David R Munson
写真のオタク
When I switched from Nikon to Canon for the sake of digital and the lens lineup, one thing I immediately missed were my film bodies. Specifically, the F3P and F4e I had. They were just perfect for my purposes, felt great in the hand, and their use was totally intuitive to me. I never had to think about the camera, only concentrate on making images.
I have an Elan 7 Canon film body, and one thing I love about that is that it is absurdly quiet. As in, possibly the quietest camera I have ever owned or used. However, the AF on it turns to crap in even moderately-low light levels or even in full light levels with low contrast subjects. This was maddening.
About six weeks ago I purchased a used EOS 3 at a shop in Busan, South Korea. Went back to Busan a week later and found the power booster for it. I have shot probably 35 rolls with it at this point and it is fantastic. The void that was left when I parted with my old Nikon bodies has now been properly filled. The solid build and intuitive control I missed are back in my life, with some pluses over both the Elan 7 and the Nikon bodies I was using before. For example, the autofocus is quick, pretty much never hunts, and the eye-control feature works wonderfully once calibrated properly. I also really appreciate the deliberate nature of the controls, having found it pretty much impossible to change a setting accidentally (as opposed, for example, to something like a 400D, which is a camera that makes it practically impossible to *not* change settings accidentally).
Right now my lens lineup is 24/35/50/85, and while I would like to add something wider than the 24mm and a 135mm on the long end, these lenses combined with the EOS 3 now compose a very potent, powerful system for me that is adding to my productivity while helping the technical part of it all fade back into the background where it should be. While my needs are clearly going to be different from the needs of other photographers, based on my experience I have found the EOS 3 to be perhaps the best 35mm SLR I have ever used.
I have an Elan 7 Canon film body, and one thing I love about that is that it is absurdly quiet. As in, possibly the quietest camera I have ever owned or used. However, the AF on it turns to crap in even moderately-low light levels or even in full light levels with low contrast subjects. This was maddening.
About six weeks ago I purchased a used EOS 3 at a shop in Busan, South Korea. Went back to Busan a week later and found the power booster for it. I have shot probably 35 rolls with it at this point and it is fantastic. The void that was left when I parted with my old Nikon bodies has now been properly filled. The solid build and intuitive control I missed are back in my life, with some pluses over both the Elan 7 and the Nikon bodies I was using before. For example, the autofocus is quick, pretty much never hunts, and the eye-control feature works wonderfully once calibrated properly. I also really appreciate the deliberate nature of the controls, having found it pretty much impossible to change a setting accidentally (as opposed, for example, to something like a 400D, which is a camera that makes it practically impossible to *not* change settings accidentally).
Right now my lens lineup is 24/35/50/85, and while I would like to add something wider than the 24mm and a 135mm on the long end, these lenses combined with the EOS 3 now compose a very potent, powerful system for me that is adding to my productivity while helping the technical part of it all fade back into the background where it should be. While my needs are clearly going to be different from the needs of other photographers, based on my experience I have found the EOS 3 to be perhaps the best 35mm SLR I have ever used.
fbf
Well-known
For sure, EOS 3 is a superb camera in bargain price nowadays. I enjoy the eye-control very much.
ruby.monkey
Veteran
Eye control is exactly why I have avoided adding an EOS 3 to my pile - either it won't work (I wear specs) and I'll have yet another system to feed, or (even worse) it will work and then I'll spend all my time mourning its removal from modern Canons.
Olsen
Well-known
Ï absolutely agree with you.
I regard the EOS3 as the best of the film SLRs ever made. The eye control is the best AF system ever made. Fast and accurate. But it was not popular with news photographers of the large newspapers. They were often sharing cameras and the eye control had to be calibrated to individual eyes. I spent a lot of time calibrating the AF of my EOS3 under different circumstances and with different lenses and it worked perfectly. None of my later digital SLRs, the 1Ds, 1Ds II and 1Ds III, have been close regarding AF performance.
The viewfinder of the EOS3 was the best in the business. And still is, together with EOS 1Ds, II & III. Although the EOS3 was made of plastic (black 'weapons grade' ABS) it kept it's good looks through the years. My 1Ds did so too, but the later models, the 1Ds II and 1Ds III are a scandal. The paint wears off after only minor use.
I regard the EOS3 as the best of the film SLRs ever made. The eye control is the best AF system ever made. Fast and accurate. But it was not popular with news photographers of the large newspapers. They were often sharing cameras and the eye control had to be calibrated to individual eyes. I spent a lot of time calibrating the AF of my EOS3 under different circumstances and with different lenses and it worked perfectly. None of my later digital SLRs, the 1Ds, 1Ds II and 1Ds III, have been close regarding AF performance.
The viewfinder of the EOS3 was the best in the business. And still is, together with EOS 1Ds, II & III. Although the EOS3 was made of plastic (black 'weapons grade' ABS) it kept it's good looks through the years. My 1Ds did so too, but the later models, the 1Ds II and 1Ds III are a scandal. The paint wears off after only minor use.
user237428934
User deletion pending
I only shot a few frames with the one of a friend. Of course eye control did not work correctly because it was not calibrated for me. But what a nice camera. The viewfinder is superb. When you see this and compare it to the viewfinder of a 5D you clearly see that not everything is getting better.
jarski
Veteran
never used one personally, but friend also praised this camera.
strange eye control was never offered to any other Canon models. would be interesting to use it todays digital world. perhaps 5D Mark III
edit: wrong info about ECF in EOS3 model only, apologies.
strange eye control was never offered to any other Canon models. would be interesting to use it todays digital world. perhaps 5D Mark III
edit: wrong info about ECF in EOS3 model only, apologies.
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not_in_good_order
Well-known
I'm not a fan of having to press two buttons simultaneously to change many of the settings. The autofocus is excellent and it is a well built camera, but I just could never get comfortable with the controls.
David R Munson
写真のオタク
I have read that Canon didn't put the ECF on their top-end models because it can't be guaranteed to work perfectly for all users all the time, which is a necessity for their flagship bodies. However, I really wish it would begin to appear in digital bodies. Jarski's notion of a 5D Mk III with ECF is a lovely one, though almost certainly not going to happen.
David R Munson
写真のオタク
The great number of AF points (also 45 on the EOS 3) is actually a boon for the ECF, in my opinion. Just makes the system all the more flexible and versatile. As long as it's properly calibrated, having all those points helps the ECF system be more accurate.
Jamie123
Veteran
I really like(d) Eye Control on my Elan 7ne and it worked almost flawlessly. The key is to keep both eyes open when looking through the viewfinder. Funnily I now also keep both eyes open when using my 5DII which some models seem to find odd.
The low price of the EOS 3 seems to be a reason why I'm not able to sell my Elan 7ne. Great camera but anything that's not top of the line is hard to get rid of these days.
The low price of the EOS 3 seems to be a reason why I'm not able to sell my Elan 7ne. Great camera but anything that's not top of the line is hard to get rid of these days.