50D Perceptions

Actually it seems that just about every camera Canon makes gets bashed pretty good by some of the people on this board (not all). But it seems to me that their is two ways to look at just about every problem or situation.
The 50d has had problems from the get go with err99.

Alot of people argue that they have already had 2 firmware upgrades making Canon into a bunch of bumbling idiots that cant get it right the first time.

On the other hand you can look at it as Canon has already upgraded to firmare 1.0.3 in order to help solve err99 problems. Thank you canon for quickly addressing a problem.

The same goes with all these complaints about this camera or any other camera. For me Ive enjoyed having this camera, as i also would any other one of canons cameras. So enjoy shooting and have some fun.
Just my 2 cents

I am on the fence with the 50D, only got one cause my 40d focal points went haywire and they couldn't fix it. I just updated my 1.0.1 to .0.3 and see how it does. The thing that is bothering me is the noise at low iso 1-400, had one err99 already at 2,000 clicks and was just importing 5 photos from the camera and the err popped up, noise I see it more than in my rebels, 20,30,40d. I just feel I am having to process more with 50d files.

I was on the fence with the 50 but the more I'm using this body, the more impressed I am with it's performance. This weekend I had the opportunity to do some Ai servo shooting and it nailed the shots. The noise at a bit level may not have improved but in the overall image it's much cleaner. And finally I have been able to fine tune my lenses and am getting the crispness I always expected but never quite got with my 40. I'm a happy shooter.

I still have to question the type of QA Canon does on their cameras. Seems like they should have caught the E99 problems in the lab and had the firmware fix in place before releasing the camera. It is afterall a $1500 camera, not a $50 P&S you pick up at the corner drug store.

Last thing we as consumers need to do is become complacent and expect and accept this type of poor quality. We need to keep the heat on Canon and let them know we are not happy with getting cameras that have these obvious issues right out of the box.

gjl711 wrote in post #6619273
I was on the fence with the 50 but the more I'm using this body, the more impressed I am with it's performance. This weekend I had the opportunity to do some Ai servo shooting and it nailed the shots. The noise at a bit level may not have improved but in the overall image it's much cleaner. And finally I have been able to fine tune my lenses and am getting the crispness I always expected but never quite got with my 40. I'm a happy shooter.

I will say it impressed me the other night, I was shooting iso 1600 drag racing at night shots and the servo was kicking some butt at even 1/60.

I'm very pleased with my 50D. Remember...the review didn't say it's a bad camera. The review just said it isn't perfect -- but things rarely are.

- Chris

I always question Canon's QA. To date I have now had 5 bodies, 2 have made trips back to Canon. Also nearly 1/2 of my lenses have as well although in Canon's defense, not that micro-focus adjustment is available, several would not have had to make the trip back.

This camera is a huge upgrade from my 20D. Ive had it about a month 2000 shots no errors and I'm so happy with the 50D I've already sold my 20D. Tthe noise or I should say lack of noise, at the same iso my 20 would be unusable.

Cameras that were very enthusiastically received:

5D, 1D3, 40D

The 1D3 AF problems later dampened the enthusiasm but initial reception was very enthusiastic.

Cameras that were bashed from the start:

30D, 50D

These are the two cameras that offered controversial improvements over their predecessors - and got deservedly bashed.

George.ML wrote in post #6619381
Cameras that were very enthusiastically received:

5D, 1D3, 40D

The 1D3 AF problems later dampened the enthusiasm but initial reception was very enthusiastic.


Cameras that were bashed from the start:

30D, 50D

These are the two cameras that offered controversial improvements over their predecessors - and got deservedly bashed.

Controversial? In what way exactly? Because they fell short of some "standard" that no one can actually nail down or because the feelings of a very vocal minorty got hurt because the big, bad, multinational conglomerate didn't ask them what they wanted?

The three Canon cameras that really impressed me were:
The 5D. My first Canon DSLR. It was so awesome that I pretty much quite using film at work overnight.
The XT. My first personal DSLR. I couldn't believe that they nearly matched the 5D in quality and features for so cheap and so small. What a great travel camera.
And now the 50D. I know many are panning it but as a package it is what I always expected a pro-sumer camera to be. Would be nice to get a pro AF, but everything else comes together to offer a very nice package.

Citex wrote in post #6619245
I am on the fence with the 50D, only got one cause my 40d focal points went haywire and they couldn't fix it. I just updated my 1.0.1 to .0.3 and see how it does. The thing that is bothering me is the noise at low iso 1-400, had one err99 already at 2,000 clicks and was just importing 5 photos from the camera and the err popped up, noise I see it more than in my rebels, 20,30,40d. I just feel I am having to process more with 50d files.

I keep hearing about noise issues with this camera and I must say that, if you are having issues at 400.......that worries me a bit.

I'm really wanting to get the 50D but I'm having a hard time justifying the $1400 if this camera is not backing up the improvements that Canon is claiming. Anyone else having noise issues ? Can these noise problems be corrected with photoshop or other software ?

I purchased a 50d two weeks ago and been testing it ever since.

I finally made the decision to return the camera and put the money towards a second 5D body.

The problems i experienced first hand were noise at low iso levels. Even some at ISO200. The other was general pixel softness even when shooting stopped down and using high end glass such as 70-200 IS 2.8 L, 24-70 2.8 and 50 1.4.

This was a hard choice for me. The feature set with the camera is quite impressive, with the likes of autofocus adjustment and the beautiful LCD screen.

At the end of the day, what came out of this camera didnt cut it for me.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #6619405
Controversial? In what way exactly?

In the auto industry, the 20D -> 30D type of 'upgrade' is called 'mid-cycle face lift'. They don't even put an 'n' at the end of the model number.
But Canon made it look like it's a new model.
Very l-a-m-e.

And with the 50D they are playing the P&S game. With fake high ISOs and more megapixels than Canon's own primes can match, the 50D was designed to stop buyers from going to the competition, not to be a better tool.
Again, very l-a-m-e.

George.ML wrote in post #6620183
In the auto industry, the 20D -> 30D type of 'upgrade' is called 'mid-cycle face lift'. They don't even put an 'n' at the end of the model number.
But Canon made it look like it's a new model.
Very l-a-m-e.

And with the 50D they are playing the P&S game. With fake high ISOs and more megapixels than Canon's own primes can match, the 50D was designed to stop buyers from going to the competition, not to be a better tool.
Again, very l-a-m-e.

Totally agree. Canon have historically released main workhorse bodies every so often with the likes of the 20D, 5D, 1Ds MII which will all go down in history as great cameras.

Cameras such as the 30D, 50D, etc all came out to fill gaps in their line up against competitors. Ie to equalise the product range with other suppliers. I was hopeful the 50D would live up to marketing offerings, but plain and simple with the highest pixel density to date, my findings were no surprise.. Just thought maybe theyve done something right. I guess not.