Canon EOS 50D 15.1 MP Digital SLR Camera - Black (Body Only)

Likes: solid build, high res review screen, clear and bright viewfinder, fast processor, clear and extensive menus, fast autofocus, high megapixel count, accurate metering.
Dislikes: not sure yet about low light (high iso) performance
Overall, good quality and value for money- feels very solid and good backup for 5D MkII.

I have owned or own the 300D,,400D,,40D and now the 50D

Breathtaking was my initial thoughts.
The results are far better than the 40D.

I do wildlife and have been do so for 18 months.

Because of this I do a huge amount of cropping to enlarge the subject and thats where the 50D really kicks in.
The 15 megapixels gives an extraordinary amount of crop with the subject holding crisp and clear.
Far better than the 40D,,and my 40D has a clean bill of health from Canon along with my two major lenses. Yes,,I service my camera equipment just like my car or boiler.

Its depth and contrast is extreemly good giving pictures a depth that is usually seen on quality photo's taken with high end cameras.

If I could upload the third picture taken with this camera of a Heron with a sigma telephoto lens (tripod mounted)you would see a truely great picture. Feathers with incredible detail with excellent contrast good depth. Straight OFF the camera,,NO editing at all.

If your into wildlife or sport and your budget is £600 to £800 you should not be dissapointed.
The continous drive needs a decent CF card,,don't buy a slow read write for this camera like 15m/s,,get 30m/s or more.
The file sizes taken in Large RAW are about 20mb each. So make sure you have a large hard drive on your computer.

Fabulous camera and I am highly delighted with it as a wildlife photographer.

Canon 50D verdict
The Canon EOS 50D replaces the 40D, increases the pixel count by 50%, quadruples the sensitivity and packs in all the latest features – bar a movie mode. As such it’s a very impressive specification, and one which on the whole lives up to its promise.
Resolution wise, the 50D packs more pixels into its sensor, so there’s obviously concerns over noise levels. But Canon’s bold claims of matching the noise levels of the earlier EOS 40D were confirmed. From 100 to 1600 ISO, the EOS 50D’s output really is very similar to that from the EOS 40D when viewed at 100% on a pixel level. At 3200 ISO, the 50D applies greater noise reduction, but tone it down a notch and again it looks similar to the 40D. Admittedly the 50D’s 6400 and 12800 ISO modes are a step too far, but it’s an impressive achievement to boost the total pixels by 50% without any perceptible compromise in noise levels over its 10 Megapixel predecessor at the same sensitivities. The boost in resolution also means a great deal more data is being handled by the camera, although Canon’s latest DIGIC 4 processor takes care of the challenge very effectively. The 50D feels as responsive as the earlier 40D and support for quick UDMA Compact Flash cards means the camera clears its buffers without much delay. In practice the 50D’s continuous shooting speed was the same as the 40D, which is still very swift.
In terms of the new features, several represent their debut on a Canon DSLR – so the 50D becomes the first EOS to feature a VGA screen and an HDMI port. Their presence here is certainly very welcome, although in no small part a reaction to the Nikon D300 and Sony A700 which sported them a year earlier.
Like these models, the 50D’s VGA screen looks fantastic in use, packing-in detail during playback and allowing very smooth-looking menu fonts; conventional 230k monitors look quite primitive in comparison. But the 50D takes the lead in Live View over both the Nikon D300 and D90, delivering a more detailed view on its screen when magnified, making it easier to confirm the exact focus; unlike Nikon bodies, it also features a live histogram and comes supplied with free software to fully remote control the camera using a PC or Mac.
The 50D also becomes the first Canon DSLR to feature in-camera correction of vignetting, while additionally inheriting the AF micro-adjustment of the professional models – both welcome additions. On paper the 9-point AF system appears to have stood still since the 40D, which makes it look even less impressive compared to the 51-points of the D300, but Canon has improved the AF algorithm on the 50D and you only have to use it in fast action environments to realise it’ll easily handle most situations. I have few complaints with the 50D’s AF system in practice.
Perhaps the biggest issue facing the 50D though is its high resolution. Canon’s use of gapless micro-lenses may have kept noise levels under control, but the high pixel density places greater demands on optics than ever before. Picture quality is great, but not a vast improvement over the 40D. I have no complaints with the 50D, but going over ISO1600 is not recommended except for emergencies.
Finally, it should also be mentioned the EOS 50D does not have a movie mode. This won’t bother most traditional photographers, If I want to to shoot video I would buy a camcorder.
Overall I would rate this as a great buy secondhand and would recommend it over other makes.

Well it`s early days but i`m getting the hang of it. Being used to SLRs already particularly taking transparencies with the T90, the leap wasn`t too big although their are a lot more options. The extra features afforded by digital are the best thing about going digital and so its well worth the wrestle. Changing ISO settings, color balance and histograms are a small slice of these benefits.
I love the person friendly navigation of controls and the general feel of the camera, very solid despite its light weight. I bought the camera with the BG-E2N and a handhold strap, i was disappointed to find that in order to use this comfy strap i had to have the battery grip fixed and could only use neck-strap when grip off.
This is not going to be a camera i want to get rid of soon and i feel that when its mysteries are revealed it will yield some great snapshots and some hopefully better composed creative shots aswell in the future. Although i strongly recommend anyone with an interest in photography look at this or at least the 550d as a serious choice, i would also encourage people starting out to invest £100 on a T90 and another 100 quid or so on acquiring a good 50mm lens ,say an f1.4 and a roll of HP5, this is a pure joy to use as a combination. Alternatives to the bulky`ish 50d for the starter might be a good compact such as the G10 powershot which is soooo good and for candid pics or journalistic pics almost unbeatable for under £300.
All the best with your choice, look at Nikon user reviews for a rounded picture also, although i have an F4 i`m really sold on Canon myself.
Richard Davenport

We bought EOS 40d's when they launched last year, and we've found them amazing cameras, and would recommend them to anyone. (And even after this review - we still would)

However, we've just obtained a couple of 50d's, and we can certainly see quite a difference. At first glance, they look similar to each other, but the increased megapixel range, higher ISO setting, improved DIGIC processing system, improved rear LCD screen amongst other things set this camera apart from the 40d.

Although we've only had the cameras for a short time we're already very impressed. They also have improved waterproofing - useful for us when we're outside - no need to run for cover at the sight of a spot of rain.

I know that to upgrade from a 40d to a 50d won't be so cheap - and as we say the 40d is a great camera - but if you have a 20/30d - now could be the time to take the next step?

We've not gone for the new 5d, as it's full frame. This is useful in many respects, but for our line of work, we prefer the slightly smaller frame. We also have a great collection of EF-S lenses that we don't want to change either.

One point to note - if you have the BGE2 or BGE2N grip from the 40d - it's also compatible with the 50d - as is the battery - the BP511a. It's not so often a manufacturer does that these days - it's normally new model - new accessories - so Well done to Canon for that.

Hopefully others will share their experiences soon - but so far ours has been extremely positive!