Summary: Great Camera for Intro to 35mm SLR

Comment: This camera make and model is close to my heart just because this was the one that I learnt my 35mm SLR photography. The settings and customer functions that the Elan IIe has has met my photographic needs partly because as a student, this was what I could afford and second, I photography insects and closeups of flowers. So investing in a dedicated macro lens combined with this Elan IIe body was the ideal match.

Let's not forget that through custom functions, one can activate DOF Preview button and have the focusing square be utilized as partial metering via eye-controlled functions.

Remember that the camera body is only a fraction of the overall quality of one's photographs. The huge majority being the person pressing the shutter release and the lens.

Summary: You can't go wrong with this unit, but...

Comment: ...this camera represents a little older technology, now about4 years old.... The Canon 7e , which you should investigate, has supplanted this body with some significant improvements, such as autofocus speed and 7 autofocus points. For $300, though the Canon Rebel 2000 also has 7 autofocus points. The Canon Elan IIe has 3 autofocus points, but with the eye control feature. I can't honestly say that the eye control has helped me much as I mostly shoot landscapes, but it would help for shooting people, animals and action. Unlike the Rebel 2000, this unit has a mirror lockup feature, which flips the mirror up for 2 seconds before releasing the shutter--this will reduce the effect of the mirror slap just before shutter release and assure sharper pictures for those shutter speeds between 1/30 and 1/8 seconds. Of course, your mileage may vary if you don't shoot landscapes or still life.

I don't see myself upgrading to a Canon 7 or 7e. I have shot some extremely sharp images using this camera and the Canon 28-105 lens on a tripod. you'll do ok with this or any other camera in the Canon SLR lineup--just remember to buy good Canon lenses, i.e. avoid the 28-80 lens and spend the extra $ to acquire the 28-105 or if you can go into hock, the 28-135 image stabilization lens. If your shooting style falls into the contemplative category, then you might even think about Canon prime (single focal length) lenses, which should get you some extremely sharp photographs. And don't forget the tripod.

Add a flash, like the Canon 380EX and you'll have a hot chunk of plastic in your hands for shooting people, pets, indoors or out. this flash really lights up the yard!