SLR-Camera Reviews

I have been a Nikon user for over 20 years, and owned at least six different bodies and lots of lenses. My all time favorite is the FM2N. Why Nikon? It's the lenses! Nikon seems to understand this is the main selling point of their system. SO they have never changed the F lens mount. You can use older manual focus AI and AIS lenses on the D70. The bad news: The meter won't work. However on a digital SLR, the LCD confirmation mitigates this since you can check your exposures. You could also use a handheld light light meter. More good news: depth of field preview works with AI and AIS lenses! So I've been having a great time using my manual lenses on the D70. This camera is really a winner and costs no more than some of the ridiculous "prosumer" digicams out there. It's far more versatile.

It's easy to use-if you've used another digicam or even a recent Nikon 35mm SLR. The fact that I've been able to figure out most settings necessary without even cracking the manual is impressive.
The flash syncs at 1/500! This makes for some really creative fill flash outdoors or in the studio. All necessary settings are within easy reach, and no stupid five click deep menus for stuff like ISO. All the important stuff like ISO, Metering pattern, Exposure modes, White Balance, etc. have a dedicated button right on the body. No fumbling to change stuff while shooting.

Shutterlag is virtually non-existent. It's almost as good as my FM2N. But face it, if you want zero shutter lag then get a manual 35mm camera! However with the D70, you will not notice it.

The Lens-the kit lens is a 18-70mm (27 to 105mm). It's pretty good, and the color has that gorgeous Nikon hue. It's bright for a zoom. A lot of people are criticizing this lens unjustly. It does have a lot of barrel distortion on the wide end, but for landscapes you'd never know. It's got a very good wide angle range for a digital lens. It's a great value, and way better than any junk Sigma puts out.

ViewFinder-Some have slammed the viewfinder. It does take a little getting used to, like looking down a long dark corridor at first. But it's just as bright as any AF SLR once you get used to it. I think Nikon designed it this way to get people used to the CCD aspect ratio. It's kind of like watching a DVD in letterbox format. Good news: the viewfinder has a diopter for eyeglass wearers.

Picture Quality-This is where the rubber meets the road. At all ISO settings, the images are superb. Colors are saturated and lifelike, with the "Nikon Pop". They remind me of a good ISO 100 slide film like Kodak E100G, or Fujichrome Velvia 100. Best of all, the grain is very low, even ISO 1600 is not bad when printed to 8 x10. This is a huge advance over my older Canon G2 digital. Like I said, think ISO 100 slide film.

This is destined to be one of Nikon's legends, like the N8008, N90, FM2N, etc. You get a lot of value for your money, much more than the Canon Digital Rebel. A lot of pros are buying D70s for backup, and the Press Photographers Association of Japan just picked the D70 as new camera of the year! What else could you ask for? This is a top drawer camera with a great lens.

Simply put, the Nikon D70 is the finest camera I have ever used. As an amateur photographer I have owned a variety of Nikon SLRs during the age of film photography. That is until the digital bug hit me with the introduction of the Olympus C2020 (a superb camera in its own right). I have anxiously awaited the day when I could return to the SLR and do it digitally. The D70 has made my day! This camera is incredibly easy to use and intuitive right out of the box. You can easily operate exposure controls, flash, and etc. without going through menus. All the settings can be seen in the viewfinder and the control dials are in the right places so you don't have to take your eye off the subject. It felt like coming home again to use an SLR, shoot through a viewfinder, and quickly and easily adjust exposures. Since there is no shutter-lag with this camera, and image writing to the card is fast, you don't have to anticipate your shots. Image quality is phenomenal and the 6 megapixel count assures you of excellent "darkroom" control. There are so many image capture options available in its menu that it pays to test the camera for settings that satisfy your needs (e.g. regulating sharpness, contrast, and tonal distributions). But even the default automatic settings provide photographs that can be beautifully printed right out-of-the-box. The 18-70mm DX lense that comes with the kit (equivalent to 27-105mm for 35mm film) is a great buy and delivers excellent image quality. I only wish its filter size (67mm) matched any of the filters that I had acquired for my old lenses. For the serious amateur who wants the level of control and image quality that only an SLR can provide, the Nikon D70 is definitely it. The affordable digital SLR has arrived! Sorry, Kodak, the era of film photography has truly come to an end.

Lets get to the main point of buying a DSLR - I wanted fast & sharp results with versatility included. This is what I wanted and this is what I got! The price couldn't get much cheaper or it'd be an absolute steal (not that it already isn't). I feel like a real professional just HOLDING the D70. Truth is, I wouldn't give up this baby for the world. Digital SLR's are so much better than some cheap point and shoot restraintive camera. Break free and buy a D70! Look at the flawless reviews, try it out, and see for yourself. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

I just received my camera last week and so far I love it. I haven't found any negative things yet. I bought the kit with the 18-70 lens. The Nikon is better than the Canon Rebel I had a month ago. I also bought the SB-800 flash and it's great. I love the flash sync of 1/500 second. It will take me a few weeks to learn the new features but I'm loving every photo I take.

I have had Nikon cameras for most of my adult life, and that is more years than I care to count. The Nikon D70 is the best I have ever used. It is fast, comfortable, and elegant. Its pictures are sharp, properly exposed, and always in focus with Nikon's fast AF system.

The batteries last for months with regular use, provided you don't upload your pics direct to your PC from the camera. I suggest you purchase an inexpensive card reader for the upload process.

I suggest buying the package, which includes the body, a battery, and a great 18-70mm AF lens. I do not recommend that you buy from Amazon. They are several hundred dollars more than most of their online competitors.

In closing, take the plunge with this great camera. It is easy to use, versatile, and an absolute best buy that will give you many years of pleasure. Great for the professional, the amateur, and those happily in between.

Simply an amazing piece of work. I'm an advanced amateur who felt somewhat dejected that Nikon had let Canon outdo them with the 10D vs. D100 comparison. Thankfully, that was a short reign for Canon as this camera blows the doors off of both the 10D and D100. It has everything, and everything done well that all be the professional photojournalist would want in a dSLR.

If you are considering a 300D, please, please reconsider. This is a far superior camera. It is better than the 300D's big brother the 10D and is untouched by any of the other <$2k range cameras out there.

If you have no interest learning how to use the flexibility the D70 will provide you, consider asking yourself why you are spending over a thousand dollars on a camera.

I'd strongly recommend getting a 512M CF card of the faster type (min speed maybe 12x). Why? because one of the neater things about he D70 is the ability to shoot very, very fast. With a normal speed card, like the standard Sandisk 512, you slow down and wait for the card. In most digitals, it is the camera that is slower, not the card.

The kit lens is quite nice. It isn't a drop dead top of the line Nikon, but it is better than most, and is a great standard every day lens. Given the crop factor of the CCD, it is equivalent to a 27-105mm lens on a 35mm camera. You may want to get a 70-200mm Nikkor to go with it, or to save money one from Sigma or Tamron. I also use a Tamron 28-200mm, which works well for this camera since its one major flaw, vignetting at large apertures, goes away completely for the same reason, the crop factor. Note that a 70-200 acts like a 105-300, and the 28-200 behaves like a 42-300.

A final note, shoot in raw format, not jpeg. One of the nicest things is that you can really, really see a significant improvement in picture quality by doing some quick touch up of the 12 bit image before saving to jpeg for printing or emailing. Also, for reference, the 512 Meg card holds 95 raw images even though the camera indicates half that when powered up. That is the one bug in the firmware I've found, but it is a very minor issue.

I had decide that it was time in my life to buy a nicer camera than a point-and-shoot camera. I looked around on the internet and went to local stores that sold good quality cameras. I looked at cameras made by Nikon, Cannon, Minolta, Pentax, and Sigma, because i had heard that they were the top brands.

After several days of looking and comparing options and prices I settled on the pentax camera. I chose it because
1. it was reasonably priced
2. How user friendly it was and
3. Because it had extensive options.
Basically everything I wanted out of a camera.

I suggest to you to do the same thing i did. Just look around everywhere and compare all of the options and special features of the cameras. I also recamend that if you do buy an slr camera you should get a polorizing lens cover or even just a plain lens cover, because it is exremely easy to scratch the lens.

I am 14 years old and new to the photographic world. After doing months of research on what I wanted to be my first camera I decided on the Pentax ZX-30 Quartz Date. It was probably one of the best choices I have made. As a beginner I was looking for a camera that was simple to operate, but one that would give me quality pictures and versatility for me to be creative. This camera was my answer. My first roll of film was beautiful. My mother has a home daycare so I immediately started taking pictures of the kids. When I got my first roll of film back I was amazed at the quality of the pictures. They were wonderful. This camera gives you a variety of settings yet it is simple enough that you can have fun without having to deal with confusing dials and knobs. This is the choice for a beginner who wants to take photography seriously. Buy and enjoy!!

I have owned this camera for the last 3 yrs. Not a single complaint so far. Most of the time I have used the auto settings even though it has a manual option. Excellent focus even in low light conditions and the focus lock is pretty fast. Yet to have a bad shot except for those occasional out of focus pictures which were mostly because of my fault.

Operation is pretty simple and does not have much frills to worry about. Excellent value for the price

I recently upgraded from Dynax 5 to Dynax 7 (Or what you folks over sea call it - Maxxum:), and I really found all the features I missed in my Dynax 5. It's auto focus is very responsive and fast, metering really performs well in most situations, controls are intuitive and easy to use, big LCD provides a lot of things to tweak with, exposure memory for 7 rolls is really useful too.
I do not use Minolta lenses however, Sigma EX series are the ones to use if you want quality for affordable price.
Ah, and my favourite Sigma lens is the 24-70/2.8 EX DG, it really is awesome, and has 'D' mount for Minolta too :)
Theres only one thing about Maxxum 7 I do not enjoy...the weight...it really should have been heavier!

This is by far the best camera I have ever owned in my life, be it point and shoot, film or digital. I'm in the Marine Corps and took this camera with me in Afghanistan and Iraq and it went through some of the most extreme weather imaginable and kept on working. The camera is not labeled as splash-proof, but it should be -- I dropped this camera in a dirty puddle and I pulled it out and it was still working. I never had it fail on my one time. The autofocus is also amazingly fast and accurate. It's a professional quality camera with beginner level accessibility.

Considering this is the body that Minolta is using for their new Maxxum Digital SLR, I know I'll be buying that camera as well.

This is an excellent contemporary high-tech camera. I tend to shoot in aperature controlled mode, and it is very easy to change aperatures, to bracket exposures so you get three to seven shots in rapid fire with slightly different settings, and to see differing depths of field. Depending on the lens, it can also be relatively easy to modify the auto focus (so, for example, you move the center of the focus in front of or behind your subject to get the right part of the scene in focus), but note that some lenses will clutch and not be able to be hand-manipulated, leading to a need to switch to manual focus with those lenses in some cases.

What really sells this camera, though, is the wireless flash. Do not underestimate how much this can improve your flash pictures. It is very easy to use -- I literally have shown my 3 year old, who was very curious, how to do, and got some good shots of him in the process. If you buy this camera, you should buy at least one of the Minolta "D" flashes.

As you take bracketed shots in continuous focus mode, the camera does a good job of remaining in focus. For those of us with glasses, there is a diopter adjustment in the viewfinder that adjusts the viewfinder to our own current prescription. On manual focus, this has a real impact on my photos, where my focus was previously a bit soft much of the time.

I end up with a couple of minor complaints -- the selector button that lets you choose which sensor to use in focusing is placed right where my nose can hit it, and I've had to learn to take care not to accidentally change the setting with my nose. Also, I'd like to see the new anti-shake technology that is being incorporated in Minolta's new digital 7 incorporated into the 7. I suspect it is just time until this happens.

All in all, an extraordinary camera.

After years of using compact 35mm advantix cameras, I recently purchased a Minolta STsi from a national internet source ... This particular model came with a Minolta 35 - 80mm lens. As an accessory, I also purchased a Minolta 75 - 300mm ultra zoom lens. Thus far, I have taken approximately 300 pictures with both lenses, using primarily 400 or 800 speed film. I have encountered no problems of any kind with either the camera or lenses, and have been quite satisfied with all aspects of the camera... to include picture quality. To assist a prospective buyer, I offer the following opinions and suggestions:

1. Overall impression: This is a good, all-around "keep it forever" camera for the recreational photographer. It has an optional date stamp feature, which helps to identify when a photo was taken after you have posted it to a scrapbook and forgotten everything about it. It also can be switched to panorama mode at anytime during a roll of film, if desired. Perhaps most importantly, it is very easy to use. The controls are simple and straightforward. The autofocus mode works well, and makes the camera extremely user-friendly.

2. Lenses: In hindsight, I made a poor choice by buying the separate 75 - 300mm zoom. For approximately $50 more, I could have bought a single telephoto lens (for example, 28 - 300mm) which covered my entire desired ranges. This, in turn, would have made it much easier to take spontaneous pictures without having to stop and change lenses. Perhaps this is an insignificant issue to most people, but consider it if you plan on using your camera for overseas or domestic travel where you might need a close-up shot followed immediately by a telephoto zoom shot of something else in the distance.

3. On size: While I enjoy this camera and it's advanced capabilities, it has occasionally proven to be a burden compared to a small, handheld camera... particularly during overseas travel. In order to present less of a profile to potential thieves or terrorists, I usually end up taking only the short lens and securely wrapping the strap and camera (without the case) around my hand for a greater degree of security and cover. If considerations such as this do not apply to you or concern you, then you should have no complaints.

4. In closing, I conducted approximatly 14 hours of internet research for SLR cameras in the $400 - $500 range. In the end, I chose the STsi due to the following factors by priority: Price (...w/ the 35 - 80 lens), features, retailer reviews and brand/style. In my case, a more expensive and capable SLR camera would not have been worth the money. Bottom line, the STsi was a good choice.

I got this camera as a birthday present in December of '00. The camera is great. In automatic mode it is very easy to use. Just point, autofocus, and shoot. The camera is also very light. And because what you see in the viewfinder is exactly what the lens sees, you know exactly how the photo is going to turn out. In manual mode you can set your own apeture and the camera will choose the shutter speed, you can set the shutter speed and the camera will choose and apeture, or you can set the shutter speed and apeture. The camera has a setting to remove red eye, and to make multiple exposures on one frame. Plus, Minolta makes over 40 different lenses that will fit this camera. So you have a wide variety of lenses to choose from if you want to get wider, or closer shots. So, if you are planning on buying a camera for a beginer or a pro, this is an excelent gift.

I purchased this camera for my mother a year ago. I think I have used it more than her! I have finally decided to purchase one for myself. It is so easy to use. The lenses change easily. The auto focus makes it almost impossible to take a "bad" picture.

Before buying this little gem, I looked at almost every digital on the market. This was the only one that accepts both types of flash memory (CompactFlash and SmartMedia), it's also one of the very few digital SLRs that don't cost a fortune. Camera is a cinch to operate, whether you're a pro or an amateur. Only real quibble I have is the oddball size of the lens (43mm) - try finding a 43mm step-up ring in your corner camera store! Autofocus is supurb, the resolution is incomparable, and coupled with a good photo-printer, this cannot be beat.

I am new to the world of digital cameras. After spending a month of reading online reviews, and review sites, I decided on the C2500L. It was very easy to start using right away. The defaults for point and click use produced very nice images. I've been playing with the customizable settings (manual white balance, aperature, and shutter speed) for the last few weeks. The pictures I'm taking now are even better. I'm still learning, but am quite satisfied.

I tend to take a lot of pictures under flourecent type lighting, as I take pictures of my reptiles. The camera has the ability to adjust the auto-white balance, by calibrating it on a white surface under the light you will be taking the picture. That does a great job. And if it isn't precise enough, I can manually select the color temperature.

It does a great job at focusing. I still need to work on having a steadier hand, especially for those close-up shots. Now, speaking of close-ups. This camera does a GREAT job at macro shots. To test it out, I put the lens cap on the table. I was about an inch away from it, and it came out crystal clear... lettering and all.

The camera also does a good job at adjusting brightness levels, without messing up the color. It gets a little grainy under the lower light conditions, but it hasn't been too much of a problem for me. I am impressed with its ability to get a solid focus in very low light conditions.

Some of the drawbacks are: You can't use the LCD as a view finder. It will display the image on the LCD right after you snap it, but you must use the optical view finder for aiming. I don't mind this too much, as I like to look through the lens! Yes, through the lens. This being an SLR gives me a comfortable feeling that what I see it what the camera sees. Actually, that's really my main gripe. I'm pretty much satisfied with everything else, so far.

In summary, if you are willing to spend the money, it's a great camera. I've been reading up on photography now, and believe that this camera should be good enough for my abilities for a good long time.

-Alex

If you can get past the price for this baby online, than I would recommend you buy. This is a real nice 35mm type digital camera.

Plenty of settings from f-stop to zoom to format to size. Remote is real handy if you feel like being in the picture for a change, instead of someone saying where are you in this photo.

Zoom lens, Macro lens and plenty of filters. Shop around though you can get it cheaper.

The Canon EOS Elan IIe offers something for everyone - from the expert to the beginner. It can be completely automatic, point-and-shoot, or you can make it completely manual or any combination in between. Canon has adjusted some of its dials from previous Elans to make it easier to make adjustments without looking at the top of the camera - very helpful when you're looking at a subject through the view.

One thing that sets the Elan IIe from other camera is its eye control focus system. Three boxes are in the view finder. Look at any one of those boxes, the Elan flashes red, and the camera focuses on that spot. Look in between two of the boxes, and you focus the camera on whatever is between them. While this sounds very high-tech, its incredibly easy to use, works with glasses, and has pre-sets for up to three people since the the camera "learns" more about its user the more the person uses the system. I found this to be incredibly accurate and easy to use. It's useful when your framing a picture with the subject off center.

The camera takes amazing pictures...I mean amazing. It's a great camera for a family - the beginner can use the point and shoot mode, and the family photographer can use all the manual configurations. It can be as simple or complex as you'd like with all the functionality and flexinbility you'll need.

I've had my Elan IIe for a year now. It has traveled all over the US providing me and my family with great pictures of our adventures. With other AF SLRs, I used to be happy if a roll of film delivered just one or two really good shots --now I get one great picture after another whenever the full autofocus is used.

I have to admit, I am still learning all of the manual functions... but that is what's so terrific about this camera; its user can move into and out of manual and autofocus controls while learning how to operate the Elan IIe.

The personalized eye-focus option is perfect for families who like to take turns getting behind the camera. I have mine calibrated for use with contacts in or glasses on -and it takes great shots either way.

It is a tough camera that performs well in all kinds of inclement weather and conditions (try a rocking sailboat in the rain photographing breaching humpback whales from several hundred feet! --and still I got some great shots).

I agree with other reviewers, however, that the only real downside to this camera is the lack of focusing points in manual focus mode. I have learned to autofocus and then fine tune in manual --but that doesn't work very well for fast-moving subjects. Also, its autofocus is limiting for extreme close-up subjects. If the user doesn't have a good idea about manual settings (or the desire to even try them)-the sole use of autofocus will limit your picture taking.

This is a great camera for anyone who wants to jump to the next level and break away from the confines of a full-time auto controlled SLR.

This camera is hands-down the best 35mm camera for its time. The eye control feature allows you to pin point the subject no matter what the background. For entry-level use, there is a simple center focus that will allow even the least experienced user to take great pictures.

As with all cameras, film matters. Use the lowest speed possible and try to match the film with the development process.

For baby shots, the red eye reduction works better than any previous camera I owned.

Someone please comment on the quality of and ability to take pictures of the stars and moon with this camera please/thanks.

...This is a really great camera to say the least. It was pretty easy for me to figure out how to use it after playing with it for an hour. I love that it can shoot in both color and black & white. It can also take QuickTime movies. It works with both Smart Media and Compact Flash cards. If you have a 128 mb card and use the cam in a the lowest resolution, it can take almost 1,500 photos!! Pictures are high-quality (crisp and detailed). Colors are vibrant and true. Works EXCELLENT in low-light conditions. There are tons of other things and settings to play with and you can even program your favorite settings into it. It has Telephoto, macro mode, and image-stabalization. One feature that I found particularly useful is the tiny remote. Just put the cam on a tripod, (press a button & a red light shows you exactly where to stand), get in position and take your self photos. I absolutly LOVE this camera! FYI, this camera is somewhat heavy, not a big deal if it doesn't bother you. I recomend getting a good sturdy tripod. The camera also comes with very high-quality batteries. None of the rechargables I bought lasted nearly as long, but I would recommend getting at least 2 spare sets of rechargables for when you're "out and about". An ac-adapter would be a good investment if you plan on using the camera for extended periods of time indoors. Oh, it also comes with Adobe Photoshop 5 LE. The other software that comes with the camera is "ok", I didn't really need it since my preffered method of downloading photos is with a card reader.

Hope this helps!

I have used a Kodak DC-215 which I felt was a great value when I purchased it for [PRICE] a couple of years ago. It has a 2X optical zoom and produces excellent quality pictures.

I have used this and other digital cameras with a great deal of success, but have been dissapointed with the lens limitations compared to my SLR on which I can change lenses from 28mm wide angle to a 70 to 210mm zoom.

The E-100RS is the answer to all of my concerns about digital photography. Even without the external flash unit, which is really slick too, the camera as delivered from Olympus is complete and needs nothing to give you great digital photos.

Given that most digital photography ends up on the Internet, the 1.5 MegaPixel rating is not an issue at all. Photo quality is excellent even at 1.5.

The only thing limited is that it comes with an 8MB card, which is almost useless. Thankfully, memory card prices have dropped and a 128 MB Smart Media card can be purchased for less than [PRICE], and Compact Flash cards are even less expensive.

Oh and the camera can hold both at the same time and only requires you to make a menu selection to store your photos on one or the other. You can even copy from one card to the other! Then, using the supplied USB cable, you can access the active card from your computer just as if it was another hard drive. Excellent!

The "rapid shot" features work well. The issue of not taking shots right away is not a problem at all.

I charged the supplied 1600maH NiMH batteries right away after getting the camera. I played with it, taking lots of shots, quick time movies(it'll do those too), rapid-shot sessions, and only then, after a full week of this, did the batteries go weak. High maH batteries are a must for this camera. Extra sets of 1800 maH (even better) batteries are economical.... Keep one set in the camera and one in the charger to be safe. I did run one set of Energizer alkalines through it and they did not last very long.

This is a professional quality camera and slightly above a consumer price range. The improvements are well worth it.

Get one while your can!

Strengths: Lightweight, easy to use from full automatic to full manual. Depth of field preview (excellent feature!), AE lock, quick auto focus for price range, seven focusing points. Countless lenses and accessories available both from Canon and third party mfgrs. If you have large hands, I recommend the optional battery pack ... which also doubles as a vertical grip with duplicated shutter control and port for remote switch. I simply can't imagine these features on any other camera at a comptetitive price. Thinking about a "point and shoot"? Save your money and get this camera instead.

Weaknesses: Included manual not very comprehensive, but spend a few hours with this camera and you can figure most features out yourself. If you need written instructions, I'd recommend the excellent Magic Lantern guide....

Also, try another lens, like a 28-200mm aspherical lens, if you want just one lens to carry around.

This my first SLR, although I'd borrowed others from friends for a while. I bought this right before spending three months driving cross-country and shooting in a ton of different conditions. I hiked hundreds of miles, shot over 50 rolls, and it always did a great job, regardless of whether I was using the manual settings or the automatics ones. The advanced features are easy to use if you just spend a little bit of time reading the instructions. Having been used to older SLR's without any sort of automatic or digital features, I was thrilled with all the options this camera provided.

I think the lens Canon include is somewhat cheap, as it is very lightweight and plastic. I bought a Sigma 100-300mm lens for the camera and it feels much more sturdy and well built than Canon's included 28-90mm. However, Canon's lens never gave me any trouble, it just felt cheap.

I would suggest buying a number of accessories for the camera, such as a tripod, polarizing filter, UVA filter, remote shutter release (to avoid shaking the camera when it's on a tripod and for long exposures), and a larger zoom lens (Sigma makes some great ones that are less expensive than Canon's).

This a very beutiful and good start camera. 28-90 mm Lens, Silver, Date are specialities of this camera. You will love it
to have this in Hands. For more serius photographers may seek
higher end models for reasons such as Plastic lens mount and wide
range of accessories. But for a beginer, This is a wonderful canon to own.

I've had my Canon EOS Elan II for almost seven years and though my technique has advanced, this camera is still home to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for improved technology -- digital cameras, memory cards, photo quality printers, etc should not be ignored. But nothing beats a 35mm SLR, especially with this kind of setup. What's so great about the Canon EOS is that it gives the photographer the power of choice. Unlike simple point-and-shoots, the Elan II offers the option between automatic and manual exposure settings (or even somewere in between) to ultimately empower the photographer to gauge how much creative/technical input he/she wants in his photographs. In addition, features like focus lock, bracketing, depth of field control, dual exposure for creative superimposed images, almost seem like welcome icing on the proverbial cake.

Abuse is the order of the day with my camera, and I'm happy to say that my Canon has held steadfast in this regard too. Durability is not a problem here. If you're thinking seriously about taking better photographs, you can't go wrong with this one. It's well worth the investment.

Let's start with durability. I've had this camera for two years, and even though I've dropped it, left it in the sun, gotten it wet (with sea water!) and done about a hundred other things to it, it still works perfectly. That is impressive.

But you buy a camera for the quality of its pictures, and the Elan II excels in this regard. I agree with other reviewers that you should upgrade to a better lens than the one that comes with it, but this body will help you get the outstanding photos you want.

This is the perfect camera for all levels of expertise, except perhaps for the total professional. I was a beginner when I bought the Elan II, and it was simple enough for me to use out of the box. Now that I've been studying photography for a couple years, I still haven't outgrown this camera. It has all the advanced features you want. It allows you to go fully manual or fully automatic, plus any combination in between. The controls are intuitively laid out and simple to use. And don't underestimate the value of having access to Canon's complete line of EOS lenses.

I've owned this camera for three years and have yet to had any problems with it and it's quality never ceases to amaze me. I highly recommend this camera to amateur-professional photographers. Whether you are new to the photography world or a seasoned photographer this camera allows for versatility, capatablity, and most of all, convenience. Functions as a simple automatic camera to complex fully manual camera w/lots of extra features for creative photographers!