Rating: 
Summary: Great EOS camera
Review: I've been "into" photography for a very long time. I started out with a Mamiya-Sekor 35 mm SLR. That camera was built like a tank and could take a lot of abuse. Its best feature, however, was that it was an all-manual camera and so I had to learn about exposure from the ground up. I did not trust auto-exposure cameras but eventually I broke down and bought a Minolta XE-7. That camera shared its body, and many other features, with the Leica R3. Again, like the Mamiya, the XE-7 was a solidly built and rugged camera but its aperture-priority mode had its limitations. Then the Minolta X700 came along and it featured dual-mode exposure automation. The Minoltas were both great cameras, but I wanted a little bit more.When AF hit the market I switched over to a Canon EOS 10s because I liked it better than anything else that Minolta had to offer 10 years ago. I am glad that I did. That was my entry into the EOS world. I recently bought my son a Rebel GII and the same week I bought the EOS Elan 7. I love the camera. The EOS Elan 7 is a smooth, quiet and easy to use camera. It takes great pictures, under almost all conditions. It has features to satisfy the "pro wanna-be" in me (I can run the camera in full manual mode and the camera is still very fast and responsive). Or, if I am feeling particularly lazy, I can let the camera's brain do all the thinking for me and I still get great pictures over 99% of the time. The controls are easy to use and the functions are all very intuitive, so that I don't have to carry the manual with me at all times. In fact, after having used the EOS 10s for so long, the Elan 7 feels right at home in my hands. The Elan 7 has definitely cured me of my "Nikon-envy." I followed the salesperson recommendation and bought the standard 7 model, w/o the eye focusing feuture. I am glad that I did because I can now use the extra money to buy accessories such as the battery grip.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best for an amateur
Review: 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 The AF system was grossly outdated, as was the AE, the drive was loud and whiny, the shutter was too slow, and it just seemed to be made for somebody that would never really want to use it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.
Rating:
Summary: Very good camera!
Review: My sister bought an eos rebel 2000 last year and started using it, i was very impressed with the quality of the photos, i decided to buy me a camera that would look like the eos but with more power functions and more pro-style features like a friend of mine who is a photographer told me and since the day i bought this superb (look at the price) camera i have not stopped one single weekend and hope to keep doing it, it's lighweight body and advanced features insiper you to take more artistic photos and with the almost 5 fps shutter speed i was able to capture a very good shots...
Rating:
Summary: i like it alot
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent versitile SLR for amateurs
Review: The Elan 7 is an excellent, high quality SLR camera for amateurs, particularly those who are learning more advanced SLR techniques. One of the things I appreciate the most about the Elan 7 is that it switches easily between manual and automatic modes for those times when the amateur needs to have the reliability of an automatic mode. Also, there is a broad range of Canon lenses available for this body which also switch easily from manual to automatic for such occasions. I've found that I've been able to hand my Elan 7 off to others (who can sometimes barely use an automatic 35mm camera) while traveling and still get excellent photographs. On the other hand, the control offered by this camera in manual mode is unparalleled by other consumer SLR cameras such as the EOS. The Elan 7 is the best SLR I've owned. While I've not owned an EOS, I have used an EOS. I highly recommend spending the extra money for the Elan 7 for those amateurs who strive to test their abilities with the more advanced manual modes. The EOS, however, may make a better "first" SLR camera for those who are trying SLR photography for the first time.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best I've owned
Review: This is the finest consumer-grade SLR I have owned, and I have been in the SLR autofocus market since the Minolta Maxxums came out in the mid-80's. I have owned several Nikon SLRs and Canon EOS SLRs, and the Elan 7 is the closest to perfection that a 35mm autofocus slr will ever come (that is, one that is not a professional camera).
It has all the pro features you would want, has superb weight and balance, metal top and front plates, several custom functions, excellent compatibility with Canon EX speedlights, accepts all EOS lenses, etc, etc. I can't go into all the great features now, there are too many.
I got the amazing BP-300 battery pack for this camera, which adds a great deal to its fine balance when using long lenses. The battery pack also allows you to use cheaper AA batteries instead of the pricey lithiums. And, it adds some length to the grip (for those with large hands). This is a great "must buy" accessory, and can be had for around $60-70.
The controls are simply laid out, easy to access, learn and use. The exposure can go full-automatic or total manual control.
Do not go with the 7 "E" (eye control) version. This is only a gimmick, does not increase focus time, but does increase the cost of the camera.
The built in flash is nice when not using a shoe mounted flash, the quick control dial is a great improvement, and its speed is increased over the previous Elan versions.
A couple of downsides:
1. In low light, it uses the flash as a focus asist light, instead of an IR beam. This is a bit of a nuisance.
2. The LCD screen on top, while very legible and informative, has no backlight to read in low light.
3. The pop up flash should extend a bit higher to avoid vignetting over long zoom lenses.
-However, these are VERY minor complaints, and no camera is perfect. This is a great camera, well-made, with outstanding features and accessories. For the price there is none better.
Rating: 
Summary: CANON EOS
Review: This product is probably good. Unlike the Canon EOS66 which I bought. The pictures are not clear when taken indoors. The pop-up flash does not emit enough light to make pictures clear. You have to be carefull in choosing a brand. If you buy something, you better make sure you can contact them for any inquiries or help. I would say, this is what lacks CANON. Customer support. So if your going to spend your money on a camera, better choose well. You don't want your hard earned money go wasted on a bad investment.
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