Canon EOS 50D

Value (7.00)
Can you call a camera that costs $1400 for just the body a good deal? Well, maybe. If you only look at the numbers in our testing section, it's not that much more impressive than the Rebel XS, which sells for $800 less. However, it's in other key capabilities that the 50D really shines. The excellent ISO range, fast shutter speed, dual control wheel interface, high-resolution LCD, increased live view functionality and customizable buttons all make shooting with the 50D fast and flexible. It has all the options and controls you could want from a camera at this price point, and a robust body that feels as if it will take a hell of a beating. It's not the cheapest camera you can buy, but if you're already in the Canon camp, it's a solid camera at the right price.

Comparisons

Canon 40D – The 40D performed better than the 50D on most of the tests we've run, which is rather counter-intuitive. While you won't be getting the strong live view, the high resolution LCD, extended ISO range, 15-megapixel resolution or HDMI output, you'll still get an excellent camera, and the 40D runs under $1000. If you have a 40D, there's probably not much reason to upgrade, as the 50D doesn't really offer much in the way of major new features, but is rather an incremental refresh of the line.

 Canon XSi – The XSi is Canon's entry-level SLR, and it scored impressively close to the 50D on most of our tests, even outperforming it on color, resolution, dynamic range, and low light tests. It retails for less than $600 for the body alone, which is low by any standards. However, the 50D has a much greater array of features, a larger range of ISOs, and better white balancing tools. Not only that, but the 50D's body is far more robust, and its dual control wheel and joystick interface is much easier to use. While you'll be saving a lot by buying an XSi, and your shooting quality won't greatly diminish, you'll be missing out on valuable camera features, and will have a slightly lower 12.2 megapixels.

Nikon D90 – The Nikon D90 costs around $1000 for the body, has a slightly lower megapixel count compared to the 50D (12 MP), and scored on par with, or lower than, the 50D on every test except color. The D90 does stand out as the first SLR on the marketplace that can record video. While this video feature isn't quite as practical as we had hoped, some users will find it useful even in its imperfect state.

Nikon D300 – The D300 ($1500 for body only) outscored the 50D in our color, dynamic range, manual noise, automatic noise, and low light tests, and can match the 50D's features almost to a point. The 50D's ISO range can be extended to a higher level, where the D300's can be set lower. The D300 has a wider exposure compensation range, and better white balance options. The D300 is slightly more expensive, but if you already own a Nikon lens or two, it's a wiser choice.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters – Point-and-shoot users will most likely find themselves over their head with this camera. While they'll recognize some of the shooting modes, and the Creative Auto mode makes some of the key concepts of using an SLR a bit easier to understand, this isn't a camera for those new to SLRs.  However, if set to full auto mode, they'll still be able to make perfectly decent pictures, especially while using live view.

Budget Consumers – If you're trying to get the most bang for your buck on an SLR, your dollars would be better aimed at either the Rebel XS and XSi, or perhaps the Sony Alpha 200. All scored well in our tests, and all can be had for under $600, less than half of what you'd pay for the 50D.

Gadget Freaks – While the very shiny 920,000 pixel LCD screen might draw gadget freaks like magpies to a gewgaw, it's unlikely to hold their interest. The 50D is more of an incremental upgrade, offering better functionality across the board, but no magnificent new features.

Manual Control Freaks – Custom white balance, with bracketing and shifting on either the green/magenta or blue/amber axis. Two customizable buttons (Func. and Set). Custom shooting modes, and Canon's custom menu setup. Lens-specific illumination and focal micro-adjustments. There's a lot here for those who want to plumb the depths of their camera.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists – The 50D straddles an interesting place in the market of digital SLRs for serious users. It's not as inexpensive as the XS and XSi, so it's tough to justify as a backup SLR for less serious use. If, however, they already have a number of Canon lenses, then a professional would definitely appreciate the superior manual controls and flexibility compared to the entry-level options. Also, for a hobbyist who has graduated from an entry-level SLR, is getting more serious, and wants something with a bit more power under the hood, it won't break the bank like a full frame, and will offer you plenty of control in your shooting.