Canon EOS 50D

It is no surprise to amateur and professional photographers that the Canon EOS 50D was the most anticipated camera. Many had waited very patiently for this model to be released, and since this is the upgraded version of the EOS 40D it certainly was worth a wait. When looking at the camera, it looks very similar to the EOS 40D, but a closer look at it will reveal that they are two very different cameras when it comes to performance.

Design

With the all new 3-inch LCD display, you now have an extra-large image review with enough clarity so you can focus more accurately and get enough of your target on your screen without having to go too close. When you switch to Live View mode, you will get a real-time image of the subject on the display. A 2nd display shows all the necessary settings and picture information. This leaves the main display for only Live View and playback.

Newly added features such as the Quick Control button takes you right to the famous EOS menu for even more convenience, giving users instant access to commonly changed settings, while the Creative-Auto mode allows the user automatic exposure and focus, at the same time allowing other creative tweaks such as adjusting the sharpness in the background.

The Canon EOS 50D feels solid and robust. Its grip is quite chunky and it sits comfortably in the hand. With a familiar interface akin to that of the EOS 40D or EOS 1000D, Canon lovers will find it a breeze using this new kid on the block.

Actual user review:
“Moving from a 400D (XTi) to the 50D was a huge leap for me. The vast improvement in ISO performance, functions, menu, fps, etc. was invaluable. As my skills have progressed, I am looking forward to the opportunities afforded to me by the very powerful 50D. I will have to enhance my skills even more to fully use this camera. If this is your first DSLR you will not be disappointed. However, if you already own an xxD (such as the very popular 40D), then this is probably not the best choice for you. As some comprehensive reviews have shown, the 50D is not a major advancement from the 40D and really only offers some new features such as improved LCD, micro-AF adjustment, and a larger sensor. However, it does not beat and sometimes looses to the 40D in terms of noise and per-pixel sharpness, although both are still hotly debated. The point being, if you are moving from the rebel series or this is your first camera, it is amazing, powerful, and you will not be disappointed. However, it is not, evolutionary to the xxD line, and is not a necessary trade-up for current xxD owners. This does not mean it is a bad or non-improved camera. It is amazing and incorporates many great new features. The value to you simply depends on your needs/style, and where you are coming from.” – G.Brown

Features

With the EOS 50D, Canon has included a few extras and made a few improvements. For instance, there is the improved 15 mega pixel CMOS sensor and the faster DIGIC IV processor. With the new 15 mega pixel CMOS sensor, you can be sure that the images you will get are low noise and ultra detailed. This is the perfect camera for those large-scale reproductions and/or creative cropping. With the manufacturing processes the micro lenses and photo diodes have been redesigned, extending the light-gathering capabilities of the camera’s sensor. This allows the CMOS sensor to accompany more pixels without compromising or losing any image quality. These changes improve the low noise and high-ISO performance. 3200 ISO levels enable the high-speed and also low light shooting, and this can be expandable to an ultra sensitive 12800 ISO level.

If you are using Canon’s AF system (locking onto subjects using 9 separate sensors) you will be able to capture any moment no matter how unexpected. Even if you are shooting in low-light conditions, it does not matter; you will still get the shot. This makes the Canon EOS 50D a great camera for wildlife and sport shooting. The DIGIC IV processor works together with the CMOS to bring you 14-bit image processing. This means that you will get natural colors and smooth degradation in your shots. You will also experience an ultra-fast startup so you make it in time to get those shots and also virtually instant image reviews after shots.

The VGA screen has also been improved to a 3-inch display and now comes with Live View mode that offers 3-AF modes : Live AF, Quick AF and Face Detection-Live AF. The latter detects the amount of faces in the frame and then optimizes for faster, spontaneous portraiture. In addition, there is the HDMI connection that allows for high definition viewing.

Another great thing is the control screen. Here you are allowed to view the commonly-used settings, which will save you a lot of time as you won’t have to go and look for different settings all the time. A plethora of scene options and Creative-Auto mode, which allows for automatic exposure and focus, would certainly serve the less experienced photographers well.

The EOS ISC or Integrated-Cleaning System – along with the Self-cleaning Sensor featuring the fluorine coating – increases the quality of the images you take by reducing, repelling and removing dust. Those particles that you are unable to remove from the sensor can be removed using Dust-Delete Data and also Canon’s Digital Photo-Pro software. This will ensure your camera stays healthy for longer and no dust will get in the way of the performance. We all know what small devices look like after years of dust in those impossible-to-reach places, but with the Canon EOS 50D that is not something you have to worry about.

While the Canon EOS 50D does not perform as well when it comes to figuring out the basic controls due to its highly complex and feature-packed menu, and a somewhat lacking auto white balance performance, this camera offers unparalleled versatility in lens selection, flash options and accessories.

Performance

Canon is known to deliver exceptional image quality with extreme speed. The Canon EOS 50D is yet another of Canon’s prides with the new 15.1 megapixel image sensor and DIGIC IV image processor, showing off one of Canon’s fastest AF systems together with extremely high resolution CMOS sensors and impressively high ISO performance.

The Canon EOS 50D delivers excellent image quality thanks to its 15.1 megapixel resolution, presenting great detail on shots that would certainly produce gorgeous prints regardless of size. Armed with the new improved Digic IV processor, the Canon EOS 50D is one robust camera, capturing up to 90 JPGs at 6.3fps in burst mode. The speed by which the Canon EOS 50D acquires correct focus is truly impressive.

The Canon EOS 50D, like many of its fellow competitors, offers a general dynamic range function. Canon’s Auto Lighting Optimizer balances highlights and shadows in all shooting modes. When exposed correctly, this camera delivers amazing dynamic range with good transitions between highlights, mid-tones and shadows. Moreover, 3 user-defined styles namely sharpness, contrast, saturation and hue can all be adjusted on the Canon EOS 50D. Portrait mode hence produces excellent portraits with healthy skin tones.

Bottom Line

For the more experienced photographers, issues such as flat default image processing, heavy camera weight, and overly complicated menus on the Canon EOS 50D would certainly prove to be off-putting. The semi-pros would also find these quirks annoying while the pros would think the less-than-perfect auto white balance and inconsistent autofocus pesky. Yet, the sturdy build quality, array of features and amazingly solid performance of the Canon EOS 50D, together with Canon’s wide and versatile range of lenses and accessories, still render it a powerful DSLR that is worth every cent spent.

Average User Rating:

• “Upgraded from Digital rebel XTi primarily for functionality. The LCD display makes it very easy to review pictures. LOVE the detail this LCD shows and the excellent contrast it offers. The wheel makes browsing through pictures a lot easier. The joystick based menu makes it easy to customize your settings. The LCD display on top gives you a quick glance at all the settings without having to look inside the viewfinder. The C1 and C2 settings can be used to remember your favorite custom settings for tricky conditions and can be a real time saver. The Higher ISO settings (3200,6400) can come in pretty handy for taking pictures in low light without a flash, despite the noise – I prefer using the noise reduction features with the high ISO despite of the loss of detail that comes with it. Excellent camera!” – S.Mujumdar (CA,USA)
• “In my view, the 50D’s not better, it’s different. Under the right conditions, the 50D’s resolution is very impressive. It has produced some very nice shots. The extra pixels not only mean finer detail, but also, greater smoothness. The 50D also, however, generates more noise and captures less color and tone contrast than the 40D. Many of the images I’ve shot with the 50D clearly reflect this weakness. The 50D’s greater resolution gives me more freedom with cropping. I can shoot a scene “big” and know I can trim it later and still produce a high quality image. Color and tone accuracy and balance are typically Canon-like. But my 40D did a much better job in mid and low light, and the tone curve it produced was easier for me to work with in Photoshop. I understand now why Canon announced the 50D as a companion to the 40D, rather than a replacement. I do like the 50D’s increased resolution, but the 40D is arguably the better or more versatile photographic tool. The 50D will excel in good light situations, but the 40D will produce a better image in high contrast situations and low and mid light.” – J.Wong (OR,USA)

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