Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
DP Review has published its review of Canon’s flagship EOS 1Ds Mark III.
It is undeniably impressive, and though it appears on the surface to be a fairly low key update to the Mark II, the more you use it the more you realize how all the little improvements add up to a significantly better camera (and that’s aside from the resolution hike).
For the latest news and reviews, be sure to visit Photography Bay’s Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Reviews and Resources page.
Imaging Resource has posted a review of the Canon Powershot A590 IS.
The Canon Powershot A590 IS proved to be an excellent compact digital camera. With a well-rounded feature set including full-manual controls, image stabilization and unlimited continuous shooting, plus use of readily available AA batteries and chear SD (and SDHC) memory, the A590 is one of the best digital camera values currently available.
For the latest news and reviews on the A590, check out Photography Bay’s Canon PowerShot A590 IS Reviews and Resources page.
The Canon 50D was confirmed as of August 21, 2008 and was officially announced on August 26, 2008. Read the full Canon press release here. The Canon 50D carries a retail price of $1399.99 for body only and $1599.00 with the EF 28-135mm kit lens.
You can order the Canon 50D now from Amazon.com via the following links:
Canon 50D (w/ 28-135mm kit lens)
The Canon 50D is pictured top left with the simultaneously announced EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens, which carries a retail price of $699.99 USD.
Read Photography Bay’s Canon 50D Review.
The camera offers a lot of functionality for photo enthusiasts and professionals, yet still has a small handful of scene modes and Creative Auto mode which appeal to users who want to enter and test the waters of the digital SLR world (if they’re daring enough to start out with this camera).
The Canon EOS 50D performs very well and deserves an excellent rating among DSLR cameras. Image quality is certainly good with low-noise, good color accuracy and reliable exposure.
Overall, the 50D is an excellent photographic tool that’s flexible and delivers very good image quality.
The Canon 50D is a great mid range camera. Not quite a professional level camera in that it’s not using a “full frame” sensor but by no means “entry level” This camera will produce great results for you.
The combination of speed and performance makes this the perfect camera for the enthusiast or anyone looking to upgrade from an entry-level dSLR.
The ultimate test of a camera for me is whether I’d want to own it, and I’d want to own the EOS 50D.
If you are serious about your photography in general and can afford the higher price, the Canon EOS 50D is my recommendation over the XSi.
The 50D continues to prove that Canon has one of the fastest (if not the fastest) AF systems, extremely high-resolution CMOS sensors with very impressive high ISO performance, and now offers (for some users, at least) a functional live view system.
So while the 40D is great, and will remain in the market, the Canon 50D incorporates plenty of enhancements worth the couple-hundred extra bucks. The Canon 50D is an excellent digital SLR.
It is an all-round DSLR camera for the enhanced hobby photographer who can deal with any branch of photography with this camera.
Below ISO 1600 image output is clean with well balanced contrast and colors and as you would expect from a DSLR with a 15 megapixel sensor the 50D delivers a fair amount of detail.
The 50D is a solid performer, but didn’t outshine the alternatives. If you’re already a Canon user, possibly moving from entry- to mid-level SLRs, and with a lens or two already in your hands, then it could be a good choice for you.
The Canon EOS 50D is a worthy update to the already excellent EOS 40D, equipping it not just with the latest features, but also a significant boost in resolution without compromising noise levels.
Though the 50D isn’t the successor to the 40D, it offers numerous improvements that may be worth the upgrade–or the outright new purchase–depending on your priorities. After having experienced the quality and depth of color in the new LCD screen it will be very difficult to go back to the 40D and to other comparable models in its class.
Interestingly, low-light performance was generally outstanding, with no visible noise in shots right up to ISO 1600 and very little noise at ISO 3200. By ISO 6400, noise was visible – although not obvious.
The extra resolution, and the addition of three anti-reflective coatings makes a huge difference to clarity and visibility in both bright and poor light. Arguably, the EOS 50D is the first Canon DSLR that really shows sharp images as properly sharp on the LCD, which makes checking critical focus in playback much easier than it was in the past.
Considered on its own terms, the EOS 50D is a more than worthy addition to Canon’s semi-pro DSLR line-up. It boasts a significant number of refinements to a proven design that current EOS users will welcome, whilst adding enough features to catch-up with and in some ways surpass the Nikon D300.
It is overall a nice camera and I don’t think most poeple would be disappointed with getting the 50D. However, the only caveat is that, do not expect the 50D to show any real imrpovement in high ISO performance comapred to the 40D and the competition.
One of the most striking differences is the provision of a greatly improved LCD. The size remains unchanged at 3.0″ but the resolution rises from 230,000 dots to 920,000. This is effectively a change from 320 x 240 RGB pixels to 640 x 480 RGB pixels, putting it on a par with the latest high-end Nikons and Sony A700.
Canon has not varied in its release schedule for the Rebel series and 10D-40D series DSLRs. Like clockwork, Canon has released a new one every 18 months . . . until this Summer when Canon announced the Rebel XS, which added another “level” of camera to its DSLR lineup.
Previously, the old Rebel model had become the step-down model in Canon’s entry-level lineup after a new camera was introduced. Canon now clearly has a two-tier entry-level lineup with the Rebel XS and Rebel XSi.
Even though I’ve seen a few rumors for a while now, I have not posted any to Photography Bay because I generally considered it wishful thinking. I fully expected the Canon 50D to arrive at PMA 2009, which would be 18 months after the Fall 2007 release of the Canon 40D, which has been taking some serious drops in price lately.
I am beginning to think there may be something to the rumors now. Here’s one of the most recent rumors on the 50D specs:
[via DPR]
Perhaps Canon is feeling pressure from Nikon with the successful entry of the D300 and D700. While the 40D is still a stellar camera, it’s beginning to show its age when stacked up against Nikon, Sony and Pentax’s latest offerings.
Granted, some are calling BS on these specs. Others say they’re real. Either way, we’ll know in a few weeks.
Stay tuned to Photography Bay and our Photokina 2008 coverage for more.
As you may recall, Photography Bay previously reported on Canon’s efforts to patent a method for using fuel cells to power your DSLR. A newly published patent application (US 2008/0180565) sheds a little more light on things to come with fuel cell powered DSLRs.
Canon continues to push its fuel cell development by devising a method for powering not only the internal DSLR body electronics, but also external components such as lenses and hotshoe flashes.
The present invention relates to an electronic equipment system having fuel cells, and more particularly, to a camera system in which fuel cells are provided to a camera body and a connection device connected to the camera body. [0001]
Essentially, Canon wants its fuel cell to power everything you attach to your camera. That’s right. No more AA batteries to stuff into your camera bag.
. . . dual battery control of detecting a remaining amount of the battery in each of the devices and determining the state of each of the batteries to control electric power supply, which makes the battery control complicated. [0010]
The patent is a little long winded (as patents can be); however, the gist of it is to have a single power source (i.e., the fuel cell) and that source powers everything (e.g., hotshoe flash).
. . . an electronic equipment system in which fuel cells are provided to an electronic equipment body [ed., a DLSR body] and a connection device [ed., a hotshoe flash] connected to the electronic equipment body, and in which detection of a battery remaining amount and control of electric power supply can be performed under unified management [ed., one fuel cell], thereby enabling simplification of the electronic equipment system and improvement of power generation efficiency thereof. [0011]
The blissful absence of partially charged batteries and wonder whether the four batteries you stuffed in the side pocket last week were good or bad. No more battery chargers plugged into your kitchen outlets. Basically, the best invention since sliced bread . . . ok, maybe not, but it is interesting nonetheless.
First of all, Canon’s always going to push digital imaging innovation to the next level. Clearly, the competition is too stiff to try to lay low now. Canon stays at the top of the patent filings charts due to this drive.
With this changing tech comes the new gear. In this case, fuel-cell DSLRs means a lot of new gear – maybe even a new system. At the very least, it calls for the purchase of new speedlights with your camera body. I suppose, however, that Canon could allow backwards compatibility of battery-powered electronic flashes with this fuel cell power source.
Finally, it should lessen our carbon footprint as photographers in the digital age. Many of us are starting to think real hard about environmental issues in this changing world climate and economy. How many fewer AA batteries would our landfills see if the every digital camera user suddenly switched to fuel cells? It’s a start.
If you want to read the whole patent, feel free to look it up on the USPTO website (patent application # US 2008/0180565) or follow this direct link.
PhotographyBLOG has published a review of the new Canon EOS 1000D (aka Digital Rebel XS). The EOS 1000D takes over for the EOS 400D (aka Rebel XTi) at the bottom rung of Canon’s DSLR lineup. It features a 10.1 megapixel sensor.
The Canon EOS 1000D is a brand new entry-level DSLR camera complete with Live View mode. Aimed at first-time DSLR owners looking to upgrade from a compact camera, the wallet-friendly 1000D inherits key features from both the 400D and 450D models. There’s a 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, 2.5 inch LCD screen, 3fps continuous shooting, 7-point auto-focus system, support for SD cards, and an 18-55mm image stabilised kit lens. We find out if the Canon 1000D is the perfect DSLR for beginners.
For the latest news, reviews and more, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Canon Rebel XS Reviews and Resources.
Muller Photo, a French electronics seller, has posted product pages for the Sony A900 and Canon EOS 7D. While neither page divulges anything regarding the cameras’ specifications, Muller Photo lists prices for both cameras.
Whether Muller Photo knows something the rest of us don’t remains to be seen. Muller Photo could just be capitalizing on some free press by listing these product pages.
Stay tuned to Photography Bay’s coverage of these cameras for latest as we lead up to Photokina 2008:
Canon EOS 7D (PB rumors page).
Sony A900 (PB rumors and news page).
According to Kamera & Bild, who claims to have notice of the press conference, Canon will be dropping the bombshell on August 26th. The only question is whether the new EOS will be the Canon 3D, 5D Mark II, 6D, 7D or some other model (or two).
Photography Bay will stay on top of the news and rumors to the bitter end and beyond. Stay tuned.
Ken Rockwell has published his review of Canon’s flagship EOS 1Ds Mark III.
The Canon 1Ds Mk III is a solid brick of a camera, has extraordinarily high technical image quality, but is hindered by sucky ergonomics and a mediocre LCD.
For the latest news and reviews, be sure to visit Photography Bay’s Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Reviews and Resources page.
The Digital Picture has posted a review of the Canon EOS 450D. The new EOS 450D (aka Digital Rebel XSi) kit comes with an stabilized 18-55mm lens. Canon’s entry-level DSLR now features a 3? rear LCD panel that’s capable of Live View framing and focusing.
Even compared to the not-very-old Canon Rebel XTi / 400D, the Canon EOS Rebel XSi / 450D delivers better image quality from a more attractive body with more features … I’m very pleased (actually somewhat surprised) with the improvements delivered by the Canon EOS Rebel XSi / 450D.
Read Photography Bay’s Canon Rebel XSi Review.
For more news, reviews and info on the XSi, check out Photography Bay’s Canon Rebel XSi Reviews and Resources.