Canon EOS 1V Unsurpassed in Professional Quality

The Canon EOS 1V offers nearly everything the professional 35mm photographer could ever want. I say "nearly" only because I know that, by default, nothing is 100%...

I have been using Canon professional products for nearly ten years (I have also shot with modern Nikons and other cameras, though), and I have never been happier with a camera. The 1V is a dream to shoot with. There are tons of custom features you can set to match your own particular style of shooting. These also make it easier to switch between shooting styles. The settings you would use for a wedding may not be the same as those you would use to shoot a basketball game, etc.

The controls, although there are many, are neatly-labeled and straightforward. If you are an experienced photographer, learning to use the 1V will not be difficult (especially if you are already used to Canon's brand of thinking).

The 45-point autofocus system is a dream to use, and there are several focusing patterns you can choose from. You can set the camera to pick it's own optimal focus points from all 45 points, from two variants of multiple-point selections, or you can pick your own point individually, using the thumb and index finger dials (this goes more quickly than you might imagine, considering there are 45 AF points from which to choose). One more thing about the AF system -- it is FAST, and it can think for you. When the camera is in AF Servo mode, it can automatically track a subject moving toward you and predict where the subject will be when you fire. This results in quicker shutter release, which means you get the shot you want WHEN you want it.

If you do a lot of flash photography, the flash exposure lock button is your new best friend. The FEL button is located just behind the trigger, and when pressed, instructs the camera to emit a preflash, capturing and remembering the flash exposure for the subject that is in the center of your viewfinder. You can then recompose your shot while the camera remembers how much light to give that one part. This is especially useful when shooting subjects with tricky backgrounds, like metal doors, a strong backlight, etc.

All vulnerable body joints are sealed against moisture and dirt, so you don't have to worry about running in out of the drizzle. The body is a sturdy metal alloy that can definitely take a punch for you. This results in a heavy body, but some of us like that in a camera. It isn't a camera for the weak-of-arm.

Although the camera is heavy in comparison to other bodies (but definitely not bodies like the Nikon F5 or the Contax AX & RTS III), the 1V is incredibly well-balanced and it fits your hand like a superbly-machined glove. I have fairly large hands, and it still feels completely natural to hold and use, while most other cameras are engulfed in my grip to a point that makes them awkward to hold. All the controls are easy to reach, and you can also do it all by touch, once you memorize the layout. It's easy to tell what button your finger is on.

Most of my shooting experience is in the areas of news photography, sports, event-coverage, etc. Add to that my experience with weddings, modeling, nature, product shots, and portraits, and I'll just go ahead and say that I'm a mercenary -- I'll shoot whatever people want to hire me for, which brings me to my point -- the EOS 1V handles all of the tasks associated with these different styles of shooting with ease and precision. I have yet to find the camera lacking in any one category.

The 1V takes a lot of the technical worry out of shooting and lets you concentrate on the important bits, like composing your image. Before my 1V, I used an EOS A2E. When I switched bodies, I didn't change my style, yet I couldn't believe how much better the shots I took with the 1V looked over the ones I used the A2E to capture. The metering system is awesome, and it knows how to even out the exposure like you wouldn't believe. Couple a 1V with a new 550EX flash, and you're good to go with high-speed shutter sync, all the way up to 1/8000 sec.!!! Have you ever had a camera that would let you sync that fast? I'm guessing the answer is "no," because there aren't that many that can do it!

The only thing I really don't like about the 1V, and this goes for every EF Canon body, is the conspicuous absence of a manual film rewind lever. One thing that scares me is the danger of getting a roll of film trapped in the chamber if the body goes south on you. If you lose power, the film stays put. But, knock-on-wood, this has yet to happen to me in ten years of shooting with Canon cameras.