I am looking for the camera SLR, but I am not sure which one to pick now. Canon 7e or Nikon N80. The price is quite the same, Nikon 80 around 380 and Canon 7e is around 440. The thing I concern about the functions. Could anybody tell me about these 2 new cameras. I read all the threads about Canon Vs Nikon, but that is for old camera Canon Elan IIe and Nikon N70

-- Anh Tran (anht1706@hotmail.com), April 17, 2001

Answers

I can't tell you anything about the Canon, but the Nikon F80 (N80) is a fabulous camera. It has great AF, all the features that you'd need, although I find the continous AF tracking a bit sluggish.

-- Guan Yang (guan@unicast.org), April 17, 2001.

I can't tell you anything about the Nikon, but the Canon Elan 7e (EOS 30e) is a fabulous camera. It has great AF, all the features that you'd need, and I find the continuos AF tracking really swift.

Sorry, I just can't help myself. :~))

Both are very good cameras. The N80 offers spot metering. The Elan 7e offers eye-controlled focusing, (and the AF tracking really is good). The Nikon AF's better in low light. The Canon is quieter. I don't think it matters which one you get. Whatever it is, you'll be convinced it's the best one for you. You won't be disappointed with either.

Since you are buying into a system though, I do think that there is a difference in philosophy of these companies that might effect what you buy. Canon usually tries out it's newest technology in it's mid- range cameras & lenses first. Nikon reserves the high tech stuff for introduction with it's high-end equipment. Just look at eye-control, USM focusing motors and Image Stabilization. Nikon has everything except the eye-control, but it's only put on the expensive stuff.

In the past, Nikon has tended to spend more of its resources on developing the fundamentals. Until recently, they have arguably had better flash and ambient metering systems, at least on the top of the line stuff. I think Canon has caught up on this with their newest cameras & flashes, but it's been clear to me over the years that Nikon has put more emphasis on this in the past. That's probably why the N80 has spot metering and the Elan 7e only has partial area metering.

Depending on what you want to emphasize, which cameras & lenses you plan on ending up with, how much you eventually want to spend on it all, and how much you value affordable high tech, this might/should influence what you buy now.

-- Jim Strutz (jimstrutz@juno.com), April 17, 2001.

Thank you for your advice. Besides, the Canon Elan 7e and Nikon N80. I also consider the lens. I cannot affort for the top of the line lens from Nikon and L lens from Canon. I have read the reviews. The mid range lens Canon 28-105 or 28-135 USM are very good quality and reasonable price. How about the Nikon AF lens? If I buy N80. which mid range lens from Nikon with the quality similar to those of Canon I can buy. Thank you.

-- Anh Tran (anht1706@hotmail.com), April 17, 2001.

When I bought into AF in 1996, Canon was the clear winner with the Elan IIE and 28-105 USM lens. Now its so much closer, that I would recommend going to the camera store and handling both systems (Camera + the lens you are considering - not the cheapo "Kit" lens). Have the eye control set up and see if it works for you. I find eye control very useful in most cases.

At the end, buy the one that feels the best to you.

Also, the Nikon 28-105 has a very good reputation and is reasonably priced. For Canon, you should also consider the 24-85 (see review in photo.net).

Best of luck.

-- kenneth katz (socks@bestweb.net), April 18, 2001.

Anh, Jim, and Kenneth--

Thanks for your question and your answers. I was about to post the exact same question!

If the Canon 7e and Nikon N80 are similar, then hiow would an older N8008s compare? Used N8008s's are cheaper, and seem to offer similar features.

Thanks again!

-- Dan Andrews (danger@mindless.com), April 20, 2001.

AFAIK the N8008s does not use the "D" technology, i.e., it will accept the lenses (and AF with them), but will not use distance information in flash exposure metering. And the AF is rather slow compared to the newer models from both manufacturers. I am not sure whether the N8008s can do AF with AF-S lenses, BTW (the N8008 cannot).

-- Oliver Schrinner (piraya@hispavista.com), April 20, 2001.

In my opinion AF is too slow with older low to mid range Nikons.

-- Jim Strutz (jimstrutz@juno.com), April 21, 2001.

figure out which lenses you hope to purchase someday and base your decision off of that.

-- josh (josh@neb.rr.com), April 22, 2001.

I too just started out exploring and comparing the elan 7/7e and the Nikon 80. Though both stand the same except that there is one a two features that they stand out.1st the 4fps is good in outdoor and animal photography as compared to 2.5fps in Nikon. 2nd Cannon has a quieter cliks compared to Nikon which can be handy if u are stuck with standard lens of 28mm-80mm lens and want to shoot animals at close range. However, otherwise i personally feel Nikon 80 is more rugged and as a better spot metering system which can be good in condition where light needs to adjusted. It's like saying which car would u choose BMW or mercedez. Both have class and possess more elegence with one difference that younger richer would ride BMW and a little older people would prefer Mercedez. So the point is that over all in rating in 1. Nikon is the prefered camera by proffessionals and are carried by them 2. They possess more glamour and owner's pride 3. It's overall a better camera SO i would and have decided to choose Nikon 80 over cannon 7e with 28-200 lens. It should cover a lot in that range keeping escpecially the price in mind and the use.

-- niraj man shrestha (niraj_man@hotmail.com), July 21, 2001.

An 8008 won't stack up in the AF or flash areas(at least, it can't use the features that the "D" series lenses offer), but it's a great body for using manual focus lenses on. The 7e is nice, but if you can find an EOS 5 or A2/A2e, you'll likely be happier. The only thing it's really lack is teh improved eye control focus, but it's af seems faster than the 7, and it handles low-light a tad better as well.

-- Robert Landrigan (rlandrigan@mindspring.com), July 22, 2001.

As a Canon user, I would like to recomend the 7 - I plan to buy one soon as a second body. But my honest opinion is that you should get your hands on BOTH cameras on the same day and see what feels best. They will both likely suit your needs (unless you seek something very specific, like ECF or spot meter), and both are compatible with a greater variety of lenses than you'll ever need. My decision to buy the EOS 3 came down to getting the Maxxum 9, F100, and EOS 3 side by side at the camera store and handling each of them them to get a feel for the controls and features and how they each felt in my hand. The 3 was the clear winner for my hands. As a previous post said, avoid kit lenses. Put comparable lenses of at least fair quality on both bodies and play with the AF, MF, ECF, etc. Good luck to you.

-- Derrick Morin (dmorin@oasisol.com), August 24, 2001.

I am new in the world of photography. I need to get a camera. So I have been tring to find all the information about the two competitive cameras in my mind. N80 and Elan 7e. Well the following are the advantages of Elan 7e I have found over N80: - Eye control AF - 7 spot focusing (5 in N80) - 4 fps (2.5 in N80) - quiter - has a better grip (for me at least) advantages of N80 over Elan 7e: - better market reputation as professional camera ( I am not sure why canon doesn't have it) - better lense quality - spot meter ( I am not sure if 7e has it too) Am I missing any??

-- Nafiz Reza (nafiz@hotmail.com), October 17, 2001.

Hi Nafiz,

There is really very little difference indeed between the N80 and the Elan 7e. Here are a few factors which might help you choose, in approximate decreasing order of importance.

Viewed as camera systems into which your photography can grow, the Nikon system attracts those who want high build quality, and the Canon system attracts those who want the latest technology. If either of these descriptions applies to you, your choice is made. (Impartiality warning: I suffer from severe buildqualititis and am a Nikon user.)

If you have to wear eyeglasses all the time, you will welcome the "high eyepoints" of the Nikon viewfinders and think that eye control is an irrelevance. If you never wear eyeglasses, you may well find eye control technology most useful. (Impartiality warning: my short sight needs -9 dioptre lenses to correct it, and I am a Nikon user.)

Nikon's better lens-quality reputation, which you mention, seems to apply nowadays mainly to the consumer zooms that come with the kits. The professional lens ranges from both Nikon and Canon are highly regarded. I would strongly urge you to consider buying a 28-105mm standard zoom rather than a kit lens: this mid-range zoom represent substantial improvement for tolerable extra expense. I doubt whether you could possibly tell the difference in ordinary photography between the Nikon and Canon versions of this lens.

Finally, and in a sense least importantly, the camera bodies themselves. The only function that really differentiates them for normal amateur purposes is spot metering. This is most useful in ordinary country-walk photography of such things as flowers, small animals, and streams.

Later,

Dr Owl

-- John Owlett (owl@postmaster.co.uk), October 18, 2001.

With these cameras you can’t go wrong. Personally I would go with the Nikon N80, just because of it’s professional reputation. Also, a major factor it the fact that the Elan 7 ONLY TAKES CIRTAIN AF LENSES. While the n80 can take practically any lens made after 1960. That is pretty major to me because I’m a person who want to find stuff I need for cheap on ebay. Either way these camera’s are good. The Elan is a lot faster than the n80, but the n80 has a better quality body. Also, look into the type of camera’s you want to progress into. If you want to get an EOS 3 down the line, then go with the 7. You need to pick a side. You’ll probably want a back up body, and that is exactly what these bodies will become if you get professionally serious about photography, and you don’t want to have to buy different lenses for your back up body.

-- Michael S. Nagel (Out2lunch4food@yahoo.com), February 24, 2002.

Anh:

Close to a year ago now, I was in the same quandry you are in. I decided that I would either purchase the Elan 7/7e or N80. All the sales associates I talked to at the various camera stores in my area pushed me in the Nikon direction. All the professional photographers I know told me to buy Nikon. And so, being the king of guy I am, I went and bought a Canon Elan 7e. I haven't regretted it for a moment.

Both cameras really are excellent. Admittedly, if I had made this buying decision five years ago, I probably would have bought a Nikon. But Canon has pretty much closed Nikon's lead in just about every area, and in some instances (e.g. lens design) they have actually surpassed Nikon.

It really is true that if you buy one of these cameras, you are buying into a system. Canon's EOS system seemed like the smart choice for me. When it really comes down to it, it's what you decide is right for you that matters. If you decide on Nikon, none of the Canon zealots has a right to antagonize you for it, because you have your reasons. The same is true vice versa.

-- Jonathan Payne (jpayne@tmgmedia.net), May 07, 2002.

I already have an EOS300 Canon and wanted to buy F80 (or N80 in Americas). Do you think it's worth it?

Thanks in advance.

-- Asher (lb4paris@hotmail.com), May 22, 2002.