Field Report
by Gary Gray
Canon have released the EOS 50D Digital SLR.
I've been shooting with one for the past week and my general impressions are here. I'll try to post additional updates as I get the opportunity.
The primary features of this new body are (but not limited too.)
15.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS image sensor with new gapless photosite technology.
Live View.
Integrated Sensor Cleaning.
6.3 Frames per second.
Custom lens micro-adjustment.
Improved Weather Sealing
Improved High Resolution LCD Screen
14 Bit Raw Images
Additional New Small Raw Files (I still haven't figured out why on this one)
New Menu Layout
In Camera Chromatic Aberration and Vignetting Correction. (For JPG, must use the Canon Software for RAW, I still do it in Lightroom anyway.)
Overall general impression is this is a solidly built body with great image quality.
My comparison of images with the Nikon D300 indicate the 50D is holding a little more resolution at about the same noise levels.
The new live view works very well. My only complaint is the available zoom levels for the LCD screen while in live view could use another level of magnification. Not unusable, you'll just quickly run out of steps of magnification and may want that one more zoom level for critical sharpness adjustments.
Startup time and other camera speed issues are impressive. Virtually no delay from off to shooting and the new Digic IV processor seems to help this body write the images to compact flash very quickly. Very fast electronics are my first impressions here.
View finder is about the same as the 30D/40D, and giving you about 95% of the full frame. Nothing to write home about, but not unusable. The D300 has a better viewfinder.
Menu system is very easy and intuitive to navigate. A custom menu can be created with most camera configuration settings, but the total number of settings that can be stored in the custom menu are limited. Still, useful and one doesn't need an interpreter to understand setting it up. Better than the D300 in my opinion.
The new LCD screen is excellent. Detail is right up there with the D300, and Canon have finally made a screen that is viewable in bright light with good resolution. Good enough to actually review images and glean useful sharpness information. I'll call this one a dead heat with the D300, with one exception. The Canon LCD screen is very prone to nose smears. Of course this will have a different impact on shooters, as I doubt that most folks have the big nose I have, but I've heard other complaints about this tendency. It is positioned perfectly for my nose to smear out the left side of the screen. I found the eye piece extender helps a little. Otherwise, keep a lens cloth handy, you'll probably be cleaning the LCD every time you look at it after a shot.
Autofocus looks and feels about the same as the 40D and 5D. Canon claims the new Digic IV processor improves performance. From what I can see, it certainly isn't any worse. I'll write more about this as I test the camera.
Image quality and resolution is simply fantastic. Canon has crammed a lot of pixels into the APS-C size sensor. To accomplish the task, they've reduced the pixel size to a record 4.7µm, down from 5.7µm in the 40D. I've seen some concerns voiced on internet forums about the smaller pixel size causing issues with image quality, mostly techno-geeks trying to impress people with math and studious speculations. I've tested the camera extensively with a number of L grade lenses and primes and can safely report...all is fine. There are no perceptible issues with Depth of Field, Diffraction, High ISO noise, or other techno-geek boogie-man issues. This camera produces excellent images up to ISO 1600 and usable images up to ISO 3200. Image noise is as good and maybe a little better than the D300 on this front. I don't think it's as clean as the Nikon D3 or D700 though. Nothing to worry about. From what I've observed, detail is great, outresolving the Nikon D300 and the Canon 5D. All this talk about the body outresolving the lens may have a basis in mathematics, but the actual image is flying in the face of the claims of the techno-geeks. Detail is there, with no loss of image quality and at very low noise levels. Put a junk lens on this camera, you'll get a junk result. Put a top lens on it, you'll get a outstanding image. (When has this not been true though?)
Shutter noise is very muted. This camera gives a distinctly soft and rapid "click", with shutter blackout and lag times being quite acceptable. It will make a good discrete shooting camera where you don't want to alert everyone to the fact that you're taking pictures. It will also crank out shots at about 6.3 frames per second with a robust RAW buffer depth of about 17-18 shots.
File sizes are enormous for a camera like this. 15-18 megabytes raw, smaller JPG but still larger than what you may be used to. But these are 14 bit Raw files, so there's more image data to save. Not a serious issue unless you're planning on storing everything on a small hard drive. It may be time to think about upgrading your digital storage media.
Batteries are the same as the 20D/30D/40D/5D, BP-511A. It also uses the same battery grip as the 20D/30D/40D, so if you are upgrading bodies, you won't need to invest in a new battery and grip. Battery life seems fairly good, but I've disabled the LCD screen doing anything unless I tell it, just to conserve juice. Canon claims a little shorter battery life than the 40D under similar conditions. I don't see anything to worry about, just keep an extra battery or two with you if you're going to be chimping a lot.
My initial impression is this is a great camera for the money. Out of the box, it's giving better overall images than the Nikon D300, has good functionality, feels firm in the hands and operates easily and intuitively. You can spend a lot more and not get as much for your money.
If you're considering upgrading from a 20D or 30D, this is a no brainer. Do it. If you own a 40D, I'd say wait another generation. The 40D isn't that far behind this body in technology and image quality.
One last thing. Canon has released and is selling the EF-S 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens as a kit with the 50D. I've looked at this new lens, and in all honesty, I'd have to suggest you pass on it. It's not that great a lens. Buy the body and if you need a very good budget lens, I'd recommend the Tamron 28-75 or even the Canon 18-55 IS instead. There are plenty of better alternatives. My first choice for a general purpose, long term, walkabout lens would be the Canon 24-105 L IS.
Most of Canon's consumer grade lenses are just not worth the investment in my opinion. The 18-200 IS is a consumer grade lens. You can do better for less.
On another note. I've seen a recent review of the 50D on a popular camera review site claiming the higher pixel count in the 50D makes it more susceptible to camera shake. This is bunk. Camera shake is a function of two things. How steady you can hold a camera (which will vary from person to person) and the focal length vs shutter speed of your lens. That simple. Extra pixels don't move an object any faster across the frame.
Below, you can find my latest updates to my evaluation...
