Canon EOS 50(e) / Elan II(e)
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| Pro | 1) Eye control: a Gem of Canon.
2) Metering system: 3 choice. 3) very comfortable with Bp-50. 4) solid impression. 5) infrared auxiliary light. | ||
| Contra | 1) Only 3 af points.
2) Some plastic element. | ||
| Thoughts | The best Canon Srl on quality/price! i think is better than Eos 30 for the infrared light. | ||
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| Pro | Great features for the money, EZ to set functions, Pop-Up flash, near IF AF assist light, Eye-Control-AF, RC-1 Wireless remote plus RS-60E3 option, MLU and leader out options, D-O-F preview, Quiet and fast film advance, Good low light AF, BP-50 option, E-TTL flash, Quick control dial, Flash Comp. & 2nd sync. options, true DEP Mode.
Does not have the shutter problems of some early EOS models. My Elan IIe QD was one of the last made, I love it and still keep it. Note: I have never had a problem using AA's with the BP-50. | ||
| Contra | Looks a bit "old" now - "block like" with silver trim. Lacks dedicated D-O-F button, optional focus screens, PC output, zoom flash,
Some early models had battery problems, newer models have a metal "bump" on the battery door that solved this problem. I have never had a battery problem or correct exposure, but I mostly use B&W film and the BP-50 with this camera. | ||
| Thoughts | This could be the "Best Buy" for someone who is looking for a used camera body. For someone just starting out it is much better than MOST Rebel bodies and can be found for a good price. Pair it with the 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 USM, 100-300mm f4-5.6 USM, 50mm f1.8, 380EX and you have a quality system you can learn and grow with. | ||
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| Pro | - quite rugged
- good features - eye-contol very useful - good access to camera functions - economical | ||
| Contra | - special batteries (no problem with BP-50)
- 90/92% viewfinder range: why not 100%??? | ||
| Thoughts | I upgraded from a Canon FD system (AE-1) and fell in love with the EOS 50e the first time I held it in my hands. It feels quite rugged (despite the plastic parts, which are still of good quality) and due to its weight compared to the base line cameras it has an excellent balance (especially with the BP-50 and heavy weight lenses). The operation is fairly simple and intuitive, only the custom functions have to be looked up from time to time. With the 50e the DOF preview is simple when in eye-control mode.
Last but not least: it looks good, only the color combination with the white L-lenses is strange... | ||
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| Pro | light weight. af assist beam is much better than that flashing strobe crap on my rebel 2000 and the newer (not necessarily better) elan 7. leader-out rewind (just don't forget which frame number you are on or you just might wind up with some blank frames or some trippy double exposures.) flash compensation. compatible with e-ttl. quiet operation. | ||
| Contra | no spot meter. outer focusing points should be further from center (doesn't canon know about the rule of thirds?) camera automatically adjust flash level depending on the amount of light. this means that the user has no input into how much fill flash will be used. on higher end canons this can be shut off in the custom function menu. flash compensation can remedy this to some extent but it takes a lot of trial and error to learn how to get the amount of fill flash that the photographer would like. | ||
| Thoughts | i bought this to replace my rebel 2000 which had no custom functions. also the rebel had that stupid disco strobe thing to assist in low light. i have not been dissapointed by this camera. while there is the aforementioned fill flash thing, i am learning how to get more control with practice. actually e-ttl works great and seems to give exactly the right amount of fill flash in bright sunlight. just choose the focusin point closest to the center of interest and the e-ttl does the rest. the lack of a spotmeter is really not that big of a deal unless you are using a wide lens and can't get close to get a reading. and the camera has never given me a mechanical problem. not electrical or otherwise. | ||
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| Pro | All controls selectable using analog switch dials, instead of it all being on an LCD display like the EOS 1. This makes the camera easier for occasional use--the important operating modes aren't buried in menus. The thumbwheel started with the Elan and is a wonderful feature for the manual exposure photographer who wants to control shutter speed and aperture with one hand. Shutter release exceptionally smooth. Battery life adequate (but I don't use the nose flash). IR focus assist is much nicer than white-light focus assist on similarly price competitors. Camera is exceptionally light (the body, four lenses, 550 EX flash, bag, and film stayed under Air New Zealand's 11 kg carry-on weight limit--my old F-1 with motor and normal lens would have exceeded that by itself). The evaluative metering is excellent, even with only three focus points. Viewfinder information is excellent. | ||
| Contra | Batteries aren't the most common type and not available everywhere. Some important features (i.e. DOF preview) are too deeply buried in custom functions. The eye-controlled focus does not work reliably through my eyeglasses, especially in vertical orientation. | ||
| Thoughts | The camera is plastic, but that makes it light, and I have nothing against plastic. The wear points are metal. The overall value is exceptional, being cheaper than a well-used T-90 (which, admittedly, is a more rugged camera--but my T-90 is dead, so it wasn't THAT rugged). | ||
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| Pro | Perfect layout. Better AF performance than 7E. CMOS better than 7E. 7E made cheaper containing Rebel CMOS. All the right functions for an advanced amateur if you want to do more than point and shoot. Excellent value for money. Very easy to use. Quiet operation and reliable metering. | ||
| Contra | Pity about the battery problem but I know only to use Sanyo cells. DEP and AE combined, why? It's made of plastic but you get what you pay for. If you want better, pay more. Spot metering would have rounded this camera of really well! | ||
| Thoughts | I sold my Rebel G and bought this camera for Can$ 375 new. Obvious move isn't it. I've not been dissapointed thus far. Whenever my pictures fail, it's because I'm learning how to work with the standard limitations of grey light metering. My FM2 was my favourite camera but this one provides an excellent compromise for the advanced amateur. | ||
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| Pro | I upgraded from my FD system about 6 years ago, buying the 50E. Reasons were: FD system dead, interested in a good AF camera. After a careful look around I decided to buy the 50E, this was a very good decission so far. Eye Control works perfectly. AF is fast, Metering is reliable. Best of all: Ergonomics are close to perfect. Camera did not let me down up to now. | ||
| Contra | There is a big (BIG!!) quality difference between the FD Cameras (particullary EF and FTb) and this one. It feels like plastic and, well it is plastic. Allthough this did not cause a problem so far, I am sometimes afraid to use it, say during a bike tour. In such cases I still use my FD system. Other than that: Missing a PC sync, would love to have a focussing screen with a grid. | ||
| Thoughts | Worth the money! Best camera in terms of ergonomics. | ||
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| Pro | a pretty good and reliable camera. No major problems and been using it with a 28-105 USM and 75-300 IS purchased recently. It helps a great deal in my course of of work with a sports magazine. handling - with BP -is good. It feels good in your hands. use it with a 540EZ, in sports and landscape or other human interest activities and no major complaints on the end results. | ||
| Contra | problems with focussing. The bosy is a bit plasticy though. | ||
| Thoughts | Reliable and definitely a real bargain for an amateur. | ||
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| Pro | a pretty good and reliable camera. No major problems and been using it with a 28-105 USM and 75-300 IS purchased recently. It helps a great deal in my course of of work with a sports magazine. handling - with BP -is good. It feels good in your hands. use it with a 540EZ, in sports and landscape or other human interest activities and no major complaints on the end results. | ||
| Contra | problems with focussing. The bosy is a bit plasticy though. | ||
| Thoughts | Reliable and definitely a real bargain for an amateur. | ||
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| Pro | IR AF Assist light
Well layed out controls DOF preview button ( which I find quite easy to use) Mirror lock up 2.5 fps Great feel with BP 50 Great fun to use AF sensors light up when focus confirmed the ability to turn off beep of AF | ||
| Contra | grey/black (JMHO)
3 AF sensors (only) | ||
| Thoughts | I have the Elan II. This is a great camera. I upgraded from a Rebel G and had no problems becoming familiar with the layout. I recommend this camera to any person serious about photography, you will grow into it quickly.
I have just bought the Elan 7E and am going to use the Elan II as a back up...maybe the 7E as a backup, we will see. | ||
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| Pro | Good metering and AF.
Bright viewfinder with enough informations. Flash exp. compensation. No vibrations. | ||
| Contra | Caotic connections between AF and metering sensors.
No connection for external flashes. DOF preview very very very very complicated to use. No interchangeable screens. Viewfinder covers just 92% Flash sync. (1/125) could have been faster. | ||
| Thoughts | Sometimes the camera turns off with the battery symbol blinking and turns on again if you left it off for a while. This problem is frequent most of all with old lenses (pre USM).
Lack of some useful custom functions and presence of a lot of unusefull custom functions. Nice handling and ergonomy, remembering manual cameras. | ||
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| Pro | good AF speed, AF aux light is a major plus, very solid build, nice metering | ||
| Contra | battery runs out quite quickly and I suspect which is the AF assist light that takes out most. CF setting can be difficult to set unless you carry the chart or menu, flash on aperture priority can be difficult to use (either you op for the 1/125 shutter or use the fill-in flash that can be very difficult to use on low light or small aperture, such as set at f8 with the build-in flash) | ||
| Thoughts | not a bad camera, got all the functions but still not a lot better than a basic 500/300 except having a metal lens mount. | ||
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| Pro | Very reliable autofocus and lightmetering. The ergonomics are great. Used it for four years and it never has let me down. Even the dust of the Sahara desert hardly gave me any problems. | ||
| Contra | No spot meter. Sometimes the camera died on me with the battery symbol blinking. Turning the camera off and on solved the problem temporary. | ||
| Thoughts | It is a great camera! Buy it with the BP-50 vertical grip. I briefly tried the 30 but I didn't like it. I found it too small. It didn't fit in my hands like the 50. I have upgraded to an EOS-3 but I keep the 50 as a backup. | ||
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| Pro | Fast and accurate AF, works well in low light conditions. Especially with my 100/2.0. Superb ergonomics. Lightweight, not too small and well balanced | ||
| Contra | Doesn't feel solid everywhere, backcover feels tacky. Eye control sometimes difficult and slow (because I wear glasses?)DOF-preview even worse, hardly usable. | ||
| Thoughts | Very versatile. This camera has everything I need (except spotmetering of course). I can configure everything the way I want or simply put it on full-auto. The built-in flash is actually better than I expected, very usefull as fill-in flash for bad illuminated stage photography. | ||
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| Pro | Good AF, lovely accurate metering, beautiful layout of controls - I can operate it blindfolded, and I rarely take my eye off the viewfinder to change a setting, ergonomic, silent operation, quite solid construction and metal lens mount. | ||
| Contra | Viewfinder blackout is a bit long, no spot meter, could be less plasticky. | ||
| Thoughts | This is one of the most beautiful EOS cameras I've used. It is a joy to use, and incredibly easy to operate even without a manual. | ||
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| Pro | * DOF preview * MLU prefire * E-TTL with high speed flash sync(via pulses, up to 1/4000th) * 2nd curtain sync. * Silent work (more than EOS3) * Excellent price/performance ratio. * Partial metering linked to each AF sensors * ECF jobs great!! * Very good Handling with grip BP 50 * CF02: Film leader position after rewind (in or out) | ||
| Contra | * AE lock and DOFP are in the same buttom. * Only 3 AF sensors but work better than EOS A2e | ||
| Thoughts | I do love this camera!! I often use my ELAN IIe with 100 macro f/2.8 USM and ML-3 Ring flash for dental macro photo with fantastic results. I often MF and the scene snaps in and out of focus sharply and quickly allowing for easy MF operation. The viewfinder displays an adequate amount of information; is very clear for shoot mouth, better than for example, Yashica DENTAL EYE(!!!) Even in MF the ECF help me to find the better foccusing with the beep and luminous square sensor choosed. I have a EOS 3 and 20-35 f/2.8L AFD, 28-70 and 70-200 f/2.8L USM with speedlite 550EX and 420EX. Recently I made a photojornalism job with EOS 3 plus 70-200L and 550EX (amazing combo)and EOS 50e plus 20-35L and 420EX (great combo). The 50e show me how it is a fantastic tool for the price. Shooting fantastic landscapes, portraits and overall takes of the event with E-TTL and FP flash, were a bless to me. I don't regret each pound... This is a great camera for the money. | ||
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| Pro | More than adequate AF performance, especially with USM lenses. Wiht the 50mmf1.4, excellent photo platform. Partial area metering is like the Canon MF cameras of yore. Like the FTb and F-1. 6zone metering works well. Like all EOS cameras does greens especially well. Excellent AF aid light, now missing on the Elan7. | ||
| Contra | A bit plasticy. Should have a narrow angle meter and seperate stop down button. Not imnportant..just a nit to pick. | ||
| Thoughts | Reminds me of a modern equivalent of the MF camera, FTb. Even down to the partial area metering. As good as Nikon or anyone elses' build quality at this price point. The DEP mode works well since all modern DOF scales are no longer adequate on AF lenses. Have had the camera almost 4 years. No problems to speak of. | ||
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| Pro | Reasonably fast and accurate AF, nice bright viewfinder and info readout, good value, light-ish, takes nice sharp pics, easy to use Aperature- and Shutter-priority modes... | ||
| Contra | ...once you figure out what all the wheels, dials and buttons actually do! [You really need to read the manual before using the camera properly]. Eye control doesn't seem to work. No DOF Preview (that I can tell - DEP AE?) is a bit annoying, as is loose battery spring. Made of plastic, and feels like it - wouldn't want to treat it rough like a Nikon. | ||
| Thoughts | Have been borrowing a friend's EOS50 and 28-80mm/70-300mm lenses while my Nikon FM gets serviced. They just use the programmed modes and get quite good photos - they're point-and-shoot users. Once I figured out how to use Aperature-priority and exposure compensation correctly it works quite fine, producing sharp, well-exposed images. Hardly the best all-round camera, or camera for beginners/amateurs looking to learning the basics, but a fine camera for those looking for a quality point-and-shoot SLR. | ||
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| Pro | I use this as a b&w body. Coupled with a decent 50mm prime, this is great. I couldn't live without ECF. Honestly i get 100% and i wear glasses. You just have to bear with it for a few rolls while it learns. This body is great value now that the superlative 7e has superseded it and knocked its price down. I love the dials and looks of this camera. AF assist light is great and i miss it on my EOS3. Speedlite compatability makes this very competent when it comes to flash applications. | ||
| Contra | Get rid of the kit lens if you got it. The 28-80 USM is nasty when compared to a decent 50mm -try to find the Mk1 50 f1.8. It is cheap and top-notch quality and I find the focusing perfectly fast enough. | ||
| Thoughts | I love this camera. It is inferior to the new 7e but if you can find this body at the right price, I think you're buying a classic camera that is great value. | ||
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| Pro | Easy to use camera. All the features you need. Quite sturdy when compared e.g. to an F80. Superb handling except the cryptic setting of the custom function. | ||
| Contra | Just partial metering. Vertical grip has no mirrored control dial. | ||
| Thoughts | Almost a no-brainer. Excellent price/performance ratio. | ||
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| Pro | The focusing seems to work very well with USM lens. | ||
| Contra | The build-in flash doesn't work well outside full auto mode, can't put in AV mode and get correct exposure | ||
| Thoughts | A nice camera but the build-in flash has limited function | ||
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| Pro | A fully feature loaded SLR with nice handling. Quite sturdy. Offers everything you really need. | ||
| Contra | No command dial on vertical grip. Just partial but no spot metering. AF could be more precise in low light conditions. ECF is still a gimmick. | ||
| Thoughts | A near perfect amateur body. The new EOS 30 seems to be a bit overpriced compared to this one. | ||
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| Pro | I've owned this camera for only 3 months, but I've been extremely impressed. | ||
| Contra | My only problem is that the autofocus doesn't seem anywhere near as good as on my Rebel!!! I assume this is due to increased viewfinder brightness in the Rebel. For instance with a Tokina 400mm f/5.6 and a Kenko 1.5 tele-extender it is possible to autofocus (notice at f/8!) by using the outer focus points (the middle will not work with 1.5x) on the Rebel under any lighting conditions! My ElanIIE can do the same, but only in highly contrasting situations. Anyway, not major problem and not enough of a drawback not to purchase the ElanII or ElanIIE. I would also like to see a separate dof preview button; constantly switching CF-5(?) gets annoying. | ||
| Thoughts | I upgraded from the Canon Rebel G, because the ElanII series has flash exposure compensation and dof (among other things). | ||
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| Pro | Handling is superb. The dials are craftedly well-placed. Moreover, it is so easy to understand the system due to its excellent design layout. Performance-wise, well I think it can do whatever a high-end camera could do. | ||
| Contra | The Eye-control system is such a cute novelty to the point it is sometimes useless. | ||
| Thoughts | This camera is an all around image making machine at a fairly reasonable price. Its got classic looks but its loaded with useful technology. Overall, you can make this your "pet camera". Be nice to it. | ||
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| Pro | To me it's a best amateur camera out there. | ||
| Contra | I use this camera for almost 3 years, had problem with intermittent power supply (fixed now). I only wish if it had the real spot metering and better optional vertical grip (with control wheel and shutter release button). | ||
| Thoughts | I love this machine. Don't see any reason to upgrade, it fits ideally to my needs. | ||
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| Pro | overall, a very functional camera for nearly all uses | ||
| Contra | I have an earlier IIE that has an electrical problem in the battery area and perhaps, elsewhere. Shimming the battery doesn't help and neither does the bp50. Intermittently, power is lost but is restored by tapping the camera near the display. On occasion, when the power is restored the flash will fire even when closed. A newer II seems to be having a different problem. Power is lost after the exposure. So far this happens very infrequently. Also, on the earlier camera the metering symbols have wiped off. There is also about 1/2 stop difference in exposure with the 540 ez flash between the two cameras. Shutter/mirror is rather noisy. | ||
| Thoughts | quality control could be improved. | ||
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| Pro | It is a very wonderful camera to operate. | ||
| Contra | Only problem is we can't find the part we need, command dial, close to us. We are being told we need to change the entire top plate. Which is fine, if we could only find one. | ||
| Thoughts | Other than not being able to get the part we need, this is bys far the most impressive cmaera we've owned. | ||
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| Pro | Fast reliable autofocus, perfect eye-control, FEL with EX flash units, "bottomless" batteries in BP-50 - I have no spoilt frames anymore. | ||
| Contra | no spot metering (takes some time to learn to get some use of Canon's "partial" meterings), no AF points above and below the central one, VERY expensive accesories. I always set film speed 1/3 lower than it is, so little darkening (maybe in my camera only?) is not a problem. | ||
| Thoughts | I've bought EOS 50e after playing with EOS 300 for 8 months, and for now I'm not sorry that I had no patience to wait for future EOS 30 when it's released. | ||
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| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | I don't have much complaints about the camera, except that the labels on the top plate have all disappeared by now, which can be nice cos you make sure that no one else will be able to use it... | ||
| Thoughts | I've had this toy for about 3 years and I surely had a lot of fun. Equipped with BP-50 battery pack and a 20-35mm with the lens hood makes people think that I am a pro (Gee, you should see them behaving differently when I snap them!).If Canon ever plans to replace this camera, they will have to include a separate depth of field preview button, a PC socket, a better flash system (380EX disappoints me really), and a more accessible flash compensation button to convince me that I have to change my body. Nuff said. | ||
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| Pro | For me, buying a Canon flashgun (430EZ) has transformed my photography....I only wish that the foreign trips I've had in the past could be re-run with the camera gear I have now! | ||
| Contra | I have few complaints about it except the price of Canon accessories - does a 60 cm flash cable really need to cost 40 UK pounds? And when you need to add the two adapters to make it useful at all it comes to about 120 pounds just to use a second flash gun! I would like to see the flash socket built into both the camera and the flashguns instead. I would also like to see true spot metering on the 50E, like a lot of other people I suspect. | ||
| Thoughts | Upgraded from an AE1, which I used for 15 years, to a EOS500, then to a 50E after 18 months. The 500 was a bit limited on metering and a bit too plasticy for a long term camera I thought, when I traded it in the lens mounting had a small crack and I'm not a rough handler with lots of lens changes per session either. The 50E is a beautiful piece of kit though. | ||
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| Pro | In the combination with EOS 28-105 (Tamron 28-105) and SpeedLite 380 EX this is A BEST all around camera (Nikon camp probably will tear me apart). With a EOS 28-70L and EOS 70-210L this is a best shooting instrument for its price. Eye control is nice, but I did not use it much. Rigid, relatively inexpensive (saves money for the good lens), packed with the functions, this is a real tool for the beginner, amateur, and, I dare to say that, for the professional. | ||
| Contra | After I fixed the problem with a battery compartment (piece of paper on the lid), camera worked beautefully. | ||
| Thoughts | I owned this camera for two years. P.S. I wish to buy a EOS 1, if I would have that much of money. Maybe a Nikon F100, but it is a tough decision (i need a fast autofocus and good handling). So, my current system is built around EOS 5. | ||
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| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | The silver metal is only a thin aluminium veneer which scratches easily. The battery compartment has a flexy bit of plastic joining it to the camera instead of a real hinge. The mouldings show sign of shrinking when they cooled. I have had 3. The first intermittently locked up. The camera shop exchanged it after much aggro with Canon, Switzerland. The second one would intermittently stop rewinding. I tried to live with it but lost some frames during a concert. Again a new camera from Canon Switzerland. This one leaked light through in the bottom left hand corner, again intermittently. By then the guarantee had run out, so I had to sell it back to the shop as a used camera and got 1/3 of its original value. I now own an EOS 3. A colleague of mine bought an EOS 50e. Went to America on holiday and slso had problems. | ||
| Thoughts | - | ||
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| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | Bought new, when they first came out, have had intermittent problems with the battery contacts failing. An unpredictable piece of equipment is not my idea of fun. | ||
| Thoughts | - | ||
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| Pro | Rebel or Elan II ? I prefered to buy the EII, because of the metal mount ring, the DEP preview and the 2 wheels to independently control aperture and speed. Nice job, Canon. | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | - | ||
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| Pro | The most feature packed camera in this price range and more.Very easy to use and a joy to handle. I just bought a Tamron 28-105 f2.8 lens and cannot wait to see the results. For a beginner as well as an advanced amateur, this camera is impossible to beat. | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | - | ||
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| Pro | It would be nice to have an EOS 3 to impress my friends, but the 50 does everything I - and many professionals - need. | ||
| Contra | The only features I would like would be a real pc connection and a true spotmeter. | ||
| Thoughts | I use my EOS 50 e for fashion and portraiture, including some studio work. | ||
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| Pro | - | ||
| Contra | No Background LCD Light. No Spot metering. Custom functions are a disaster! Why not implemented as in the T90? (Buttons!!!) Battery: I have the battery pack for the EOS 50. Changing the batteries takes to long: turn a wheel, put off the hole pack, open the cover, change batteries, and the same procedure in reverse order. And now look at the T90... (only one lever and you have the batteries in your hand) EOS 50 rewinds the film at its labeled number of pictures, although there is space for one or two extra. Can I turn off this? Why I moved to EOS 50? T90 has no AF. | ||
| Thoughts | I want back my Canon T90..... The EOS 50 is a good camera but I am missings some basic features from my T90 | ||
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| Pro | I do alot of available light photography and the Elan lets me have the flexibility I need. Eye control focus is a plus. | ||
| Contra | Wish the spot metering was smaller. | ||
| Thoughts | Moved up from a Rebel to the IIE. Much more flexible than the latter. For my level this was a great investment. | ||
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| Pro | I have two lenses The 28-105mm and a Tamron 28-200mm. All I have to say is This is a great camera and for someone like me who has moved up from beginner to amateur(ha), I guess it was a good call. | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | The last camera I owned was a Canon T70. I thought it was time to upgrade to an AF so I purchased the ElanIIe. | ||
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| Pro | For its low price, its sturdy robust construction is admirable. Eye controlled autofocus is definitely a plus, though it needs to be recalibrated occasionally. Depth of field preview is a definite plus over the EOS-50. On the whole, this is a great camera. | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | My workhorse camera for most conditions. | ||
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| Pro | Have not encountered any problems with the 50E + 28-105mm USM + 380EX combo of mine. The 380EX is good enough to realize the E-TTL features of this camera but for those who intend to get more control over their flash, in addition to the E-TTL features, the 550EX would be a better choice. ECF (eye-controlled focusing) is a plus factor too. | ||
| Contra | - | ||
| Thoughts | A good choice for beginners wanting to leave some room for improvements (skills). | ||