Canon EOS 50D Review

Released just one year after the 40D, the new EOS 50D DSLR is Canon's answer to its main rival, the Nikon D300. The EOS 50D is both a worthy upgrade for current 40D owners and a real challenger to the D300, mainly thanks to the larger 15 megapixel sensor, new Digic 4 processor and expanded ISO range, which thankfully haven't compromised image quality in any way. Despite the 50% increase in resolution, the EOS 50D offers the best image quality of any Canon APS-C DSLR camera to date, with very similar performance to the 40D at comparative ISO speeds, and the added bonus of ISO 6400 and 12800 modes. Admittedly the fastest setting is only really usable as a last resort and doesn't quite match up to the low-light performance of the Nikon D3 and D700, but they are much more expensive cameras than the 50D. We'd happily use this camera on a daily basis up to ISO 3200 with 6400 as a back-up. All other image quality aspects are up to Canon's usual high standards, although we'd swap the 18-55mm kit lens for the more expensive 17-85mm optic in order to get the most out of the 15 megapixel sensor. If you're looking for the highest resolution for your money, the Canon EOS certainly doesn't disappoint.

In terms of features, the comparison between the 50D, its predecessor and the D300 is a little less clear-cut. For EOS 40D owners, the 50D's extra features mainly fall into the nice-to-have category, rather than the must-have. The fantastic VGA LCD screen is the biggest improvement, but not really reason enough to ditch your 40D and then spend around 40% more on the 50D. The arrival of the 50D also means that the price of the 40D should drop sharply, making it a great buy in its own right. Compared to the D300, the 50D suffers in two key areas - AF points (51 vs 9) and viewfinder coverage (100% vs 95%). You'll need to weigh up if these features are more important than the greater resolution, more refined Live View and double the ISO sensitivity that the 50D offers.

Mark Goldstein


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