Canon EOS Cameras and Spot Metering

[andrewmoodie]

How is the spot metering with the more recent EOS cameras? eg the EOS 1n or 1v.

I'm finding that I leave my EOS 30/Elan 7 on the shelf and pick my backup camera, an old EOS 600, because I can point, press, pan and click when I want to spot meter. I'm not wild about using the Elan's little thumb wheel in order to move the metering point, it's too awkward. It's also started to freeze up if I'm not in full auto mode, which I never use.

Why I bought the thing in the first place is a bit of a long story.

Anyway, I'd like to move up to something with a faster max shutter speed and continuous mode but I also want to have simple metering at my disposal. I'd prefer to stay with Canon because changing lenses would be a pain.

Has anyone got any recommendations?

Thanks.

Andrew

 

[Petzi]

Why don't you try an EOS 3?

 

[andrewmoodie]

Why don't you try an EOS 3?

Tell me more about the EOS 3

 

[Petzi]

It's just a great professional camera body made of metal, with all features you can think of (no built in flash though), and I have been using it for years. I recommend it. It is less expensive than the 1v.

 

[haris]

There are lots of thing to be said for EOS3, check at www.canon.com, and search google, lots of informations on net.

I have it from 1999, what to say, good, could be said even great camera, but I don't know if I would buy it now. Reason is that if you don't need relatively big, fast, sport photojournalists type of camera, or camera for showing off, you probably not need it. I bought mine at time when I was young and blinded by all those fancy options EOS3 has, and its look, pretty camera I thought then. But, I came out of puberty, and now... If dreams can come to reality I would exchange my EOS3 and 28-135 and 50mm lenses for Leica R6.2 or Contax Aria with some prime lenses ...

But, at times when I was involved in fashion scene here, EOS3 helped me to look like serious photographer, at time I got it that was camera which looked most professional, most beautifull, other photographer's cameras looked quite ugly and old fashioned compared with mine EOS3. So models loved to pose in front of it, like they thought that such pretty camera will make them to look beautifull too... Then digital came, I stayed with film, bought Mamiya RB and models now love to look on LCD imediately after shooting how they looks. So...

To be serious, if you can get in for good price in good condition, then OK, but after my experience most of the options that camera has I use rare. Reasons I didn't seriously get into selling it are that I can't sell it for good price here (for buying Contax Aria for it for example, maybe body can, but lenses...), I need camera with motor because of condition of my right arm, and most important reason, I don't like to sell photo equipment if I don't have to...

 

[Petzi]

Hey, you can't say it's a big camera. Actually it's pretty small, of course not as small as some entry level gear by Canon, but in my opinion it has just the right size. And the spot metering makes some sense with the aperture scale on the right side of the finder.

 

[timbo10ca]

EOS 3 hands down. Nothing bad to say about it, and you can get great ones dirt cheap right now on ebay. You sound like me about 3 months ago. The Elan 7e (my 1st body) has partial (10%) metering. The 3 has true spot (2.4%). I use both with different types of film in them, but the more I get used to the 3, the more I prefer it. Definitley take advantage of the wheels for choosing focus point, as focus/recompose techniques throw your subject out of focus.

 

[Shawn Mielke]

The EOS 3 does not have 100% viewfinder coverage, as the 1v does.

 

[detune]

The EOS3 has been my 'return to film camera' and I love it! I have 95% confidence in using it with just AV mode whereas on my dSLR I use it full manual as it's auto metering is not good... I just took my '3' to NYC, Netherlands and into the rain and wind of Hong Kong, works solidly and using it with my 24-70 f2.8 L its all fairly well sealed... I hope

 

[rok3]

I've been shooting with a 3 for about 7 months now after selling my Elan 7NE. It's tougher, feels better in my hand and I feel like the metering is more accurate. I love the spot metering and flash exposure lock. You can get them pretty cheap on the used market. Good luck!

 

[timbo10ca]

The EOS 3 does not have 100% viewfinder coverage, as the 1v does.

Correct- it has 97% though vs 90% verticle and 92% horiz on th Elan 7