Okay, I just got off the phone with Ken at KEH.com. VERY nice and knowledgeable guy.. I asked him about the used 1ds2 that they are showing for about $2K.. I asked him about shutter count, pics etc.. and they have a rating system.. but no unit specific info is avail.. (did not like that too much..) anyway...
I spent some time with him on the phone, and asked him flat out about high ISO performance.. he said he has used both and talks to a lot of people that use both cameras.. and as of current the 5D II is the best ISO performer of all EOS cameras to date. However, the AF performance is better on the 1-series bodies.. as well as build. So, all in all for "my" application I guess it's the 5D II.. I sure would love that 1ds2 though... ..
Thanks but, no thanks. It's not a matter of me not knowing or understanding how my current camera works. It's a matter of seeing it's limitations, and not being happy living with in them. I get great use from the camera, but not in all situations. Speaking specificly of low light performance the 50D is no winner. This is simply common knowledge. I am now seeking which other camera is my best bet, again in this specific area of photography. ; )
Thanks Steve, and thanks again for the nice connection to the used camera. By no means do I consider myself the end all to pro photography ... but, in low light situations I do find the 50D very frustrating. Love it in the studio, love it in most all other situations...
Have you thought about experimenting with off-camera flash / strobe to light up the background? Depending on the venue it might be enough to bring in some background details without having to worry about slow shutter / high ISO etc. It depends a lot on the sort of event that you're shooting, though. In the right context it can work really well:
I really thought the 50D had very good low light performance.
Thank you for your knowledge about the 5D. I am glad to hear that the majority of people are saying that the new mark II is a worthwhile purchase for us that demand stellar low light performance... As much as I would love to carry around a 1-series body... I don;t think that is the way to go at the moment. I have spent most of my day researching 1ds2 vs 5d2 and although there is some debate about it.. in the end most are going with the 5D2, especially if low light is the priority.
50D - in low light is not great. It's not horrible, and I don;t mean to say that it is. "my" thoughts / standards maybe a little different then others.. but, I can see that there are two clearly different tools for different types of photography (that I do). I feel that the 40D maybe better in the lower light.. it seems to have better performance, and I too was under the impression that "oh, a 50D must be better.. here in my AMEX." .. ah, not so. Perhaps its the denser pixel count on the APS sensor? I don't know.. but I know that I like to keep it around 400 for tack sharp images in any condition.
Now... I did just do a little test shoot here in my living room @ 1600. Images look okay! But, for some reason in real life situations.. and in dynamic conditions.. it really is not all that great. : (
So.. for me it makes sense to keep the 50D as a really nice backup / fast action camera.. and bring on the 5DII as a primary machine. I can shoot weddings with the nice wider glass on the 5D, and keep the longer IS lens on the 50D! I think that would be a great combo... I do a lot of studio, fashion, commercial gigs.. so the 5D seems like the right choice.
I just can't bring myself to buy a used camera... so the 1-series will have to wait until I can afford the current model
Travis Harris wrote:
just keep on thinking that way, it will lower the value of the 50D & I can afford more I make my living shooting my 50D's at ISO 6400 with 70-200mm f/2.8's at f/2.8, printing up to 11x14 on the spot and having noise free, sharp images
I have printed wedding prints up to 20x30 shot at ISO 3200 on the 50D's with no noise
... so I'd like to know in what situation the images you get from it are crap? maybe you have a faulty body or lens & should send it into Canon for service? ...Show more →
Have not used one - but cannot believe the 50D is unusable over 400. (Note that in room tests Travis agrees too ). I have a 5D which is of course good - but I could have used my 10D (before it went swimming in the Atlantic!) at this sort of ISO.
All the images posted (I think) are indoors - except for the ones Travis is unhappy with
It is a whole different ball game out of doors where the ambient is likely to be a lot lower than inside - and some of the comments about ISO, shutter speed dragging, gelling to match tungsten etc become relatively irrelevant.
Travis - have you the same problem indoors and out? My guess the problem out of doors is going to be more difficult to sort out without some additional lighting - and most clients would not be unhappy with what you got.
Travis - have you the same problem indoors and out? My guess the problem out of doors is going to be more difficult to sort out without some additional lighting - and most clients would not be unhappy with what you got.
Yes. This is how I feel. I especially see high noise in the shadows.. an area I need another body to perform...
NinaS - I am glad you are happy with the 50D performance all around. I know that in prints the noise is less evident. I can assure you that ISO 3200 on the 50D is anything but acceptable for us! (maybe we do have a defect, but I doubt it) A quick google shows that many people are not happy with the 50D ISO performance, so it made me think that what I was seeing was less of a "defect" and more the standard expectation with this body. Perhaps I was let down from the start with this camera (in terms of ISO).. and at the time was stuck, in that it was the only camera I could safely afford... If I could have gone back to purchase day.. I would have went home with the 40D for sure.
Here is one of the images I took last night in my living room @ ISO 1600. I was 1/30 at f/3.5. Metered using handheld meter.
This image looks perfect to me! BUT, for some reason out at events, and in darker shots... I loose the shadows to harsh noise! So, I know the camera is capable of better the ISO 400... .. just not consistently, and in all situations.
I felt the need to post here. Rather than buy a 5D, maybe you should stick a 17-55 2.8 IS on that 50D, then use manual flash with a remote or a off camera cord. I cut mine and use a short RJ45 between the ends. I hold the flash up with a bounce card in my left hand and shoot with my right hand. I drag the shutter and pop. In clubs I rarely use a Gel, but I probably should. Rear curtain sync is not just for creating funky movement. It's also a great way to let the ambient light register before the flash overpowers the scene. If you practice, you can move around quickly - zooming in and out to frame your subjects quickly in the viewfinder even though you are juggling the flash in the left. Then when it's about right, you one hand it and pop! I'll get some images up right away to show some examples of my personal technique. The ones coming are on a 40D with a 550 EX and a 17-55 2.8 IS.
Okay. Here is a link to a flicker set I just uploaded. Every one of these used rear curtain sync and hand held off camera flash. Lens for all was 17-55 2.8 IS and shots were composed and shot with right hand, with flash high to camera left in most cases. Sometimes down and up. Whichever way work. You have to be fast in a club, but the same technique can be applied in any venue and you'll probably have a bit more time.
By shooting in rear curtain, you're allowing the ambient to expose before the flash has a chance to register. I usually shoot in manual flash mode and dial it in to about 1/8 to a 1/4 and fairly wide. I use a long wide bounce curved around and bent slightly forward.
Anyway here's the link to a variety. Very little PP. Basic sharpening, no correction or cropping applied.
Some of these are meant to show movement and won't be suitable for your needs. Some are meant to be sharp portrait style with ambient. Some are just whatever I could get at the time as people don't sit still in a club. It's amazing how fast you can say, "One more!" even in a club, quickly make and adjustment and get it bang on the way you like it once you get the hang of it.
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