Author Topic: Canon 50D - anyone using? Your review would be appreciated. (Read 12783 times)

cathyslife · « **on:** September 25, 2009, 07:17 »

I currently shoot with a Rebel XT. Had to send it and my 28-135mm lens in last week for cleaning and re-calibration. I've been using it for 4 years, so not too upset about it.

While it was gone, I researched the 50D. The increased pixel output would allow me to sell XL sized photos on the micro sites. I bought the camera from B&H, and also bought a wide angle lens, the Sigma 10-20mm, to do some interior work. I love the feel of the 50D, love the big screen, love everything about it except...

I have tried 3 different lenses on the camera, and I cannot possibly live with the noise I am getting in the shots. I read many articles about this camera. Articles dated near the release time talked a lot about noise, and some people reported having to send the camera back because of this that and the other. They were sent new cameras, and the second time around they were pleased. Reviews and articles a few months after release, more people reported being happy with the camera.

I am sending the 50D back to B&H as soon as I get my XT back today. They are very helpful and had no problems with that, in fact they pay for postage back. They will send me a new one. I asked the technician if they had many returns on this camera, but of course he said he hadn't heard of this problem before.

Does anyone here shoot with the 50D for microstock? Are you happy with it? Do you have bad noise issues? Your input would be very helpful. If the second camera doesn't do a much better job, I may jump ship and switch to Nikon. By the way, the next model up is out of my budget right now. In fact, truth be told, the 50D is out of my budget, but not having a camera for a week or two is too big of money loss.

sam100 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2009, 07:37 »

Been using the 50D for a month now... have put it to the test in studio, nature and macro.
I'm pleased with the results, sharp, nice colors, don't need much afterwork in photoshop.
I must say, i set all settings in camera to neutral because i've noticed more noise in sky, even at lowest iso when even the slightest sharpening is set in camera.
But then, i use it 95 % of shooting in studio, under controlled lighting setup.

Overall impression, pleased with results, not stellar, but pleased.

Patrick H.

Ps : big improvement over the Nikon D200 i've used for almost 3 years, much more detail, and off course the higher resolution means on some sites higher prices.

j2k · « **Reply #2 on:** September 25, 2009, 07:59 »

Hi, I got 50D when it got released and I actually returned it because of noise. The camera feels great but I had to run noise reduction on pretty much everything if I wanted to submit at full resolution.

I don't think the amount of noise that 50D produces at ISO 100-400 would bother me for making prints etc, but for stock it definitely is visible.

gostwyck · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2009, 08:11 »

I haven't tried the 50D Cathy but I think you should seriously consider a second-hand 5D instead which would probably be cheaper.

The 5D is virtually noise-free (much better than my 1Ds MkIII) has a full-frame sensor, only marginally fewer pixels than the 50D and feels lovely in the hand. I really wish I hadn't sold mine when I upgraded.

It would be a massive step-up in quality and crop-ability from your Rebel-XT too.

cathyslife · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2009, 08:30 »

j2k, exactly. If I were making prints, not an issue. It's totally unacceptable for stock though.

gostwyck, thanks for the tip. I'll go research that. Full-frame sensor...can I use my existing EF-S lenses with that? I thought I remember reading you can't. I've read so much over the past week, I might be confused.

cathyslife · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2009, 08:39 »

gostwyck, B&H has a 5D for $1249.00, used. The description says Item Condition : 9 Shows signs of use, but very clean
Additional Comments: IN BOX

Does that sound like a good thing? Also, all my lenses are EF not EF-S, so a change to 5D would work.

graficallyminded · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2009, 09:00 »

Might wanna wait and see what people say about the 7D once it ships, if it hasn't already. It's getting great reviews so far. It's definitely sounding better in quality than the 50D. 20D/40D were classics, the reviews I've read on the 50D haven't been as good. Way noisier than the 40D. I'm sure it's a great camera, but it has it limitations when you're talking higher ISO shooting.

5D Classic / 5D Mkii is what I really want next. Most of my lenses are EF also, the 18-55 IS kit lens I have can stay on my crop body and I'll just use that one for wide, until I can pick up a 17-40 or something. Next year biz expense

...

gostwyck · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2009, 09:01 »

Quote from: cclapper on September 25, 2009, 08:39

gostwyck, B&H has a 5D for $1249.00, used. The description says Item Condition : 9 Shows signs of use, but very clean
Additional Comments: IN BOX

Does that sound like a good thing? Also, all my lenses are EF not EF-S, so a change to 5D would work.

Ah, no __ EF-S lenses won't work with the 5D unless they are 'modified'. There's a very good explanation of the issue and how to overcome it here;

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/efs-10d.html

I'd say $1249 is on the high side for a secondhand 5D but that's because it is from a shop. I'd expect to get a significantly better deal on eBay. There are always lots of hobbyists that must have the latest model so keep selling off their barely-used gear.

Maybe one day you could stretch to the 24-70mmL? In my view that lens is made for what I do (very similar to yourself) and probably accounts for 99.5% of all the shots I take. I couldn't be without it. I consider camera bodies to be almost disposable whereas good glass is forever.

gostwyck · « **Reply #8 on:** September 25, 2009, 09:08 »

Quote from: arenacreative on September 25, 2009, 09:00

20D/40D were classics, the reviews I've read on the 50D haven't been as good.

The 20D wasn't a 'classic' __ I though it was expensive rubbish and the worse DLSR I've ever owned. I only reluctantly upgraded to it from my 10D because of the extra pixels but the images were nothing like as good. I was so grateful when they brought out the 5D and I could finally bin it.

cathyslife · « **Reply #9 on:** September 25, 2009, 09:15 »

Well, the 5D just disappeared off the B&H site, someone must have snatched it up. I'll keep looking around.

HermanM · « **Reply #10 on:** September 25, 2009, 09:18 »

Been using it since I bought it for my wife... My 5D is great, but I like the 50D a lot, especially in the studio. If you can control light then it is a great tool. It requires very good lenses to really get great results since the pixel count shows every cheap lens' defects quite fast. I too have noticed some noise, but it is not that bothersome to me, I have submited images taken in dim light to some trads and no problem there, but the micros are somewhat obsessed with noise and there could be a problem. What I do when submitting to the micros is that I use Dfine (Nik's noise reduction) at 60-70% opacity and then downsize a bit. Even iso 800-1000 images have been accepted with no problem. I wouldn´t consider buying a higher megapixel camera to try to get "XL" sales, especially since the subs model is showing its ugly face everywhere, I hate so see my very large pics go for 35 cents, but maybe it doesn´t bother you, but think about it.

In the end I'm split between my 5D and my wife´s 50D. I will wait and see the 5D MKIII that should be somewhere around the corner, and the 7D is a great option too.

If you consider buying a used 5D do some research about the mirror issue (becoming loose) and ask the seller if the camera has been conditioned to prevent that.

HermanM · « **Reply #11 on:** September 25, 2009, 09:21 »

Quote from: gostwyck on September 25, 2009, 09:08

The 20D wasn't a 'classic' __ I though it was expensive rubbish and the worse DLSR I've ever owned. I only reluctantly upgraded to it from my 10D because of the extra pixels but the images were nothing like as good. I was so grateful when they brought out the 5D and I could finally bin it.

My 20D was bought the first week it went out. Never have had a problem, not even a tiny glitch, with it. My wife (that always shoots in burst mode) used it for two years (heavy ones) and now my 10 yo daughter uses it and it still takes great pics. Maybe you got a bad piece, but for me is one of the most loved cameras I've had.

cathyslife · « **Reply #12 on:** September 25, 2009, 09:38 »

that I use Dfine (Nik's noise reduction) at 60-70% opacity and then downsize a bit.

Herman, I didn't specifically buy the 50D for the 15mp and XL sizes...I wanted to buy another camera because I had to send my one and only to the shop and not having a camera for 1-2 weeks felt like my arm was going to be cut off.

I can downsize the pics and still get an XL size...I am just amazed at the noise at ISO100. If I were shooting 400-800, it wouldn't bother me, but at ISO100 I expected none.

Thanks for the tip on the 5D. I know plenty of people do it, but I have a "thing" about buying used equipment (or cars, or anything that cost more than $100). I just think, in the long run, it's better to buy new. I would buy used from someone I knew, but from strangers, I think its a crapshoot.

Perhaps I just got an earlier model or a lemon. My XT and 28-135mm lens are coming back from Canon today. I would like to shoot some pics with that lens with the 50D and see how that works, since this is the lens I use most.

Any more comments are welcomed.

cathyslife · « **Reply #13 on:** September 27, 2009, 07:35 »

Anyone else using the 50D?

Noodles · « **Reply #14 on:** September 27, 2009, 08:12 »

Quote from: cclapper on September 27, 2009, 07:35

Anyone else using the 50D?

Sorry, I'm not - but I figured I'd check ebay to see if brand new 5D's were still being sold - couldn't find any but I was amazed to see that second hand 5D's were selling for more than I paid for my new one! I did buy it just before the mk11 came out so it was quite cheap.

You can't go wrong with either 5D - awesome camera! Forget the 50D

sam100 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 30, 2009, 16:25 »

Both canon 50D

Patrick H.

bobkeenan · « **Reply #16 on:** September 30, 2009, 18:30 »

I have had a 50D for about 4 months. Compared to the XS... I love it. I am still a beginner at microstock. In fact I finally just got to the minimum payout on shutterstock and will get paid in two weeks... Yea!!!

Most of my stuff is shot at ISO100 and I really don't notice much noise much of my stuff is accepted. Interestingly enough this last weekend I decided to take a bunch of hand held shots at the morning market. I had to push the ISO to 400. I have never done that before for microstock. In post processing I did see what I considered to be an unacceptable level of noise in the shadows. But I have Noise Ninja. I cleaned them up (a little of a pain). And almost all got accepted at almost all of the big 6.

I would love to have a full frame camera but $$$. I am interested in the 7D. At first there were some good reports of low noise at high iso. Now I am hearing some mixed reports of higher noise and some banding issues..... so it will be interesting to see what the professional reviews (I like dpreview) say.

In the meantime the 50D is doing good enough for my microstock

ozbandit · « **Reply #17 on:** October 01, 2009, 02:44 »

If you are looking in the 1k price range I would go for 40D, less noise and much better and cheaper choice then 50D. If you are willing to spend bit more go for the 7D which has some great specs on it. Otherwise bite the bullet and get the 5D Mark2. I wouldn't bother personally with the 5D Mark1, we are talking over six year old technology here and in the world of computers (essentially this is a computer) that's a very long time....

gostwyck · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2009, 05:08 »

Quote from: ozbandit on October 01, 2009, 02:44

I wouldn't bother personally with the 5D Mark1, we are talking over six year old technology here ....

Six years? On which planet? If you'd bought a 5D when it was first available it would still be less than 3 years old.

With microstock (as with most photography applications) the requirement is 'good enough' to pass the quality and size thresholds. In that regard the 5D will probably never become obsolete in that it already exceeds the quality requirement for all current uses of the images.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #19 on:** October 01, 2009, 06:41 »

Quote from: gostwyck on October 01, 2009, 05:08

Quote from: ozbandit on October 01, 2009, 02:44
I wouldn't bother personally with the 5D Mark1, we are talking over six year old technology here ....

Six years? On which planet? If you'd bought a 5D when it was first available it would still be less than 3 years old.

With microstock (as with most photography applications) the requirement is 'good enough' to pass the quality and size thresholds. In that regard the 5D will probably never become obsolete in that it already exceeds the quality requirement for all current uses of the images.

+1
5d MK I is a great camera, even the price for used 5d I's have gone slightly up since January, because the demand is so high. I would prefer that one any time over a crop sensor camera probably even over a 7d.

eppic · « **Reply #20 on:** October 01, 2009, 07:47 »

If you had $2000 and change lying around you could get the new 24.6mp full frame Sony A850 and a couple of cheap but excellent quality used Minolta lenses. Its by far the best buy if you're considering full frame. I shoot with the 12.2mp A700 and can submit XL images. Also a great camera for the money.

HermanM · « **Reply #21 on:** October 01, 2009, 08:43 »

Quote from: eppic on October 01, 2009, 07:47

If you had $2000 and change lying around you could get the new 24.6mp full frame Sony A850 and a couple of cheap but excellent quality used Minolta lenses. Its by far the best buy if you're considering full frame. I shoot with the 12.2mp A700 and can submit XL images. Also a great camera for the money.

The problem is that 24.6mp on a full frame with cheap lenses don't mix well. It happened to me with the 5D, the older cheap Canon lenses that I had showed all their faults on the corners...

ozbandit · « **Reply #22 on:** October 01, 2009, 09:19 »

Okies sorry, 4 years, 5D was announced in August 05 and went on sale later that year. I'm about to get the 5D M2 for myself this Xmas, mainly so I can use full frame with my 17-40mm L lens and for overall better quality. I used to have the 30D and my mum has the 20D. The difference going to 40D was quite substantial in terms of handling noise at higher ISO, larger LCD and sensor cleaning. A four year old camera, even with a full frame, in my books just doesn't stack up... I would never go back to sensor cleaning with my swab's, god that sucked....

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #23 on:** October 01, 2009, 10:16 »

Quote from: ozbandit on October 01, 2009, 09:19

Okies sorry, 4 years, 5D was announced in August 05 and went on sale later that year. I'm about to get the 5D M2 for myself this Xmas, mainly so I can use full frame with my 17-40mm L lens and for overall better quality. I used to have the 30D and my mum has the 20D. The difference going to 40D was quite substantial in terms of handling noise at higher ISO, larger LCD and sensor cleaning. A four year old camera, even with a full frame, in my books just doesn't stack up... I would never go back to sensor cleaning with my swab's, god that sucked....

Don't have to high of expectations of the sensor cleaning in the 5d Mark II. I have got it and I have got the dust as well

eppic · « **Reply #24 on:** October 01, 2009, 11:37 »

Minolta has lenses that are cheap (perhaps inexpensive is a better word) ex under 500.00 on Ebay that are excellent quality and of course will all be stabilized due to the in-body I.S. that only Sony has accomplished with FF sensors.

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Author Topic: Canon 50D - anyone using? Your review would be appreciated. (Read 12783 times)

cathyslife

sam100

j2k

gostwyck

cathyslife

cathyslife

graficallyminded

gostwyck

gostwyck

cathyslife

HermanM

HermanM

cathyslife

cathyslife

Noodles

sam100

bobkeenan

ozbandit

gostwyck

Freezingpictures

eppic

HermanM

ozbandit

Freezingpictures

eppic

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