Bought this camera in winter of 2000 from B&H in New York. I paid for it close to 800USD with lenses 28-80. Which was more than my 2 weeks salary back than.... I took it out from the drawer today after 15+ years. Fired up with no problems. Even batteries were still OK - credit to Energizer :) Just ordered Fuji Velvia 100 .... I am back.... Thank you for great review. I have so many memories with this camera..... unbelievable!!!!
Heck yeah! That's amazing! This is one of my favorite cameras of all time regardless of brand or format (film/digital). Enjoy shooting that Velvia! And thank you so much for watching and for your comment!
After been shooting a 7NE for more than 15 years, I am absolutely convinced that want another 7 Body to keep my experience going and going. It's plenty of features, even when Canon decided spare some spends on plastic body instead of metal. But it does worth every penny, with that pleasant smooth sound. Minolta has its own competitor, the Alpha 7. sweet as my Elan...
I'd say the 7D was a very easy upgrade from my 7E, it has all the basic features as the 7E without too much digital settings to figure out. But to be honest I've still pulled off better shots with my film I think Canon digital was still competing with film in 2011 and not quite there yet lol
For my Canon collection Eos 3 from 1998 paired with 28 -135 image stabilization lens(1998) which then was the world's first i.s. lens still working today for me along with my Canon 600mm f4 i.s. L lens(1998) in use on my 5dsr and the images are tack sharp. From the 70s I have A 1 and Ae1 program series camera bodies and fd lenses still working today. Canon quality lasts for decades.
That's great to hear Forster! I've had similar experiences. I just love shooting with the Canon system. So many lenses and camera models are underrated. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I appreciate it.
These pre-digital EOS cameras were an unknown subject to me until about a week ago. I suddenly thought that it would be good to use the nice set of Canon/Zeiss/Voigtlander EF-fit lenses I'd buying for my 5D/II for film sometimes, for a change of tack. So I spent a morning on Wikipedia/RUclips looking through the options and bought an EOS 30 (Europe ) late that evening from EBay for £70. I got the camera today and it's near-mint and superb - SO much to like and fabulous build quality .
oh wow, that’s great! Seems like a great deal on that camera with today’s prices. Prices have gone up since I’ve made all of these videos. Best of luck with the camera! Let me know how it works out. And thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for this video. I do own the Elan7 for a couple of years (wich it is known as the Eos 30 here in europe.) an i had no complains ever. The autofocus works really fast and precise, and the shutter is amazingly quiet! The most parts are made of aluminum and plastic, but it does not feel cheap in any way. I like also the possibility to use third part lenses from Tamron or Sigma without any issues. The only negative thing is in my opinion the rubbery surface. It peels of after 20 years of use, and sticks on my hands like a black chewing gum. I cleaned the surface only with alcohol and the problem was gone :-) The BP-300 is useful for this camera, you can put 4 AA batterys OR 2 CR123 cells in it. I believe, you can fit the battery grip also on the 2E. Using the Elan 7 with the 50mm 1.8 STM, the Tamron 70-300 IS and the 22-55 USM. The Eye-controlled autofocus is nice to have..but not a must have..i didnt use it. I found it on ebay back then for about 60 Euros (~80$) and now it is around 120~150 Euros! So if anyone own Canon lenses and try to get into film photography, try out this camera, it will you not let you down. Best greeting from europe!
That’s great! It sounds like you’ve had a similarly positive experience with yours as I have with mine. I really appreciate the comment! Thank you for watching! It’s pretty cool to know people from across the globe finding these videos. 🙏🏼🙌🏼
@@CraigBergonzoni Thanks Mate..yeah this camera is a workhorse for me and if it breaks.. guess i will buy it again! Like your channel and waiting for your next coming video. All the best and keep on shooting film!
The battery grip for this camera can indeed take both AA and 123a. Inside the battery compartment, there is a flap that folds up allowing the use of 123a batteries.
This was great. I bought this camera in 2001, and took it to East Africa and got some superb shots. I've dug it out of storage a couple of times. I've been thinking about using it again. The big problem is getting film and finding a place to develop it, or scan the film into digital.
First of all thanks for the great video and the equally great pictures. This only motivates me to get back into Film photography. The reason why I decided to watch this video, is because today I pulled out a suit-case out of the closet filled with 5 film cameras. Included in those cameras is the Canon Elan 7e and the EOS3. My first Canon camera was the Elan II. What attracted me to this camera was the Chrome facing . Back then(as today), almost all camera manufacturers had decided to go all Black. So I found this camera unique and amazing. Boy this camera did not dissapoint either. I must have shot over 300 rolls with this camera coupled with the fact that I was going to Photography school at the time. Then came Digital, so this camera went into a hot an humid closet where it virtually deteriorated and fell appart. it wasn't until years later that I decided to replace it with a Elan 7e. To me the 7e just felt more plasticky, plus it was much smaller(so I winded getting the battery pack for it). One of the reasons I purchased it and that you did not mention in the Video, is the sweet and quiet sounding shutter compared to the EOS3. The EOS3 had been my only film camera back then but I dreaded carrying to certain places because of it's size and the noise. I think I mentioned this before, but the shutter on the EOS3 is extremely LOUD. Much louder than even the shutter on the Elan II, much louder than on any camera for that matter. In any case, another great thing about the 7e is that its very light. I can attach one of my heavy 'L' series lenses and carry it all day long with no problems. The focusing is also extremly fast and quiet, much better than on the Elan II and is right up there with the EOS3 ! After watching this video this is the first time I noticed that it doesn't have spot metering. Oh well I hardly ever use that anyway... One thing that got me scratching my head and made me wish I would have waited and got the more expensive 7n, is the lack of an LCD light. Of course if shooting at night you can always carry a small flash-light in your pocket ?
Hey Harry! That's awesome you have a Elan 7e! After all this time of me trying so many film cameras I think it's my favorite Canon film camera. It used to be the EOS 1n but I've realized I just prefer the Elans (II, 7, 7n). And you're absolutely right about the shutter on this camera. I don't know why i didn't talk more about that in this one. I know I mentioned before about other cameras. I know I've talked about that loud EOS 3 shutter in other videos. Yes, that thing is definitely LOUD. Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words! Let me know if you shoot with it soon.
I've had my 7e for about 15 years now and I love it. Just replaced the film door latch and put on the battery grip today. The Workhorse lives on. I've heard some photographers say that it's all in the lens. A film camera body just holds the film. In someway yes, but the camera body is more than that. The camera body contains the auto focus system and the metering system and the 7, 7e, 7n and 7ne have great auto focus and metering systems. The 7 series cameras have the look and feel of a digital. The first thing I did after taking a picture was lower the camera and look at the back, expecting to review the shot I just took. The good bad and the ugly. Well, lets start with the ugly. Getting used to the LCD for controlling the features after using a digital with a larger screen on the back could get ugly. Bad, why the 7n and 7ne didn't up the game with 45 focus points and a spot meter. Good, it's all good because with a decent scanner you can crank out some impressive megapixels. So, if you want to shoot film, this camera would be a great choice.
That’s awesome you fixed it and have the grip now! And yes I agree, a photographer should find a camera or cameras he or she loves to use and that compliments their style. Your creative tools are important. I completely understand the negatives you pointed out, I mean negative in relative terms. Even though my EOS 3 does have 45 AF points, spot metering and a larger LCD, I could totally make the 7 my only film camera. I’m super happy for you that you’re up and running again with yours. I’d love to see some of your work one of these days if you want to share. Thank you as always for watching and commenting!
I have an EOS 3 and just recently got an EOS 100QD (Elan) and loving it's lightness and near silent shutter. A POV video of you using some of your favourite models would be great. Also, really interested to see which ones you decide to keep at the end. Thanks.
Those are 2 great cameras you have! I like your idea of doing some POV type videos. I’ve been thinking about something along those lines so it’s good to hear people might be interested in that. Thank you for commenting and your feedback!
This camera is trully great! I can compare it to eos 3 and eos 1v, and it is still best value for money easily and might be even best choice on the market for a first slr, seriously. It offers a lot for a moderate price. It is easy to operate even a beginner can just pick this up and shoot with it straight away. My fiancee simply uses it in a program mode (I told her "p" letter on a dial stands for professional, so she feels better about herself:)) and it is just so efortless for her just to make photographs and enjoy. If to couple this camerawith 40mm pancake lens you get a super light but a very reliable and advanced photographic tool. There is only one thing that bothers me is a battery compartment cover, it feels so flimsy as it is ready get broken any time you open it. It absolutely doesn't match the rest of a housing which as you have fairly mentioned is a good quality. So battery grip might be a good idea.
My last EOS film body before I went Digital in 2012 was an EOS 30 which is that camera in the UK. I loved that camera and only went digital due to braking the clip on the film door, on the back. I now shoot with a full frame DSLR (EOS 6D mk2) which I really like but wanted to shoot some film again. I looked for an old EOS 30 but all the ones online were quite scruffy and dirty. I eventually found a mint condition EOS 5 which is great and have just bought what looks to be a great condition EOS 3 body which I'm excited to get!
I did it. I finally gave up film for digital. Yes I know Im one of the last hold outs but the camera that got me into photography was the Elan IIe and then I thought the 7 focal points of the Elan 7e was the best thing ever! I'll get to the point, I recently picked up photography again and started where I left off a gently used 7e! my dream camera in 2011! Well that same year Canon released the 7d, I got into digital with what I knew best and the EOS 7 line was my go to. Question, do you have a review of the 7d? The camera functions were just simular enough that the change from 35mm to digital was almost pianless lol almost, so far my 7d is neck and neck with my 7e.
Benefit of the 7 is that you have a wider array of third party lenses available. I traded my 2E for a 7 because I have a Tamron 35mm 1.8 that I want to use. The 2E gives an error message (blinking battery symbol) with the Tamron lens. And it doesn’t communicate aperture. So I shot 2 rolls wide open without knowing that. The rolls still came out well. Note: the autofocus does not work with either.
I always enjoy watching your video because you always tell a good story and I can feel your passion. I do have a couple of different views though. I don’t think the 1/4000 s max shutter speed is a week point of this camera. Elan 7 is a mid-range product and should not be compared with EOS 3 or 1V. Rather, it should be compared with similar level cameras such as Nikon N80 whose max shutter speed is also 1/4000. On the other hand, if we compare Elan 7 with Canon Rebel series, should we say Elan 7’s 1/4000 s max shutter speed is a pro? I also want to point out the construction issue: the flimsy back door latch and battery door hinge. There are lots of complaints online. I don’t know why Canon does not pay attention to this, because Canon’s A series, T series, and almost all low to mid-range EOS series seem to have flimsy battery door issues.
You bring up great points. I think it's all in what you expect now from a "budget" film camera. a current used Canon A2e is cheaper than this often times and it has 1/8000 capabilities for example. I would still choose the ELAN 7 personally but I love this camera. And when I mad these videos I forgot about the battery door and film door latches. Yes they went the cheap route with these and it's unfortunate. I just forgot to talk about it. Thanks for watching and commenting! It's always good to get feedback.
@@CraigBergonzoni I see your point. I used A2e, 1V, and Elan 7，and I prefer the Elan 7. The 1V is better but much heavier. The only thing I miss in 1V is the brighter viewfinder. The rest of the higher specs are not important to me - the Elan 7 has all the feature I need. Thank you again; and hope you make more Canon videos.
Yes! The grip adds something to it that’s for sure! Plus it’s easy to find AA batteries for the grip. I hope you find one soon. Thanks for the kind words Paul!
@@CraigBergonzoni yeah double AAs are definitely better, 2cr5s add up, and somewhat (not terribly) hard to find. absolutely love how looks for sure - and yes it's a factor! :)
Hi Craig, I've owned my Elan IIe (50e) for a couple of months now, just ordered some Iford B/W film for it. However, I'm feeling really anxious about loading up and shooting, and I don't know why I'm feeling this anxiety.... Maybe digital nerves getting hold of me, I've not shot film in 15 years. Gulp... Anyway, love this video, and I'm looking to add the all black Elan 7 to my collection. Many thanks.
Thanks for the kind words Rob! I totally get that anxiety, btw! Just give yourself some freedom to mess up a roll or two until you feel comfortable again. But I have a feeling it will work out great. Please let me know how it goes.
Awesome! I’m happy to hear you’re shooting with it. It’s always great to hear feedback from other EOS film camera shooters. Thanks for watching and commenting! Much appreciated
@@CraigBergonzoni Lol, spoke too soon. Ordered a battery grip today, went a park today to take advantage of the fog. Shot a roll of Ilford Delta 400 and when I got home I decided to throw another roll in for next time. For some reason the back door wouldn't open. All of a sudden the door popped open and a tiny piece of plastic went flying. The plastic was the latch that holds the door closed. So, now I have a battery grip on the way for a camera I can't use. Plan B, searching the web for a 7e or a 7ne.
Oh that sucks man, sorry to hear that. I hope you find a replacement. Please let me know if you find one or not. If you run into trouble I can keep an eye out for one as well.
@@CraigBergonzoni Good news, I was able to find a replacement door latch on line and it comes with the tools needed. However, by the time I get the part and swap it out, it may be a month. So, yesterday I went out shooting with a Konica III.
Hows the AF perform in lower light in your experience? I dont really shoot film in low light but wouldnt mind grabbing a roll or two of some 800 speed film for the holidays when family visits and was curious how this camera would perform indoors with artificial light
I've been interested in getting this camera for a while so I just ordered this camera in mint condition with battery grip and date back. I'm paying $150 for it. I think I will probably keep B&W film in it and color in my EOS 3.
That’s awesome John! I hope you like it. I love mine. That sounds like a good strategy keeping B&W in this and color in the 3. I can’t wait to hear how it works out for you.
I have been looking some of your videos back to front and I have to say I am glad you sat down. Much more relaxed! Enjoying all the videos though (subscribed). If you are looking for some Canon cameras to review I would like to hear your thoughts on the EOS 300V / Rebel Ti and the T-60. The 300V feels ridiculously cheap and is very light, but performs great even with the standard 28-90mm f4-5.6 lens. The fully manual, Cosina made, T-60 is quite a different shooting experience all together.
First off, thank you so much for watching and subscribing! I really appreciate it. And thank your feedback on the videos. I agree sitting down suits me so much better. I realize how I can come across on camera sometimes. My personality isn’t tailored made for being in front of the camera but sitting down and being more relaxed definitely helps. I will definitely add those two camera models to the list of cameras I will review. Those T-series cameras were interesting for sure. I own the T-90 and love many things about it. Thank you again for watching and for the feedback!
What lens do you have on your 2000? Usually aperture settings are only limited by your lens. Is it possible your lens only opens up to 4.0? This is often the case with kit lenses like 18-55mm or lenses like that.
Thanks for another excellent review. I have a 7n which I have been very happy with. I'm interested to see how you think that compares to the original if you get a chance.
That’s awesome you have a 7n! Ironically I recently picked one up. It is obviously very similar to the 7 but they did refine some things. I’m not sure if I’ll make a dedicated video for the 7n quite yet but I may make a video talking about the ELAN II vs. the 7 vs 7n. The bottom line is I think it comes down to personal preference since they are all such solid cameras. Thank you for watching and commenting! I really appreciate it.
You can find FD-EF adapters but they don’t adapt well. They’re often times too soft wide open and the results are a bit unpredictable, especially with an EF film camera where you can’t see the result and retake the shot. Ironically, old school manual focus Nikon lens adapt better to these cameras. The adapters for those are extremely small and you barely notice they’re on there. Btw, yes this does have bulb mode. I really like this camera. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hi Craig! Ive been looking for an eos 7 slr but I am bit confuse. By any chance do you know if I lose out in terms of specs like AF if I go for an EOS 7 vs an EOS7s / EOS7ne?
This was fun to watch. I actually still have an Elan IIe QD, and an Elan 7e QD in outstanding shape. I'm the original owner of both. The IIe was my first real camera as a teen. Bought the 7e a year or two later but held onto the IIe to minimize lens swapping. I had just pulled them out the other day and threw batteries in them to see if they were still functioning ok. Both seem to be working flawlessly. Planning on running a few rolls through them in the near future for fun. Any specific films you recommend these days? I haven't bought any film in at least 15+ years, so my memory is pretty rusty. Anyway...thanks for the vid!
That's awesome! I bounce around between different films. For black and white I use Kodak TMax, Tri-X and Ilford HP5+ mostly. HP5+ is the best current value, IMO. For color Kodak Portra is a solid choice. You can get it at different speeds and it looks great. A lot of people shoot CineStill and love it. I just haven't tried it yet. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! Let me know what you end up shooting with your cameras.
Rather get this version since when they were first released to the market... Half of the production of the eye controled version of these cameras were shipped with the eye control and beeper inoperable, rendering the calibration process imposible to achieve or with erroneous results. By the time Canon announced the recall... Most of the market war was turning to digital and not too many users cared about the feature anyway therefore just a few of these cameras were factory refurbished with the fix and by 2004 it was replaced with the Elan 7ne that came with the fixed control. The 7ne was just the exact same camera with the lighted lcd screen and a little cosmetic improvement over the 7e. For many it was just an excuse for not nailing quality control the first time right Canon! I hate the texture of the 7ne and I been thru five 7e's bought at different online marketplaces already none fixed, so I would just get this version next or I would stay with the IIe or get the eos3?... Decisions, decisions!
Oh that is a tough decision between those 3 cameras. I don't think you can go wrong with any of those 3. Ironically, I just picked up a Elan 7ne. I don't know if I'll make a dedicated video on it since so much of it will be repetitive but I might make a video laying all of the Elans out together and doing a quick comparison between them. Thanks for the comment!
I just got an EOS 33, my battery grip powers the camera but my vertical shooting button doesn't seem to work on the grip. Even when I have it turned on. I did buy them separately. Do you know if there might be a specific way to activate the battery grip vertical shooting on the camera?
Hmmm. That's odd. Try these things - double check the battery compartment contacts and the contacts of the grip that goes into the camera, make sure they're all clean, change the batteries, try it in manual focus. I hope it starts to work! Let me know.
@@CraigBergonzoni What's weird is that the little button works but the shutter doesn't. It also supplies power fine. I will try to give the contacts a clean and let you know. Thanks for the advice.
Do you, or anyone else, have any issues with the battery life? Picked up my Elan 7 about a week ago, got brand new batteries, and it’s showing they’re almost dead already after 15 shots. I’m turning it off every time but the LCD screen stays on showing with frame it’s at. Help! I can’t find anything online about it
@@CraigBergonzoni no battery grip. I got the CR123A lithium batteries from Amazon. I checked again this morning and they’re completely dead. Gonna try another set and see what happens. Hoping it’s maybe a fluke. Have you heard of this issue before?
@@CraigBergonzoni So I assume since my camera just says EOS 7 on the front it was sold new in the Japan market which doesn't concern me. It is a beautiful camera that looks brand new. Also includes the date back and battery grip. Probably won't use either of those but nice to have.
It's built in to the camera. It's a Thru-the-lens metering system. It has a couple metering modes that you can switch between by pressing button on the back and on the top display it will show you which metering option you've chosen. Then when you look through the view finder you'll see the camera meter what ever you're pointing the camera at. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
That sucks yours has that issue. I’ve been lucky I guess. I’ve had 3 variations snd none have had that issue. I hope you’re able to fix yours or find one that works if you choose to. Thank you for watching and commenting!
I've owned this camera for 20 years and it has a fatal flaw--the film door latch. It is flimsy plastic and breaks at the slightest bump. Only way to repair it is to pirate a latch from another Elan body. I've done this 3 x and have had enough. this is a great and useless camera. I have upgraded to a Canon pro body at great expense. DO NOT buy these Elan 7 bodies if your are a serious working photographer.
![CANON EOS ELAN 7ne [EOS 30v] | My review of the last of the Canon ELAN film cameras.](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/t1ubKi526gk/mqdefault.jpg)
Bought this camera in winter of 2000 from B&H in New York.
I paid for it close to 800USD with lenses 28-80. Which was more than my 2 weeks salary back than....
I took it out from the drawer today after 15+ years.
Fired up with no problems. Even batteries were still OK - credit to Energizer :)
Just ordered Fuji Velvia 100 ....
I am back....
Thank you for great review.
I have so many memories with this camera..... unbelievable!!!!
Heck yeah! That's amazing! This is one of my favorite cameras of all time regardless of brand or format (film/digital). Enjoy shooting that Velvia! And thank you so much for watching and for your comment!
After been shooting a 7NE for more than 15 years, I am absolutely convinced that want another 7 Body to keep my experience going and going. It's plenty of features, even when Canon decided spare some spends on plastic body instead of metal. But it does worth every penny, with that pleasant smooth sound. Minolta has its own competitor, the Alpha 7. sweet as my Elan...
The Elans are definitely great cameras. Some of my favorites. I never got a chance to try the Minoltas. I need to give that a shot one of these days.
I'd say the 7D was a very easy upgrade from my 7E, it has all the basic features as the 7E without too much digital settings to figure out. But to be honest I've still pulled off better shots with my film I think Canon digital was still competing with film in 2011 and not quite there yet lol
For my Canon collection Eos 3 from 1998 paired with 28 -135 image stabilization lens(1998) which then was the world's first i.s. lens still working today for me along with my Canon 600mm f4 i.s. L lens(1998) in use on my 5dsr and the images are tack sharp. From the 70s I have A 1 and Ae1 program series camera bodies and fd lenses still working today. Canon quality lasts for decades.
That's great to hear Forster! I've had similar experiences. I just love shooting with the Canon system. So many lenses and camera models are underrated. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I appreciate it.
These pre-digital EOS cameras were an unknown subject to me until about a week ago. I suddenly thought that it would be good to use the nice set of Canon/Zeiss/Voigtlander EF-fit lenses I'd buying for my 5D/II for film sometimes, for a change of tack. So I spent a morning on Wikipedia/RUclips looking through the options and bought an EOS 30 (Europe ) late that evening from EBay for £70. I got the camera today and it's near-mint and superb - SO much to like and fabulous build quality .
oh wow, that’s great! Seems like a great deal on that camera with today’s prices. Prices have gone up since I’ve made all of these videos. Best of luck with the camera! Let me know how it works out. And thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for this video. I do own the Elan7 for a couple of years (wich it is known as the Eos 30 here in europe.) an i had no complains ever. The autofocus works really fast and precise, and the shutter is amazingly quiet! The most parts are made of aluminum and plastic, but it does not feel cheap in any way. I like also the possibility to use third part lenses from Tamron or Sigma without any issues. The only negative thing is in my opinion the rubbery surface. It peels of after 20 years of use, and sticks on my hands like a black chewing gum. I cleaned the surface only with alcohol and the problem was gone :-) The BP-300 is useful for this camera, you can put 4 AA batterys OR 2 CR123 cells in it. I believe, you can fit the battery grip also on the 2E. Using the Elan 7 with the 50mm 1.8 STM, the Tamron 70-300 IS and the 22-55 USM. The Eye-controlled autofocus is nice to have..but not a must have..i didnt use it. I found it on ebay back then for about 60 Euros (~80$) and now it is around 120~150 Euros! So if anyone own Canon lenses and try to get into film photography, try out this camera, it will you not let you down. Best greeting from europe!
That’s great! It sounds like you’ve had a similarly positive experience with yours as I have with mine. I really appreciate the comment! Thank you for watching! It’s pretty cool to know people from across the globe finding these videos. 🙏🏼🙌🏼
@@CraigBergonzoni Thanks Mate..yeah this camera is a workhorse for me and if it breaks.. guess i will buy it again! Like your channel and waiting for your next coming video. All the best and keep on shooting film!
The battery grip for this camera can indeed take both AA and 123a. Inside the battery compartment, there is a flap that folds up allowing the use of 123a batteries.
Good point!
This was great. I bought this camera in 2001, and took it to East Africa and got some superb shots. I've dug it out of storage a couple of times. I've been thinking about using it again. The big problem is getting film and finding a place to develop it, or scan the film into digital.
For spot focusing, Turn off the focusing switch on the lens. The meter will work only the center focusing square in the viewfinder.
I'll check that out. Thanks!
First of all thanks for the great video and the equally great pictures. This only motivates me to get back into Film photography. The reason why I decided to watch this video, is because today I pulled out a suit-case out of the closet filled with 5 film cameras. Included in those cameras is the Canon Elan 7e and the EOS3. My first Canon camera was the Elan II. What attracted me to this camera was the Chrome facing . Back then(as today), almost all camera manufacturers had decided to go all Black. So I found this camera unique and amazing. Boy this camera did not dissapoint either. I must have shot over 300 rolls with this camera coupled with the fact that I was going to Photography school at the time.
Then came Digital, so this camera went into a hot an humid closet where it virtually deteriorated and fell appart. it wasn't until years later that I decided to replace it with a Elan 7e. To me the 7e just felt more plasticky, plus it was much smaller(so I winded getting the battery pack for it). One of the reasons I purchased it and that you did not mention in the Video, is the sweet and quiet sounding shutter compared to the EOS3. The EOS3 had been my only film camera back then but I dreaded carrying to certain places because of it's size and the noise. I think I mentioned this before, but the shutter on the EOS3 is extremely LOUD. Much louder than even the shutter on the Elan II, much louder than on any camera for that matter.
In any case, another great thing about the 7e is that its very light. I can attach one of my heavy 'L' series lenses and carry it all day long with no problems. The focusing is also extremly fast and quiet, much better than on the Elan II and is right up there with the EOS3 ! After watching this video this is the first time I noticed that it doesn't have spot metering. Oh well I hardly ever use that anyway... One thing that got me scratching my head and made me wish I would have waited and got the more expensive 7n, is the lack of an LCD light. Of course if shooting at night you can always carry a small flash-light in your pocket ?
Hey Harry! That's awesome you have a Elan 7e! After all this time of me trying so many film cameras I think it's my favorite Canon film camera. It used to be the EOS 1n but I've realized I just prefer the Elans (II, 7, 7n). And you're absolutely right about the shutter on this camera. I don't know why i didn't talk more about that in this one. I know I mentioned before about other cameras. I know I've talked about that loud EOS 3 shutter in other videos. Yes, that thing is definitely LOUD.
Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words! Let me know if you shoot with it soon.
I've had my 7e for about 15 years now and I love it. Just replaced the film door latch and put on the battery grip today. The Workhorse lives on. I've heard some photographers say that it's all in the lens. A film camera body just holds the film. In someway yes, but the camera body is more than that. The camera body contains the auto focus system and the metering system and the 7, 7e, 7n and 7ne have great auto focus and metering systems. The 7 series cameras have the look and feel of a digital. The first thing I did after taking a picture was lower the camera and look at the back, expecting to review the shot I just took.
The good bad and the ugly. Well, lets start with the ugly. Getting used to the LCD for controlling the features after using a digital with a larger screen on the back could get ugly. Bad, why the 7n and 7ne didn't up the game with 45 focus points and a spot meter. Good, it's all good because with a decent scanner you can crank out some impressive megapixels. So, if you want to shoot film, this camera would be a great choice.
That’s awesome you fixed it and have the grip now! And yes I agree, a photographer should find a camera or cameras he or she loves to use and that compliments their style. Your creative tools are important. I completely understand the negatives you pointed out, I mean negative in relative terms. Even though my EOS 3 does have 45 AF points, spot metering and a larger LCD, I could totally make the 7 my only film camera. I’m super happy for you that you’re up and running again with yours. I’d love to see some of your work one of these days if you want to share. Thank you as always for watching and commenting!
I have an EOS 3 and just recently got an EOS 100QD (Elan) and loving it's lightness and near silent shutter. A POV video of you using some of your favourite models would be great. Also, really interested to see which ones you decide to keep at the end. Thanks.
Those are 2 great cameras you have! I like your idea of doing some POV type videos. I’ve been thinking about something along those lines so it’s good to hear people might be interested in that. Thank you for commenting and your feedback!
This camera is trully great! I can compare it to eos 3 and eos 1v, and it is still best value for money easily and might be even best choice on the market for a first slr, seriously. It offers a lot for a moderate price. It is easy to operate even a beginner can just pick this up and shoot with it straight away. My fiancee simply uses it in a program mode (I told her "p" letter on a dial stands for professional, so she feels better about herself:)) and it is just so efortless for her just to make photographs and enjoy. If to couple this camerawith 40mm pancake lens you get a super light but a very reliable and advanced photographic tool. There is only one thing that bothers me is a battery compartment cover, it feels so flimsy as it is ready get broken any time you open it. It absolutely doesn't match the rest of a housing which as you have fairly mentioned is a good quality.
So battery grip might be a good idea.
It is a great camera! Yeah, that battery door is an issue for a lot of people.
My last EOS film body before I went Digital in 2012 was an EOS 30 which is that camera in the UK. I loved that camera and only went digital due to braking the clip on the film door, on the back. I now shoot with a full frame DSLR (EOS 6D mk2) which I really like but wanted to shoot some film again. I looked for an old EOS 30 but all the ones online were quite scruffy and dirty. I eventually found a mint condition EOS 5 which is great and have just bought what looks to be a great condition EOS 3 body which I'm excited to get!
That’s so cool! Thanks for watching! I saw your comment on the EOS 3 video. Going to respond to that now
@@CraigBergonzoni thank you and yes, got the EOS 3 now and it's amazing! I will be selling the 5 I think
@sarahneedham best of luck with the 3! Keep me updated on how it’s going and share some work if you want. I’d love to see some
This a great camera its one of my main cameras when I use my Canon set up for film and digital
That's awesome! It's one of my all-time favorites. Thanks for watching!
I did it. I finally gave up film for digital. Yes I know Im one of the last hold outs but the camera that got me into photography was the Elan IIe and then I thought the 7 focal points of the Elan 7e was the best thing ever! I'll get to the point, I recently picked up photography again and started where I left off a gently used 7e! my dream camera in 2011! Well that same year Canon released the 7d, I got into digital with what I knew best and the EOS 7 line was my go to. Question, do you have a review of the 7d? The camera functions were just simular enough that the change from 35mm to digital was almost pianless lol almost, so far my 7d is neck and neck with my 7e.
Hey! I don't have a review of the Canon 7D. But maybe I need to revisit some of these cameras and review it. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Benefit of the 7 is that you have a wider array of third party lenses available. I traded my 2E for a 7 because I have a Tamron 35mm 1.8 that I want to use.
The 2E gives an error message (blinking battery symbol) with the Tamron lens. And it doesn’t communicate aperture. So I shot 2 rolls wide open without knowing that. The rolls still came out well.
Note: the autofocus does not work with either.
Good points! Thanks for watching and for this feedback!
I always enjoy watching your video because you always tell a good story and I can feel your passion. I do have a couple of different views though. I don’t think the 1/4000 s max shutter speed is a week point of this camera. Elan 7 is a mid-range product and should not be compared with EOS 3 or 1V. Rather, it should be compared with similar level cameras such as Nikon N80 whose max shutter speed is also 1/4000. On the other hand, if we compare Elan 7 with Canon Rebel series, should we say Elan 7’s 1/4000 s max shutter speed is a pro? I also want to point out the construction issue: the flimsy back door latch and battery door hinge. There are lots of complaints online. I don’t know why Canon does not pay attention to this, because Canon’s A series, T series, and almost all low to mid-range EOS series seem to have flimsy battery door issues.
You bring up great points. I think it's all in what you expect now from a "budget" film camera. a current used Canon A2e is cheaper than this often times and it has 1/8000 capabilities for example. I would still choose the ELAN 7 personally but I love this camera. And when I mad these videos I forgot about the battery door and film door latches. Yes they went the cheap route with these and it's unfortunate. I just forgot to talk about it. Thanks for watching and commenting! It's always good to get feedback.
@@CraigBergonzoni I see your point. I used A2e, 1V, and Elan 7，and I prefer the Elan 7. The 1V is better but much heavier. The only thing I miss in 1V is the brighter viewfinder. The rest of the higher specs are not important to me - the Elan 7 has all the feature I need. Thank you again; and hope you make more Canon videos.
The battery grip makes it a beast - looking for one!! Awesome video homes :)
Yes! The grip adds something to it that’s for sure! Plus it’s easy to find AA batteries for the grip. I hope you find one soon. Thanks for the kind words Paul!
@@CraigBergonzoni yeah double AAs are definitely better, 2cr5s add up, and somewhat (not terribly) hard to find. absolutely love how looks for sure - and yes it's a factor! :)
Hi Craig, I've owned my Elan IIe (50e) for a couple of months now, just ordered some Iford B/W film for it. However, I'm feeling really anxious about loading up and shooting, and I don't know why I'm feeling this anxiety.... Maybe digital nerves getting hold of me, I've not shot film in 15 years. Gulp...
Anyway, love this video, and I'm looking to add the all black Elan 7 to my collection. Many thanks.
Thanks for the kind words Rob! I totally get that anxiety, btw! Just give yourself some freedom to mess up a roll or two until you feel comfortable again. But I have a feeling it will work out great. Please let me know how it goes.
Great camera, picked one up about 15 years ago and took it out for a spin today. The battery grip is next.
Awesome! I’m happy to hear you’re shooting with it. It’s always great to hear feedback from other EOS film camera shooters. Thanks for watching and commenting! Much appreciated
@@CraigBergonzoni Lol, spoke too soon. Ordered a battery grip today, went a park today to take advantage of the fog. Shot a roll of Ilford Delta 400 and when I got home I decided to throw another roll in for next time. For some reason the back door wouldn't open. All of a sudden the door popped open and a tiny piece of plastic went flying. The plastic was the latch that holds the door closed. So, now I have a battery grip on the way for a camera I can't use. Plan B, searching the web for a 7e or a 7ne.
Oh that sucks man, sorry to hear that. I hope you find a replacement. Please let me know if you find one or not. If you run into trouble I can keep an eye out for one as well.
@@CraigBergonzoni Good news, I was able to find a replacement door latch on line and it comes with the tools needed. However, by the time I get the part and swap it out, it may be a month. So, yesterday I went out shooting with a Konica III.
Hows the AF perform in lower light in your experience? I dont really shoot film in low light but wouldnt mind grabbing a roll or two of some 800 speed film for the holidays when family visits and was curious how this camera would perform indoors with artificial light
Really cool. Thanks for the Infos. I just bought one today. 😀
That's awesome Fabian! Congrats! It's a fantastic camera. One of my all-time favorites. I hope you enjoy it.
I've been interested in getting this camera for a while so I just ordered this camera in mint condition with battery grip and date back. I'm paying $150 for it. I think I will probably keep B&W film in it and color in my EOS 3.
That’s awesome John! I hope you like it. I love mine. That sounds like a good strategy keeping B&W in this and color in the 3. I can’t wait to hear how it works out for you.
Have you ever try it on third party lens. My Tamron 35 SP 1.4 can’t auto focus and I don’t know why 😢.
just keep all of you're Cameras, I just purchased ELAN 7e :)
Nice! Congrats! One of my favorite film cameras ever. I hope it works out well for you.
Solid info on a couple of great cameras.
Thank you for watching and commenting!
I shoot with this camera and the Olympus IS-3, love them both!
Oh that’s awesome!! Thanks for watching and commenting by the way! I appreciate the support
I have been looking some of your videos back to front and I have to say I am glad you sat down. Much more relaxed! Enjoying all the videos though (subscribed). If you are looking for some Canon cameras to review I would like to hear your thoughts on the EOS 300V / Rebel Ti and the T-60. The 300V feels ridiculously cheap and is very light, but performs great even with the standard 28-90mm f4-5.6 lens. The fully manual, Cosina made, T-60 is quite a different shooting experience all together.
First off, thank you so much for watching and subscribing! I really appreciate it. And thank your feedback on the videos. I agree sitting down suits me so much better. I realize how I can come across on camera sometimes. My personality isn’t tailored made for being in front of the camera but sitting down and being more relaxed definitely helps. I will definitely add those two camera models to the list of cameras I will review. Those T-series cameras were interesting for sure. I own the T-90 and love many things about it. Thank you again for watching and for the feedback!
How low does it let you set the aperture for manual mode? I have a rebel 2000 and it only goes down to 4.0
What lens do you have on your 2000? Usually aperture settings are only limited by your lens. Is it possible your lens only opens up to 4.0? This is often the case with kit lenses like 18-55mm or lenses like that.
Thanks for another excellent review. I have a 7n which I have been very happy with. I'm interested to see how you think that compares to the original if you get a chance.
That’s awesome you have a 7n! Ironically I recently picked one up. It is obviously very similar to the 7 but they did refine some things. I’m not sure if I’ll make a dedicated video for the 7n quite yet but I may make a video talking about the ELAN II vs. the 7 vs 7n. The bottom line is I think it comes down to personal preference since they are all such solid cameras. Thank you for watching and commenting! I really appreciate it.
I have this camera but I really want the EOS 1V.
Oh I’m with you in that! I definitely want a 1V too! Thanks for watching and commenting btw!! Much appreciated
Very nice!! CAn you adapt old Canon lenses on this? Does it have a bulb mode?
You can find FD-EF adapters but they don’t adapt well. They’re often times too soft wide open and the results are a bit unpredictable, especially with an EF film camera where you can’t see the result and retake the shot. Ironically, old school manual focus Nikon lens adapt better to these cameras. The adapters for those are extremely small and you barely notice they’re on there. Btw, yes this does have bulb mode. I really like this camera. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Definitely don’t want that beep for anything “street” I’m assuming that can be turned off?
Yep. It definitely can be turned off. Thanks for watching!
Hi Craig! Ive been looking for an eos 7 slr but I am bit confuse. By any chance do you know if I lose out in terms of specs like AF if I go for an EOS 7 vs an EOS7s / EOS7ne?
Those are all great choices and you won’t be losing out on anything really.
@@CraigBergonzoni Thanks Craig! This helps a lot!
No problem! Best of luck!
Got my 7E for $50 in San Antonio Texas saw same one in Hamlin, VA for $180
Oh nice! You definitely got a great deal! Prices have gone up on the used market. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for watching!
This was fun to watch. I actually still have an Elan IIe QD, and an Elan 7e QD in outstanding shape. I'm the original owner of both. The IIe was my first real camera as a teen. Bought the 7e a year or two later but held onto the IIe to minimize lens swapping. I had just pulled them out the other day and threw batteries in them to see if they were still functioning ok. Both seem to be working flawlessly. Planning on running a few rolls through them in the near future for fun. Any specific films you recommend these days? I haven't bought any film in at least 15+ years, so my memory is pretty rusty. Anyway...thanks for the vid!
That's awesome! I bounce around between different films. For black and white I use Kodak TMax, Tri-X and Ilford HP5+ mostly. HP5+ is the best current value, IMO. For color Kodak Portra is a solid choice. You can get it at different speeds and it looks great. A lot of people shoot CineStill and love it. I just haven't tried it yet. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! Let me know what you end up shooting with your cameras.
My Elan 7 only goes up to 1994 on the data back. Is there any way I can reprogram it to permit 2022?
Hey Ian, I'm not sure actually. I never had the data back but I'll look into it.
@@CraigBergonzoni Thanks!
Rather get this version since when they were first released to the market... Half of the production of the eye controled version of these cameras were shipped with the eye control and beeper inoperable, rendering the calibration process imposible to achieve or with erroneous results. By the time Canon announced the recall... Most of the market war was turning to digital and not too many users cared about the feature anyway therefore just a few of these cameras were factory refurbished with the fix and by 2004 it was replaced with the Elan 7ne that came with the fixed control. The 7ne was just the exact same camera with the lighted lcd screen and a little cosmetic improvement over the 7e. For many it was just an excuse for not nailing quality control the first time right Canon!
I hate the texture of the 7ne and I been thru five 7e's bought at different online marketplaces already none fixed, so I would just get this version next or I would stay with the IIe or get the eos3?... Decisions, decisions!
Oh that is a tough decision between those 3 cameras. I don't think you can go wrong with any of those 3. Ironically, I just picked up a Elan 7ne. I don't know if I'll make a dedicated video on it since so much of it will be repetitive but I might make a video laying all of the Elans out together and doing a quick comparison between them. Thanks for the comment!
OOPS! I meant spot metering not spot focusing.
Thanks!
I just got an EOS 33, my battery grip powers the camera but my vertical shooting button doesn't seem to work on the grip. Even when I have it turned on. I did buy them separately. Do you know if there might be a specific way to activate the battery grip vertical shooting on the camera?
Hmmm. That's odd. Try these things - double check the battery compartment contacts and the contacts of the grip that goes into the camera, make sure they're all clean, change the batteries, try it in manual focus. I hope it starts to work! Let me know.
@@CraigBergonzoni What's weird is that the little button works but the shutter doesn't. It also supplies power fine. I will try to give the contacts a clean and let you know. Thanks for the advice.
@@CraigBergonzoni Seems to be working fine now, thank you.
Happy to hear that! 🙌🏼
Do you, or anyone else, have any issues with the battery life? Picked up my Elan 7 about a week ago, got brand new batteries, and it’s showing they’re almost dead already after 15 shots. I’m turning it off every time but the LCD screen stays on showing with frame it’s at. Help! I can’t find anything online about it
Do you have the vertical grip on the camera or without? Also, what brand of battery did you try?
@@CraigBergonzoni no battery grip. I got the CR123A lithium batteries from Amazon. I checked again this morning and they’re completely dead. Gonna try another set and see what happens. Hoping it’s maybe a fluke. Have you heard of this issue before?
I noticed the camera I received just says EOS 7. What is the difference between it and the EOL Elan 7?
Hey John, it’s the same camera. It was labeled and marketed just as the EOS 7 in Japan, EOS ELAN 7 in the US, and EOS 33 in Europe.
@@CraigBergonzoni So I assume since my camera just says EOS 7 on the front it was sold new in the Japan market which doesn't concern me. It is a beautiful camera that looks brand new. Also includes the date back and battery grip. Probably won't use either of those but nice to have.
That’s great yours is in such great condition!
John Leftwich hi. May I ask where you purchased your camera?
@@Just_Jelle Purchased in August from a seller on ebay. The camera is in absolutely mint condition.
I want this exact setup! If you are selling...let me know
I’ll definitely let you know. Thank you for watching! 🙌🏼
Where is the light meter?
It's built in to the camera. It's a Thru-the-lens metering system. It has a couple metering modes that you can switch between by pressing button on the back and on the top display it will show you which metering option you've chosen. Then when you look through the view finder you'll see the camera meter what ever you're pointing the camera at. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
I have a Elan 7-E that is in mint condition, but the door doesn’t close. I heard that was a big problem with the latch being broken.
That sucks yours has that issue. I’ve been lucky I guess. I’ve had 3 variations snd none have had that issue. I hope you’re able to fix yours or find one that works if you choose to. Thank you for watching and commenting!
I've owned this camera for 20 years and it has a fatal flaw--the film door latch. It is flimsy plastic and breaks at the slightest bump. Only way to repair it is to pirate a latch from another Elan body. I've done this 3 x and have had enough. this is a great and useless camera. I have upgraded to a Canon pro body at great expense. DO NOT buy these Elan 7 bodies if your are a serious working photographer.
Wow, that would be frustrating having to change that latch so many times. Thanks for watching and thanks for your insight!
@@CraigBergonzoni if you go to KEH, you will see most ELAN bodies are sold "as is" and it is because of the broken latches.
Waste of time! Didn't get any colored photos!!
Ha. Sorry your time was wasted. I only shoot B&W film and some color with my digital cameras. Thanks for watching though!