In a clear answer to Nikon’s recent high ISO digital SLRs, today Canon announced the 15.1-megapixel EOS 50D, with a maximum sensitivity of ISO 12,800 and a new DIGIC 4 processor. The EOS 50D is not the expected full-frame 5D replacement. Rather, it’s an APS-C sensor step up from the 10-megapixel EOS 40D digital SLR. A surprisingly significant upgrade, actually.
Canon EOS 50D Image Quality
Everyone should know by now that increasing the number of pixels doesn’t automatically mean better image quality. On a basic level, adding more pixels to the same size sensor means smaller pixels and more noise. To accommodate the 50% increase in pixels without compromising image quality, Canon has introduced new “gapless microlenses” for each pixel and a new four-step user-selectable noise reduction system. Over the past two years, improved noise reduction and increased light-sensitive area on individual pixels has meant improved image quality even while pixel counts have increased. The “gapless microlenses” sounds like another strategy for getting more direct light to the pixel. And 50% more pixels means noise will be effectively minimized in prints or Web images. The ISO 6400 and ISO 12800 high sensitivity settings are exciting but without seeing full-size samples they’re impossible to judge. However, it’s not likely that Canon would include them if they couldn’t compete with Nikon’s high-sensitivity cameras. So we’ll just have to wait and see if the image quality measures up. But over the past couple of years I’ve been surprised at how image quality has improved even while pixel counts have gone up. So I’m prepared to be impressed
Canon EOS 50D Performance
But it’s not all about image quality. (Well, maybe it is, but…) You have to get stuff in focus, expose it right, and do it as quickly as possible. That’s where the DIGIC 4 image processor comes in. The 50D can capture 6.3 frames-per-second in RAW and JPEG – up to 90 JPEG and 16 RAW images with a UDMA CompactFlash memory card. That’s very impressive – especially considering the increased number of pixels compared to the EOS 40D. The EOS 50D uses the EOS 40D’s excellent 9-point auto focus system with a diagonal cross-type sensor in the middle for even better performance with f/2.8 and faster lensesA nice addition that wasn’t included in the 40D is the same AF Microadjustment that’s used in the Canon EOS-1D Mark III. Photographers who shoot fast action sports and use AI Servo auto focus should know how valuable this feature is. Personally, this might be the most important improvement on the 50D because it increases the likelihood of getting sharp action photos.
Canon EOS 50D LCD Display
The Canon EOS 50D has a 920k-dot resolution 3-inch LCD display. Canon says this is a 4x pixel increase compared to the EOS 40D so it should be more accurate when checking focus on the camera’s LCD, one area where Canon has lagged behind Nikon and Sony. And Canon jumps on the high-def bandwagon with an HDMI connector so you can connect the EOS 50D directly to an HDTV. The HDMI connector is aimed directly at the photography enthusiast market – families and others who are likely to share their images on the widescreen in their living room. The Canon Live View system has also been upgraded and now has three auto focus options – “Quick Mode AF,” “Live Mode AF,” and “Face Detection Live Mode AF.” Quick Mode AF works drops the mirror down for normal auto focus performance – albeit with a little lag for the mirror to flip down and back up. And the Live Mode AF and the face detection system use the camera’s CMOS sensor while the mirror is down and the live scene is actually displayed on the LCD.
Canon EOS 50D Creative Full Auto Mode
In another nod to the photography enthusiast market, Canon has added a new exposure mode – “CA” (Creative Full Auto). The CA mode is similar to Program Shift in that it offers expanded exposure control in Auto mode. But it does so using images and non-technical language so that less experienced photographers can get more creative and have more control without actually having to know what “aperture” and shutter speed” mean.
Conclusion
There’s more, of course. The sensor cleaning system on the 50D has been improved and Canon also announced a new EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS superzoom lens. But I think I’ve covered the important features and improvements pretty well. And the Canon EOS 50D looks like a very worthy upgrade from the already impressive EOS 40D. If the image quality holds up with the resolution increase, I will be very impressed. A reasonably compact, 15-megapixel DSLR with usable ISO 3200, action-worthy auto focus, speed, and a better LCD display is definitely a camera to covet. And it should make everyone who committed to Canon’s APS-C sensor DSLRs feel good about their decision. I sure am interested.
The Canon EOS 50D body should be available in October for $1399 US and $1599 as kit with the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens.
But what about that full-frame EOS 5D replacement so many photographers are waiting for…?
Canon EOS 50D Press Release >>
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yes please!
more reason to keep all my Canon gear!
can’t wait to see if the paper concept meets expectation (or even exceeds!).
15MP w/ better image quality?
Faster auto focus and ludicrous speed ISO!
…BRING IT ON!
if it’s all it sounds, i’ll be putting anything that’s not held down around the house, up for hock!
now if they’d only throw in some in-body IS…
Based on what I’ve seen from cameras over the past year or so, I think we have reason to believe it will be as good as it looks on paper. I doubt we’ll see in-body image stabilization from Canon or Nikon, though.
Anybody wanna buy my 40D?
It looks like it has real potential, but two or three things really stand out to me
1) the 40D’s AF system is carried over practically unchanged. Rob Galbraith, a very well known Canon shooter, has recently put out an article detailing what he feels are some serious shortcomings of the 40D AF system for many sports/professional applications. This is the same guy who has been working tirelessly with Canon to try and find the problems with and fix the 1D mark III for a good year now. I would have hoped for their sake a more powerful AF system sans issues would have been deployed.
2) I’ve been looking at Canon’s image samples. There is a ton of detail without much sharpening to be added in the low ISO portrait image supplied, however this indicates to me the possibility of a very weak anti-aliasing filter.
The High ISO sample is ISO 1600 at 1/8000sec f/8.0 on a 600mm f/4L IS. This is a very good lens, yet the image seems to lack any critical sharpness. Even attempts to sharpen simply produce haloes and artifacts and noise without much actual sharpening. I thought this must have indicated a focus error, until I looked at the side mirrors on the car that is the subject of the photo. I saw aliasing artifacts. So it looks like there may well be some pretty heavy internal noise reduction going on, possibly even beyond that which can be selected in the camera.
I wasn’t impressed by the performance of the ISO 400 night scene though.
I’ll reserve final judgement until it gets into capable hands. Canon’s image samples are taken by really awful photographers most of the time for some reason.
3) I think there’s a real chance dynamic range may suffer if there truly is any significant amount of NR needed to keep the images clean.
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I’ve been waiting patiently for a upgrade to my Rebel XT…. haven’t been motivated enough to take a leap. But, this 50D will probably push me over the edge.
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NIKON IS GOOD but, CANON is better in some aspects… Just the price s–cks!!!
I have used the 50D for quite some time now (http://www.paulmanoian.com/) and there’s no denying the images it produces are much softer than the 40D at the pixel level. This is to be expected in a camera that bumps the resolution up 50% on the same-sized sensor simply because there is less wiggle room. It is essential to use top quality optics with this body if you want to take advantage of the higher levels of detail the body is capable of capturing. Images captured with lenses, that were considered “decent” on other bodies, may appear fuzzy since the optics are not capable of focusing as sharply as needed. My “L” lenses do very well. My other lenses, well, I sold them since this body REQUIRES pinpoint focusing capabilities. If the lens provides a less-than-perfect image to the sensor, the 15MP sensor will definitely capture a blurry image.