This Camera is known as the EOS ELAN IIE in North America

The Canon EOS 50E is one of the best all round cameras in the EOS range - feature-laden and attractive.

 

Features

The most prominent feature of the 50E is the Eye-Controlled Focusing (first seen on the EOS 5) which allows the user to focus on the Left, Centre or Right simply by looking in that particular area. This is made possible by 2 Sensors which home in on the pupil. Because everybody's eyes are different the camera must be calibrated, this is a relatively simple process. ECF is extremely useful in situations where time is of the essence such as Sports Photography. Focusing is what you would expect from an EOS - very quick, very accurate, and if a USM lens is used - very quiet.

The Top Shutter Speed is an extremely respectable 1/4000 sec, but the flash sync is a standard 1/125 sec. If, however, you can afford to fork out for the 380EX dedicated flash (approx. $250/£170) then you can synchronise at all speeds upto and including 1/4000 sec, which could prove very useful.

The Metering system is very concise with 3 modes:
Evaluative Metering - General Purpose, links with focusing point.
Partial Metering - Mainly for Subjects with Bright Backgrounds, 9% of Centre Focusing point metered.
Centre weighted averaging Metering - The metering is weighted at the centre and then averaged for the entire scene.

The Metering mode can be easily selected by moving a dial below the main control dial.

Auto bracketing is possible with +/- 2 stops in half stop increments. Exposure Lock (as with focus lock) can be achieved by pressing the shutter down half way.

The 50E incorporates a built-in flash with a good Guide No. of 13, which is one of the most powerful built-in flashes to be found on an SLR. It recharges in less than 2 seconds when a fresh battery is used. You still need an external flash for best results, however. The flash emits a high powered beam to prevent Red-Eye, which can be switched off. It is neatly hidden away above the pentaprism when not is use.

The camera is capable of 3 frames per second which is standard for a camera in this league and probably more than you are likely to need.

The 50E has 3 focusing modes, which cater for all situations:
One Shot - For still subjects, only takes picture when in focus.
Al Focus - As One Shot mode, but if subject moves automatically switches to Al Servo.
Al Servo - For subjects that move sporadically. Continues to focus on subject, also implements Predictive Autofocus.

The optimum setting is Al Focus because the camera decides for you. The Focus mode also has its own dial next to the LCD Display.

This camera attempts to work with it's user as much as possible and gives the user the option of 11 custom functions including Film Rewind Mode (Hi-Speed or Silent); Mirror Lock; Second-Curtain Sync; Depth of Field etc. These settings enable the user to make the camera work the way they want it to.

Other Features of the camera include Depth of Field Preview, AF Illuminator, 9 separate shooting modes, Mid-roll rewind, Remote Cable Release, Remote Control (RC-1) Sensor.

 

Handling & Layout

The camera fits into the hand perfectly, with the forefinger resting on the shutter and the thumb having immediate access to the Focus & Shutter dials, the rear control wheel (to change the aperture in Manual Mode) and the Partial Metering & Manual Focus selector buttons.

The camera is comfortably heavy, weighing in at just under 600g w/o lens.

The left hand can either rest on the lens or control the left (main) control dial which sets shooting mode (M, Av, Tv, P, Green Zone, Portrait, Landscape, Macro and Sports). There are another 2 buttons close to the film window which control ISO, AEB, Red-Eye Mode, Flash Exp. Comp, Multiple Exp. and Bleeper. Just below that is the Recessed Manual Film Rewind button.

The 50E is 'big' compared to the most recent SLR's from Pentax & Minolta but is still more comfortable to hold than most other cameras. The viewfinder is clear and easy to view. The readout at the bottom is very comprehensive and shows nearly all the information that's on the top plate LCD.

If you wish to improve handling you can buy the BP-50 (RRP £69) battery pack which also has a vertical release shutter.

 

Verdict

Canon have aimed this camera at both the pro and amateur, and succeeded. The 50E has all the features you could wish for in a camera, and combined with a decent EF Lens and the 380EX or 540EZ Flashgun this camera makes an excellent photographer's tool. The only thing that may put some people off is the 'Retro' Silver design. I would thoroughly recommend this camera, so much in fact, I've bought one.

The Canon EOS 50 is also available (although now discontinued) which offers ALL the features of the 50E but without Eye-Controlled Focus.

 

Want to find out More?

www.canon.com
www.canon.co.uk