I got interested in Canon EOS cameras in mid-1990s. Very little information about these (or any other) cameras was available on the early internet of the time, so I compiled this table, as well as the associated descriptions. Much better information became later available elsewhere on the web, including the Canon camera museum website.
This list was was last updated in mid-1999 with the Canon EOS cameras which were "current" at that time. Few film cameras were introduced after that, since the digital era was beginning. Comprehensive reviews of Canon digital cameras can be found at several sites across he web.
| Names |
| U.S. Name |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Non-US name |
3000 |
300 |
50 |
50E |
|
5 |
3 |
1N |
| Other names |
88 |
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
|
Note: EOS 3000 or EOS 88 were not sold in the U.S.A.
| Materials and Construction |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Body |
plastic |
plastic |
plastic |
plastic |
plastic |
plastic |
| Top of body |
plastic |
plastic |
metal |
plastic |
plastic |
plastic |
| Lens mount |
plastic |
plastic |
metal |
metal |
metal |
metal |
| Film rails |
plastic |
plastic |
plastic |
plastic |
? |
metal |
| Ergonomics |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Command dial |
top left |
top left |
top left |
top left |
buttons |
buttons |
| Main Dial (next to shutter release) |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Quick Control dial (rear) |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Other Dials |
none |
none |
AF mode |
none |
off-on-beep |
off-on-beep |
| Levers |
none |
none |
film advance mode, metering pattern |
none |
none |
none |
| Eye Control |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
yes |
yes |
no |
| Custom Functions |
none |
none |
10 |
11 |
16 |
18 |
14 |
| Film Advance |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Direction |
reverse |
reverse |
forward |
forward |
forward |
forward |
| Film sensor |
infrared |
infrared |
infrared |
infrared |
infrared |
mechanical |
| Can fog infrared film |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
| Single Frame |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Continuous |
1 fps |
1.5 fps |
2.4 fps |
5 fps |
7fps (with booster) |
6fps (with booster) |
| Midroll rewind |
possible |
possible |
possible |
possible |
possible |
possible |
| Leader-out rewind |
no |
no |
available |
available |
available |
available |
| Winding noise |
average |
average |
quiet |
very quiet |
quiet |
quiet |
| Rewinding noise |
average |
average |
quiet |
very quiet |
quiet |
quiet |
| Multiple exposures |
possible |
possible |
possible |
possible |
possible |
possible |
| Autofocus |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Number of sensors |
3 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
45 |
5 |
| Sensor Alignment |
| + | |
-
|| + ||
- |
| + | |
| | + | | |
oval |
| | + | | |
| Automatic sensor selection |
available |
available |
available |
available |
available |
available |
| Manual sensor selection |
Center only, via button |
Any of 7, via button |
Any of 3, via button, then dial |
Any of 5, via button, then dial |
Any of 45 or any of 11 (CF-selectable) |
Any of 5, via button, then dial OR rear dial |
| Eye-controlled sensor selection |
no |
no |
no |
yes* |
no |
yes* |
yes |
no |
| AF assist light |
white |
white |
(infra)red |
(infra)red |
none |
none |
(*) In the EOS 5, eye control works only for horizontal (landscape) camera orientation. In the EOS 50, it works for both horizontal (landscape) and vertical (portrait).
| Shutter |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Shutter speeds |
30-1/2000(*), bulb |
30-1/2000, bulb |
30-1/4000, bulb |
30-1/8000, bulb |
30-1/8000,bulb |
30-1/8000,bulb |
| Settable increment |
1/2 stop |
1/2 stop |
1/2 stop |
1/2 stop |
1/3, 1/2 |
1/3, 1/2, 1 |
| Max synch. speed |
1/90 |
1/90 |
1/125 |
1/200 |
1/200 |
1/250 |
| Light Metering |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Range in EV; f/1.4 at ISO 100 |
2-20 |
2-20 |
1-20 |
0-20 |
0-20 |
0-20 |
| Range in EV; fine spot meter |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
3-20 |
| Evaluative pattern |
6-segment |
35-segment |
6-segment |
16-segment |
21-segment |
16-segment |
| Partial/spot meter |
9.5%; works with AE and AF lock |
9.5%; works with AE and AF lock |
9.5%; can be tied to focus point |
3.5%; can be tied to focus point |
8.5%; 2.4% can be tied to focus point; multi-spot |
9.0%; 3.5% can be tied to focus point; 2.5% fine |
| Exposure compensation |
+/-2 steps |
+/-2 steps |
+/-2 steps |
+/-2 steps |
+/-3 steps |
+/-3 steps |
| Exp.comp. settable increments |
0.5EV |
0.5EV |
0.5EV |
0.5EV |
0.3EV |
0.3EV |
| Flash exposure compensation |
Only if available on the flash |
Only if available on the flash |
+/-2 step; 0.5EV increments |
+/-2 step; 0.5EV increments (all EOS flashes) |
+/- 3 step; 0.3EV increments (all EOS flashes) |
+/- 3 step; 0.3EV increments (all EOS flashes) |
| AE Lock |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Auto Bracketing |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Exposure Modes |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Full Manual |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Aperture Priority |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Shutter Priority |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Depth-of-field |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Program |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Green (full auto) |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
| Portrait |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
| Landscape |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
| Sports |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
| Closeup |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
| Night Scene |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Viewfinder |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Pentaprism material |
Mirrors |
Mirrors |
Glass |
Glass |
Glass |
Glass |
| Interchangeable screens |
no |
no |
no |
6 |
9 |
9 |
| Horizontal Coverage |
90% |
90% |
92% |
92% |
97% |
100% |
| Vertical Coverage |
90% |
90% |
90% |
94% |
97% |
100% |
| Magnification |
0.7x |
0.7x |
0.71x |
0.73x |
0,72x |
0,72x |
| Exposure data |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Exposure comp. scale |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Flash charged indicator |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| AF in-focus indicator |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Selected focus point indicator |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Remaining frame counter |
no |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
| Flash |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Guide Number (m) |
12 |
12 |
13 |
13 (28mm)
15 (50mm)
17 (80mm) |
n/a |
n/a |
| Guide Number (ft) |
39 |
39 |
43 |
43 (28mm)
50 (50mm)
56 (80mm) |
n/a |
n/a |
| Zoom |
no |
no |
no |
28-80mm |
n/a |
n/a |
| Covered Focal Lengths |
35mm |
28mm |
28mm |
as zoomed |
n/a |
n/a |
| TTL sensor |
4-zone 3-pt |
4-zone 3-pt |
4-zone 3-pt |
3-point |
3-point |
3-point |
| TTL |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| A-TTL |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| E-TTL |
no ? |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes |
no |
| 2nd-curtain Sync |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| High-speed sync(*) |
no |
up to 1/2000 |
up to 1/4000 |
no |
yes |
no |
(*) EX-series external flash is necessary for high-speed synchronization
| Miscellaneous |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Depth-of-field Preview |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Mirror Lock |
no |
no |
pre-fire |
pre-fire |
yes |
yes |
| PC terminal (*) |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Remote control |
wired |
wired |
wired & wireless |
wired (T3) |
wired (N3) |
wired (T3) |
| Self-timer |
10 sec |
10 sec |
2 or 10 sec |
2 or 10 sec |
2 or 10 sec |
2 or 10 sec |
| Battery type |
2 x CR123A |
2 x CR2 |
2CR5 |
2CR5 |
2CR5 or 4 x AA in BP-E1 or 8 x AA in PB-E2 or Booster |
2CR5 or 4 x AA in BP-E1 |
(*) PC terminal is for connecting external (studio) flash, not for a Personal Computer :-)
| Dimensions and Weight, Metric |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Width |
145mm |
145.7mm |
152.5mm |
154mm |
161mm |
161mm |
| Height |
92mm |
92mm |
104.5mm |
120.5mm |
119.2mm |
112.1mm |
| Depth |
61.9mm |
61.9mm |
71mm |
74.2mm |
70.8mm |
71.8mm |
| Weight |
345g |
350g |
580g |
585g |
665g |
675g |
780g |
855g |
| Weight with booster |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
1230g |
1300g |
| Dimensions and Weight, U.S. |
| |
5000 |
Rebel 2000 |
Elan
II |
Elan
IIe |
A2 |
A2e |
3 |
1N |
| Width |
5-5/8in |
5-5/8in |
6-1/16in |
6-1/16in |
6.3in |
6-5/16in |
| Height |
3-5/8in |
3-5/8in |
4-1/8in |
4-3/4in |
4.7in |
4-7/6in |
| Depth |
2-7/16in |
2-7/16in |
2-3/4in |
2-15/16in |
2.8in |
2-13/16in |
| Weight (oz) |
11.9oz |
12.3oz |
20.3 |
23.5 |
23.5 |
23.9 |
27.5oz |
30.9oz |
| Weight with booster |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
42.1oz |
45.5oz |
The following cameras have been left out of the table:
- EOS 1N-RS - a variation of the EOS-1N with a fixed, semi-transparent mirror, which does not move during exposure. You lose some light as a result, but shooting at speeds up to 10 frames per second is possible. In a special "RS" mode, a 0.006 seconds time lag between pressing the button and release of the shutter is obtained. The weight and dimensions are also different from the EOS-1, the light meter is less sensitive, and one custom function is missing.
- Date back versions of the 5000 (888), Rebel G and Elan II(e) are available. In Japan they are the only ones sold. In addition to date back, the 55 (Japanese version of Elan IIE/50E) also has a panorama adapter built-in.
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