Nikon F5 or Canon EOS Elan 7E?

Markok765 · Apr 12, 2008

I am wanting to get a automatic SLR.

I went to Henrys today, and found 2 cameras that I really liked, the F5 and the EOS Elan 7E. F5=$500, EOS=$250 I am not sure if I should get the Nikon F5, since it is way better, more durable, and every, thing. I am not sure if the EOS is good enough for me, since it is not metal, or weather sealed. It is however, half the price of a F5, and I have a 50mm from my DSLR for it.

What do you guys think I should get, and why?

nickandre · Apr 12, 2008

Remember, the body of a camera does not effect the picture (set aside shutter speeds). The lens is the important thing, it effects the picture. The F5 is a tank with cruelly fast autofocus. However, you should save the $250 towards another lens rather than buy an F5 (you may find the F4 is just fine, it's more simple and easy to use if you find one).

Buy the cheaper one. Save the money for a lens. Unless you are going to be braving the jungles or accidentally dropping it that is...

Markok765 · Apr 12, 2008

I dropped my SLR, and the meter broke. That is one of the reasons I want the F5.

Christiaan Phleger · Apr 12, 2008

Get the F5. It will last 3 times as long as the Canon, and as well hold its value if you should sell it. Parts to maintain it will be around longer than the F4. Yes it will be heavy, but it might be the last 35mm film camera you'll ever buy.

Fotoguy20d · Apr 12, 2008

Get whichever one you'll be more comfortable using, and whichever one you have lenses (good ones) for. I have an Elan 7 - no, it's not a tank, but it's not bad for the money. My thinking is you don't need the E capability (not that it should add much to the cost). Also, I don't think a 7E should cost $250. I paid less than that for my 7 around 5 years ago.

Pinholemaster · Apr 12, 2008

Apples and oranges.

F5 = professional camera.

Elan 7 = amateur camera.

You get what you pay for.

Andrey · Apr 12, 2008

You'll break ten elans before the F5 croaks. It's an awesome body.

A body is NOT just a box to hold the film. If it was, nikon would cease to exist and everybody would carry around russian Zenits.

Andrey · Apr 12, 2008

And 250 for the elan is way too much. You can pick up EOS3 for 300 bucks or so.

Travis Nunn · Apr 12, 2008

Look for an EOS 3. I wouldn't trade mine for anything. I know you're in Canada, but KEH has them for $350 or so in EX+

Markok765 · Apr 12, 2008

Why, besides the 45 focus points, is the EOS 3 better than the F5? What about durability? How is that?

Travis Nunn · Apr 12, 2008

I have no experience with the F5, but you said you already have a lens that would fit the EOS 3. Plus, I'm a Canon user so you should expect me to recommend Canon.

Andrey · Apr 12, 2008

Markok765 said:
Why, besides the 45 focus points, is the EOS 3 better than the F5? What about durability? How is that?

F5 is the leica of SLR cameras.

Canon can't match it, in my opinion. This is coming from a guy who's had three canon bodies die on me in the last 3 months and one body's top plate broke because of a small bump.

Nikons seem to keep going and going.

Markok765 · Apr 12, 2008

I am going to get the F5. What condition should I buy it in?

If the F5 is the Leica of SLRs, why is it only 1/3 the cost?

nickandre · Apr 12, 2008

The F5 is a better camera. I never said it wasn't. However, even if the F5 might last longer, don't delegate money to the F5 which you would spend on better lenses and in tern buy some crappy sigma. The lens effects the picture directly, the camera is merely the gadget that ties the whole photograph together. It can do this better or worse, but the quality of the picture will not change.

Travis Nunn · Apr 12, 2008

If the F5 is the Leica of SLRs, what does that make the Leica SLR?

Markok765 · Apr 12, 2008

tiberiustibz said:
The F5 is a better camera. I never said it wasn't. However, even if the F5 might last longer, don't delegate money to the F5 which you would spend on better lenses and in tern buy some crappy sigma. The lens effects the picture directly, the camera is merely the gadget that ties the whole photograph together. It can do this better or worse, but the quality of the picture will not change.

I was thinking of getting the 50mm first, then later on buying the 20mm f2.8.

Travis, it makes it the Holga of MF.

naaldvoerder · Apr 12, 2008

Travis Nunn said:
If the F5 is the Leica of SLRs, what does that make the Leica SLR?

A Contax RTSIII???

Andrey · Apr 12, 2008

Travis Nunn said:
If the F5 is the Leica of SLRs, what does that make the Leica SLR?

A financial failure of the leica company and mediocre bodies.

Let's BTT

The lens effects the picture directly, the camera is merely the gadget that ties the whole photograph together. It can do this better or worse, but the quality of the picture will not change.

There won't be a picture at all, if the "box the holds the film" croaks.

Andrey · Apr 12, 2008

I don't know if I'd buy the F5 though, it's a huge camera and unless you have autofocus lenses and shoot action with it... why not consider something from the FM line? They're smaller and probably last just as long if not longer than F5.

elekm · Apr 12, 2008

If you don't need autofocus -- and most of us don't "need" it ... "need" and "want" are two differently things -- then there are a large number of bodies, from the F, F2A/F2AS, F3, FE, FM, Nikkormat FT (Ftn, FT2, FT3), Nikkormat EL, EL2 and Nikon EL2. With the exception of the FE, all of these bodies are extremely durable.

My own Nikon FE has been problem free, however the camera tech at works is not impressed at all by the FE and referred to them as "junk."

I just picked up an FT3 body, and it's a great piece. Mirror lockup, very durable and of course all-manual.

cotdt · Apr 12, 2008

I'm surprised that you would say that, elekm. The Nikon FE is built very solid and I've never had any problems with mine. One time there was a poor contact but it was a minor issue and a quick easy fix. The FE feels very solid, and the film winder is ultra smooth. It does need the FM3a screens though, because the stock screen is pretty dim.

Markok765 · Apr 12, 2008

Andrey said:
I don't know if I'd buy the F5 though, it's a huge camera and unless you have autofocus lenses and shoot action with it... why not consider something from the FM line? They're smaller and probably last just as long if not longer than F5.

I actually like it because it is large. It is durable, weather sealed, has a good source of power [8AA batteries] and has many features. I like the great AF.

Mark Fisher · Apr 12, 2008

Not to be contrary, but I've had a couple of Elans over the last 20 years and they've never let me down....I like them because they are very quiet and very light. Can you pound nails with them......probably not, but I wouldn't want to. $250 is way too much, though.

Tom Duffy · Apr 12, 2008

The answer should come down to size and weight.

I have a 7ne and find it more than adequate. With the 135 f2 lens it is very fast focusing. Canon still offers a better choice of autofocus lenses.

If you need the faster fps rate, better build, and durability then get the F5. You'll pay a price in weight and size which you'll notice if you carry it around all day.

Take care,
Tom

Thanasis · Apr 12, 2008

I don't know much about the Canon camera you mention, but the F5 is a beast. Strong, durable and it has quite a few useful features like mirror lockup, three different metering configurations (Spot, Averaging and Matrix) as well as very fast and accurate autofocus. It is big and quite heavy but it feels very solid in my hands. It all depends on your main priorities and the type of shooting you want to do. The body is important but the lens is more important in my opinion. The F5 can be used with all Nikons AF lenses and also the manual focus AI lenses (with reduced metering options). And there are some fantastic AF and MF Nikkor lenses available.

Nikon F5 or Canon EOS Elan 7E?

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