I have been viewing the site daily for about two months and have gleaned a tremendous amount of information about Canon equipment and photography in general. THANK YOU to the normal contibutors. It's obvious that you guys know your stuff...should I mention names?! I also have been reading various publications including "Popular Photography". I decided recently to purchase an Elan 7E and a couple of lenses - in particular, I wanted to purchase a kit with the camera body and a EF 28-105 and an EF 100-300 - obviously, both are Canon lenses. I checked out the prices in the back of "Popular Photography" and called several of the "low" price providers. I share my experience so others may learn from it. I should have heeded advice given in other threads initially. i.e. use B&H. Here's the deal: 1. I called A&M Photo World - of course, they were conveniently "out" of the Canon lenses but would substitute Tamron! Not what was advertised or what I wanted. 2. Called Broadway Photo several times - no answer. I could only imagine calling for customer service after the sale. 3. Called Royal Camera and Video. When I announced that I was calling in response to their ad in "Popular Photography", they hung up on me - twice! 4. Called CCI Camera City. I had a twenty minute conversation wherein I was quoted different prices for the package, the shipping, and the warranty. After being placed on hold for a final time, I hung up and promptly called B&H. I ordered a camera bag from B&H as a "test" last week to see if they would ship what I ordered. They did - and promptly I must add. I ended up ordering from B&H an Elan 7E, BP300 and 28-105 lens. They have been great. (By the way, I am not connected to B&H in any way. I'm from Tennessee.)

Questions:

1. As the 2.8 300L is not in my budget - what would you advise for the best lens in the 100-300 range? Would it indeed be the EF 100-300 or some other lens. (I know I am not supposed to discuss 3d party lenses but if someone volunteers, it's ok by me.) I shoot landscapes, some wildlife and people waterskiing behind my boat, etc.

2. Is there a grip available for the 7E/BP300 set-up?

3. What remote would you recommend for this camera?

-- jackson (jacksonwalker@comcast.net), May 21, 2002

Answers

1. Cheaper than the EF 300mm f/2.8, the best lenses in the 100-300 range are the EF 100mm USM macro, the EF 135mm SF, the EF 180mm L macro, the EF 200mm f/2.8 L USM, and the EF 300mm f/4 L.

If you are looking for a zoom lens, there is the discontinued EF 100-300 L, then the EF 100-400 IS USM, and the EF 35-350 L USM.

Is that what you meant by the "best" lenses available?

2. The BP-300 is a battery-pack which offers a vertical grip. There is no "grip" accessory for the Elan 7E that does not have a battery pack. If you are determined, you can probably modify a GR-70 to fit. But why?

3. Canon sells three remote release units compatible with the Elan 7E. You can choose between the RC-1 and RC-5 (wireless infrared) and the RS-60E3 (corded) remote release units. Each does different things. See: link

-- elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com (Julian Loke @ .), May 21, 2002.

I considered getting a Canon 100-300mm after selling my slow focusing Canon 75-300 IS. When it came down to it, I went for the 70-200 f4L, which is only 100mm down on the 100-300 (which doesn't bother me too much), and more than makes up for this 100mm shortfall with incredible image quality, super fast, accurate focusing speed and excellent build quality.

The rest of my kit is made up of an EOS 30 (Elan 7E to you), Canon 28- 105 Mk2, BP-300, infra red remote (not sure which, but it's the tiny one) and 420EX speedlite. As a complete kit it is highly satisfactory, with my only reservation being the fact that I now need to upgrade the 28-105 to a higher quality zoom so this zoom range will have the same image quality of my new 70-200 f4L.

If you can stretch to it go for the 70-200 f4L over the 100-300mm. Then you can start thinking about a 28-70 f2.8L to replace your 28- 105mm at a later stage - just as I am lusting after that lens now I have entered 'L' territory. If you do go for it, these lenses should carry a government health warning as they are addictively good.

-- canonlover (canoneosd60@aol.com), May 22, 2002.

By the way, if you are going to be using this lens on your boat, in action scenarios, consider this:

Last week while on holiday, after owning my lovely new 70-200 f4L for all of three weeks, I was on a rocky beach in the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa. It was sunset, and I had a great view of the coast standing on a small outcrop above the rocky beach. I needed a wide angle perspective so mounted my 28-105mm to my EOS 30/Elan 7E, and passed the 70-200mm f4L in its soft case to my girlfriend. My words to her were "please hold this securely for me, while I take this shot", and carefully passed it to her. Guess what, she dropped my new lens, front element and 77mm Hoya SHMC filter facing down. It fell at least six or seven feet on to the rocks below. Granted the filter smashed as it hit a protruding rock below, and all the broken glass of the filter hit the front element, and also jammed the filter into the filter ring of the lens. Remember this lens fell at least six or seven feet, front element down onto a solid lumpy rock, and it still works perfectly. Of course the front element and filter ring needs replacing, but I think this is testament to the great quality of this lens.

If you are interested my girlfriend is now forgiven, and my insurance company are covering the repair cost, but I doubt a 100-300mm would be as tough as my 70-200 f4L! It think this lens will last a lifetime, girlfriend permitting.

-- canonlover (canoneosd60@aol.com), May 22, 2002.

The EF 100-300/4.5-5.6 is not a bad lens and the price is cheap. I bought one when I first switched to Canon from Nikon and I still use it occasionally. The best choice in zooms would certainly be one of the 70-200's. I have the 70-200/2.8L and use it often with Canon extenders to obtain 98-280/4 and 140-400/5.6 focal lengths. This is an expensive lens and the extenders are expensive as well. The f/4 lens is good, too, but not nearly as versatile when used with extenders.

Prime lenses in the 100-300 range: 135/2L and 200/2.8L are both excellent lenses and cost considerably less than the 70-200/2.8L zoom. The 300/4L IS lens is excellent but over $1000.

I'm not familiar with the EOS Elan 7E and its accessories so I defer to those who are.

Congratulations on your purchases and on discovering B&H. I've ordered from them for many years and have found them to offer unsurpassed service at a decent price. Watch out, though, because it could become addictive. My credit card balances are witness to this addiction.

-- Lee (Leemarthakiri@sport.rr.com), May 24, 2002.