Using the Canon EOS-1V without its standard accessories. Canon's EOS-1v professional AF 35mm SLR camera has generated such an unprecedented interest around the world that the demand for it so far is more than overwhelming, to say the least. Of course, there are also other would-be owners who have lamented about the high prices he/she will have to bear in order to invest in the complete EOS-1v system (read: EOS-1v with all its dedicated accessories). One thing that some of them have forgotten in all the excitement surrounding the new EOS-1v, is that Canon has made the camera to be backward compatible with the existing accessories made for the older "1" series cameras. True, the EOS-1v needs the Speedlite 550EX and Power Booster PB-E2 loaded with Ni-MH Pack NP-E2 in order to get most of the designated features that Canon has included, to function at the maximum level. Professional photographers who use the Canon EOS-1N/1N RS are looking forward to the EOS-1v and its designated accessories and wouldn't be whining about the higher prices. It is the advanced amateurs and photo equipment fanatics who are actually complaining. This group of EOS-1v owners should ask themselves these questions: 1) How often would they need to use the 10 fps capability for most of their subjects? 2) Reliability and Durability? Are they among those who will call it a day and keep the camera whenever the weather turns bad? 3) Do they really need to use the Wireless Autoflash E-TTL feature? 4) How many rolls of film they will be using in a year? Less than 100? For question No 1: Unless you are accredited to cover major sporting events or have access to any other national or college championship, you don't need the 10 fps feature. For question No 2: If you have been doing that with the EOS-3 or EOS-1N/1N RS cameras whenever the weather turns bad, chances are you would be doing that too, with the EOS-1v. The other cameras are also designed to operate in bad weather conditions but the EOS-1v is better sealed for such conditions. For question No 3: If Wireless Autoflash E-TTL is your preference, the EOS-3 can do all that as well with the Speedlite 550EX. If not, the differences between the earlier A-TTL, as well as the existing 3-zone TTL system available from EZ-series of Speedlites against the E-TTL version, are not that many. For question No 4: The EOS-1v is designed for heavy duty operations, like going through 100 rolls of film per week (or in a single day), so if you shoot less than 100 rolls in a year, the EOS-1v is way, way above your league. << Back to Main . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 .