Canon EOS-3 35mm Film Camera
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Similar in Film Cameras
- Battery Type: Lithium Battery
- Film Type: 35mm
- Lens Mount: Canon EF
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Canon EOS-3 Camera
Pros
Professional grade, lightweight & durable, weather resistant, advanced technology and easy to use.
Cons
ECF is not perfect, camera pricey, should have 100% viewfinder and built-in viewfinder shutter.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Professional SLR, easy to operate, lightweight but durable, and weather resistant design. Advanced technology and durable shutter.
INTRODUCTION
My first impression with the Canon EOS-3 came with a magazine article comparing its shutter durability with 3 other leading brands. The EOS 3 outlasted the rest with more than 400,000 shutter operations while the worst performing model packed in after a little over 80,000 shutter operations. The test rig was designed to fire each camera to 10,000 cycles each day at different shutter speeds, at the same time measuring the shutter speed accuracy. I was very impressed, especially when considering Canon's officially published shutter life is only 100,000 operations! What I wanted was a rugged and reliable camera that will not give up under difficult conditions.
FEATURES
The next thing I learned were about the many advanced features of the camera. For example, when working with 550EX flash unit, it allows flash sync speeds of up to its maximum 1/8000 Sec speed and also allows wireless flash operation. The camera has two RISC microprocessors of about 25Mhz speed, one to operate the autofocus system and the other to make advanced exposure calculations and control other camera functions. At that time, the fastest camera was the EOS-1V, powered by 33MHz microprocessors. Its like having a 486 computer inside! But I thought the EOS 3, which came cheaper than the EOS 1V, would be a better choice since it had most of the useful features of the EOS 1V.
The shutter button is easy to operate, and the system has 18 built in custom functions to customize the camera according to one's shooting habits and preferences. For example, I could assign one of the back camera buttons as AF stop button (great when I want to shoot several frames at one go, without being stopped by the AF operation in single AF mode. Another custom functions will transfer shutter release to a different button, etc. There are so many custom functions that I cannot remember them all. Canon produced a reference card and some reference stickers for you to place it where you can refer to quickly.
The LCD display has a blue backlight operation when it?s dark. LCD information is clear and uncluttered. Accessing all camera modes is easy ? using the main dial near the shutter release, the combination push buttons on the left top plate and the thumbwheel (quick control dial) ? it gets to the camera modes and functions easily. Custom function and multiple exposure mode is accessed via a spring loaded door at the camera grip.
The most revolutionary of its features is the multiple AF sensors designed to keep moving objects in track, and also designed to AF to any location according to the photographer's eye movement. This is ?Eye-Controlled Focus? or ECF technology which isn't perfected yet, as it is still a problem for many eyeglass wearers like me. Non eyeglass wearers have less problems and higher success rates of 90% or more. The ECF feature can also be trained to the photographer's eyes to improve AF accuracy. Some people questioned whether ECF can damage the photographer?s eye, and Canon informed in their article that ECF uses infra-red technology and is safe according to Canon. The ECF is the most disappointing feature for me as it didn?t work well. I have less success with ECF due to my pronounced astigmatism and thick eyeglasses, so rather than miss the shot, I prefer not to shoot with ECF.
The built-in motor winder have quiet and fast rewind modes. In quiet mode, rewind speed is slower and quieter, while in fast mode it is noisier and can be disturbing in a quiet environment. The rewind modes can be changed via the custom function button. Without the optional PB-E2, shooting speed can be up to 4 fps while with PB-E2 attached, 7 fps is possible to capture fast action. PB-E2 also increases the rewind speed. It also contains a shutter release to make it easier for vertical format shooting and some duplicate camera controls for ease of use.
The EOS-3 also works very well with the 550EX flash unit. With 550EX, the camera can control multiple flashes using wireless control. These flash units can function as master, independent or slave units and have lots of great features including their own custom functions. In a multiple flash setup, several 550EX can be fired to give accurate exposure, and even their output ratios are adjustable. This is a very cool feature!
CONSTRUCTION
Most of the camera body is made from high grade polycarbonate material which is strong and durable without that cheap plastic feeling. The advanced polycarbonate material can withstand shocks and rough use while maintaining its shape. It is lightweight and great for travel and outdoors.
However, much of the camera lens box, the lens mounts and shutter chamber are made of steel alloy material, and makes the camera very strong in those areas where work is more demanding. In spite of the many uses of advanced polycarbonate on the body, it still feels very solid and substantial in the hands for shooting.
The best part is the layout. Anybody migrating from a lower end camera to this model, or from this model to a higher grade such as EOS 1V, will be very comfortable and familiar with the controls layout.
EASE OF USE
This camera is a real blast to use. For photographers migrating from previous Canon EOS models, the transition is smooth because the controls layout and ergonomics are similar. But going from a lower end model to the EOS 3 is like switching to a luxury car. The feel is simply awesome. You won?t ever want to go back to the lower end models after you?ve used the EOS 3. Most likely you will migrate upwards to something even better and more substantial, like the EOS-1V (I am eyeing this as my next camera to upgrade from the EOS 3).
DISADVANTAGES
To summarize my list of dislikes about this camera:
1) ECF technology is not perfect and does not always work well especially with eyeglass wearers like myself.
2) 45-point ECF operation or AF automatic point selection is very taxing on the CPU speed. The camera response is noticeably slower except under the best lighting conditions. If I need to shoot faster in less than ideal lighting, I would have to disable the ECF and automatic 45-point AF selection ? I would just choose the centre sensor (most sensitive and fastest operation), AF on my subject and re-compose slightly before shooting. This is better than missing the shot.
3) Loud shutter release ? what is the point of having ultra-silent AF lenses working with a loud shutter? Sure, I love the durability and long life of the shutter, but make it quiet!
4) No adjustable diopter in the pentaprism ? for a somewhat high end model, even lower end models like the EOS-ELAN7E will put it to shame.
5) Viewfinder is not 100% but only 97%.
6) The hand grip chamber door (which contains some function buttons) has a spring loaded door ? and the spring is very soft.
7) No built-in viewfinder eyepiece shutter window.
8) No PC connectivity like the EOS-1V. I think a high end camera like this should have PC connectivity.
Having listed my dislikes about the camera, I still think it is a good investment for serious photographers who are looking to eventually migrate towards higher end models like the EOS-1V (when the price is right). Do shop around to get the best price. There are also some photographers who are migrating towards the high-end EOS-1V and sell their EOS-3 in excellent condition, for a great price. Check out eBay for some of these auctions.
My first impression with the Canon EOS-3 came with a magazine article comparing its shutter durability with 3 other leading brands. The EOS 3 outlasted the rest with more than 400,000 shutter operations while the worst performing model packed in after a little over 80,000 shutter operations. The test rig was designed to fire each camera to 10,000 cycles each day at different shutter speeds, at the same time measuring the shutter speed accuracy. I was very impressed, especially when considering Canon's officially published shutter life is only 100,000 operations! What I wanted was a rugged and reliable camera that will not give up under difficult conditions.
FEATURES
The next thing I learned were about the many advanced features of the camera. For example, when working with 550EX flash unit, it allows flash sync speeds of up to its maximum 1/8000 Sec speed and also allows wireless flash operation. The camera has two RISC microprocessors of about 25Mhz speed, one to operate the autofocus system and the other to make advanced exposure calculations and control other camera functions. At that time, the fastest camera was the EOS-1V, powered by 33MHz microprocessors. Its like having a 486 computer inside! But I thought the EOS 3, which came cheaper than the EOS 1V, would be a better choice since it had most of the useful features of the EOS 1V.
The shutter button is easy to operate, and the system has 18 built in custom functions to customize the camera according to one's shooting habits and preferences. For example, I could assign one of the back camera buttons as AF stop button (great when I want to shoot several frames at one go, without being stopped by the AF operation in single AF mode. Another custom functions will transfer shutter release to a different button, etc. There are so many custom functions that I cannot remember them all. Canon produced a reference card and some reference stickers for you to place it where you can refer to quickly.
The LCD display has a blue backlight operation when it?s dark. LCD information is clear and uncluttered. Accessing all camera modes is easy ? using the main dial near the shutter release, the combination push buttons on the left top plate and the thumbwheel (quick control dial) ? it gets to the camera modes and functions easily. Custom function and multiple exposure mode is accessed via a spring loaded door at the camera grip.
The most revolutionary of its features is the multiple AF sensors designed to keep moving objects in track, and also designed to AF to any location according to the photographer's eye movement. This is ?Eye-Controlled Focus? or ECF technology which isn't perfected yet, as it is still a problem for many eyeglass wearers like me. Non eyeglass wearers have less problems and higher success rates of 90% or more. The ECF feature can also be trained to the photographer's eyes to improve AF accuracy. Some people questioned whether ECF can damage the photographer?s eye, and Canon informed in their article that ECF uses infra-red technology and is safe according to Canon. The ECF is the most disappointing feature for me as it didn?t work well. I have less success with ECF due to my pronounced astigmatism and thick eyeglasses, so rather than miss the shot, I prefer not to shoot with ECF.
The built-in motor winder have quiet and fast rewind modes. In quiet mode, rewind speed is slower and quieter, while in fast mode it is noisier and can be disturbing in a quiet environment. The rewind modes can be changed via the custom function button. Without the optional PB-E2, shooting speed can be up to 4 fps while with PB-E2 attached, 7 fps is possible to capture fast action. PB-E2 also increases the rewind speed. It also contains a shutter release to make it easier for vertical format shooting and some duplicate camera controls for ease of use.
The EOS-3 also works very well with the 550EX flash unit. With 550EX, the camera can control multiple flashes using wireless control. These flash units can function as master, independent or slave units and have lots of great features including their own custom functions. In a multiple flash setup, several 550EX can be fired to give accurate exposure, and even their output ratios are adjustable. This is a very cool feature!
CONSTRUCTION
Most of the camera body is made from high grade polycarbonate material which is strong and durable without that cheap plastic feeling. The advanced polycarbonate material can withstand shocks and rough use while maintaining its shape. It is lightweight and great for travel and outdoors.
However, much of the camera lens box, the lens mounts and shutter chamber are made of steel alloy material, and makes the camera very strong in those areas where work is more demanding. In spite of the many uses of advanced polycarbonate on the body, it still feels very solid and substantial in the hands for shooting.
The best part is the layout. Anybody migrating from a lower end camera to this model, or from this model to a higher grade such as EOS 1V, will be very comfortable and familiar with the controls layout.
EASE OF USE
This camera is a real blast to use. For photographers migrating from previous Canon EOS models, the transition is smooth because the controls layout and ergonomics are similar. But going from a lower end model to the EOS 3 is like switching to a luxury car. The feel is simply awesome. You won?t ever want to go back to the lower end models after you?ve used the EOS 3. Most likely you will migrate upwards to something even better and more substantial, like the EOS-1V (I am eyeing this as my next camera to upgrade from the EOS 3).
DISADVANTAGES
To summarize my list of dislikes about this camera:
1) ECF technology is not perfect and does not always work well especially with eyeglass wearers like myself.
2) 45-point ECF operation or AF automatic point selection is very taxing on the CPU speed. The camera response is noticeably slower except under the best lighting conditions. If I need to shoot faster in less than ideal lighting, I would have to disable the ECF and automatic 45-point AF selection ? I would just choose the centre sensor (most sensitive and fastest operation), AF on my subject and re-compose slightly before shooting. This is better than missing the shot.
3) Loud shutter release ? what is the point of having ultra-silent AF lenses working with a loud shutter? Sure, I love the durability and long life of the shutter, but make it quiet!
4) No adjustable diopter in the pentaprism ? for a somewhat high end model, even lower end models like the EOS-ELAN7E will put it to shame.
5) Viewfinder is not 100% but only 97%.
6) The hand grip chamber door (which contains some function buttons) has a spring loaded door ? and the spring is very soft.
7) No built-in viewfinder eyepiece shutter window.
8) No PC connectivity like the EOS-1V. I think a high end camera like this should have PC connectivity.
Having listed my dislikes about the camera, I still think it is a good investment for serious photographers who are looking to eventually migrate towards higher end models like the EOS-1V (when the price is right). Do shop around to get the best price. There are also some photographers who are migrating towards the high-end EOS-1V and sell their EOS-3 in excellent condition, for a great price. Check out eBay for some of these auctions.
