The ELAN 30:
The EOS ELAN 30 features Eye Controlled Focus for faster way of selecting a focus point. The autofocus tracking speed of the EOS ELAN 30 is extremly fast. Both models are compact, with easy to operate controls. The construction is rugged with WhisperDrive transport for silent shooting with Canon’s USM lenses. Cameras features built-in, TTL automatic flash which pops-up automatically in low light or backlight situations. You can select single frame or continuous shooting at approximately 4 fps (3.5 fps in AI Servo AF), with additive frame counter. Shutter speeds range from 30 sec to 1/4000 (in 1/ 2-stop increments), plus bulb and 1/125 flash sync.
You get full view finder information: Eye Controlled Focus indicator (ELAN 30 Date only); AE Lock / FE Lock symbol; flash ready signal; High- Speed Sync in use signal; flash exposure compensation indicator; shutter speed and aperture indicating LEDs; Present DEP 1 / DEP 2 information, Calibration (Cal 1 to 5, END-1 to 3); Exposure compensation scale / manual metering scale, Red- Eye Reduction lamp on / reduction progress indicator; in- focus indicator. Metering modes include Evaluative, 10% partial metering linkable to the focus point by Custom Function control, and centerweighted average metering plus 35-zone E-TTL flash, linked to AF point with EX series Speedlites and 3-zone TTL Flash metering linked to focus point with built-in flash, and all other EOS Speedlites.
Exposure modes include Intelligent Program with variable shift, shutter priority, aperturem priority, Depth-of-Field, Full Auto, Programmed Image Control: Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports and Night Scene, manual, E-TTL Program Flash, A-TTL Program Flash, TTL Program Flash. Other top features include Auto Exposure Bracketing, exposure compensation up to +/-2 stops, in 1/2 stop increments, Quick Control Dial, depth-of-field preview, multiple exposure (up to 9), AE-lock, custom functions, remote control, dioptric adjustment, One-Shot AF, Predictive AF with AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF and Manual.
Conclusion
The Elan 30 may be the best value in an EOS camera I have ever owned. After using the A2, 650, 630 and 1n, I can see that the newest Elan could very quickly become my favorite camera body. While the 1n impresses with its superb built and performance, total reliability and wide range of very practical features, the new Elan has refilled a niche for me that is equally important. Compact, lightweight, attractively designed and finished, and extremely capable, the new Canon EOS Elan 30 is the perfect travel/backup camera, and may be the only camera a serious nature photographer on a budget will ever need.