Posted by Greg Barteluk on August 26, 2008 at 1:30 PM
This is an interesting release. If this APS-C sensor is 15.1 megapixels with, according to Canon, good high ISO performanced, will the full-frame 5D mk II be only 1 megapixel larger as some have speculated?
Posted by Steve Foss on August 26, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Yes, interesting indeed. Swedish bird and nature photographer Brutus Östling was given a pre-production 50D to test out. One of the things that most interested him was autofocus performance. He compared it with his 1D Mk3 and says the 50D is actually faster focusing.
I'm most interested in noise performance, frankly. I have a hard time believing that 15 Mp packed onto the 1.6 crop sensor will produce images with lower noise than the 30D/40D. Sure would like to see test images at iso6400 and iso12800. If it's true, that and the other features make it more likely I'd up a new 50D instead of the used 5D I've been contemplating, and a new 50D likely will be less expensive than a used 5D, if Canon continues its consistent price point established with the 30D and 40D.
Oh well, it's fun to see what's out there.
Posted by Richard Hahn on August 26, 2008 at 3:24 PM
HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK IT WILL COST $$$$$$$$$
Posted by Terry Sohl on August 26, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Of course it's officially here. I just bought a 40D a couple of weeks ago.
Life is all about timing...
Posted by Greg Barteluk on August 26, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Canon's suggested list is $1399 (USD) for the body.
Posted by David Bostedo on August 26, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Well Terry, it also explains the falling 40D prices...
Steve - The really high ISOs (6400 and 12500) are, as in the Nikon's, purely done in software, so you can get the same effect by boosting the exposure in the RAW converter from a pic at ISO 3200 if you want. (In other words, the extra noise at those levels would not be produced by the sensor or circuitry. The only difference would be if the camera software was better at boosting exposure than your RAW converter is.)
And I think the main reason it's able to be good with noise is that, despite the smaller pixels, the microlenses on top cover the entire surface of the chip, so there's (theoretically) no lost signal to gaps between the microlenses. Previously there was space between them, and light landing there was "wasted".
Posted by Steve Foss on August 26, 2008 at 10:19 PM
David, I knew the highest isos were a software deal, but did not know the techs you provided about the sensor. Thanks for filling in a gap!
Posted by Don George on August 27, 2008 at 10:52 AM
B&H has it for 1599 includes a lens. I'm still waiting for the 5D to come down as I need a full frame digital for scenic shooting. Won't be available at B&H until October.
I've just read the hands on preview on dpreview. I long waited for the 5D replacement, but now I think this 50D is really a great camera. Full frame was something I considered for a long time as the only true upgrade I needed for the quality of my images.
But if Canon confidently puts 15Mp on the APS-C sensor of a pro-sumer camera, well, probably full frame is something that I largely overextimated. I will just wait to see a review about high ISO quality, and if @800 ISO in low light and/or at night it is capable to produce fully usable images, this will most likely be my new toy very soon
Discussion
9 repliesI'm most interested in noise performance, frankly. I have a hard time believing that 15 Mp packed onto the 1.6 crop sensor will produce images with lower noise than the 30D/40D. Sure would like to see test images at iso6400 and iso12800. If it's true, that and the other features make it more likely I'd up a new 50D instead of the used 5D I've been contemplating, and a new 50D likely will be less expensive than a used 5D, if Canon continues its consistent price point established with the 30D and 40D.
Oh well, it's fun to see what's out there.
Life is all about timing...
Steve - The really high ISOs (6400 and 12500) are, as in the Nikon's, purely done in software, so you can get the same effect by boosting the exposure in the RAW converter from a pic at ISO 3200 if you want. (In other words, the extra noise at those levels would not be produced by the sensor or circuitry. The only difference would be if the camera software was better at boosting exposure than your RAW converter is.)
And I think the main reason it's able to be good with noise is that, despite the smaller pixels, the microlenses on top cover the entire surface of the chip, so there's (theoretically) no lost signal to gaps between the microlenses. Previously there was space between them, and light landing there was "wasted".
But if Canon confidently puts 15Mp on the APS-C sensor of a pro-sumer camera, well, probably full frame is something that I largely overextimated. I will just wait to see a review about high ISO quality, and if @800 ISO in low light and/or at night it is capable to produce fully usable images, this will most likely be my new toy very soon