Canon's new EOS 50D bridges the gap between the novice and the seasoned pro with a perfect combination of high-speed and quality. It features an APS-C sized 15.1-megapixel CMOS sensor for tremendous images, new DIGIC 4 Image Processor for fine detail and superior color reproduction, and improved ISO capabilities up to 12800 for uncompromised shooting even in the dimmest situations. It features a refined 3.0-inch Clear View LCD (920,000 dots) monitor, supercharged Live View Function with Face Detection Live mode, plus a number of new automatic Image Correction settings and HDMI output for viewing images on an HDTV. Pick up the EOS 50D and you'll experience true digital inspiration!
Average Customer Rating:
4.7 out of 5
Rating Snapshot
(204 reviews)
5 stars
172
4 stars
14
3 stars
6
2 stars
5
1 star
7
181 of 204 (89%) customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for EOS 50D
Review 181 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
25
Features
25
Performance
25
Price/Value
25
Quality
25
Satisfaction
25
Nickname: Shutter Location:
Rockville, MD
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Professional or Expert
Product replacement:
Yes
Not worth the upgrade
Date: December 7, 2008
Pros: Bright LCD, Quick Start-up time, easy to use Cons: Poor image quality, Missing features/settings, noisy
I find that it's not a significant upgrade to the 40D. Yes it has a few feature upgrades but it's really nothing new. To me more megapixels are not a reason to upgrade. I would have like to see an upgrade to the autofocus system. I really don't see any higher iso image quality from the 40D. HI ISO is totally unusable. I think the best deal is the 40D now that the price is dropping.
24 of 33 people found this review helpful.
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Review 182 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
55
Performance
55
Price/Value
45
Quality
55
Satisfaction
55
Nickname: dhnieman Location:
Buffalo, NY
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Advanced Amateur
Product replacement:
Yes
A Real Nice Step Up From 30D
Date: December 6, 2008
Pros: excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, good high iso performance Cons: low battery life on live view
I have owned the D30, 30D and now the 50D and really am pleased with the 50D. The settings in view finder are easier to see and I like seeing the iso. The LCD display is bright and clear, the controls (Quick Control, Multi-Controller, the setting buttons) all act similar enough to the 30D that learning curve is proving to be short. I really enjoy the Live View for my stills, landscapes and architecture shots, especially the zoom manual focus for needle sharp focusing. (Live View does seem to really eat battery power). The 6 fps speed is wonderful, but the improved performance at high iso (1600 and 3200) is one of the biggest plus features for me. The 50D way out performs my 30D there. Picture quality seems great and the flexibilty to shoot different size raw files comes in handy when shooting sports or action shots where I take a lot of frames, this option saves CF Card space. The new menu structure seems easier and I seem to be using the Multi Controller button more effectively. Very nice indeed.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Review 183 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
25
Features
25
Performance
25
Price/Value
25
Quality
35
Satisfaction
15
Nickname: Al Location:
Washington, DC
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Professional or Expert
Product replacement:
Yes
Nothing Special
Date: December 6, 2008
Pros: Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Quick Start-up time, easy to use
To me it's a repackaged 40D, plain and simple. It has a few feature upgrades but all in all I don't think it's any better than the 40D. Many may think that more megapixels are better but not always and in this case it isn't.
AF speed and AF points are the same as the 40D, good but no difference. The limitations of the 40D AF have been continued in the 50D.
12 of 23 people found this review helpful.
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Review 184 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
35
Features
25
Performance
35
Price/Value
35
Quality
45
Satisfaction
35
Nickname: ... Location:
NY
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Advanced Amateur
Product replacement:
No
Regrets
Date: December 2, 2008
Pros: Superior build quality Cons: Missing features/settings, Short battery life
I had grown up using my fathers other brand of cameras. I was lured in by advertising to Canon and decided to get a 50D. Wrong move. The brand my father was using has better features and takes comparable pictures. Just yesterday we both purchased battery grips for our cameras... his goes above and beyond anything the canon gives. The 50D just doesn't have the custom features, the fine tuning and control that I've been used to with the other brand.
10 of 61 people found this review helpful.
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Review 185 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
45
Features
45
Performance
55
Price/Value
45
Quality
45
Satisfaction
45
Nickname: LG Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Used this product for:
3 to 6 months
Expertise Level:
Advanced Amateur
Product replacement:
Yes
Quality Product...competitive market
Date: November 25, 2008
Pros: Superior build quality, Bright LCD, Nice features/settings, quiet, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, very good iq with pixel detail Cons: Short battery life, iso>1600 noise per pixel level for cropped photos, no hd video facility (feature on competition)
Overall, I am really enjoying the 50D. Very good IQ, rugged and durable body construction, versatile live view function with phase-based and contrast-based AF, and exception LCD resolution. Canon really has pushed megapixel envelope on APS-C sized sensors - whether that is ultimately detrimental, however, is a user-specific perspective. Strong IQ matched with good ISO performance with minimal noise reduction intervention is certainly a challenge for any high megapixel sensor; per pixel detail must also be factored into the equation as well. In this regard, the 50D has done an admirable job, although there will be those who do rightly note a slight increase in noise relative to the 40D...this is, however, diminished when resizing the 50d's image to that of its 10.1 Mpx older sibling. Another factor is HD moving recording, or the lack thereof: With rival DSLR(s) offering of this facility (even if it is not a DSLRs primary function), and its introduction on Canon's exceptional new 5D Mk II, one must wonder why this too was not offered. Nevertheless, there will be very few who are disappointed with this excellent DSLR, from the serious amateur to the semi-pros out there.
48 of 50 people found this review helpful.
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Review 186 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
45
Features
45
Performance
55
Price/Value
25
Quality
55
Satisfaction
35
Nickname: Mike Location:
Montreal, QC
Used this product for:
Less than 1 month
Expertise Level:
Advanced Amateur
Product replacement:
Yes
Keep you 40D!
Date: November 23, 2008
Pros: Superior build quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Quick Start-up time, good battery life Cons: noisy high isos, chroma noise
This camera replaced my 40D. Not that impressed. Generated more chroma noise than the 40D. The on/off switch is still a pain. Continuously switches to mid position when hanging from my neck. This disables the thumbwheel control. I love the improved LCD. Now you can truly focus with the LCD in Live View mode. Canon still needs alot of post-treatent to get a decent pick that rivals Nikon's. If you want my opinion, get the 40D for better picks and save some bucks. If the quality of LCD & LiveView is important go with the 50D.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Review 187 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
55
Performance
55
Price/Value
45
Quality
55
Satisfaction
55
Nickname: clicker Location:
Wichita, KS
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Advanced Amateur
Product replacement:
No
Best Canon camera yet
Date: November 18, 2008
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use Cons: pricey
I had Minolta film cameras, then a Canon XTi and now the 50D. I love it! All the features I can ever use, and the quality isfantastic! As with any DSLR the price is quite steep. I can now use the f/4 and f/5.6 lenses to their fullest capacity due to the higher ISO speeds. The speed in fps has enabled me to take stop-action photos at football games. The clarity of prints is unequalled by anyother make of camera. Thank you Canon for such a wonderful camera. I will never switch to another brand. Now please get the lens prices down so I won't have to wait as long to get them too.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 188 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
55
Performance
55
Price/Value
55
Quality
55
Satisfaction
55
Nickname: floydone Location:
Colorado
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Professional or Expert
Product replacement:
Yes
PERFECT
Date: November 14, 2008
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, quiet, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, good battery life, fast shooting, solid feel
It's real simple Canon has perfected their semi pro DSLR. I owned the 20D and 40D and now the 50D brings me the best of the best. As for comments on too many features, use what you need, ignore the rest. Live view is so much better then on my 40D, Tripod is still a must but that is expected. Brighter screen is a plus in my landscape work. As for battery life I don't see a difference, it is still quite good but I use a vertical grip w/ two batteries so maybe that's why I don't see a difference. Noise as higher ISO is negligible. I shot a very dark scene of Banyon Trees at 3200 on a tripod and made a perfect 11 by 17 print with no grain or noise. As a photographer from the days of pushing film with my Nikons I could never get the results that this camera delivers! Nothing on the market compares for quality/price!
20 of 20 people found this review helpful.
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Review 189 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
45
Performance
55
Price/Value
55
Quality
55
Satisfaction
45
Nickname: Awinphoto Location:
Reno, NV
Expertise Level:
Professional or Expert
Product replacement:
Yes
Very Nice
Date: November 12, 2008
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Quick Start-up time, easy to use Cons: Short battery life, single dead pixel in rear lcd
After having the D60, 10D, 30D and now the 50D, this is a step above the rest. Controls are easy to use once you get over the minimal learning curve. The file sizes, opens and saves as a tiff at nearly 45mb right out of the camera are nice for what i use them for. I was able to test my lenses with the micro-adjust and no corrections were needed, which was nice. When using Live View, when zoomed in, there tends to be vibration shake, even on a tripod, which to some extent is to be expected. The battery life isn't as long as it used to be on the older models and can easily be exhausted by 1 extensive shoot (where as my old cameras may last a few different shoots), but higher processor, larger files, and intermittent Live View usage, that's also somewhat understandable. There also is a single dead pixel upon arrival in the rear LCD. It's near the bottom so it isn't a big deal but debating on whether to send to canon for repair. Video would have set it apart from the competition, but what can you do? High ISO is nice, grainy in the expanded ISO's, but at least through 3200 and some 6400's are very usable. Still, with everything it is still far and above better than the previous models. Cant wait to get my 5D Mark II now!
98 of 104 people found this review helpful.
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Review 190 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
45
Features
55
Performance
45
Price/Value
45
Quality
55
Satisfaction
45
Nickname: 20d Location:
Parlin
Used this product for:
Less than 1 month
Expertise Level:
Advanced Amateur
slava
Date: November 11, 2008
Pros: Superior build quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, quiet, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use Cons: Short battery life
My favourite camera - 20d, but it is not enough pixels for photos of the big size. So waited 50d... but, it is disappointed me. Certainly, colours in 50d not such "small" and "original" as in 450d, but in comparison with 20d and 40d, 50d on colour it is a little bit similar on 450d. About noise and high ISO - miracles do not happen...
15 of 82 people found this review helpful.
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Review 191 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
55
Performance
55
Price/Value
55
Quality
55
Satisfaction
55
Nickname: Canon Digital SLR Man Location:
Nashville, TN
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Advanced Amateur
Product replacement:
Yes
Excellence Product
Date: November 10, 2008
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, quiet, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, portable
This is the best EOS that Canon Made. Fast, Feature, and price.
17 of 28 people found this review helpful.
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Review 192 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
55
Performance
55
Price/Value
55
Quality
55
Satisfaction
55
Nickname: Blue Heron Location:
Michigan
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Advanced Amateur
Product replacement:
Yes
DSLR Search Ends Here
Date: November 10, 2008
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, quiet, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, good battery life Cons: heavier than my xti (obviously)., on/off switch not as convenient as xti.
It's all the pre-release press claims it to be. Excellent image capture, intuitive, well placed controls, excellent LCD display. I believe this heralds the next generation of how we think about DSLR's.
Image quality is fantastic. And isn't that what photography is all about? The 15mpx sensor uses a newly designed lens that seems to truly be brighter with more definition than any I've seen. In lens stabilization is as good as it can get with todays technology giving an honest 3-4 stops advantage with the 18-200mm, 3.5-5.6 IS lens that came with the kit. I think this is the first time Canon has included a lens hood, extra battery and even a UV filter. Lens light fall-off is well corrected with what they call peripheral illumination correction. One less step for post processing. A full range of extended setting are available through a very intuitive menu. But, those we use most often are very well placed as external controls so removing your eye from viewfinder is seldom necessary. The 3", 920,000 pixel LCD is a work of art by itself. ISO speeds up to 12,800 allow shooting in otherwise impossible situations. While some noise is to be expected at this extreme, detail is preserved and noise is controlled better than in any other camera I've seen. After several hundred pictures I couldn't be happier. If you shoot for N.G. maybe you want something else but, considering the price/value, for the other 99% of us this is as good as it gets.
I paired this with the 580EX ii for an outdoor rainy wedding this last weekend and the camera results were flawless. This camera frees you to be your creative best as you no longer have to worry about your tools.
78 of 79 people found this review helpful.
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Review 193 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
55
Performance
55
Price/Value
45
Quality
55
Satisfaction
55
Nickname: Skat Location:
Raleigh, NC
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Advanced Amateur
Product replacement:
Yes
Great Camera!!!
Date: November 9, 2008
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, quiet, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, portable, excellent ergonomics
I wanted an upgrade from my XTi and went to the local camera shop to look. I intended to purchase the 40D, but came home with the 50D instead. Wow, I'm glad I spent the extra $$$ for the 50! There are some really nice improvements; 15.1 Megapixel (that's nearly 50% more than the 40D), much better rear LCD, better noise reduction at higher ISO settings, and the new live view button makes it a snap to get to. With good glass, the camera takes exceptional pictures, much better than the XTi.
If you're sitting on the fence, looking to upgrade to a semi-pro camera, you can't do better than this one! I am so pleased with this camera and I think you will be too.
28 of 28 people found this review helpful.
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Review 194 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
55
Performance
55
Price/Value
45
Quality
55
Satisfaction
55
Nickname: firelightphoto.net Location:
Hooks, TX
Used this product for:
Less than 1 month
Expertise Level:
Professional or Expert
Product replacement:
No
Solid investment
Date: November 5, 2008
Pros: great iso performance, zoom live view = ultra sharp manual focus, fast shooting, fast focusing, solid feel, great battery life, stable performance, addictive, awesome tech support, great manual controls Cons: must manually focus 70-200mm f/2.8l is to be sharp, slow focusing in live view, cannot use live view in auto mode
I was able to start making back money on this investement withing weeks of receiving it. It looks professional (especially with the battery grip), and is very solid, compared to my XTi. The image quality is noticably better than the XTi and the lenses I had now stand out in both image quality and performance, faster focusing etc..., I own the Tamron 28-105mm f/2.8, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, and the Sigma 50mm f/1.4, all super sharp, all super fast focusing, infact they all look like superior "L" lenses when compared. All in all, the photo shoots are going fast and smooth, no missed shots, and no hangups, so far perfectly performing even using hot lighting that warmed up the camera somewhat from being too near for hours on end, going on 4 photoshoots now without issue. AND, great star shooting at high ISO compared to the xti which the 1600 ISO was like using the 6400 ISO now on the 50D. Almost fully controllable in manual, but have not tried the fully auto settings yet (and I have been using for about a month now), easily change the manual settings on the fly, I like the "M" setting the best. My wife was complaining about NOT being able to use live view in the auto modes, which she only uses, so being I bought this for her it is somewhat dissapointing, but oh well, I love this thing to death (until I get the new 5D MKII).
21 of 23 people found this review helpful.
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Review 195 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
55
Performance
55
Price/Value
55
Quality
55
Satisfaction
55
Nickname: The Camera Dude Location:
Chesterfield, VA
Used this product for:
Less than 1 month
Expertise Level:
Advanced Amateur
Product replacement:
Yes
Canon has a solid hit!!
Date: November 3, 2008
Pros: speed, start-up time, self-cleaning sensor Cons: raw files not fully supported by adobe lr1.4
I have owned a 300D, 20D, 30D, Rebel XT, and now the 50D. This is a great camera, although it maybe a bit much for beginner or novice user but for the intermediate to the advance user it's a great fit. I love the speed and start-up time.
18 of 26 people found this review helpful.
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Review 196 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Nickname: Saswat Pattanayak Location:
New York, NY
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Professional or Expert
Product replacement:
No
Outstanding Camera Body
Date: November 3, 2008
Pros: more mp, larger lcd, better controls Cons: live view is not really needed, new auto adjustment button not really needed
50D is a worthy successor to 40D. Better processor, in my view.
8 of 11 people found this review helpful.
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Review 197 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
45
Features
45
Performance
45
Price/Value
55
Quality
55
Satisfaction
35
Nickname: jamesfrmphilly Location:
philadelphia, pa
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Professional or Expert
Product replacement:
Yes
mild disappointment
Date: November 3, 2008
Pros: solid camera Cons: too many junk features
the pictures from my 50D look just like the pictures from my 40D. bigger files, same quality. i was expecting higher resolution and finer detail. i did not get that. i use the EFS 17 55 2.8 IS which is a good lens. the image quality is no better than the 40D. canon has put way too many features on the camera.i spent half a day disabling all the auto features. canon seems intent on making this as a P&S camera. as a skilled photographer i do not want all the bells and whistles.
i want greater dynamic range. much greater. i want higher image quality. i want low noise at high ISO.
80 of 99 people found this review helpful.
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Review 198 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
55
Performance
55
Price/Value
45
Quality
45
Satisfaction
55
Nickname: kee Location:
west coast, usa
Used this product for:
Less than 1 month
Expertise Level:
Advanced Amateur
Product replacement:
No
50D rocks!
Date: November 2, 2008
after 3 weeks of extensive use i have yet to find a flaw with the 50D. coming from a 40D i found the new features, especially the lcd-micro adjust ( and ability to crop with with cleaner results due to the extra mpixel), worth the expense. i don't shot at high iso , 3200, so i can't comment on the noise level at those settings but iso 100-1600 give excellent results. with the canon 70-200 4.0, 10-22 and the 17-55 2.8is, the camera produces awesome results! even my tamron lens produce better on the 50D. i love my 50D!!
only con i have is that camera is not weathe rsealed as much as i would lije.
6 of 11 people found this review helpful.
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Review 199 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
55
Performance
55
Price/Value
45
Quality
55
Satisfaction
55
Nickname: SHUTTERTIME1 Location:
MEDFORD, OR
Used this product for:
1 to 3 months
Expertise Level:
Professional or Expert
Product replacement:
Yes
CANON EOS 50D
Date: November 1, 2008
I HAVE RECENTLY OWNED THESE CANON PRODUCTS, CANON S5-IS 8.2, CANON 450D 12.2 AND NOW THE CANON 50D 15.1 AND CAN'T PUT IT DOWN. I MOSTLY SHOOT MACRO AND SCENARY USING 3 LENSES. CANON 17-85MM, CANON 100MM MACRO, CANON 70-300MM TELE AND THIS CAMER SHOOTS SO QUICK. MISSING A SHOT IS NOT THIS CAMERA FAULT IT SO QUICK YOU CAN'T MISS ANYTHING. THE PHOTOS ARE SO VIVID AND YOU CAN ADJUST THE AMOUNTS OF CONTRAST, SHARPNESS AND MORE ON EACH SHOT. I LOVE THIS CAMERA TO THE END.
23 of 28 people found this review helpful.
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Review 200 for EOS 50D
Overall Rating
55
Features
45
Performance
55
Price/Value
55
Quality
45
Satisfaction
55
Nickname: MegaPixel Location:
Whistler, BC
Used this product for:
Less than 1 month
Expertise Level:
Professional or Expert
Product replacement:
Yes
50D Review
Date: October 29, 2008
Pros: image quality, low noise at hi isos, handles like 40d, viewfinder, 'my menu', lcd screen Cons: needs lock on control dial
I've owned the D30, 20D, Rebel XT, 40D, XSi, 1D IIn and now the 50D. All were and are excellent cameras in my opinion. And each represents a step ahead of what was in the line before it. The image quality of the 50D sets it apart from any of the cameras I've owned before it. It's high ISO quality is outstanding and does as claimed, represent at least a full stop improvement over any Canon camera before it. It is very similar to the 40D in all controls, so it's completely easy to switch from one to the other. The motordrive is fast enough for action. The 'My Menu' is excellent for making quick adjustments to menu items that used to have been dug out of too many menu options. For instance, mirror lock up is very easily accessed now. The viewfinder seems very good. My only real complaint is the top control dial. It needs a lock to prevent it from shifting. Aside from that one small complaint, the 50D is an excellent camera in it's price range.
