I'm considering buying an Elan IIe with a 28-105mm USM lens. But I found that the cost of an A2 (not the A2e) with this same lens is only $25 more,given the current rebates. Any suggestions on which to choose?

I like the Elan IIe because it has both vertical and horizontal eye control focusing (which seems to work for me), the E-TTL flash capability.

For $25 more, the A2 doesn't have eye control (and the A2e costs over $100 more, and lacks vertical eye control), but has true spot metering, five focusing zones (not sure how useful this is), a faster motor drive (don't think I'll need this much), and a few other features.

Any suggestions?? I'm upgrading from an OM-4.

Thanks, Dan.

-- Dan Yu (danyu@earthlink.net), January 09, 1999

Answers

If I were you, I would save more money and buy the EOS 3.

-- Eric Ung (ung@chevalier.net), January 10, 1999.

I recently faced the same decision between the Elan IIe and the A2. I finally decided on the EOS 5 (grey market version of A2E) with the 28-105 (also grey market). The price of this combo is close to that of the A2/28-105 set, but you get eye-control AF and scaled metering in manual mode with the EOS 5.

What tipped the scale for me was trying both cameras out in the store. The EOS 5 just sits better in my hands, feels more solid and has just the right amount of heft. In comparison the Elan IIe felt a bit flimsy. Other comparisons:

1) 5 focusing points are much more useful that 3. 2) The AF on the EOS 5 is noticeably faster and more decisive than that of the Elan IIe. 3) Spot metering is enormously useful for shooting slide film. 4) EOS 5 is very quiet, the Elan IIe not as quiet. 5) EOS 5 allows you to control flash exposure compensation on the camera body, even with the built in flash... the Elan IIe doesn't. 6) The accessory grip for the EOS 5 duplicates the shutter button and other index finger controls for vertical shooting, while the grip for the Elan IIe doesn't.

There are many other features as well but these are the ones I use most. My advise would be to try the A2 and the Elan IIe in the store and see for yourself which one will fit you better.

-- Mike Dunsmore (mkdunsmore@earthlink.net), January 10, 1999.

The one thing I disagree with below is the statement that the Elan IIe doesn't allow flash exposure compensation from the body. This is not true. It does have flash exposure compensation,even with the built in flash. I thought the EOS 5/A2/A2e would only do flash exposure compensation on external speedlights like the 540ez if it had its own compensation (which the 540 does). I could be wrong about the EOS 5, but I know I am right about the Elan II. I checked the manual, and even fired the flash (both built in and 380EX) at -2 and +2 stops. The difference could be seen with both.

That said, If the EOS 5 could make use of E-TTL speedlights, and had vertical eye control capability, I would buy it as my next camera. It doesn't, so that leaves me waiting for the price to come down on the EOS 3 (I'm obviously not in a hurry) or a replacement/update of the EOS 5. There is very little, if anything, that I need that my Elan IIe can't do. I just feel it is good to have 2 bodies that use the same lenses, and would like a more "prosumer" oriented camera next. I'm not familiar with the OM-4, but I suspect it is an older manual focus Olympus. If so, the Elan IIe should be all the camera you will need, at least until you learn to make the most of autofocus.

-- Brad (reloader@webtv.net), January 10, 1999.

Oh, by the way, the Elan II's vertical grip doesn't have any controls like the one for the A2, but it does have a shutter button and allows the use of AA batteries.

-- Brad (reloader@webtv.net), January 10, 1999.

I've owned an Elan II for about 2 years and an EOS 5 for 9 months. For my uses the EOS 5 is better suited to slides because of the smaller "spot" metering, and the faster drive (more in-camera dupes). OTOH, the Elan does a fine job of exposure for prints, and the controls are slightly more user-friendly. (but that may be because I'm more used to it.) Here are some more random thoughts:

I tried out the A2, but decided I couldn't live with manual metering that only told me if I was under, on, or over, but not by how much. It just doesn't work if there's snow on the ground, for instance. The EOS 5 has the same manual metering display as the Elan II. Both bodies are able to compensate the external 380EX flash. The EOS 5 seems to go through batteries faster than the Elan. I haven't noticed that the AF speed is any faster on the 5. Although the EOS 5 has a faster drive (5 fps), when using the auto-bracketing mode, it slows down to the same as the Elan in auto-bracketing (no advantage here). I have a verticle grip for the 5 but not the Elan. Since I use CF 4 set to 1 on both cameras (autofocus on the * button), not having it on the Elan grip would be a drag. Finally, the comand dial on the EOS 5/A2/A2E: many posters on photo.net and the EOS mailing list have reported that their command dials broke. Something snaps inside, and the dial just spins freely. Every used A2 that I've picked up has had a sticky feel to the dial, and even though I leave mine in the M position most of the time, it doesn't feel nearly as smooth and positive as the command dial on my 2-year-old Elan II.

-- Geoff (geoff_doane@cbc.ca), January 11, 1999.

Have you considered buying used stuff? If you really want an A2E, this might be the way to get it. That said I have an ElanIIE and have been very happy with it. I have taken it hiking, camping, and on various outdoor activities and have had no problems with durability. I mostly do closeups (not macro)out in the woods and hills. The controls are easy to learn and a breeze to use. Like everyone out there I wish I had the money to get my hands on a 3. But I feel that a variety of lens would do more for my growth as a photographer than a new body

BV

-- Brian Vega (vega@micron.net), January 11, 1999.

Ooops! Okay, I was wrong on a few points about the Elan IIe. Still, I would recommend checking both cameras out for yourself. There's nothing like the hands-on experience to help you make up your mind.

-- Mike Dunsmore (mkdunsmore@earthlink.net), January 14, 1999.

I have read in the phot.net product review for the Elan II that the E-TTL system (Elan II) is superior to the A-TTL system which I believe is contained in the A2/EOS 5. I too have been trying to make this decision and was wary of the EOS 5 for that reason.

-- Scott Kauffman (scottkauffman@rcn.com), January 15, 1999.

As with most things in life: "It depends on what you want".

I chose the A2 for the following reasons: Slightly better build quality, better grip, faster film advance, overall faster AF, closer to "pro" specs, and I like the way it fits in my hand and the overall operation.

Either body will serve you well. And, it's interesting that the Elan and A2 compliment each other in many ways. For example, the A2 has faster film advance, while the Elan has E-TTL flash metering.

Finally, I purchased a second body and chose the EOS 5. Consider it! It has all the features of the A2, plus eye-control AF, a better manual meter scale, and it is less expensive than the A2E. If I were starting again, I would probably buy 2 EOS 5's, so that everything would work exactly the same.

Go to a camera shop and try both bodies to determine which one works best for you.

-- Cliff Calhoun (calhoun@psnw.com), January 19, 1999.