Dilemma: Sell my 50D for SL1?

Okay, so I do most of my shoots with my Mark II. My 50d lives in my bag and only comes out maybe once a month to keep it working and to play around with it. The ISO at 3200 with the 50D is meh. I played with a friend's SL1 the other day and at 6,400 ISO, the images looked CLEAN. Besides build quality, would I be crazy to sell my 50D and to buy the SL1 as a backup? I feel like it will also give me a good quality travel camera as well.

Any other guys with high-end gear use and like the entry-level SL1? Thanks so much in advance guys!

I should also add that I would be using L lenses on the SL1. I'm assuming the quality should be just as good if not better than the 50D. Am I only loosing build quality between the two bodies?

I'd keep the 50D. It's such a good body that will do things the SL1 can, such as MFA, higher burst rate, ease of use and you can't beat the superior build quality.

I thought the same thing until I picked up an SL1. It is TINY! Too tiny for me. Compared to a gripped 5D, it is unmanageably small. On top of that, there is no grip for this body. I would only consider an SL1 if It were never going to have a lens larger than the 18-55 on it, OK maybe the 85 1.8 and smaller primes.

Since you already have 5DII, I'd replace the 50D with SL1. Aside from build quality (which your 5DII already has) there is nothing much you are giving up by going with SL1.

But is the higher ISO performance and HDR mode of the SL1 gaining me anything worth it over the 50D? I think I'm just really looking for a new toy and I love the touch screen and small size. From everything I can see, the image quality between the two bodies is close.

the SL1 is very small, so small that it felt awkward in my average sized hands. I personally would use one only as a last resort. However, if the size doesnt bother you, then go for it.

You'll be sacrificing MFA, cross type AF points, control dials and buttons, size of grip, etc.

You'll gain some things with the SL1, you'll lose some things with the SL1. I would keep the 50d if it were me (mostly because I'm paranoid and like a backup) but I would get the SL1. The ISO is improved over the 50d. If money isn't tight, meaning you would have to sell the 50d to fund the SL1, I would just get the SL1 and have 3 bodies. But if you feel no need to keep 3 bodies, I'd still get the SL1. I rented it for a weekend and was impressed with it: understanding that it was really just a shrunken Rebel so I didn't get it expecting to have an xxd body experience

What you have that is invaluable is hands on experience with one. You've tried it and know you could live with it, so go for it!

tagnal wrote in post #16294174
You'll be sacrificing MFA, cross type AF points, control dials and buttons, size of grip, etc.

Don't need control dials and buttons with the touch screen, the touch screen is very cool, and you quickly don't want to use dials and buttons after a day or so of use. I go back to the 7D and 5D3 afterwards, and as much as I appreciate their size and build and function, I really get tired of the menu navigation spinning and setting, etc.

Because of size alone, would the T5i not be a better upgrade?

Brian

sourcehill wrote in post #16293523
But is the higher ISO performance and HDR mode of the SL1 gaining me anything worth it over the 50D? I think I'm just really looking for a new toy and I love the touch screen and small size. From everything I can see, the image quality between the two bodies is close.

get the SL1, my friend has it, its really a nice camera, easy to take around to travel, on the other hand 50D is another animal, both cameras are really good, tough choice, it all comes to your need!

I recently purchased the SL1 with the 18-55 STM Kit lens as a lightweight travel, cycle and hiking alternative to my 50D and heavy glass, it's the best camera decision I've made in years, even the new kit lens far exceeds my expectations.
I've tried all of my lenses on the SL1, the images are far cleaner above 200 ISO than my 50D. The AF is good, even when using the touchscreen, which incidentally, I find myself using more and more, it's so convenient and intuitive!
I realise that you are in a slightly different position than me, I have an aging back and needed a lighter system to carry around on my daily leisure pursuits but which still gives me satisfactory IQ for the pixel peeping microstock industry!
I have still got my 50D, but haven't used it in weeks!
Best of luck with your decision!

I got my wife an SL1 a few months ago. This is her first DSLR and she took to it like a duck to water. She's already getting great photographs. We often shoot together so we produce similar photographs. Sometimes she gets the better shot, sometimes I do. The point being, the SL1 is a far more capable camera than I thought when I decided to get her one.

If I were selecting a travel/compact camera system for myself, I'd prefer the SL1 to most of the other options I've seen personally. I opted to buy her the 15-85 since I like mine so much. In retrospect, perhaps I should have bought one of the SL1 kits to see how nice the 18-55 STM lens is. I've heard good things about both STM lenses offered with the SL1 and 70D, etc.

Now to sourcehill's question: should you replace your 50D with the SL1? If you aren't using it since most of your shooting is with your 5DMkII, perhaps you'd take the SL1 with you in situations where you leave the 5DMkII at home. In that case, it would be well worth it.

Brianbar wrote in post #16309123
Because of size alone, would the T5i not be a better upgrade?

Brian

I own the SL-1 so of course I am biased in its favor.

I did own the 50D and the 60D. I like everything about the SL-1 more than the 50D or 60D.

Maybe the flip out screen would be nice but it would add bulk and weight and, if I wanted bulk and weight, I'd leave the Sl-1 home and take the 5DIII. The extra weight and size of the T5i also kept me from considering that model as well. Wi-Fi? Not a deal killer. GPS? Seriously? L lenses balance better on the heavier Rebels and xxD models? OK, there's something to be said there.

There is nothing I really miss with the SL-1. Image quality (with the 18-135 STM and 15-55 STM) is excellent and the video is even better. I really don't bother mounting the L lenses.

Canon hit a home run with this Sl-1. Any negative comments I have heard are usually from people who have never touched it, never owned it and/or maybe tried it out in the store for five minutes.

I'd like to see whether people prefer the 70D and, if they do, why.