Canon EOS 50 E

The EOS 50e, also known as the Elan IIe, is often overlooked in favor of newer models. However, after many years this camera has not even begun to show its age. Anyone considering making the leap from compact to SLR should search for this gem.

The 50e is most often sold with the standard Canon 28-80mm lense and the usual accessories, and that's what I ended up with. Features include all the expected Canon goodies, with 3-point focusing being the only feature that falls short of today's standards. The controls are perfect - the dual wheels for controlling aperature and speed are placed perfectly and make manual operation a joy. All the automatic settings work so well that I often find myself guilty of letting the camera take care of all but aiming. The only problems I have had were with incorrect metering on bright, sunny days - giving me underexposed subjects. The built-in flash is good for a touch of fill or indoor work, but can result in overexposed shots every now and then. A durable, attractive body finishes the aray of features, but is a bit heavier than the newer models.

The standard 28-80mm lense is decent, and the Ultrasonic focusing is impressive, but I soon got the craving to upgrade. The camera has worked well for me using both a Canon 75-300mm and fixed 50mm lense.

Experienced photopgraphers will already know how good this body is, but those new to the field should ignore the 'flash' of the new models and look for this fantastic, but often overlooked camera.