can any owners of the 20d,40d and 50d give me their opinion on the following.
the image quality between the 20d and the 40d
the image quality between the 40d and the 50d
DmitriM wrote:
SOME of you are very funny...I can post a bunch of ISO 3200 from a Canon 10D and they'll look super sharp and with no noise at 700x500pix or at similar size. Unless you are posting 100% crops, you are wasting everyone's time.
I guess you've never actually used a 10D. ISO 800 noise looks like grains of sand even at low screen rez such as 1024 x 768. Besides what idiot views normally images at pixel level? You can't even tell what the hell you took a picture of.
To answer jaypod, sorry it's a little off topic. I've had each model from the 10D. Each one has been a nice evolution. Not a huge change in image quality, but just a slow progression. I noticed more advancements in the usability and speed of the newer cameras. From memory I would estimate that there was a bigger difference in the 20-40 jump verses the 40-50 progression. Over-all though if you just look at the image quality you won't see huge differences. Just my view though.
I had the 20 and 40D and now the 50D as of yesterday. I have not shot allot because of overcast days but have some observations.
Lots of gripes from folks about it having the 40D AF system but something is new in Denmark here. I'm finding it to acquire noticeably better in conditions the 40D found challenging.
Cropping power. On screen it's almost like my 300mm is a 350 or something.
The AF finetuning has brought my paper weight EF 50 1.4 back to life. It's an oldie that has been to Canon service twice without success and not being under warranty I was screwed. I'm glad I kept it. A +10 has it back in business. The rest of my glass seems fine so far but I need some sun.
I know how this lens behaved so I have been shooting it with flash indoors and she is dialed in to be pretty sharp at f/1.4. Just a sharpen bump or two in with DPP in 100% form and she's pretty darned good.
And of course the rear LCD is great. I absolutely love the new user interface.
The large files have my quad-core feeling the weight and my hard drives gaining the weight faster. Nothing drastic but I see a difference. A 4GB Cf card was well over 200 frames RAW is now at 178. Looks like I'll be getting 8GB from now on.
So now I see why Canon may have added the UDMA, it's a must. I use Sandisk's IV cards and firewire reader in 1394b and glad I was ready.
I'm not going to get into the noise war because this is where low light challenges the shooter and the camera. I do not think most of us get it when it comes to this. The camera can only be as good as the shooter.
very true i have a lot of excellent pictures from my 20d, even sold a few. hard to believe that over 3 generations of cameras there hasnt been a great improvement in image quality.
jaypod wrote:
very true i have a lot of excellent pictures from my 20d, even sold a few. hard to believe that over 3 generations of cameras there hasnt been a great improvement in image quality.
the problem was that the 20D was awfully efficient already and there are only so many photos around so it takes huge breakthroughs at this point.
kind of why i'm looking at the upper models so much since the larger sensor area seems to be th easiest way to get better sensor performance, APS-H has 1.69 surface area and FF has 2.56 times the surface area so that's a lot more area to collect photons up over (granted only 50D is gapless so the larger sensor don't make quite as much as could as of yet, but gapless just doesnt overcome THAT much more surface area)
not that you can't take great pics with the xxD and they do have faster fps and all than the 5's (although on the other thread it didnt appear to sound like that stuff would matter too much to you).
the video mode in the 5dmkii is also pretty intriguing looking though
Some quick comments about my new50D (bought two weeks ago in Brussels; I still own a 30D, my reference).
- dynamic range : highlights seem easily burnt, even stopping down
- high ISO : obvious noise from 1600+
- AF correction : pretty useful for lenses such as Sigma 50-150 (which was slightly front focusing, something I only noticed with a 15MP resolution)
- shutter : silent, a clear improvement when compared to the 30D, a pleasure to shoot
- Live View : maybe useful when you have time to compose on a tripod, but heats the gear and stops everything after about half an hour; otherwise a nice tech gadget
- err99 : didn't get any such notification, but once my gear just beacme kind of paralysed, I had to remove the battery and reintroduce it to get everything back in order; only happened once
- menus : handy, "convivial"
- LCD screen : large, good resolution, useful for magnifyin and checking the quality of focus
- creative mode : don't understand the use on such a gear
- build quality : honnest, but lacks complete tropicalisation
- built-in flash : unfortunately can't be used as master to slave flash
- precision of AF : can't say anything specific about, seems quite good, at least as good as 30D
- dust removal system : something really useful, had to remove regularly dust with the 30D
- battery autonomy : seems to be quite reduced in comparison to 30D, the extra consumption should have been compensated by a new kind of battery; am afraid I will have to get a grip
- depth of field control button : a pity Canon didn't change it's position (not easy to manage when using a 100-400) in a more accessible point for the fingers
- otherwise an overall good ergonomy, not that very different from 30D however
- all in all, I am really satisfied; just crossing fingers there will be no more kind of "paralysis" incident
your right skibum5 video mode does seem interesting, not the main reason for getting the camera but if you can take macro video that would be interesting.... the focussing and dof may be a little tricky though esp with the 100mm macro
Quick Update on my new 50D: I fianally got an Err 99 today. It happened only after I installed the grip from my 40D (that was on my 30D at one time). Has anyone got Err 99 w/o the grip? Wonder if it only happens when you HAVE a grip installed?
You guys may want to practice gently wiping the contacts on new bodies and lenses with a very slightly damped alcohol cloth. Assembly oil may be present and transfer to other lenses or bodies, driving us all nuts.
Don't go crazy, just lightly wipe and go. Don't use the same cloth area on the next item.
I learned this from a pro who's been in it for years. He says "been there, done that, it don't happen any more".
You guys still getting them would do good to report if it still happens after cleaning.
I have a new 50D and after 3k shots nothing yet. I have swapped several lenses.
David Tognazzi wrote:
Quick Update on my new 50D: I fianally got an Err 99 today. It happened only after I installed the grip from my 40D (that was on my 30D at one time). Has anyone got Err 99 w/o the grip? Wonder if it only happens when you HAVE a grip installed?
Poor contact caused by faulty connection with grips is a major cause of Err99's. I got so many with my 20D grip, that I got rid of the grip.
Imagemaster wrote:
Poor contact caused by faulty connection with grips is a major cause of Err99's. I got so many with my 20D grip, that I got rid of the grip.
I would not be surprised. Maybe its time to get the "newer" grip when the 40D came out? Could always sell the old one with the 40D and or 30D. (Seems to work fine with those bodies, after all)
I purchased a 50D from a local camera shop for the $1399.00 a found that it had Firmware 1.0.1 installed. I went out shooting with the 50D with a 400 f/5.6 L using a BushHawk. I was disappointed in the results compared to my 40D. I double checked my camera and menu settings and they were where I wanted them. I did not get any error messages and the mechanics of the camera seemed to be fine just soft focus and noise which should not have been a problem in the light I had. I am not sure what caused my problems but I suspect it was the firmware time will tell.
I called Canon to check on the Firmware 1.0.2 that was supposed to improve the image quality. The person I spoke to said yes there was an update for Firmware 1.0.3 that would help with image quality. This included the updates in FW 1.0.2. The problem was that this update is not available from the Canon website and the FW 1.0.3 can only be installed on the camera if it is shipped back to Canon a 7-10 day process in addition to the shipping time.
As we say in New Mexico What a bunch of bull- sh$%! I am not very happy to say the least.
I am confident Canon will get it together soon but why not do it right the first time for once? (I am using an Adobe beta plug-in so I can process RAW files in CS3.)
Why isnt the new and improved firmware posted on the Canon website? According to Canon the new version of FW 1.0.3 will be posted one of these days and the version 1.0.2 will not be posted. -
Make your own calls to Canon (1-800-828-4040) to confirm what was told me. Good luck. Steve W.
Copied below is information that was posted earlier.
DIWA LABS: http://www.diwa-labs.com/wip4/detail.epl?id=274386
The test of the Canon EOS 50D was first made with firmware v.1.0.1, then with an updated firmware, version 1.0.2. The updated version significantly improved color and image noise performance. Apart from camera performance, also a test of the new EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS was made.
All test results of the Canon EOS 50D and the Canon zoom lens are available as comparable, summarized graphs and downloadable PDF's with complete test results.
Gochugogi wrote:
I guess you've never actually used a 10D. ISO 800 noise looks like grains of sand even at low screen rez such as 1024 x 768. Besides what idiot views normally images at pixel level? You can't even tell what the hell you took a picture of.
Depending on your age, 3 years is indeed can be considered as never. FYI, I'd rather have a properly exposed ISO 1600 than underexposed ISO400. Perhaps you can see if it played any role in your evaluation of that camera.
And I am that idiot that views all the images at pixel level. Not to mention that my screen resolution is 4MP. Thanks...
Forgive my dyslexia but I need it spelled out for me,
in the AF fine-tuning, if you are back focusing you move the slider towards the + side, and front focusing you move towards the - side?
David Tognazzi wrote:
Quick Update on my new 50D: I fianally got an Err 99 today. It happened only after I installed the grip from my 40D (that was on my 30D at one time). Has anyone got Err 99 w/o the grip? Wonder if it only happens when you HAVE a grip installed?
I had mine without a grip on my first 40D I bought and now my first 50D the 40D happened after 2000 shots and my 50D happened after 600, the only thing they had in common it would only happen at the same spot and never anywhere else. I mean within ten feet of the same spot. It never happened anywhere else but at the Tulalip marina near my home. I have a spot I love to shoot from and that is where all my err99 occurs. Never ever did I get one from any place else. Kind of weird huh? But who knows this spot is about 2 miles from the Everett Naval base maybe they have something to do with it. Like jamming my 40D now 50D
I know this doesn't have anything to do where I was shootin but is strange it happened this way
therock wrote:
Forgive my dyslexia but I need it spelled out for me,
in the AF fine-tuning, if you are back focusing you move the slider towards the + side, and front focusing you move towards the - side?
Thanks
Just the opposite. If its front focusing you need to use + as it moves the adjustment backwards.
(Seems to work fine with those bodies, after all)
But who knows this spot is about 2 miles from the Everett Naval base maybe they have something to do with it. Like jamming my 40D now 50D