Hi guys, I know this question has already been reviewed so many times.. but can you help me?

Im a advanced amateur, I have used my Elan 2e (love it!) and 28-80 f2.8 and Speedlite 420ex for some years now, but I need some upgrade on my camera. I regularly dealt with studio (fashion-potrait-product) photography and my Elan 2e does not have built in PC socket. I'm also occasionaly doing landscapes. Recently I been searching through websites and catalouges, looking for used EOS 1n, or new/used EOS 3.

I found BHphotovideo.com selling used EOS 1n (in 8+ condition) for US$599 and in other place I found brand new EOS 3 for US$720. (I think it must be grey market.. but I'm living in Australia.. do you think it will be a problem?)

What do you think will be the best decision for me? I want to make the right investment.

Do you have any suggestion for where to find used or new EOS 1n, and EOS 3? and what is the sort of price that is "value" for it?

Cheers,

Jeff

-- Jeff M (j_mimery@yahoo.com), May 29, 2002

Answers

As long as the camera comes from a respectable company, I wouldn't worry about it being from Grey Market. However, if you do want something other than Grey Market, you should ask the place that is pricing it at $720 and see where its from.

I have an EOS 3. Great camera, I love the eye focus so much, very good for sports. Its PC socket has a little screw on cover to keep the contacts clean. The EOS 1N, at least every one I've seen, don't have little covers for the PC socket. Its your pick. : ) If I had the money I'd buy an EOS 1V as a backup body.

-- Steevens A (psxguy85@hotmail.com), May 29, 2002.

If you purchase grey market from B&H, you are getting a camera that was imported from another (non-US) market. It's the same camera as the non-grey one.

If you walk down to your local camera store in Australia and pick up a new EOS camera, you have just purchased an item that would be considered grey in the US.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), May 29, 2002.

I vote for EOS 3. EOS-1n has no capability of E-TTL (useful for portrait) and connecting remote cable (necessary for landscape photography) is not so easy as EOS 3 or Elan 2e. Of course, EOS-1V is far better if you could afford it.

I had EOS-1n, EOS 3 and Elan 2e, and sold EOS-1n out.

Ken

-- Ken Itoh (KEN@clara.oc-to.net), May 29, 2002.

EOS 3. Just for the E-TTL. Don't forget to add the 550EX.

-- Yakim Peled (yakim.peled@orange.co.il), May 29, 2002.

I'd go for the EOS 3. Just for the E-TTL. Don't forget to add the 550EX.

-- Yakim Peled (yakim.peled@orange.co.il), May 29, 2002.

The EOS 3 is the "better" camera in terms of features but if you intend treating them rough go for the EOS 1

-- John Gill (jdgill@bigfoot.com), June 07, 2002.