Canon EOS Elan 7 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only) Reviews

Comments

1. Anonymous says:

   September 21, 2010 at 12:12 AM

   Review by for Canon EOS Elan 7 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
   Rating:
   I just purchased an EOS Elan 7E the last week of Feb. 2001. The Elan 7E is the Elan 7 with eye control focus added–not worth the extra $… or so since I wear bifocals and the manual says eye control can often be fooled by bifocals. Overall, I’ve been very impressed with the camera.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.
2. Anonymous says:

   September 21, 2010 at 1:05 AM

   Review by for Canon EOS Elan 7 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
   Rating:
   I recently purchased the Canon Elan 7 camera body about two months ago and am very pleased with it. I just recently started to take up photography about 5 months ago and started out with a Canon rebel 2000 Kit. Although it was a good starting camera, I quickly grew out of it and decided to get a better camera with more features. The Elan 7 was a perfect choice. I currently have a Sigma 28-300 lens with the camera and the pictures I take are excellent. The Elan 7 has all the features needed for a beginner to intermediate level photographer and I can’t imagine purchasing another camera. The camera with my sigma lens is extremely quiet, fast, and responsive. Although I still consider myself a beginner to intermediate level photographer, this camera has all the advanced features that can be used in professional photography. If you’re one of those types like me who always asks the question, ” Will I outgrow this camera? Will I want something better soon with more features? Is it worth the extra $$?”Answer: Get the Elan 7. You will not be disappointed.
3. Mike Cushing says:

   September 21, 2010 at 1:30 AM

   Review by Mike Cushing for Canon EOS Elan 7 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
   Rating:
   If you want power, control, and quality in your photographs, look no further than the Canon Elan 7. Any variation is equally as good (7E,7EQD,w/lens,etc…). This past summer I purchased a Rebel G from a pawnshop and was amazed at how nice it was, considering the low price in retail stores and the fact that it was all plastic, but I soon began to notice some of it’s shortcomings. The AF system was grossly outdated, as was the AE, the drive was loud and whiny, the shutter was too slow, and it just seemed to be made for somebody that would never really want to use it beyond family gatherings. Then I found out about the Elan 7. 7 focusing points that can pick out the finest line in the darkest room. 4 frames per second motor drive. Extremely silent if properly set up. All the latest technology in photography, outside of color metering, which is only available in super high-end professional 35mm cameras. The control layout is easy to learn within an hour or so, and nothing is out of reach if you are properly holding the camera. Acessories and lenses number in the thousands (counting third-party lenses, which are just as good, and less $$$). All metal construction, including the lens mount and the body plates. Still light enough to comfortably wear around your neck. And, well, you get the idea. I’m running out of room to go on, and there are so many things left over. So, to end it all out, from fully manual operation to fully automatic operation, the Canon Elan 7 has everything any non-professional could ever need.
4. Anonymous says:

   September 21, 2010 at 2:20 AM

   Review by for Canon EOS Elan 7 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
   Rating:
   Going from a total manual slr to the Elan 7…..I can’t rave about this camera enough. From portraits, to city scapes, ocean shots to a crowded family gathering – you’ll LOVE THIS CAMERA! The photos are sharp, clear (use fugi) and professional. I would skip the kit purchase and opt for an alternate lens like a 28-200 or 300 like a previous reviewer also did. If you’re in the market for a great camera you’ll have forever at an affordable price, you won’t be sorry if you purchase the Elan 7 (also skip the 7e it’s not worth the extra you pay for redundancy.
5. Anonymous says:

   September 21, 2010 at 2:21 AM

   Review by for Canon EOS Elan 7 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
   Rating:
   strengths: autofocus, easy manual modes, everything about it. weakness: ? overall: the controls and dials are very easy to learn. The autofocus is fast and accurate. i love being able to control EVERY single detail on the camera. its amazing experimenting with the shutter, aperture, depth of field, exposure, and flash. the structure is very nice. its very easy to use, even when its in manual mode. the pictures come out beautifully. i couldnt be happier with anything else.
6. Anonymous says:

   September 21, 2010 at 3:09 AM

   Review by for Olympus iS-20 QD Date 35mm SLR Camera
   Rating:
   As one reviewer wrote, I reluctantly gravitated toward an autofocus SLR because my eyesight (even at 30) isn’t perfect, and the one thing missing from the shots taken with my traditional Pentax SLR is “focus.” An autofocus camera fixes that problem for me. But I want some options as well, to allow for some creativity amidst all the automation. From the moment I got the IS-20 QD out of the box and put in the batteries, it has been a dream to own. I finished off the first roll within an hour, and the pictures, even from the 1-hour shop at the drugstore, were outstanding. I’m not commenting on my picture-taking; I give all credit to the Olympus. Everything from portraits to landscapes to action (it stopped a spinning backyard windmill in its tracks) came out great. I know that I am sacrificing some of the freedom that one would get with a traditional SLR, but for my money (and my experience) I waste much less film by avoiding experimentation, and I can concentrate on the subject matter of my shots. I recommend this camera for both novice photography buffs, and for those who just want a fantastic hassle-free high-end camera.
7. Dr. Leslie Brown says:

   September 21, 2010 at 3:23 AM

   Review by Dr. Leslie Brown for Olympus iS-20 QD Date 35mm SLR Camera
   Rating:
   I actually own the IS-30, which is almost identical to the IS-20, the only difference being that the IS-30 has exposure compensation (from -2EV to +2EV in 0.5EV steps), but I don’t know if its still available, so I’m writing this review instead. I’ve had it for 2 years and it is a marvellous camera.This camera has all the features that you need and none that you don’t. It is essentially a fully-automatic SLR camera, so you have the best of both worlds. With an SLR, when you look through the viewfinder, you’re actually looking through the lens, so what you see is what you get (with composition and focus). Unlike a fully-automatic camera, which has parallax error associated with its separate viewfinder.
   The IS-20 is “zoomier” (28-110mm) than a standard SLR camera lens (28-80mm), but yet it is quite a small camera when compared to most SLRs. You can also get a telephoto extender that screws on the end making it effectively a 210mm lens; although you will have to use that pretty much at full-zoom and the camera lens cap won’t retract when it is in place.
   The other advantage it has over fully-automatic cameras is that you can use various filters on the end of the lens. You might first consider getting a 2X macro lens and a red lens for improving the contrast in B&W photography.I used my sister’s Canon EOS-500N for two overseas trips and I found that about half of the features I just didn’t use. With this Olympus, however, I use ALL the features. The two most commonly used modes are the scenery mode and the portrait mode. It also has spot metering, a timer, and a nifty lens cap. Plus it has full-auto mode; just press the green button and shoot!It has twin flashes, one for wide-angle and one for telephoto, and they are mighty-powerful! There are four flash modes: autoflash, no flash, red-eye reducing, and forced flash activation. They’re all important. Having no flash is crucial for night time scenes; just put the camera on something steady, select the timer -that way the camera will go off by itself and you won’t bump it- and you will take photos that look like a pro.Initially, the thing that bugged me most is that you can’t manually set the shutter speed and have the camera figure out the correct aperture. But now I tend to think that the only time I really wanted to set the shutter speed myself is when I wanted the fastest possible shutter speed, and the camera has a mode that automatically does that for you (up to 1/2000 sec). You can only manually select the shutter speed for long-time exposures greater than 1 sec (1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30 & 60 sec), but then camera fixes the aperture at f8, so you have to take a few shots to make sure the photo won’t be under/overexposed. You can, on the other hand, choose an aperture from f4.5 to f22, and have the camera automatically use the right shutter speed. That allows you to change the depth of field of a scene. On the down side: for the smallish size, it is on the heavy side. But even though I am usually very obsessive when it comes to lightweight objects, in this case I can easily overlook that, because of its sheer convenience.If you’re thinking of buying a digital camera, know that film has the equivalent of 1500 “pixels” per inch, so that a 24x36mm negative, assuming a good lens and fine-grained film, will have over 3 megapixels. Not only that, but this camera can use a wide range of film speeds, from 25 ISO all the way to 3200 ISO!!
   The other reason I didn’t want a digital camera, is that I’ve been known to take about a thousand photos while I’m travelling, and I refuse to fork out that much money for the high-capacity memory cards required. Remember that 35mm film can be bought ANYWHERE.
8. Jennie says:

   September 21, 2010 at 3:59 AM

   Review by Jennie for Olympus iS-20 QD Date 35mm SLR Camera
   Rating:
   I’ve had a manual-focus camera for years, set apertures, speeds, etc. This camera gives you all the exactness of that medium with the total convenience and ease of a fully automatic package. Plus you can set your own apertures if you wish to move “outside the box” and the camera sets the speed for you! The settings are easy to figure out, auto focusing is a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it, there’s nothing easier. Great versatility in a reasonably priced package! I highly recommend it.
9. Anonymous says:

   September 21, 2010 at 4:35 AM

   Review by for Olympus iS-20 QD Date 35mm SLR Camera
   Rating:
   NICE! I’m glad I’ve swapped my Canon EOS SLR for this!While I find the coverage of its built-in flash is a bit on the harsh side (my 8-year old Canon Photura is better in this area), the photos taken with the camera under daylight can match up to any good SLR camera in the market. All that performance is delivered in a nice, easy-to-carry, all-in-one package.You’ve got a winner here, Olympus!
10. Sherry H Walker says:

    September 21, 2010 at 4:44 AM

    Review by Sherry H Walker for Olympus iS-20 QD Date 35mm SLR Camera
    Rating:
    I love this camera. I wanted a camera that I can take good family photos with as well as use to learn a bit about the basics of photography. The directions were easy to understand, and it took no time at all to figure it out and start shooting. My favorite is the portrait mode. It’s very simple to use, and the results are fantastic!
11. Michael Black says:

    September 21, 2010 at 5:32 AM

    Review by Michael Black for Pentax ZX-60 Date AF SLR Body (Lens Not Included)
    Rating:
    I purchased the MZ-60 model which is simply a renamed ZX-60. This camera, contrary to the previous review, will use manual lenses but only in manual mode. I have used manual focus lenses with no “A” aperture setting with this camera – you can also fake having depth-of-field preview with automatic-aperture lenses by slightly unscrewing the lense and moving to your desired aperture setting. The light metre will still function this way in manual mode. Firstly my gripes – the viewfinder information is very basic not unlike that of an older manual camera. Exposure is indicated by a plus or minus sign, but there is no shutter speed or aperture figures indicated. These are only shown on the LCD panel, which in dark conditions is difficult to see. Secondly there is no exposure compensation dial, so if you wish to increase or decrease exposure outside of the meter’s suggested setting you’ll have to take it into manual mode.Thirdly there is no cable-release socket BUT this is not a terrible ommision as you can set the shutter to open after 2 seconds AND the very good news is it locks-up the mirror immediately, then waits two seconds before exposing the film.Metering is two segment, but I am unsure if this is a fancy name for centre-weighted metering. It seems to expose for the darker subject if faced with a contrasting subject & background. No multi-segment metering but it’s a very easy metering system to predict!Be very careful with dust with this unit as a small moth has managed to get up above the focusing screen. It is definately constructed mostly of plastic so don’t use this camera as a football as you may not like taking photos with a smashed camera. Admittedly the buttons are a little bit cheap-feeling and it’s very easy to switch the camera off without realising it due to it’s position – but just remember it’s Pentax’s budget offering.. just because the buttons may not feel terribly solid doesn’t mean you can’t produce exactly the same photograph than a more expensive camera (in most ‘normal’ cases).For the price I would recommened this camera to anybody who’s familiar with using a manual camera but hates not having autofocus. The focusing isn’t the fastest around but I’d much rather save a lot of money now than having my camera focus a few 10th’s of a second quicker.
12. Rik Woods says:

    September 21, 2010 at 5:42 AM

    Review by Rik Woods for Pentax ZX-60 Date AF SLR Body (Lens Not Included)
    Rating:
    I bought this camera for my neice who is starting college and has plans to be a journalist. She wanted a camera to get started with and one that would fit her needs at school. I looked at the photography classes the college offered and what they expected, so for the price I ended up here. As I am partial to Pentax (none of my bodies or lenses have ever failed me) I looked at other brands before I went back to my old standby. I even bought one myself first (found it on clearance for well under a $100 at a local department store) and tried it out, I was suprised that it functioned so well for appearing so light and like a lot of new Film SLR’s cheap. but it did the job and worked with all my lenses, though not all of the functions worked on all the lenses. Some of the older Manual one’s didn’t even et the metering function work properly. But overall I was pleased with this as a starter camera for someone who has to use a Film SLR but has no experince.
13. D. Johnson says:

    September 21, 2010 at 6:11 AM

    Review by D. Johnson for Pentax ZX-60 Date AF SLR Body (Lens Not Included)
    Rating:
    This is a pretty cool product. I bought it to take black and whites, but I started accessorising it with all my other pentax gagdets(i.e. lenses, flashes, etc.) and so far they are all compatible. The auto-focus is quite speedy, it beats my K10D. The light meter is a little bit primitive and not so helpful, but you can use the exposure bracketing mode to compensate; however, it will be at the expense of sometimes costly film. I highly recommend this product for students and those who are seeking a lineage of gagdetry under the pentax brand.
14. M. Gold says:

    September 21, 2010 at 7:00 AM

    Review by M. Gold for Pentax ZX-60 Date AF SLR Body (Lens Not Included)
    Rating:
    I purchased this camera to replace an old Pentax ME, but I had to promptly return it, as it is not compatible with older Pentax manual lenses. While it seems to be a quality camera, it will only be useful to you if you have autofocus lenses. Though the price is atractive this will probably not be the best camera for a student for just this reason. In the future I will likely buy the Pentax ZX-5N instead.
15. Tom Tallerico says:

    September 21, 2010 at 7:10 AM

    Review by Tom Tallerico for Canon EOS Rebel 2000 Date 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
    Rating:
    This Camera takes incredible pictures. It has a wide range of shutter speeds rangeing from 2000 to bulb. plus hte 7 point auto focus syste is hand in most situations. Plus it is very light making it easy to carry around.
16. Luciano Ernesto de Costa Junior says:

    September 21, 2010 at 7:28 AM

    Review by Luciano Ernesto de Costa Junior for Canon EOS Rebel 2000 Date 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
    Rating:
    I had bought a fantastic camera called Canon Rebel 2000 Date Body in Brazil. For me, a amadorist photographer is perfect camera SLR. I need this camera to take pictures from climbs, camps, and so. And my sister take pictures from your architectural projects. And I bought a 20/80 lenses, to improve my camera.
17. Gregory Lazarou says:

    September 21, 2010 at 8:13 AM

    Review by Gregory Lazarou for Minolta Maxxum 5 35mm SLR Kit w/ 28-80mm Lens
    Rating:
    My wife wanted to get into photography – so when she broke her latest Olympus point-and-shoot I decided to get get her a “real camera”. We’ve had the Minolta Maxxum 5 for about a month now, and it has proven to be a very nice choice. I got it with a couple of lenses: the Minolta 28-80 AF and the 70-210 AF.It is small and light in your hand (not quite like a point-and-shoot, but definitely so for an SLR) and the automatic mode works very well. Out of the box it comes in the autofocus mode where as you bring it up to your eye it starts focusing; interesting in the first couple of days but I eventually took it out of that mode… I like it focusing when I press the button lightly.That is one of the nice things about the camera… how configurable it is. You can select among tons of options and configure it to behave just as you’d like. Because of all the options I’d highly recommend some quality time with the manual My only dissatisfaction so far (and the only reason for the 4 and not 5 stars) has been not with the camera, but rather the Minolta lenses – actually something I did not think about ahead of time; don’t get me wrong they are nice lenses but I have the following problem: focusing turns the front of the lens and this makes using certain filters (for example the Cokin system) problematic. It is fine for the typical circular filters like Tiffen and Hoya.Overall I’m very happy with the Maxxum 5. I wanted to add that Amazon is an excellent place to buy it. Much cheaper than the stores, maybe not the cheapest on the internet (I found it for a little less), but they are trustworthy, fast shipping and reliable!
18. Anonymous says:

    September 21, 2010 at 8:34 AM

    Review by for Minolta Maxxum 5 35mm SLR Kit w/ 28-80mm Lens
    Rating:
    I’m new to the photography scene. I’m taking a photo 101 class and have never used a manual camera. The Maxxum 5 is an excellent camera. It’s manual modes are numerous and all user friendly. But, if things get sticky you just hit the “panic” button and it goes into autofocus. Every photo is perfect. It’s a great camera at a great price. I’m glad I made this buy.
19. Anonymous says:

    September 21, 2010 at 8:47 AM

    Review by for Minolta Maxxum 5 35mm SLR Kit w/ 28-80mm Lens
    Rating:
    Taking the step to my first slr took some searching. All arrows pointed to the Maxxum 5. Believe what your read this camera is awesome. Full auto mode is great and ready to shoot strait out of box. The manual is very informative and user friendly. I have shot 8 rolls varying films, conditions, subjects and setting so far very hard to take a bad piture.
    Those of you looking to step up to an slr camera dont hesitate. The creative modes and options are fun to work with, the hardest part is waiting to see the results while film is being developed!
    The deal on amazon is competitive with all other sellers (better than 95% out there) service and shipping was great. Also look at the great deal on the 210 lense and tiffen filter kits, i have not found better prices on either. enjoy!
20. M. Woodard says:

    September 21, 2010 at 9:29 AM

    Review by M. Woodard for Minolta Maxxum 5 35mm SLR Kit w/ 28-80mm Lens
    Rating:
    If you appreciate quality pictures and want to go beyond point and shoot this is the camera. It is so fully automatic that you can have great pictures even while you are learning how to play with the settings and experiment. In a week I was doing double exposures, night time photography and close portraits each step I took more control of the camera as I learned the functions, what I did not know the camera compensated for me. I love this camera. One complaint that is not serious. I do not like the smaller size and do not like the small single focus buttons. But everything performs beyond my expectations, this is my 3 35mm and first auto focus.
21. Marc B. Walker says:

    September 21, 2010 at 10:00 AM

    Review by Marc B. Walker for Minolta Maxxum 5 35mm SLR Kit w/ 28-80mm Lens
    Rating:
    I’ve had the Maxxum 5 for about 3 months now and am incredibly impressed with the easy of use and the pictures I’ve taken. I looked for months for a camera and the Maxxum 5 had such incredible reviews across the board, and not one negative one on a single web site of photo magazine. This is my first SLR and I’ve have to say this camera is an amazing value. It has so many features that I’m just delving into using and find myself experimenting on my ability more and more. I’m a strong believer in a person’s work is as good as the tools they use- and I have to say this is the best tool I’ve used. My family and friends have complimented the pictures I’ve taken 10 fold compared to every camera I’ve owned or used in the past. I can only give you the opinion of an amateur hobbyist, and that is how great this camera is.
22. Anonymous says:

    September 21, 2010 at 10:27 AM

    Review by for Nikon N70 SLR Camera
    Rating:
    I have to admit that I am biased. I only ever use Nikon products. I have an F3 and an 80008. I purchased the N70 for the built in flash feature (so I wouldn’t have to lug around my SB-24) and to have one nice do it all camera to take on vacations, etc. without having to take my whole camera bag with F3 or 80008 bodies. Well, I’ve shot a wedding, a trip to Spain, and, well, you get the idea. Haven’t even needed to pickup the other two. The nice thing about the N70 over the N60 (which is also a great camera) is that the N70 still has the synch port. I wouldn’t, of course, trade my F3 or 80008 for studio work or other stuff, but for one compact camera for taking on trips, etc. this camera is great. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because it isn’t a professional’s camera like the F3 or F4 or N90, but this camera is fantastic and more than enough camera for most people.
23. Anonymous says:

    September 21, 2010 at 10:53 AM

    Review by for Nikon N70 SLR Camera
    Rating:
    I have been using the N70 for about 6 months now, and I absolutely love it. Its autofocusing speed is phenomenal, and its features offer everything I need for shooting action and stills in all lighting conditions. Its controls are very easy to use, and Nikon offers any accessory you can think of. I would suggest augmenting the N70 body with a Sigma 28-200 lens.
24. Anonymous says:

    September 21, 2010 at 11:36 AM

    Review by for Nikon N70 SLR Camera
    Rating:
    I have had Nikon cameras since my college days (1968-72)and have owned the original Nikon F, Nikromat and Nikon FE. At first I was skeptical about owning an automatic camera, but was I in for a surprise when I took it out of the box. At first I found myself not missing calibrating the camera for each shot (I was suspicious) and then I realized how many pictures I had taken (it also has a built in motor-drive). I had gone through 3 rolls of film at a Thanksgiving feast given by some friends of mine . . . if I had used my old setup I’d have been lucky to finish 1! What I am trying to say is the Nikon N70, with its built in computer allowed me (read – freed me) to take as many pictures as my heart desired, with all of them being in perfect focus! (Using the Auto-Focus feature I was able to concentrate on the subject at hand . . . not the camera!) If you want professional results without the time-consuming features this is your baby! I have not used my other cameras since I purchased the Nikon N70, and I guarantee it if you buy one you may as well sell your other cameras. (I know, I did)MorrisZ342@juno.com
25. Anonymous says:

    September 21, 2010 at 11:49 AM

    Review by for Nikon N70 SLR Camera
    Rating:
    I own an N70 and it has served me well. For an amatuer, and even a serious amateur, it’s a great camera, however, keep in mind that the N70 lacks a few features that you may not miss at first, but may come to want over time. For example, there’s no depth-of-field preview, the shutter syncs at 1/125th not 1/250th, the max shutter speed is 1/4000, half that of the 8008s or N90s, which means nothing for action photos (1/4000th is plenty fast) but in high light situtations where you are still overexposed at f22, the extra speed is necessary. Also, there’s no locking button for the shutter, and no data back available. I am considering upgrading to N90s or an F4s, but I will keep the N70.
26. Trader John says:

    September 21, 2010 at 12:26 PM

    Review by Trader John for Nikon N70 SLR Camera
    Rating:
    to serious amateur. I bot this camera back in 96 or 97. Took thousands of pictures. This camera takes great pictures and is very very reliable. Even did a couple friends’ wedding with it.

    Work well with almost all nikon lens. Auto-focus could be a little sluggish when paired with some professional grade nikon zoom lens such as the excellent 80-200 f2.8D and 35-70 F2.8D lens. Other than that, it works well with all other lens including the popular 105 mm F2.8D. Having that said, with 80-200 F2.8D, it is still fast enough to catch my kids running around at the beach and freeze their action.

    It is a quality built camera in sharp contrast to those canon plastic toys. You got to hold it in your hand to feel it.

    The menu system is very different than the traditional camera. It took me a few minutes to get the hang of it without looking at the instructions. It is very similar to some of the digital camera’s menu at present days. It was truely ahead of its time.

    It does not have DOV function which you may miss when your skill grow. But 99% of the time, you don’t miss it. If you do, you are the type who would have bot the F100, F5 or F6 already.

    I took pictures with it along side with a N90s. I did not see any difference in the pictures. However, it does make a huge difference when you upgrade to the professional grade lens. Color fidelity, sharpness and contrast are greatly improved. I have pictures of my kids blown up to poster sizes.

    Spend your money on the lens not the camera. If you on a tight budget, this is the one to get.
27. Mark Allard says:

    September 21, 2010 at 1:12 PM

    Review by Mark Allard for Minolta Maxxum 4 Date SLR Camera Kit w/ 28-80mm AF Silver Zoom Lens
    Rating:
    I have wanted a good SLR for many years, so after researching cameras for about a month, we decided to buy this camera. Not only is the price fantastic, it has so many options that a beginner can start with it using it as an auto-focus camera, but then be able to grow with it, exploring everything the camera has to offer as one’s skill level increases. Even in the auto-focus mode, you have many options to get the look you want in your pictures. After getting this for Christmas I shot many rolls and they have all turned out beautifully, even pictures that I thought may have been too shaky, they still turned out well. This camera has me really excited because I know I will be able to use it for a long time and I will be able to learn a lot with it. Film is a cinch to load and the LCD panel is a great asset as well. It is light, easy-to-use and looks really cool! I definitely recommend this camera to anyone, not only beginners.
28. Mark Allard says:

    September 21, 2010 at 1:33 PM

    Review by Mark Allard for Minolta Maxxum 4 Date SLR Camera Kit w/ 28-80mm AF Silver Zoom Lens
    Rating:
    We researched cameras for about a month before we decided on this one from Amazon.com. This camera truly gives you the most bang for your buck. It has many features found on more expensive cameras, so after you’ve become comfortable using the camera in autofocus mode, you can switch to fully manual and a whole bunch of other functions that I haven’t even gotten to yet. I got this for Christmas and my pictures are wonderful. I shot about 12 rolls and they all turned out beautifully. There are the five autofocus modes that allow you to remain in autofocus and get the photo you want. I expect to have this camera for a long time, learning about it as my photography skills increase.
    I highly recommend this camera to anyone looking to start photography with a camera that will grow with them.
29. Anonymous says:

    September 21, 2010 at 2:21 PM

    Review by for Minolta Maxxum 4 Date SLR Camera Kit w/ 28-80mm AF Silver Zoom Lens
    Rating:
    This is my first SLR camera and I am having so much fun with it. I take it everywhere. I read the manual front to back and was taking pictures with ease the same day. The only problem I ran into was figuring out how the eye piece protector cover on the neck strap fit into the eye piece on the camera for taking pictures with the auto timer. The manuals instructions did not work for this camera. After calling a local camera store to ask what I was doing wrong, they informed me that the rubber eye piece on the camera just slides off and the neck strap eye piece protector slides on in its place. Once I figured this out it was a breeze to do. I’ve had one roll of film developed so far & everyone is impressed with the picture quality. My brother has a Canon Rebel & personally I think my Minolta Maxxum 4 shoots better pictures. I love this camera!
30. Apple Pie says:

    September 21, 2010 at 2:55 PM

    Review by Apple Pie for Minolta Maxxum 4 Date SLR Camera Kit w/ 28-80mm AF Silver Zoom Lens
    Rating:
    I must say, I really do like this camera. However, for a photographer that may want to explore the fine art of photography, this system may make it a little hard to do that. I don’t particularly like the digital aperture and shutter speed adjusting. I would rather spin the lens, but I guess that’s just me wanting to keep it simple. I also don’t like the fact that you don’t really have a very nice set of options if you are shopping for a new lens.

    The automatic focus really isn’t that great. Manual focus is just so much better anyways!
    
    I have taken many many rolls of film and have used this for black and white prints in the darkroom, and I have really been very impressed with the quality of prints. I can even blow up some of these prints to 11 x 14, which is often unheard of for 35mm film, but they honestly do come out quite nice.

    I recently purchased a medium format camera, but I am definitely keeping this camera. It’s lightweight, easy to use (with the exception of balancing the light meter), and a great camera.

    But this if you are looking for an affordable, nice SLR camera!
31. Jessica Schumann, a Student says:

    September 21, 2010 at 3:22 PM

    Review by Jessica Schumann, a Student for Minolta Maxxum 4 Date SLR Camera Kit w/ 28-80mm AF Silver Zoom Lens
    Rating:
    Although I have never owned an SLR camera before this one, I have found it incredibly easy to use and to capture beautiful pictures. After looking at many other models and planning to purchase one myself, I was surprised to recieve this camera for Christmas. Though I am only a beginner and have only used the camera for a short time, I am already beginning to learn the basics of expert photography and am even starting to take advantage of the creative genius my camera allows me to possess, while still producing an expert, clear, crisp photograph. The instruction manual is clear and precise, the design fully functional and ergonomic, and the LCD panel a helpful addition to an already excellent model. I recommend this camera to any beginner looking for an inexpensive, high quality SLR camera.
32. AJ Starling says:

    September 21, 2010 at 3:38 PM

    Review by AJ Starling for Canon Rebel T2 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
    Rating:
    I purchased this camera recently as a replacement/upgrade from my EOS Rebel G, which is aging although it still works well. This camera has a few more features than my old Rebel G. Like all EOS gear, my other lenses and my speedlite work with it and have no problems.

    The Rebel T2 is apparently available in two different models, the T2, and the T2 Date. I opted for the T2. While reading the manual (which covers both) I learned that the T2 Date has feature that is supposed to be specific to it, the compatibility with the Canon Wireless Remote RC-5. When I checked the web site for available accessories, the RC-5 came up as one for my model. I’m not certain if the manual is accurate or not. The manual also specifies that the wireless remote may be subject to unwanted shooting when in areas of fluorescent lighting. The camera does definitely support a wired remote (my personal preference).

    The Rebel T2 came with the 28-90 mm lens as described here. This lens is super quick and does take very clear photos, though I’ve not tried to enlarge any thus far to examine for aberrations. My prints thus far did not show any problems. The auto-focus, as I mentioned, is very quick and very accurate. It seems to take me longer than I’d like to change the focusing points when the camera is focusing on the wrong object, but I believe that I’ll get better as I practice it. The process is not complicated.

    The camera has several modes that are fairly intuitive and well explained by the manual. The basic modes include night portrait, sports, close-up, portrait, landscape, and no-flash. The manual clearly explains all the different modes of operation in detail including tips such as using the flash for a portrait at night while not underexposing the background.

    The biggest change on this camera that I’m having to adjust to is the aperture-preview button, which basically will frame the shot and adjust the aperture to show me what I can expect my picture to look like in the end. I’ve always had a good feel for this because I’ve been taking pictures for the last 15 years with SLR’s, but with some work I may find it useful. I’ve heard students in photography classes gripe about owning a camera that didn’t have one.

    The camera is fairly light as SLR’s go, and to me seems ergonomically well designed, though you may not think so if you are left-handed (all the controls are designed for right-handed manipulation – either thumb or forefinger). The large LCD display on the rear (as opposed to the tiny LCD screen on the top) is heaven compared to my previous Rebel G. It displays a wealth of information and is easy to read.

    An added feature of this camera is a lock that prevent the user from trying to take a picture with no film in the camera or if the subject is moving too much. Personally, I don’t like this feature but doubtlessly many people will love it. It is a selectable option for those who are not interested in it.

    The only thing that I really don’t like about this camera is the film cover release. On other cameras (including my Rebel G), the release was on the side next to the cover, on the non-hinged side of the body. On the Rebel T2, it’s on the cover itself. So now I have to use my thumb to release it and simultaneously use my index finger to open it, as opposed to letting it pop open like on most cameras. Not really a big deal, but I hope they don’t do it again.

    The biggest advantage of this camera that I love over my other cameras is that the Rebel T2 will take 3 pictures per second through the whole roll (my Rebel G managed one picture every 1.5 seconds, I think). This makes a big difference for photographing sporting events. Despite what others may say, I’ve tested it, and I really do get 3 frames per second.

    My biggest suggestion for anyone who purchases this camera is simply to sit down and take the 20 minutes to read the manual prior to doing any shooting with it, even if you have significant experience with other Canon models. There is a wealth of information in this manual and it’s easy enough for everyone to understand, without being too boring even for the experienced photographers.

    Also if you’re interested in this camera, try to find a store that will let you rent one, or a fiend that will let you borrow one. Try to use all the features and see if it will do what you need.
33. Digital Photographer says:

    September 21, 2010 at 4:36 PM

    Review by Digital Photographer for Canon Rebel T2 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
    Rating:
    Some years ago I bought a Canon Rebel, one of the earlier ones, it was not so great, kept if for a while and then sold it.

    I have been into digital for some time now, but, its great, but it is not film, not by any chance.
    
    I have a very old point and shoot, I started taking pictures with either Kodak of Fuji film, I then brought it into my one hour developer and had the negs developed and digitized onto a CD.
    
    The results were gorgeous, at that point it was time for a new SLR, there are not so many left right now.
    
    I saw The Eos Rebel T2 with the 28-90 Mark III zoom lens, it was impressive, light, but with just a touch of heft, great grip,viewfinder, very fast autofocus, it even looks great.
    
    So forgetting my previous experience with a Rebel a long time ago I bought.
    
    This is a superb camera, this is just no way to praise it, I love this camera.
    
    Since getting it I,ve shot 10 rolls of film, all were digitized onto a disc, touched up where I felt they needed it, (a simple procedure.
    
    I shot a roll in a hanger at a former Naval Aviation Base here, all kinds of aircraft were in different stages of reconstruction,it was a photographers paradise.
    
    The results I am getting are better than a very expensive digital camera.
    
    I cannot recommend the T2 even more, if you want one get it now, I think these cameras will be gone soon.
    
    Canon you did great job.
34. T. Bux says:

    September 21, 2010 at 5:30 PM

    Review by T. Bux for Canon Rebel T2 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
    Rating:
    I got this after switching from a digital camera. The digital cameras didn’t offer the depth I wanted and not having proofs was a big drawback.

    I am by no means an expert on photography, but I do know a great photograph when I see one, and this camera takes beautiful shots.

    This is a beautiful camera. Elegant in design; the grey body with black accents is definately an attention grabber. People will look at your camera.

    It definately has brains to back up it’s beauty. Loading film is easy and quick. It has about 8 or so presets. There is the automatic “point and shoot” mode which you’ll probably use the most. It automatically compensates for light, adjusting shutter speed and aperture for the perfect shot. The quick autofocus allows you to grab your shot quickly, without waiting for the camera to decide to take the picture.

    It also has settings for portrait shots, close ups, night, landscape, no flash, and many others. Those are settings that maximize the camera’s features for those particular shot. It also has a program setting where you can program shutter speed, aperture, flash and film advance. Though with the comprehensive presets, I don’t think you’ll ever need to use it.

    The 28-90 lens that comes with the kit is nice, and has a selector for autofocus or manual focus. It also, of course, can be removed so you can add other lenses. The zoom is powerful and leads to beautiful shots.

    Overall this is an unbelievable camera. Great price, features, and pictures will be the best you’ve ever seen. They are very crisp, clear and have almost a 3D lifelike quality to them, something I’ve never seen outside of a professionally taken photograph. This camera is awesome.
35. E. A. Breen says:

    September 21, 2010 at 6:28 PM

    Review by E. A. Breen for Canon Rebel T2 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
    Rating:
    I looked at digital cameras for months – literally – before I just decided to lug around a 35 mm SLR. As everyone probably already knows, megapixels matter a whole lot when you’re talking about blowing a picture up to a larger size. What’s great about film is that unless the picture was taken out of focus, or in bad light, you can use a negative to blow something up and the quality really doesn’t start to go down until you’re making HUGE prints. (How huge exactly I don’t know, but the biggest I’ve blown up was around 4×4 feet, and still no trouble.) The prints I’ve gotten out of this camera so far have been stellar. ( I use fuji film — I think it’s better than Kodak, even though Kodak has better commercials. Give it a try!)

    The camera itself is not too heavy, granted, it’s not the convenience of a tiny digital camera, but it’s not as bad as I’d expected to carry it around all day. The neck strap is nice, the manual is actually easy to comprehend. I like a camera that has buttons for a lot of it’s features on the body — it seems complicated at first, but once you know how to use the features, they’re much easier to access than they would be if you were scrolling through a menu. The T2 seems worth the hundred or so more dollars than you would pay for the very similar Rebel K2 by Canon.

    One thing – make sure you take the batteries out if you’re not going to be using it for a week or more. It seems like they go dead if they’re in the camera, even if it is off.
36. Camera Shopper says:

    September 21, 2010 at 6:35 PM

    Review by Camera Shopper for Canon Rebel T2 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)
    Rating:
    The description of the 28-105mm lens says ‘II USM or III’, but beware many retailers, including the one on the amazon website as of 12/04, sell a lower quality lens (still EF 28-105mm, but with the MM class autofocus (slow and noisy and based around an electric motor driving a geartrain). The older lens is no longer sold separately by Canon, but is still in their “beginner” package as of 12/04. I have talked directly with the Amazon retailer, and their verbal claims are different than those on the amazon website. Beware! Also, this lens has plastic lens mounts.