Canon 50d now official

ldmelsa said:
That's stupid.
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Agreed. When I played with the K20D on Saturday, I saw it had exactly the same Auto-ISO configuration as the K100D Super had. You can select an ISO range all the way from 100 to 3200. 100 is the fixed beginning (or I didn't figure out how to change it), and you can stop your included range where ever you want. From what I could tell, it favours lower ISO as long as the shutter time is high enough for a stable shot. It seems to follow the focal length = shutter rule (i.e. shoot at 1/500 if you're shooting at 500mm), perhaps a stop or two lower thanks to the shake reduction.

It works really well, I have not once felt that it was pushing me where I didn't want to go. This is entirely a function of software, so there's no reason in the world why Canon cannot apply it via a firmware update. They could even, for the higher end bodies, allow you to set the ISO bias, or a shutter trip point, i.e., if shutter falls below e.g. 1/250, bump the ISO, which would make sense for shooting action.
 
No idea, I don't own anything else and I haven't had my hands on a 5D yet. I imagine the lower-end models are the same. As far as I know the 1D series do it a bit better, but again, I haven't had my hands on one.
 
ISO is the last thing I'd change and I'd want to make that decision myself - still, as long as there is a way of disabling it I cant see what canon doesn't offer it.
 
bwana said:
ISO is the last thing I'd change and I'd want to make that decision myself - still, as long as there is a way of disabling it I cant see what canon doesn't offer it.
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Well, you can already disable it on the 400D, right? I certainly can on the 40D. It's just the behaviour that needs improvement.
 
koffiejunkie said:
Well, you can already disable it on the 400D, right? I certainly can on the 40D. It's just the behaviour that needs improvement.
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I dont even think the 400D has auto ISO. Maybe on the idiot modes (where it belongs) but I havent come across it in my Menu travels.
 
Right.

So why does it not bother you that the camera is in charge of the shutter in Av, but it bothers you that the camera could be in charge of ISO?

If I'm shooting hand held, in Av, and the shutter gets too slow for a stable picture, I'd like the camera to have the ability to bump the ISO as a last resort. It does this, but only between 400 and 800, which gives me a whole one stop to work with. It would be so nice if this worked all the way from 100 up.
 
koffiejunkie said:
Right.

So why does it not bother you that the camera is in charge of the shutter in Av, but it bothers you that the camera could be in charge of ISO?

If I'm shooting hand held, in Av, and the shutter gets too slow for a stable picture, I'd like the camera to have the ability to bump the ISO as a last resort. It does this, but only between 400 and 800, which gives me a whole one stop to work with. It would be so nice if this worked all the way from 100 up.
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I only shoot AV because I prefer to manage DOF over shutter speed. Manual on the 400D is a pain - my nose gets in the way of the aperture control button when I use my left eye. If aperture was still adjusted on the lens things would be very different.

Raising ISO means more noise - obviously it gets more perceptible as it goes up but I prefer to keep the ISO as low as possible.
 
bwana said:
I only shoot AV because I prefer to manage DOF over shutter speed. Manual on the 400D is a pain - my nose gets in the way of the aperture control button when I use my left eye. If aperture was still adjusted on the lens things would be very different.
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I hear you. I don't understand the logic of taking the aperture ring away - it achieved absolutely nothing, except may a few cents on manufacturing costs.

bwana said:
Raising ISO means more noise - obviously it gets more perceptible as it goes up but I prefer to keep the ISO as low as possible.
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Well, noise isn't too much of a problem in good light and the ISO won't go very high anyway. Remember I'm talking about having auto-iso in the lower ISO range. And if you're shooting in really low light you're going to set the ISO up anyway, unless you're using flash - in which case a less idiotic auto-iso would help too.

I just remembered you don't like using the camera's NR either. Maybe, if it's really not good enough, you should wait for the 5D replacement. the NR built into Digic III is superb, I can only imagine that Digic 4 would be too.
 
Hmm, looks like my second body (when I get there) will be another 40D.

Pros:
  • Detailed and clean image output (but not as detailed as we would have expected from a 15 megapixels sensor)
  • Chroma and luminance noise well controlled at higher sensitivities
  • Wide range of image parameter adjustment (-4 to +4 for most)
  • Effective Highlight tone priority option delivers smooth highlight roll-off
  • Four levels of high ISO noise reduction (including Off)
  • Effective vignetting control feature
  • No noticeable hot pixels with long exposures and NR off
  • Nine point auto focus system accurate, even in low light
  • Large, clear and bright high-res screen
  • Well-built magnesium body, weather-sealed
  • Good viewfinder, optional focusing screens
  • Excellent ergonomics and refined user-interface
  • Quick control menu allows direct access to many important settings
  • Attractive refreshed menu design
  • Fully customizable MyMenu
  • Programmable FUNC button
  • Two user memories via 'C1/C2' on mode dial
  • 10x magnification in live view allows reliable manual focusing
  • Instant power on, camera feels snappy and responsive at all times
  • Fast continuous shooting (6.3 fps)
  • Excellent data throughput and processing speeds (with fast CF cards)
  • Very fast PTP transfer speed
  • AF-Micro-Adjustment
  • Comprehensive Software package
  • Very quiet mirror mechanism (plus 2 silent shooting options in live view)
  • Any combination between RAW and JPEG image sizes possible
  • Dust reduction from Canon's 'Integrated Cleaning'
  • Good battery life
  • Optional WFT-E3 wireless transmitter (802.11 b/g) / vertical grip
  • HDMI output

Cons:
  • High ISO performance worse than 40D
  • Reduced dynamic range in the shadow areas compared to EOS 40D
  • Per-pixel detail not as good as on good 10 or 12 megapixel cameras
  • High-end lenses required to get the most out of the camera
  • Poor white balance performance under artificial light
  • Flash must be up for AF assist lamp (although AF is good even in low light)
  • Live view not as accurate as on 40D (framing very slightly off-center, not possible to magnify right out to the extreme corners)
 
This is, of course, just a review, with a limited set of images. I have seen many images that show very good high ISO - better than the 40D, particularly at 1600 and 3200 ISO.

I guess the raw converter also influences the result. They used the ACR for both, but that doesn't mean that ACR's support for the 50D is as good as for the 40D. It would be interesting to see the same images converted with DDP instead.
 
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