Canon EOS 50D Digital Camera Review

Canon EOS 50D

Digital Camera Review

Oct 28, 2008 - By Tim Barribeau
4.2 Canon's new EOS 50D is the incremental upgrade from their 40D which debuted last year. Renowned for being solid, dependable cameras with a wide variety of controls and access to a considerable back catalog of lenses, we put the Canon through a considerable variety of tests. On average, it scored well but not amazingly. Full details follow. The 50D is currently available for $1399 (body only).
Advertisement
Recently Viewed Products
Panasonic
Lumix DMC-LX3		 $570
Samsung
TL34HD		 $281
Casio
Exilim EX-Z300		 $299
Panasonic
DMC-G1		 $800
Top DSLR Cameras
Max Price: $7700
$0 $1925 $3850 $5775 $7700
Filters
All
Canon
Fuji
Nikon
Olympus
Panasonic
Pentax
All
Consumer
Professional
Prosumer
1.Olympus E-P1
Consumer		$800
2.Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Prosumer		$2,680
3.Nikon D5000
Consumer		$719
4.Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Consumer		$795
5.Panasonic DMC-GF1
Consumer		$900
EOS 50D Prices
Latest Camera Reviews
DSLR Point & Shoot
Panasonic
DMC-GF1		Samsung
TL225
Pentax
K10D		Canon
PowerShot S90
Olympus
E-P1		Canon
G11
Canon
EOS 5D		Panasonic
DMC-ZS3
Nikon
D3000		Canon
PowerShot A650 IS
External Reviews
CNET - Cameras
Canon EOS 50D
Photography Review
Canon EOS 50D Review
DCResource
Canon EOS 50D

Connectivity
Software (6.00)
The EOS-50D comes with Canon's full range of applications for both Windows and Mac. It has an image browser, editor, a photostitcher and a basic RAW editor. The applications struck us in general as being competent, if not particularly attractive or inspiring. These are not in any way a replacement for a professional image editing solution.

Jacks; ports; plugs (7.50)
The 50D has a bevy of jacks and ports along the left side of the camera's body, in two vertical lines. The left line has an external flash/PC terminal and an N3 type remote control terminal. The right has a micro-USB port, video out, and HDMI out. As more and more cameras start to use proprietary ports, necessitating special and high-price cables, the 50D is a bastion of sanity, with a completely standard set of ports. You will have no need to buy a ludicrously overpriced, brand-specific bundle of wires if you accidentally leave home without the included cables.

Direct Print Options (6.00)
The 50D supports both major direct print methods: PictBridge and Direct Print Order Form (DPOF). PictBridge allows you to plug your camera into compatible printer, and control paper type, paper size, layout, printing effects, trimming, date and file imprinting and number of copies. DPOF earmarks individual files on your memory card, so that you can hand the card to a print professional, and they will know how many copies you want, if you want an index print, and if you want the date and time embedded on the image. The implementation of these technologies varies from camera to camera, and the 50D offers full-featured versions of both.

Battery (8.00)
The Canon rechargeable battery is rated for 800 pictures without using a flash, which is drastically reduced to 180 while using live view. We found the battery lasted exceedingly well during our lab tests, only requiring a single complete recharge. With the optional battery grip, you can expect even better life between charges. The grip extends from the bottom, and can take either two Li-ion battery backs, or six AA batteries with a holder. Some of the controls can be shifted to the pack to make for easier portrait orientation shooting. The 50D uses the same BG-E2N battery grip as the 40D, 30D and 20D, and is currently available for approximately $200.
 
Memory (3.00)
The 50D uses CompactFlash memory cards, a standard choice for higher-end cameras due to their high capacity and reasonable price. 


CompactFlash cards are renowned for their high capacity
Image Parameters Page 11 of 15 Overall Impressions
Canon EOS 50D Digital Camera Review Navigation
 

Advertisement