Jump to content

Canon Elan 7E (real info)


colin_miller3

Recommended Posts

I went to a field trip today sponsored by ASMP and Pro Photo Supply from Portland, Oregon. Kinda fun but the cool part is all the new Canon gear for fall (September) 2K.

 

<p>

 

Elan 7e. Bad ass little camera. All black, dedicated DOF preview near lens dismount button, 7 AF points, 4 fps, wireless flash with 550EX's like it's big brother the EOS-3, 13 CF's with a new function for switching AF points with a touch of a button. Not sure about that exactly so don't ask. Rear control dial now has 4 buttons (N, S, E, W) for using that CF to adjust which AF points are active. The response time from whne your eye looks at a focus point is now 35ms. Down from 220ms on the Elan IIe. About $530 list. And $630 with new consumer zoom listed below. Awesome. Totally awesome. More may come to me later. I am so tired.

 

<p>

 

New flash. 420EX replaces 380EX and adds about 20 feet of GN and is a receiver flash for wirelss from EOS-3 and Elan 7e. That's right kids, new flash unit that is slave only if necesary. And only $199 list. Ha Nikon, take that. Much cheaper than buying 550EX's for slave mode only.

 

<p>

 

New 28-90 f/35~5.6 zoom to debut with Elan 7e.

 

<p>

 

No news of a IS version 70-200 f/2.8. Muy tight lipped on that. I asked directly, too.

 

<p>

 

Chew on this for your Sunday dinner. Later.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 74
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Thanks for the info. Seems like a nice little camera, really! Any

info whether it has spot metering or not? That and buttons and dial

on the vertical grip are the only things I miss on my EOS50E. So do

you know if there's a new vertical grip with all controls, or if it

uses the same as the previous model (BP-50) with just a shutter

release. From the pics I've seen of the camera, the size of the

camera and the grip design looks very similar to the EOS Elan II/50

and not like the new EOS D-30 like some have said.

 

<p>

 

Regards,

Johan Berglund

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm awake again and I remember more stuff.

 

<p>

 

No spot metering still. A 9.5% partial just like the Elan II. Built in

flash that pops up with your right index finger instead of a button.

The design of the camera is still basd on the Elan II and not the EOS

3. The eye control function is now a 3 position switch instead of

cycling through focus modes with a button. New VG grip called he

BP-300. Adds custom function button for vertical release. Canon is

discontinuing the A2 and Elan II and just offering the Rebel 2K, Elan

7, EOS 3 and EOS 1v. And the D30 digital of course. The rear control

dial is still the same except it adds the four buttons.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It all sounds great, a body with some good features (particularly a

dedicated DOF control) but without the high price of the EOS-3. I have

a Rebel 1000F and I'm looking for something better. But you know, if

Canon is going to 'cripple' the Elan7e by not providing spot metering I

might just sell out and get a Nikon F80S - it doesn't seem to be such a

compromise. Real shame, real shame.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For those complaining about the lack of a true spot meter, I'd point

out that Canon have never offered one in a body below the T90 and

EOS3.

 

<p>

 

They really like 9.5% semi-spot metering for some reason.

 

<p>

 

As far as the camera goes, it looks identical in layout to the D30 to

me, except the controls on the back will be different.

 

<p>

 

It is still a mystery to me why the D30 only has 3-point AF

considering what the Elan 7/EOS 30 has.

 

<p>

 

I was planning to rationalise my current collection of film bodies so

I just had a D30 and an EOS 30 as backup, but it won't be as

effective given the different AF patterns :-(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Colin,

Thanks for the info. Do you know the flash sync for the Elan 7? How

are the autofocus sensors arranged? Does it autofocus to f8, or to

f5.6? (I've been hoping for a camera with a flash sync of 1/250,

autofocus to f8 and both a horizontal and vertical array of sensors.

The 1V fits the bill, but is a bit pricey for me!) Thanks in advance

for any additional info.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm sure the flash sync will be 1/125th or greater. I have never been

limited by the 1/125th of the Elan IIe. What's the big deal over flash

sync speed?

 

<p>

 

The AF sensors are the same as the Rebel 2K.

 

<p>

 

*

*****

*

 

<p>

 

Like that....

 

<p>

 

I didn't ask if it focuses to f/8 or not. Sorry.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<<For those complaining about the lack of a true spot meter, I'd

point out that Canon have never offered one in a body below the T90

and EOS3. >>

 

<p>

 

 

EOS 5 has 3.5% spot and thats enough for me. Plus I use it in 2/5 of

my shots. I was drooling until I saw it has NO SPOT. I'd hope they

also made a Elan7e(ye)s(pot) body. They won't, I know.

 

<p>

 

-mt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

w/o spot metering, max normal flash sync at only 1/125? I will stay

w/ A2 just for the 3.5% spot metering and the 1/200 flash sync.

 

<p>

 

If I remember correctly, the arrangement of the 7 auto focus points

on the Rebel 2K is something like this:

*

*****

*

 

<p>

 

NOT *******

 

<p>

 

If Canon due away with the ElanII and A2, it seems to me like there

is a big jump between Elan 7 to EOS 3.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just a statement: (from 1990 until nowadays)

 

<p>

 

1(x) cameras are pro.

One digit cameras (Eos 5,3) are semipro.

Two digit cameras (Eos 10,50,30) are advanced amateur models.

Three digit cameras (Eos 100,500,500n,300) are for novice amateur /

advanced beginer.

Four digit cameras (Eos 1000,5000,3000) are for the beginer.

 

<p>

 

(of course you can be a rich novice who owns a Eos1v and you can be a

pro who owns a 500n as a lightweight "just in case" compatible body).

 

<p>

 

This is the reason why EOS-30 (Elan7) dosen't has a spot metering

like the Eos5, or other "top" features... I you want a pro-capable

body... pay for it! :-)

 

<p>

 

I own a 5 and a 300 as a second body... I would like to buy the 3...

but I'm afraid I will only be able to afford the 30 :-(

 

<p>

 

btw: Eos 300 autofocus sensors are placed in 3 rows: 1 horitzontal in

first, 2 vertical one cross and 2 vertical in the second one and

another horitzontal sensor in the last row. Like a cross. I supouse

it will be the same in E30...(I've seen a couple of posts saying

strange things...).

 

<p>

 

Sergi

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>Dear God: You have been gracious to me in my life. I an thankful. But

PLEASE bless us here on Earth that the Elan 7 that Colin saw is only a

early prototype and that the real one will have a @*#%ing

SPOTMETER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

<p>

 

Greg hit the nail on the head here. Sadly it is not an early

prototype. I shot the production mopdel. I have come to terms with it

though. The fact that the Elan IIe and the forthcoming 7e are all the

camera I need except for very rare occasions, I will be buying a very

nice handheld spotmeter. I know, I know. Slow, cumbersome if not using

a tripod, all the arguments against them. But people have used them

for years. The fact that I don't need any more of a camera than the 7e

offers, solidifies my decision to get a Sekonic 504. Plus I will never

need another. Flash, ambient, the whole enchilada.

 

<p>

 

I realized my previous post Re: AF sensor placement may have been

confusing. The setup is identical to the Rebel 2000. I will try again.

 

<p>

 

sensor

sensor x5

sensor

 

<p>

 

1, 5, 1 is another way to view it. Top line, middle line, bottom line.

 

<p>

 

I am getting kind of excited about this whole thing. When the 3

debuted I was like, "Oh whatever." But this is a camera I can really

utilize. The Canon rep I spoke about all this with showed me how to

use predictive AF in servo mode. I love it and makes 7 sensors look

really nice. The 45 sensors on the 3 is not so strange sounding now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Colin,

You've been giving us a lot of interesting information about the new

EOS Elan 7(E). Thanks a lot for that. There's however still one thing

I would like to know, that is if the new battery pack/grip, BP-300,

has the control dial and button for AE-lock, and not only a shutter

release button? I really hope it has because I often shoot vertical,

and it's kind of awkward to push the AE-lock button on my EOS 50, not

to mention to change aperture/shutter speed while holding it

vertically by the BP-50 grip. I also hope they have put the tripod

mount at centre of the grip, because the off centre position on the

BP-50 makes it kind of unstable when used with a heavy lens. So if

you know anything about the battery pack, please let us know...:-)

 

<p>

 

Best regards,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



×
×
  • Create New...