter which function the photographer chooses, precision metering is guaranteed--whether the camera is in a vertical or horizontal position.

Giving the photographer even more creative control is the command dial. This allows manual-control light, speed, aperture, and depth of field. Shutter priority lets the photographer choose the shutter speed, while the Elan 7 automatically selects the correct aperture. This function is especially useful when capturing action shots. With aperture priority, the photographer picks the aperture setting while the camera chooses the correct shutter speed. This is helpful when control over the depth of field is essential. It's even possible to check the depth of field using the preview button.

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