Canon EOS A2E / EOS 5

1992

With the release of EOS A2E (EOS 5 in Europe and Japan), we finally got the step up from the 10s. It increased the focusing points to 5, and gave us a 16-zone evaluative metering system (up from the 8-zone in the 10s), plus a true 3.5% spot and center-weighted averaging. It also offered a 5-fps High-Speed film advance mode, as well as a lower 3-fps, and a single advance option.

Additional upscale features included a max 1/8000 sec shutter speed and a flash sync of 1/200.

Also, for the first time, Canon provided an accessory vertical grip that was actually useful – with secondary input dial and back-buttons. Some of the earlier EOS models had accessory grips, too, but they were comprised of just an extended portion below the right hand grip – making the camera look a bit…odd. The new grip did not hold batteries, though.

Many features are accessed by buttons on back

The biggest and most shouted about feature of the A2E was the first implementation of Eye-Controlled Focus. Touted as being able to focus where your eye looked – as long as your eye was looking at one of the 5 focusing points. It does work pretty well once it’s calibrated to your eye, though. Unfortunately, it would only work when the camera was in horizontal orientation. If you rotate the camera vertically, it temporarily defaults back to manual focus point selection. But Canon seemed to be dedicated to this technology, as it was offered (in improved versions) on successive mid-tier models until Canon ceased production of film cameras.

In the US, also marketed along side these were non-eye-controlled versions. We would see this for subsequent modes, as well. One of the caveats on the A2E at least, was the removal of the built-in diopter adjustment if equipped with the eye-controlled-focus. But it was included on the versions without this cool tech.

Technicals Specifications:

Original List Price A2E/EOS 5 (1992): $900.00
Street Price (1993): $649.00
Price in 2025 Dollars: $1460.00*
Manufacturer: Canon
Model: EOS A2E
Year Introduced: 1992
Film Format: 35mm AF SLR
Lens: Canon EF mount
Shutter: vertical travel
Self-timer: yes
Shutter Speeds: 30 – 1/8000
Shutter Release: on top
Built-in Meter: TTL – 16-zone Evaluative, 3.5% Spot, Center-weighted Averaging
Film Speed/ASA Range: 6-6400
Flash Sync: 1/200
PC socket: Yes
Film Advance: automatic (5-fps in One-Shot AF, 2.5-fps in Continuous AF)
Frame Counter: LCD
Exposure Modes: manual, shutter-priority, aperture-priority, program, full auto, Depth AE, 4 PIC modes
Multi-Exposure: yes
Finder: shutter speed, aperture, metering info, focus confirmation, flash ready-light, metering pattern
Focusing Screens: interchangeable
Mirror: quick-return
Battery: one 2CR5

*Based on current information at
in2013dollars.com

1992

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