Home > Consumer Reviews > Canon EOS Elan IIe Date 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)

...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!