Canon EOS 3
| |||
| Pro | - Great fit to my hand with the PB-E2
- Fast AF - Exposuring is 95% dead on unless dealing with strongly backlit subjects - Ability to move AF to "*" button on back is good - Sealing is excellent - drive control very nice (choice of single shot, low-speed or high-speed) - Choice of AA batteries or several different battery packs when used with PB-E2 | ||
| Contra | - Shutter release on PB-E2 is a little too delicate. I find that when depressing halfway to lock exposure, it still fires off
- On/Off switch on PB-E2 for vertical controls is cumbersome - I can find no way to turn off the AF assist light when attached to my Metz 40-MZ2 flash. This reduces AF speed considerably as the flash zooms with a 24-70/2.8L zoom - Self-timer is visual only. Would be nice if you had the option for the camera to "beep" while flashing the red light on the front of the body - With 24-70/2.8L and a flash, this camera is *huge* - NC-E2 charger for PB-E2 is prohibitively expensive - FEL button is a little too sunken for my liking - When working in full manual mode, the rear dial is easy to accidentally turn | ||
| Thoughts | I moved to EOS 3 from a Pentax Super Program, which I thought was one of the perfect cameras when shooting in aperture priority mode (what I usually shoot in). The ergonomics of the Super Program were ideal, especially when tied to a Pentax manual focus lens (Either M or A series). I was happy that the EOS 3 kept many of those ergonomics, including the vertical controls on the PB-E2 (which are present on the Motor Drive A). | ||
| |||
| Pro | handling, ergonomics, exposure/metering reliability | ||
| Contra | Eye control not always reliable (nice if it works) | ||
| Thoughts | best camera I ever had, logical upgrade for T-90 users (like me), I have never experienced under-exposed shots, I like the handling, everything is built into your hands. Hope I must nerver give it away. | ||
| |||
| Pro | 1. Reliable AI Servo AF in low light with f/2.8 and faster lenses.
2. Solid construction. 3. Bright viewfinder. | ||
| Contra | 1. Expensive N3 remote shutter release.
2. Loud mirror return and film advance. Activate mirror lock-up and long exposure (e.g. 1 sec) and you will notice that the loudest noise comes when the mirror returns to its position and at the same time, film advance motor is engaged. 3. ECF is unreliable eventhough I do not wear glasses nor contact. | ||
| Thoughts | Overall, an excellent body with good ergonomics, especially with PB-E2 attached for vertical orientation controls (shutter button of PB-E2 is rather over-sensitive though). Weight is not much of an issue but I will definitely change my mind if I ever have to do bushwalking with this camera.
If I could design the EOS 3v: 1. Auto focus cross sensors should be placed at those 11 points linked for spot metering rather than bunched around the center AF. Is there any reason/limitation/law of physics for not designing it that way? 2. AF sensor selection will be via cursor keys ala EOS 30/33/Elan 7e/7. 3. Employ quieter film advance motor. 4. Make it compatible with RC-1 wireless shutter release. | ||
| |||
| Pro | Built well
Good AF Metering good (except on snow) | ||
| Contra | Heavy (obviously)
easy to loose finder rubber bit | ||
| Thoughts | I use mine whilst mountaineering so it gets battered (normaly sub zero). It survived a trip down a granite stair case and 150 mph wind with rain... what more do you need. Use a pro lens and the af is excelent. | ||
| |||
| Pro | Solid camera, semi-professional quality level.
Exposure metering dead on when compared to a sekonic-spot meter. Controls well laid out, easy to operate. Multiple metering options. (45 sensors) Excellent flash photography with wireless camera to remote flash control. Better than expected battery life. Logical step up for T-90 users. | ||
| Contra | I tend to lose the small connector caps, but replacements available.
Does not provide 100% viewfinder. Custom settings require owner's manual to change. Eye following feature useless in my case due to glasses. Large external hotshoe mounted flash makes camera a little to heavy for extended periods of time, ie weddings etc. Low value considering body cost and features offered. | ||
| Thoughts | This is a good work horse camera for advanced photogaphers and a good second body for working pros who have not yet switched over to digital. But quickly fading into history with all other film based cameras as digital media based cameras advance and overtake the market share. As such a very good camera for those of us who do not make a living off of photography and a better value if you pick it up used off ebay as Pros dump it for the digital 10D model. | ||
| |||
| Pro | Pro tool.
Prize. | ||
| Contra | Loud.
Needs PB2 to be sturdy. Some gimmicks (e.g. eye control) | ||
| Thoughts | I use(d) EOS 500, 50E, 5, 3, and 1V.
The EOS 3 (with PB2) is IMO the most reasonable body. However take care to have the body serviced. My EOS 3 had the old BIOS that tended to underexpose. The body differed 1/3 to 2/3 stop to the 1V. | ||
| |||
| Pro | Very good ergonomics. Bright viewfinder, good exposure metering in evaluative mode; multispot is just super.
Stable in my hands, even with heavy lenses. Eye-controlled autofocus works fine, after accurate calibration though. Viewing screens are interchangeable. Flash exposure lock (FEL) is another plus. Illuminated LCD screen. Wide array of custom functions. | ||
| Contra | Very noisy shutter. LCD display has low contrast, compared, e.g. to the EOS 5. Lacks a viewfinder shutter. Eats batteries at a highish rate: probably an accessory like the battery pack BP-E1, which accepts also rechargeable NiMH (up to 2000 mAh capacity) is a worthwhile addition.
Battery check should be always visible in the display, not triggered by a button hidden behind a small side door. Why not a 100% view in the finder ? | ||
| Thoughts | Overall, in my opinion, a professional-class camera. Can be customized to fit almost everybody's preferences.
The instruction book should be studied accurately before exploiting the camera's capabilities. | ||
| |||
| Pro | Only had one of these for a short time. Nice evenly balanced tool especially with 28-80L. Worked very well with EX550 flash. | ||
| Contra | Eratic focussing. Metering slightly off. Quite a large body in comparison to Eos 5 body which you could easily fit into a jacket pocket (minus the lens of course). | ||
| Thoughts | Despite the other reviews here, Im surprised that most people have said that it was good at metering and focussing. I was greatly dissappointed in both these respects. Metering tended to be just shy of correct exposure levels and to compensate set the DX to 1/3under. Focussing also, I thought yes its fast but it tends to hunt alot especially in low contrast.
FE was brillaint! Slap a wide to mid prime on the Eos3 and its a great camera. | ||
| |||
| Pro | Great AF especially excells on Servo tracking. Small AF points allow for precise focusing in details. Tough body despite of many lamenting about "platic" construction. Built to withstand a pro abuse. Robust interface, lots of technology, great and reliable ETTL exposure once coupled to 550EX (amazing fill-flash exposure precision is a killer).
A really fast machine (not that I need 4.5 fps, not to speak about 6-7 available with the booster). EF lens lineup (especially the L series lenses) is the most valuable feature for Canon and EOS-3 is built to take teh advantage of fast lenses. Usage of the bdy with 28-70/2.8L and 70-200/2.8L is a joy. Wide AF area (comparative to other brands), though ideally would be spread all over the finder. | ||
| Contra | Battery check is combersome, should be continuously exhibited on top LCD. Wonder why nobody complained about the absense of built-in eyepiece shutter as implemented in 1V. Would be very sueful for night long exposures.
ECF isn't very reliable inspite of numerous calibrations, though I'm glasses wearer. Even though is works in about 70% for me, cannot trust one. Wonder why Canon ommited the AF assit light. Thanks to God I have 550EX for that... The absense of PB-E2-like vertical grip that woudl be mainly aimed for vertical convenience is really annoying. Portraiture and people-related photography is 70% (if not more) of my stuff, so shoot vertically very often. To get the vertical controls one must purchase the grip mentioned even though I have no requirement for sport-related fast shooting. I would gladly grab the grip that would be powered by similar CR5 cell like the body or 4xAA (4xNiHMs), but would be forced to use 8 batteries instead - adds up a considerable weight that is not for my advantage. | ||
| Thoughts | Well, having said all in Contras, nevertheless like the body. I consider one as a professional tool made to deliver in most tough conditions.
Perhaps would be considering to trade up for 1V HS (if will not make up my mind for PB-E2 purchase for my EOS-3) just to get the viewfinder shutter, PC link. Heard rumors the 1V has somewhat improved AF and metering algorithms (arguable though). | ||
| |||
| Pro | Very good AF and reliable lightmeter. Clear and legible viewfinder information. Easy to handle. Perfectly fits user`s hand. | ||
| Contra | I think that the viewfinder of this range SLR camera should cover 100% of frame area as it is in EOS 1V. As it is stated by Canon EOS 3 is PRO tool. | ||
| Thoughts | Very satisfactory piece of equipment. | ||
| |||
| Pro | A technical tour-de-force. Fine handling and good weatherproofing. Not too heavy, handles even better with PB-E2. AF is just superb, and AF to F8 is very helpfull when teleconvertors are needed. Eye control makes changing focal point on a tripod effortless. | ||
| Contra | Some people may find the polycarbonate outer coating off-putting - but don't, they make riot shields out of it! Many features are overkill, 45point AF is only ever used when using eye-control. This, in turn, I generall only use when camera is locked on tripod. Rest of time I have only the central focusing point active, prefering to focus and re-compose. It also eats 2CR5 batteries at an alarming rate. Matrix metering tries to be a little too clever at times too. Used 95% of time in spot. | ||
| Thoughts | I've used many cameras, including the 1v, but I've never felt compelled to change. Two years down the line and me and this camera are made for each other. Intuitive and ergonomic. Best option at price bar none. | ||
| |||
| Pro | Really solid structure ( look below my experience ) | ||
| Contra | Quite big (especially with my EF 4/70-200 L USM + 550 speedlight) , looks too impressive when taking photos of small chlidren (they are a bit of afraid of it ) | ||
| Thoughts | I accidentally dropped my EOS 3 to the concrete from my camera bag. Guess what , there is not even scratches on the body! If anybody is telling that EOS 3 is made from "plastic", the one should note that the "plastic" material is polycarbonate composite, the similar material used for bullet proof windows. The inner structure ( not visible ) material is steel alloy. After my accident I am not afraid to suggest EOS 3 for "hard" use also. | ||
| |||
| Pro | a big, bright, 97% viewfinder. many pro feature: electroniacally controled diaphragm (fewer mechanical malfunctions), electronically controled mirror lock up that snaps back to it's postion after the shutter has been realesed. 2.3% accurate spot meter. state of the art AF system (perhaps the best around!). 4.5 frames per second. well constructed. feels great. flexible costum functions. | ||
| Contra | poor flash system that is biasd by the subject's reflectency.
VERY loud mirror slap and winding. (sounds like a scud missle just fell 10 feet behind you'r back!). other small issues that prevent it from being a top camera: - no battery indicator: have to push a button to check battery. -97% viewfinder- could have been 100%. -AF point selection is somewhat cumbersome. | ||
| Thoughts | it's loudness might be a problem for wildlife, street, photojournalism and wedding photography, but I hear the noise is reduced with a PB-E2. has alot of the 1V's pro features. at twice the price of an ELAN7 and half the price of a 1V, it's a great buy! very reccomended. | ||
| |||
| Pro | Without being then a professional to have for several years a Eos 50 E, I have learned how to love to this machine. Alone that is quick, overwhelming, light and with the whole technology of Canon... if you mount him a 550 EX it flies. | ||
| Contra | The lateral door, CF mirror and the button for battery load. | ||
| Thoughts | The best of Canon. | ||
| |||
| Pro | Quiet and instant fast AF system when used with USM lenses, excellent metering system, reliable construction, very good layout for switches and knobs | ||
| Contra | fairly heavy and bulky, exterior design of lenses for my taste a bit too colourful | ||
| Thoughts | JJ is American. They don't need to give reasons. For them the world is always black n white, good or bad, for or against. That's how they see the world and everything. | ||
| |||
| Pro | Solid, rugged construction. Excellent fast AF and tracking. Excellent metering. Very bright viewfinder. | ||
| Contra | With PB-E2 it is very heavy but feels very very solid. Mirror noise is not soft. Film wind makes whining noise unless use PB-E2. | ||
| Thoughts | To Mr. JJ who posteed earlier, could youplease tell us why it is unreliable? Any examples? I have been abusing my EOS-3 since 1999 in Brasil, Argentina, Uruguay and Namibia/Kenya and it is still going strong without any trouble. Only problem is my 50/1.8-II lens died in Kenya bcos of sand. | ||
| |||
| Pro | fast&accurate auto focus, multi-spot metering mode, flash system and more. | ||
| Contra | very lound when firing | ||
| Thoughts | i will trade it as soon as canon releases a new body which has the same features&built-quality but quieter. i don't undestand why canon is marketting a body with (very) lound shutter release. it's really oposite to the idea of the usm lenses which are very silent when focusing. other than this, the eos3 is a great 35mm camera. i don't feel it's necessary to pay extra money to get an eos 1v (which is a very quiet camera). | ||
| |||
| Pro | Fast shutter response time, excellent AF tracking, reliable metering, sturdy and solid, great flash system, lovely bright viewfinder. | ||
| Contra | Mirror slap is noisy compared to the EOS-1V, EOS-5 and EOS-30. Without the power drive booster PB-E3, the wind/rewind noise is irritating. With the booster it feels like a tank. With the PB-E2 and 8 AA's it is quite heavy. ECF is a pain in the ass. | ||
| Thoughts | I upgraded to the EOS-3 after using the EOS-50E for 3 yrs. I've had the 3 since 1999 and don't think I'll "upgrade" any more, since this baby meets all my needs (use with long lenses, great AF tracking, etc). This is a high quality pro body which I'd not hesitate to recommend to any serious amateur or pro. | ||
| |||
| Pro | * Multi-spot metering * Dedicated DOF preview button. * 45-point Area AF * 21-zone Evaluative Metering * High-Speed Eye Controlled Focus. * Sophisticated E-TTL flash exposure system with optional EX-series Speedlites, including wireless flash with Speedlite 550EX, 420EX and Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2. * Die-hard construction, tropicalization and water sealed like EOS 1(x). * Better information in-finder. | ||
| Contra | * You actively have to push a button to check the batteries. *Shooting with the mirrow up is all too complicated. | ||
| Thoughts | Few days ago I upgraded my Eos A2 and EOS 500 for EOS 3 and EOS ELAN IIe. I have a 550EX and a 420EX working together via E-TTL! I'm very happy with my 100 f/2.8 macro USM, 20-35L f/2.8 AFD, 28-70L and 70-200L f/2.8 USM. I improve my flash capabilities with EOS 3 and my job became easier. | ||
| |||
| Pro | nice feel in hands, great lens system, great AF,priced right for a pro camera | ||
| Contra | don't like side door, don't like IS taking up so much battery power | ||
| Thoughts | Traded my Pentax system about 10 months ago for this Canon wonder! Formerly using Pz-1p and a barrage full of Pentax glass. Canon cost more and has way less features than Pentax. Pentax Hyper manual mode with IF button blows away Canon or any other manufacturer in speed of operation. Having said that the reasons I switched to Canon are many. 1st I like being able to manually select my spot metering points and EOS3 allows 11 different zones to be adjusted. 2nd Probably the single greatest development in camera and lens design in the past 5 years is Canon's IS system. 95% of my photos are on tripod because I occasionally get some pics published. However I can now attempt some photos without tripod,not nature or macro, and get acceptable results thanks to IS. Don't be fooled into thinking IS will be a substitute for a tripod. A tripod is still the only accessory available that will allow the photographer to maximize the lens optical potential. 3rd The 45 point AF zone is truly amazing. The only way Canon can improve upon it would be to spread the focusing points across a broader range. 4 I like the accessories that Canon offers in the way of grips. I should have opted for a more expensive one. I've got the least expensive one that uses 1 CR2 or 4 aa"s. 5 Canon is the only company that has a tilt shift 24mm wide angle. Absolutely incredible for landscapes. However the Pentax 24mm F2 FA* lens was every bit as sharp as Canon's lens. Another feature that I only discovered recently is that during long time exposures Canon claims virtually no drain on batteries. I only wish that held true while using IS. I can't seem to get more than 10 rolls Provia 100F through the thing. 5 Canon is sealed better when using outdoors in the elements. It looks like Pentax finally resolved PZ-1p's biggest shortcoming with MZ-S. 6 Canon has broader range of AF lenses than Pentax and Canon also supports their system of AF lenses with AF teleconverters and AF extension tubes. Pentax makes some killer ED optics but they never developed AF teleconverters or AF extension tubes. | ||
| |||
| Pro | Light, but solid (w/o PB-E2), bright & contrasy focussing screen, excellent controls layout, PB-E2 is a joy to use & overall feels good in hand. Plenty of CF to make this YOUR camera! | ||
| Contra | Found the focussing to be a tad slow compared to the EOS 1n, ECF not as reliable as EOS 5/50E (even though limited to 11), mirror flap is noisy! | ||
| Thoughts | I had mine for nearly 1.5 years now and initially, was dissapointed with shots taken with the 550EX flash (tendency to u/expose inconsistently). At first I thought it was because I failed to understand & utilize the complex E-TTL metering system but then again, my shots taken with my EOS 5 & 550EZ were consistent & properly exposed. Shots w/o flash were perfect! After 8 months of flashless photography, I decided to send it Canon for a check-up, and guess what, there was a fault with the metering system when used with flash! It was adjusted and now performed excellently. I gave up on the ECF after hundreds of calibration as it just refused to focus where i looked on many occassion. It works about 70% of the time though. Focussing was slower compared to the EOS 1n and on certain objects where the EOS 1n had no problem locking on, the EOS 3 struggled! Other than those mentioned, the EOS 3 is a joy & pleasure to use, but I would still prefer the EOS 1n over it. | ||
| |||
| Pro | AF is extremely fast. Nice ergonomics. Bright viewfinder. Accurate meter. | ||
| Contra | Feels not overly solid but it is a brick (that is sealed as good as the EOS 1n, BTW). AF sensor control is not really perfect. | ||
| Thoughts | Unless you need the extra 3 fps there's no point to go for an EOS 1v. | ||
| |||
| Pro | - Feels well in my hand, especially with Pb-E2 for vertical shoots. - Very simple to use. - Accurate meter (if you know how to use it) - huge lineup of high quality lenses | ||
| Contra | - cable release can be lost easily. - heavy - side door flips open easily. | ||
| Thoughts | Team up with 550EX flash, this baby is hard to beat. For those who complains the inaccuracy of the meter, please (I mean, PLEASE), read the manual and make sure you understand how the meter works with AF. I shoot both slides and prints, and I don't have any problems with the meter. For those criticize the plastic body, you could definitely get a all metal body with all the feature, but you would have a hard time picking it up..... Plastic or metal is not really a main issue, as long as the camera is strong and durable, and EOS 3 is durable and well sealed against dust and water. Highly recommended!!! | ||
| |||
| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | I have this camera with the PB_E2 booster. The meter is excellent. I have the 550EX flash and use the high speed sync all the time. With the booster it is heavy, but I have large hands and that is one of the reasons I got it. The other reason is I shoot vertically 99% of the time and the booster has shutter button, AE lock, FE lock, Main dial and focusing point selector on the vertical grip. I dont use the eye focus. It works well if you calibrate it several times and look at the same point each time. It is a beautiful camera that has so many features you continually learn more about it the more you use it. I bought an Elan 7 as a back up camera. I wish I would have waited and saved and bought another EOS 3. You can find it in New York ads for $800-900. | ||
| |||
| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | This is a good, solid camera that is very easy to handle with the booster/vertical handle. More solid than the EOS-5 I used before... I'm getting the pleasant heavy feeling of my backup EOS-650 ;-) The body I have seems to underexpose by 2/3 stops (I've verified that), but frankly, I don't care that much. It is consistent so I can compensate, but my slides on Kodak E100S turn out just beautifully without any jive. | ||
| |||
| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | Definitely a pro level SLR. Never have any exposure problem. Feels very nice on my hands. I definitely recommend it. Right, 1v is better, but you need to pay $800 more. | ||
| |||
| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | I just traded in my EOS 3 toward a EOS 1V. I still think the EOS 3 is a great camera. However, I definitely want the 1V's capability to link to my computer. Of course, I gave up the eye control. However, the eye control on my EOS 3 did not work all the time for me. I will say it worked about 75% of time for me. Other than that, the EOS 3 is not that much different from the EOS 1V. For example, the 1/200 flash sync time is just a tad slower than the 1/250, and with the PF flash of newer EX flashes the difference is practically nill. | ||
| |||
| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | Started with an Elan+II, decided to UPGRADE to the 3 for a photo shoot. First time out was a disaster. EXPOSURE was WAY OFF by 2 full stops. Did get excellent responce from Canon. Unit was returned to me in about a week. Now it is a great tool!. Was a 20+ years Minolta user. Now sold on the EOS. Also, you can't beat the this camera when couples with a IS lens. | ||
| |||
| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | Great camera and built very solid. Very short black out time when pressing the shutter release. Exposure is very accurate even at the difficult light condition. However, I hate to see its price went down so much so fast since the release of the new EOS 1V. | ||
| |||
| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | I have a sport photography biz and the first couple of shoots with my new three were great! The next few were fantastic and the last few blew me away! Only the earlier models underexposed (first 200 off the line) and Canon fixes the prob for free. As for the eye focus the more you callibrate it the more accurate it becomes. If you shoot sports I can't imagine wanting another camera!It smokes the 1N and if the 1V dosn't have this amazing eye control I wouldn't even consider it.I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| |||
| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | In general, very satidifed with the EOS-3. Only four problems:
(1) Focusing screen was off centered, corrected. (2) Exposure slightly off, corrected with manually entered bias. (3) Eye Focus point selection accuracy poor. (4) Eye focus not possible with anti-fog eye piece. | ||