Canon EOS 50D Review

Handling & ease of use:
The mid-range EOS 50D is the middleweight of the EOS range – it’s larger and tougher than the consumer-level EOS 450D and 1000D models, but smaller and more compact than the pro-spec EOS-1D/Ds series. At a little under 800 grams, it’s a robust and solid bit of kit, with a thick handgrip and well-sized buttons – exactly what you’d expect to find on a camera in this class. Canon has improved the camera’s protection from the elements by changing the design of the seals around the body. The layout differs very little to that of previous generations such as the EOS 30D and 40D; the key difference being the increased size of the rear LCD screen and the odd change to function buttons. The extensive range of features means that this model isn’t the best choice for the beginner, as the variety and depth of options will most likely prove bewildering to the novice, but for those with a decent level of SLR experience, the EOS 50D proves to be reasonably easy to get to grips with. As you’ll discover, the buttons are neatly laid out and the main control dials allow the quick selection of functions. The rear control dial in particular proves a major benefit in terms of speeding up operation as it is  situated within easy reach of the right-hand thumb.

The viewfinder is reasonably large and bright and has permanent black markings for the AF points, which light up red when activated. As with the EOS 40D, the focusing screen can be changed to suit more specialist types of photography, such as architectural and macro photography. The 3in LCD monitor is excellent, providing a sharp and bright display for reviewing images (or when using Live View), with a menu system that has been tidied up, making it easy to navigate despite the large number of menu options available. Overall, the EOS 50D is fast and relatively easy to use, and has very little of note to complain about in terms of its handling.

Features:
The EOS 50D sees a major jump in resolution over previous generations, with its APS-C CMOS sensor offering 15.1-megapixels, an increase of five million pixels over the EOS 40D. With a maximum image resolution of 4752x3168 pixels, it’s more than capable of producing high-quality A3+ prints. The specification is extensive and Canon seems to have provided something for everyone in every department. The exposure system in particular is very comprehensive, with a full set of exposure modes covering various subject-biased programs, as well as semi-automatic and manual modes.
The EOS 50D’s metering system boasts four options: 35-zone Evaluative, spot, partial and centre-weighted average metering. Flash exposures use the highly sophisticated E-TTL II system and there is the usual gamut of overrides to choose from, including exposure compensation, flash compensation, exposure and White Balance bracketing and AE-Lock. The sensitivity of the sensor sees a major expansion over previous generations, with a range of ISO 100-3200 that can also be expanded to ISO 6400 and 12,800. The autofocus system uses a nine-point system arranged in a wide diamond formation around the centre of the frame; and every point uses the more sensitive cross-type sensor, normally only found in the central point with most consumer-level models. A dust reduction system that relies on a special fluorine anti-static coating, software and physical vibration of the sensor is employed, but there is no shake reduction, as Canon incorporates image stabilisation into many of its lenses. A quick flick through the menu system reveals the depth of features available on the EOS 50D. As well as 25 Custom Functions (with 74 settings), users can set Raw to shoot at three different resolutions, choose from a number of Picture Styles or activate the Highlight tone priority when shooting high-contrast scenes. While there are many functions on the camera that you probably won't use, there is very little, if anything, of use that is missing.

Performance:
The EOS 50D is set to breathe new life into the enthusiast market and proves to be a highly accomplished performer. The camera is very slick in use – the controls fall to hand and the various functions work seamlessly. The toggle stick, rear dial and the sharp, crystal-clear LCD monitor make selecting modes and setting functions really easy. The autofocus system is excellent – it’s very fast, near-silent and works extremely well in challenging conditions such as in low-light – thanks, in part, to the use of cross-type sensors throughout its array. The metering system also rarely disappoints, with the Evaluative pattern providing the correct exposure in various shooting situations and struggling only with backlighting. The flash exposure system also works very well, with the integral or hotshoe-mounted flashguns. The frame rate of over six fps is very impressive considering the very high resolution, and the DIGIC 4 processor delivers images with natural colour reproduction and very smooth tones, but colours do lack a little punch (though a small boost in contrast helps in this respect). Images do appear soft under high magnification (normal for Canon files), but a little post-production sharpening works a treat. In terms of noise, there is nothing to be concerned about until you reach ISO 800 and even then it's not a problem. In fact it's only at ISO 1600 upwards that it's really noticeable. With the EOS 50D delivering file sizes of 43.1Mb compared to 28.8Mb from the EOS 40D, it’s clear that the newer model offers big advantages in terms of larger prints and selective cropping. However, this only touches on some of the benefits on offer to the serious enthusiast – as well as the improved Live View and brilliant 3in LCD, the EOS 50D offers many useful functions ‘hidden’ in the menu system, such as micro-adjustments to lenses or vignette-correction to lenses stored on the camera’s database.

DIGIC 4 PROCESSOR:
At the heart of an EOS for the first time is the DIGIC 4 processor, which processes images at up to 6.3 frames-per-second (sequences up to 16 Raw files and 90 JPEGs are claimed with a UDMA card).

THREE INCH LCD:
Displaying at 30 fps, the Live View provides a very smooth image. The lens can be manually focused or AF can be set to either Quick mode, Live mode or Live Face Detection mode.

Flash system:
The EOS 50D caters well for flash photography; the integral unit covers lenses as wide as 17mm, has a Guide Number of 13 (ISO 100, m), offers several modes including second-curtain sync, flash exposure lock, red-eye reduction and an AF-assist lamp. Hotshoe-mounted flashguns offer more power and features, such as wireless flash.

TEST VERDICT:
While the EOS 40D disappointed a little in respect of certain features, such as its resolution, the same cannot be said for the EOS 50D, which represents a real 'tour de force' in this sector of the market. While its handling and ease-of-use are excellent, the factors that will appeal the most to potential users are the depth of features and, in particular, the 15.1-megapixel resolution, which compares favourably with its main rivals. As you’d expect, the EOS 50D delivers very high quality results and it's a real alternative to the likes of Nikon’s superb D300. The only real black mark against it is the rather steep guide price set by Canon, but dealers are already selling it at much lower prices, making it very good value for money. The Canon EOS 50D is a real enthusiasts’ DSLR and comes highly recommended.

Handling & Ease of use: 23/25

Features: 23/25

Performance: 23/25

Value for money: 22/25

FINAL SCORE: 91

Weight (grams): 730