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Canon EOS 300V

Here is the Canon EOS 300V, a camera I bought to replace the Minolta 500si as a lightweight SLR which I could mount a 50 f/1.8 on.The design of this camera will surprise the Canon users as it employs a different user interface. I have no idea why canon wanted to change a successful recipe, not that it is difficult to get used to the new one, but i just wonder. If you ask me, this is an ugly camera and not only that but the fit and finish are not the best. I think it is made in Korea rather than the good old "Made in Japan" ones - but, hey, there are some good news. The camera is the smallest SLR I've ever seen,with the EF 50 f/1.8 it feels like an oversized compact rather than an SLR. And it is one of the lightest too, 365gr body only (* correction: No it isn't. The minolta Dynax 5 is definitely smaller and lighter. Full review coming soon). Canon claims that the 300V has the fastest autofocus on it's category, I think that this is half the truth but we'll return to it later. The camera has all sort of automation you could imagine, pretty much everything that the modern SLRs have spoiled us with. It also has a nice big LCD display on the back, which is backlit, a nice feature if you ask me.The motor-drive is not the fastest in the world but 2.5 fps is a typical for this category. Other interesting features include a 7 points AF system and a 35 zone metering system linked to the AF points - both taken from the more professional EOS 30(V) models. Now, the same AF and metering system have been implemented on the digital 10D that I happen to own and used for few years so I am quite familiar with their performance.

[Complain Mode ON]

(Highly subjective opinion)
Is it only me who thinks that this "multi-point" AF spot is a waste of time? It rarely works as it should and on 99% of the times I end up selecting the central AF point which is accurate. The only exception to this is the EOS 5 which appears to be accurate but has only 5 AF points anyway. In the 300V, Minolta Dynax 5, Canon EOS 10 and the EOS 50, it  just doesn't work as it should, most of the times it focuses on a wrong AF point or on the best of cases it just adds to the lens hunting for focus. With all the aforementioned cameras when all sensors are activated, there is a high probability to focus on a AF spot that you don't want to. I have a couple of shots taken in a church in which the AF completely failed to focus. I had to switch to the middle focusing point to have the camera focus. [Update 22/9/11: And it didn't focus accurately either. The solution of the problem lies in the manual. The AF is working down to EV 1, not EV 0 as the EOS 5 making it difficult to focus in the low light inside the church. No idea why canon went for this option, EV 0 sensors are been used since the time of EOS 10...]

Canon claims that the 300V has the fastest AF in it's category, it is true, if you are using the central AF point only.

[Complain Mode OFF]

With the 300V you cannot select a different way of light metering. It is multi-BASIS (35 zones) all the time except from when you use the exposure lock (partial) or when you switch to full manual (centre weighted). The Multi-Basis system works well, although i am under the impression that it over exposes slightly - probably has to do with the way the exposure is biased towards the AF-point it focuses on. No big deal with modern films but keep it in mind. Also, did I say that the viewfinder is nothing special? Yes it is, nice and bright with the EF 50 f/1.8 but dark with the kit zoom lens.


Conclusion
The Canon 300V has become my favourite travel-abroad-with-light-camera camera.I have been using this camera for quite some time now and on a day to day basis, it does everything you ask it to do fast and reliably. It is small and takes good pictures and it definitely feels more responsive than the out-dated Minolta 500si. So if you are a Canon user, the 300V is one of the best options out there. If you are looking for a new camera and you are not that brand loyal, then competition gets harder for the little Canon. I highly recommend the 300V for a back up canon slr but I have to admit that the tiny Dynax 5 that has just landed on my hands has given me a mighty good first impression. Let's see how those two compare.

Lasting impressions
I have sold this camera since. It was a difficult decision i had to make but i really needed the cash to service the Minolta XD-7. Despite the poor build quality, this camera never disappointed me and always delivered the goods. This is the definite Canon compact SLR camera, no doubt about it and the control layouts were so simple and easy to follow.

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