I hope someone can help give me some advice. I have spent a lot of time researching the available cameras, lenses, etc., but of course its overwhelming. I am an amateur fairly competent, looking for a system to take travel pics, as well as decent photos to enlarge & frame. I have a backup Elan as well as EOS 35-105 USM and 100-300 USM 430EZ flash. My thoughts were Eos3 or Eos5 (A2e), or scrap everything & get Nikon F100 or N90. The flash & metering are making me lean towards Nikon, but I have Canon stuff already. Any help????

-- Harold Cordner (gassdoc@aol.com), October 10, 1999

Answers

Harold, I'm a Canon user (Elan IIe) - I like the fact that Canon doesn't hesitate to put their newer/hi-tech features in their lower end bodies. The EOS-3 and Rebel 2000 have more in common than the EOS-3 and EOS-5. You have a ring USM lens - Nikon's Silent Wave is only in a few of their expensive lenses, right? Ring USM is in a lot of Canon lenses, whether they be L series or consumer. E-TTL flash technology works for me. In short, if you're happy with Canon, why not stay with Canon? And...if you haven't done this already, read the Nikon vs Canon postings.

-- James Hicks (jhicks992@aol.com), October 10, 1999.

Oops...I meant to say to look at the Nikon vs Canon section of Original Q&A on photo.net - good luck!

-- James Hicks (jhicks992@aol.com), October 10, 1999.

I use Nikon but am very impressed with a friend's EOS 3. Not impressed enough to make me switch. Flash metering in similar circumstances still seems better with Nikon and I like the finder better on the Nikon. If you where glasses (I don't) then the larger view with the Nikon will make life easier for you. As far as autofocus (speed & accuracy), or quality of lenses I don't think there is any real difference. To compare apples to apples compare the EOS 3 against the Nikon F100 for a couple of hours and see what feels best in your hands.

-- Ellis Vener (evphoto@insync.net), October 11, 1999.

I agree with Ellis. He's usually a good thinker and expresses himself well on Photo.net. Too bad he's stuck with Nikon. Just kidding Ellis!

You really should try both of these though. But don't compare the EOS 5 with them. The 3 and the 100 have far superior flash metering. Though it is seldom you will see a difference between the 3 and the 100. Once you get the EOS 3 you will probably want to upgrade your lenses and especially your flash to a new 550EX to take advantage of that superior flash metering. And since you are going to want to do that, there is no real gain to sticking with the Canons. It's the perfect time to figure out which system you want to buy into. I'm sticking with Canon though.

-- Jim Strutz (jimstrutz@juno.com), October 11, 1999.

Sorry Harold but nobody can answer that question except you. Ellis is right, try them both and then see which system (it is a system, remember!) suits you the best. Both Nikon and Canon are excellent systems, probably the best and more complete of 35mm photography. Good luck!

lp

-- Louis-Philippe Masse (phisa@generation.net), October 12, 1999.

I use Nikon, but Canons are great so why not just continue to build what you have. I am a commercial photographer but almost ALL my friends who work for the newspapers swear by their Canon stuff.

-- Dave Wilson (wbigdave@home.com), October 13, 1999.

I like Nikon gear better, but unless you are dissatisfied with your gear, it makes little sense to change. I'd get an A2E. They feel very light and plasticky, but those bodies have a ton of features in them, and wow, quiet... they're nearly silent with USM lenses. And the motor drives does 5 fps.

-- Jim MacKenzie (photojim@yahoo.com), October 22, 1999.

Whay are some people compairing the F100 to Canon's top of the line EOS 3? Thebig debate over canon's flash exposure metering is only an argument for people that do not know how to use Canon's flash system. Nikon's flash metering is more delecate but to say it is better if both used correctly? NO way! Canon's bad rap with flash exposure comes from people who cannot or have not used it correctly, In Phillip Greenspun's review of the A2/EOS5 he comments on how bad the flash metering is for of center subjects. He was not using the camera correctly...read about that in the review of the EOS5 under commmets

-- lee lemmon (ls533@aol.com), December 28, 1999.

Boy, I am really tired to read all those comparisons. You know why? There are differences in systems, but ANY recent system will let you to do the main thing - get nice pictures. Buy/use the stuff which better fits your needs. No matter what company produced it. Think a lot, read a lot, find features you REALLY need and make a desicion. Can't decide - talk to experienced photographers, many of them went through the same process. You do not know what exactly you want to shoot? Get an manual focus camera with 50 mm lens ($100-120) and shoot few hundreds rolls. This is an old way, but it really works.

By the way, I have a pretty fancy AF system, but still use my 15 years old manual camera with great results.

Just my 2 cents....

-- Abe (abe_sc@hotmail.com), January 11, 2000.

Abe,s comments would reflect mine as far as giving advice on this subject. Do your homework and do research before you buy....but do stay with Canon. IMHO their technology has surpassed Nikon and likely will continue to do so at this point.

-- Jeff Hallett (franjeff@alltel.net), January 25, 2000.