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Photography Question 

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My First SLR Camera, A Nikion or a Canon.


Hi, I am planning to buy my first SLR camera, I have been looking at the Nikon F80 or the Cannon EOS 50E. At the same time I am not sure if I should go for a lower range, as I am not going to use all the features. Money is not much of an issue as I can afford both. I am a technology freak and I like to experiment a lot. I am desperate for advice...


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August 11, 2000

 

Jon Close
  I love my Elan IIe, but it is a 5 year old design. Looking at the list of specs/features of the N80, in most respects these two are virtually the same.

The N80, being a newer design has a couple neat features/improvements the Elan IIe doesn't: (a) Vari-Brite focus screen with On-Demand Grid Lines (Cool!) (b) 5 focus points v. Elan IIe's 3 (b) 10 segment matrix metering with 5 spot meter points v. Elan IIe's 6 segment with 3 9.5% partial meter points. (c) I believe the N80's built-in speedlight guide number of 39 is greater than the Elan IIe's. (d) Diopter adjustment for the viewfinder.

In the Canon's favor are: (a) Eye-control focus (b) Mirror Lock (used with self-timer only) (c) High-speed flash sync (to 1/4000) when used with 380EX or 550EX Speedlites (not available with the built-in flash) (d) Optional wireless control.

I, personally, would choose the Elan IIe again with the deciding factors being the eye-control focus and the very user-friendly controls (I rarely if ever have to refer back to the manual). But I haven't handled an N80 so I can't really say that it is any more difficult to use. Try them both yourself.

I love my Canon, but I don't think there really is no "wrong" choice here.

-Jon


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August 15, 2000

 

Jon Close
  P.S. Elan IIe is the US version of the EOS 50e.


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August 15, 2000

 
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