Canon EOS 50D SLR Digital Review

By: PhotographyBlog

Overshadowed by the protracted launch of the long-awaited full-frame 5D Mark II, the new semi-pro Canon EOS 50D DSLR camera was quietly announced at the end of August. Successor to the one year old 40D, this new model looks virtually identical on the outside, but offers a number of important improvements inside to either tempt you to upgrade from the 40D, or invest in the Canon system. Most notable are the 15.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, up from 10 megapixels on the 40D and the highest-ever for an APS-C sensor camera, an expanded ISO range of 100-12800, which matches the Nikon D700 / D3, the debut of the latest DIGIC 4 image processor, a new Live View mode with Face Detection, HDMI connectivity and a high-resolution 3.0” LCD screen with 920K dots. A new Quick Control screen lets you adjust various camera settings via the LCD monitor, the Auto Lighting Optimizer analyzes the brightness of subjects and automatically adjusts dark images so that they appear brighter, and the AF Microadjustment feature promises to banish back- and front-focusing issues for good.

Ease of Use:- The Canon EOS 50D is outwardly almost identical to its predecessor, the EOS 40D, having the same dimensions (145.5 x 107.8 x 73.5mm), and weighing 10g less at 730g without a lens fitted. Where cheaper entry-level DSLR cameras use plastics, the 50D has a magnesium alloy body which should make it more durable in the long term. The finish seems tough and resilient too, and the memory card and battery doors are dust and moisture resistant, making the 50D potentially better suited to hostile environments, whether they're encountered on a photo shoot in the Himalayas or a trip to the seaside. There's a textured area on both the deep hand-grip and around the thumb-rest on the rear of the camera, and unlike the cheaper 450D and 1000D models, this camera is perfect for everyone with normal to large-sized hands. The most obvious external differences between the 5D and the 40D are the addition of a HDMI port on the left of the body, the top of the mode dial is silver rather than black, and there's a much brighter, higher-resolution LCD screen on the rear (offering 4x the resolution of the 40D's screen).

On more basic SLRs, adjustments are usually made using a combination of buttons and a single control wheel. This is fine for novices, but awkward for experienced photographers who want to be able to adjust a combination of exposure, shutter speed or aperture quickly. Like other semi-pro cameras, the Canon EOS 50D offers two control wheels; a small one on the top of the handgrip, and a large, spinning dial on the back of the camera. This rear 'quick control dial' is characteristic of all high-end Canon EOS cameras. It's a bit of an acquired taste compared to more conventional control dials, but you quickly get used to it and it is easy to 'spin'. The power switch has a third position which activates this dial, and you can then use it to apply rapid exposure adjustments. The quick control dial does take up the space where you'd normally expect to find a four-way controller, which means that for menu navigation Canon has had to incorporate an additional small joystick on the back of the camera. This joystick works well enough, but it's not as positive or as easy to use as a conventional four-way controller. On the 50D, Canon has extended the joystick's capabilities; pressing it in opens the new Quick Control screen. Depending on which shooting mode you're using, this lets you set various parameters via the LCD screen, using the joystick to move around the various options. Similar to the system that Sony Alpha DSLRs have used for a while, the Quick Control screen is particularly well-suited to beginners and tripod work.

On top of the Canon EOS 50D, positioned above the status LCD display, are three buttons, each of which has two functions. You press a button and then turn either the top dial or the rear dial to change the corresponding setting. It does take a little while to memorise which button does what, and which dial you need to turn, although the 50D now also shows the settings on the main LCD screen as well as the status LCD. Having said that, the Canon EOS 50D is not an 'occasional' camera that's going to be brought out only for special occasions or outings. A camera like this is likely to get heavy, frequent use, and its controls will soon become second nature, and the unusual layout does make routine adjustments very straightforward. There are two LCD displays on this camera; the 3-inch colour LCD on the rear and the smaller status panel on the top. On cheaper cameras, the LCD on the rear usually has to do both jobs, but on this model all the camera settings are visible from above on the smaller panel. This can make the Canon EOS 50D quicker to use, and it may also extend the battery life. The main LCD screen has been significantly improved, now offering a fantastic VGA resolution with 920K dots, so you may find yourself using it more often than you thought. Importantly it also brings the EOS 50D in line with its main competitors, and it also allows you to judge the critical sharpness of your photos using the LCD screen, which has been a long-standing issue on Canon's entry- and mid-range DSLRs.

Like most DSLRs aimed at beginners and amateurs, the EOS 50D provides a number of auto shooting modes aimed at beginners, including portrait, landscape, close-up, sports and night portrait and flash off choices. All of these functions performed adequately in all aspects, apart from the close-up macro mode that did not come near to offering a true 1:1 reproduction (you'll need a dedicated macro lens for that). There are, of course, manual and semi-automatic modes for users who want more advanced exposure control. Canon refers to these advanced operations as the 'creative zone' and provides all the normal settings including Program, Aperture and Shutter Priority and the full manual mode. Additionally, they provide the 'A-DEP' (Automatic Depth of Field) function that gives a wider depth of field between a near and far subject, and the brand new Creative Auto mode. This is targeted at beginners who have grown out of using the Full Auto mode, allowing you to change a few key settings using the LCD screen, with a simple slider system for changing the aperture and exposure compensation, or Background and Exposure as the camera refers to them.