Anyone here have experience with the EOS 3?

[James Michaels122890]

I am waiting to see if Canon released a digital EOS 3 in March or an improved DXX. I would like to know how the EOS 3 body stacks up to the D60 and 1D. I do not currently have any interchangeable DSLR system so I will watch Nikon also.

 

[danks]

I have used the EOS3 for about 2 years . . . the D60 for about 3 months.

The 3 has a better AF system. It feels heavier and generally more sold in build than the D60. Incidentally, I use both cameras with the accessory grips.

Still, digital is just so much better in so many ways than film, I forego the better AF of the EOS3 in favour of the D60. I never use the 3 any longer . . . must get around to ebaying it I guess.

I don't have the 1D . . . so will not comment on it.

I am very happy with my D60! I was also very happy with my EOS3 until the advent of digital. I have no doubt I'd love the 1D even better than the D60 . . . except for astrophotography.

Remember, while you are waiting, you are missing out! There will always be a better camera "just around the corner."

I am waiting to see if Canon released a digital EOS 3 in March or
an improved DXX. I would like to know how the EOS 3 body stacks up
to the D60 and 1D. I do not currently have any interchangeable DSLR
system so I will watch Nikon also.

--
Terry Danks
Nature & Wildlife (Hummingbirds!) Photography
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/n1dcmc78/home.htm

 

[Lisa Horton]

I am waiting to see if Canon released a digital EOS 3 in March or
an improved DXX. I would like to know how the EOS 3 body stacks up
to the D60 and 1D. I do not currently have any interchangeable DSLR
system so I will watch Nikon also.

The EOS 3 is a MUCH MUCH better camera than the D60. The D60 is based on a now 3 generation old entry level SLR (Rebel G) albeit with some substantial improvements.

AF: The D60 has 3 AF sensors, the 3 has 45. The AF on the 3 is much faster than on the D60, and better in low light.

Metering: The EOS 3 has a true spot meter, the D60 has a "partial area" as it's closest thing to a spot.

ECF: The EOS 3 has it, the D60 doesn't. Although it doesn't work for everyone, ECF can be a very useful tool, especially when combined with the spot meter.

The difference was brought home to me recently. I was photographing a motorcycle show, and brought the D30 along with to do some shots to compare later. My main shooting was with the EOS 3, and at those times when I switched to the D30, I couldn't meter as precisely, AF was much more difficult, and in reviewing the digital results, there were a lot of focus errors that I never get with the EOS 3. Not camera failure focus errors, just the result of less precise AF, and not being able to focus precisely on one spot of a curving surface.

I don't mean to run the DSLR's down, I'm an enthusiastic user. But the current Canon consumer DSLR's just don't compare to a pro level camera like the EOS 3.

Lisa

 

[Stefan Klein]

You're totally right,Lisa.The D60 may have very good image quality and less noise than film.But the camera itself is a totally different level than the EOS 3.

AF,metering,speed (7fps vs.3),custom functions are simply out of different worlds.

Not to mention the viewfinder,which is very,very small on the D60 and doesn't have the big metering scale at the right side.And the 1,6x factor is hell for wide - angle shots.

With an EOS 3 you can do every pro job,with a D60 you can only pray to god,if it comes to any sports event.3fps and an old AF system may make you crazy.And if you want to shoot anything,where you took a 20mm on the EOS 3,you need an expensive 14mm.
Stefan

I am waiting to see if Canon released a digital EOS 3 in March or
an improved DXX. I would like to know how the EOS 3 body stacks up
to the D60 and 1D. I do not currently have any interchangeable DSLR
system so I will watch Nikon also.

The EOS 3 is a MUCH MUCH better camera than the D60. The D60 is
based on a now 3 generation old entry level SLR (Rebel G) albeit
with some substantial improvements.

AF: The D60 has 3 AF sensors, the 3 has 45. The AF on the 3 is
much faster than on the D60, and better in low light.

Metering: The EOS 3 has a true spot meter, the D60 has a "partial
area" as it's closest thing to a spot.

ECF: The EOS 3 has it, the D60 doesn't. Although it doesn't work
for everyone, ECF can be a very useful tool, especially when
combined with the spot meter.

The difference was brought home to me recently. I was
photographing a motorcycle show, and brought the D30 along with to
do some shots to compare later. My main shooting was with the EOS
3, and at those times when I switched to the D30, I couldn't meter
as precisely, AF was much more difficult, and in reviewing the
digital results, there were a lot of focus errors that I never get
with the EOS 3. Not camera failure focus errors, just the result
of less precise AF, and not being able to focus precisely on one
spot of a curving surface.

I don't mean to run the DSLR's down, I'm an enthusiastic user. But
the current Canon consumer DSLR's just don't compare to a pro level
camera like the EOS 3.

Lisa

 

[Calvin Chann]

I agree. If you're gonna do a lot of sport stuff, then don't think that a D60 will be your best bet. You're looking at a 1d or 1Ds for that.

Horses for courses. Chose the right tool for the job.

For me the D60 is good enough. That's not to say that in a couple of years, I'll not be in the market for a used D1.

Calvin

I am waiting to see if Canon released a digital EOS 3 in March or
an improved DXX. I would like to know how the EOS 3 body stacks up
to the D60 and 1D. I do not currently have any interchangeable DSLR
system so I will watch Nikon also.

The EOS 3 is a MUCH MUCH better camera than the D60. The D60 is
based on a now 3 generation old entry level SLR (Rebel G) albeit
with some substantial improvements.

AF: The D60 has 3 AF sensors, the 3 has 45. The AF on the 3 is
much faster than on the D60, and better in low light.

Metering: The EOS 3 has a true spot meter, the D60 has a "partial
area" as it's closest thing to a spot.

ECF: The EOS 3 has it, the D60 doesn't. Although it doesn't work
for everyone, ECF can be a very useful tool, especially when
combined with the spot meter.

The difference was brought home to me recently. I was
photographing a motorcycle show, and brought the D30 along with to
do some shots to compare later. My main shooting was with the EOS
3, and at those times when I switched to the D30, I couldn't meter
as precisely, AF was much more difficult, and in reviewing the
digital results, there were a lot of focus errors that I never get
with the EOS 3. Not camera failure focus errors, just the result
of less precise AF, and not being able to focus precisely on one
spot of a curving surface.

I don't mean to run the DSLR's down, I'm an enthusiastic user. But
the current Canon consumer DSLR's just don't compare to a pro level
camera like the EOS 3.

Lisa

--

 

[keithop]

I am waiting to see if Canon released a digital EOS 3 in March or
an improved DXX. I would like to know how the EOS 3 body stacks up
to the D60 and 1D. I do not currently have any interchangeable DSLR
system so I will watch Nikon also.

I had an old manual Fujica STX1 for many years as a present from my father and eventually I moved to an EOS3 and wow ;-)

Can you imagine the difference... just staggering.

The EOS3 is an absolutely brilliant camera. Despite exposure issues (yep, over on the film boards they have the same discussion about new camera problems as we do on here ;-), the camera performed exactly the way I'd want it to.

After having only MF, the AF on the eos3 astounded me every time I saw those focus points line up. Fast, reliable.

The camera was a nice weight, felt just right in the hand and certainly not toy like.

The eye controlled focus system... well I got it to work but I was never one of those who loved it. Great idea though and for some, it's heaven.

Best thing I can say about it is, I never concerned myself with the operation of the camera. I looked for a good shot, composed and then took the shot never thinking that I'd have to worry about the camera not performing.

So, when I got my D30 and later my D60... it was a bit of a shock

They are based as others have said, on lesser bodies. I remain shocked at the lack of AF performance. From canon's point of view, I guess it provides a distinction between its cheaper dx0 range and the 1d etc, but coming from an EOS3 costing half of a D30, I was very disappointed with the AF.

All this stuff has been said time and time again so I won't go on.

The 1D is an eos3 and then some. Wonderful camera.

A digital EOS3 for less than a 1D? Well, it would be so close IMHO that I kinda doubt it? but lots of people say that's what they expect so ok. It would certainly be an excellent camera.

I could more easily imagine an upgrade to the dx0 line along the lines of the film based 300v camera.

 

[Aska P.]

The eye controlled focus system... well I got it to work but I was
never one of those who loved it. Great idea though and for some,
it's heaven.

ditto here, everything was darn good except that the eye control thing never worked for me.

 

[Stefan Klein]

It´s heaven for me,really.I use it for 95% of my shots.It's much faster and comfortable to change AF points than manually.But I know,it doesn't work for everybody,sometimes due to incorrect calibration,sometimes because of eye glasses,sometimes because of ...I don't know.
But for me it's great!!
Stefan

The eye controlled focus system... well I got it to work but I was
never one of those who loved it. Great idea though and for some,
it's heaven.

ditto here, everything was darn good except that the eye control
thing never worked for me.

 

[danks]

I prersently own both the EOS3 and the D60. That the 3 has a better "feel" to it and better AF is not up for debate.

Point, IMO, is that I simply don't use the 3 anymore. I use the D60 . . . because it's digital.

How many out there own both of these cameras . . . and still use the 3?

Film is just . . . well SO DAMNED inconvenient!

--
Terry Danks
Nature & Wildlife (Hummingbirds!) Photography
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/n1dcmc78/home.htm

 

[Timo Autiokari]

Good points Lisa, here is one more, the DOF button on the EOS3 is much better than it is on the D60.

I use to two EOS3 based digital cameras at work (the EOS*DCS*3 and D2000) but I do not find practical mechanical differences in the came body compared to the D60 that many people keep mentioning.

The D60 body is smaller, The EOS3 viewfinder is better (easier to focus and easier to evaluate the DOF). The EV indicator (in the 1/3 step mode) of D60 royally sucks.

Timo Autiokari http://www.aim-dtp.net

The EOS 3 is a MUCH MUCH better camera than the D60. The D60 is
based on a now 3 generation old entry level SLR (Rebel G) albeit
with some substantial improvements.

AF: The D60 has 3 AF sensors, the 3 has 45. The AF on the 3 is
much faster than on the D60, and better in low light.

Metering: The EOS 3 has a true spot meter, the D60 has a "partial
area" as it's closest thing to a spot.

ECF: The EOS 3 has it, the D60 doesn't. Although it doesn't work
for everyone, ECF can be a very useful tool, especially when
combined with the spot meter.