Canon 40D and Canon 50D, anyone shoot both yet?

I have a 30D and 40D and like the cameras.

 

Thinking of getting another back-up for my 40D housing (as yet unused) and the 50D will fit. Read about the issues with the 50D being a bit more noisy, perhaps softer, but then alot of it seems to be based on the lens used. Was just curious if anyone around here had a chance to put both cameras through the paces for above and below water use. Read some general reviews, but figured someone around here could add some additional insight.

 

Thanks.

Hello Mr. Drew,

Check out what Ross Gudgeon is able to do with his 50D. Flickr page is here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossgudgeon/3437263571/ Really impressive sunballs, Sold me. Ross mentioned he turns the Highlight tone priority on. He found more depth at the high end trading less in the darks. Nothing soft about what I'm seeing from his stuff.

 

Isn't there some sort of spousal codicile in the underwater photography code of conduct that says you have to dive with a camera before you get a replacement?

 

Cheers,

Steve

Hello Mr. Drew,

Check out what Ross Gudgeon is able to do with his 50D. Flickr page is here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossgudgeon/3437263571/ Really impressive sunballs, Sold me. Ross mentioned he turns the Highlight tone priority on. He found more depth at the high end trading less in the darks. Nothing soft about what I'm seeing from his stuff.

 

Does look real good.

 

Isn't there some sort of spousal codicile in the underwater photography code of conduct that says you have to dive with a camera before you get a replacement?

 

Well sort of. At the rate I am going not sure if I will ever be back in the water again. But since I am passing on the 30D rig to the spouse probably and purchased a 40D housing, it only makes sense to also have a back up body. So it is not a replacement, it is a just in case. Have some gift cards I need to use (they expire) and a back up is one thing I am considering, but the place only has 50Ds, where some other places still have 40Ds

So it is not a replacement, it is a just in case. Have some gift cards I need to use (they expire) and a back up is one thing I am considering, but the place only has 50Ds, where some other places still have 40Ds

 

Ahhh, I knew you'd find a loop hole. Get the 50d partner. You might even be able to see the LCD. I think it's a major improvement not many talk about.

Best I've found is $1100.

 

Steve

As Steve has already said I upgraded to the 50D last October and am very happy I did. I read about the soft images and noise but haven't noticed any in the images I've been taking. The increase in detail over the 40D is noticeable with the 50D (as is the much larger file size ). I've got the best results I've ever got shooting sunbursts with the 50D. The improved LCD on the back is great. You can see more results here in my Smugmug gallery (without the Flickr "extra" sharpening") in the Galleries from October/November 08 on:

 

http://gudge.smugmug.com/Underwater/431627

 

I had a small problem fixed under warranty so some of the images in late March/early April were taken with the 40D while the 50D was back at Canon getting fixed. Click on "i" icon when the cursor is hovering over the image to check which camera was used during that period.

I opted to get a 2nd 40D body. I had heard about the image quality issues with the 50D, but mostly I figured I have barely started to scratch the surface with being proficient with my 40D (it's my first dslr), so better to learn that before moving up. Got the 2nd body for $700 and now have the extra $$ for other fun toys

 

Who knows, maybe the 60D will fit the 40D housing too!

 

Phil

Hey Gudge,

Glad you jumped in. The Smugmug gallery looks great! The sunburst shots look even bettter than on Flickr. So Gudge, does the new face recognition mode work on groupers?

 

Phil has a good point. What are the odds that Canon will provide us three great cameras in a row that fit in the same housing? I was all set to pick up a back up 40d until I saw what Ross was able to do.

 

Steve

The Smugmug gallery looks great! The sunburst shots look even bettter than on Flickr.

Thanks, the extra processing that Flickr does to your images annoys the hell out of me. I wish you could turn it off.

 

So Gudge, does the new face recognition mode work on groupers?

You don't really need it when you get a nice quiet one like the one I've been shooting recently. He just lies there at his favourite cleaning station and lets you get right up in his face. Yesterday I put the camera on the sand with the dome only a couple of inches from his nose and he didn't move or look unconfortable at all.

 

Phil has a good point. What are the odds that Canon will provide us three great cameras in a row that fit in the same housing?

What were the odds that any camera manufacturer would do two cameras that fit in the same housing in the first place. I've heard rumours that the 500D may fit in 450D housings. If true, I hope this is a trend Canon continues. I've got my fingers crossed.

 

The only difficulty with upgrading to the 50D was that the "Info" button is in a different place, takes a little getting used to at first.

I have been shooting the 50D for a short while and have seen no issues. I still have the 40D for a back-up but have not done any specific tests. What I can say subjectively is I have seen no limitations in the images as a result of the camera. Maybe the user at times. ; )

 

I definitely like the Lcd over the 40D. I have not gone to a large print to see how the added pixels stack up yet.

As Steve has already said I upgraded to the 50D last October and am very happy I did.

 

Thanks, the images really look great. Sometimes I think people get caught up a little too much into some of the details and where things can fall short. Technically there may be the differences that some places reported, but as the photos you posted show, I think practically they really are not of a concern. Which lenses were you using?

 

 

I opted to get a 2nd 40D body. I had heard about the image quality issues with the 50D, but mostly I figured I have barely started to scratch the surface with being proficient with my 40D (it's my first dslr), so better to learn that before moving up. Got the 2nd body for $700 and now have the extra $$ for other fun toys

 

Who knows, maybe the 60D will fit the 40D housing too!

 

Phil

 

 

Very true about getting the equipment under the belt. I sort of fell into getting the 40D when my 30D needed a minor repair and needed a dSLR for a trip, then someone was selling a housing and since I already had ports and gears for the30D (those things reeally add up) sprung for the housing. So it is something where the 30D rig can be the second rig to carry, but I have some gift cards that expire and where they can be used only has the 50D, no 40Ds, and not many other things I am interested in. Of course if there was a dive shop/dive photography shop You know how it goes, once the UW photography bug hits, most toys revolve around that.

 

As to the 60D into the 40D housing, that would be VERY cool.

 

 

Maybe the user at times. ; )

 

Nah I think it is a defect in the camera, because I have had the same issues

i did some tests on a 50D vs my 40D hoping to get more out of my 100-400 zoom for wildlife. after spending some time getting the focus micro-adjustment right (all lenses required significant adjustment on this body) i could not get any better results from the 50D. the 50D was noticebly sharper than the 40dD with the 100 macro. this was consistent with the other reports that the 50D only offers improved resolution over the 40D only using the best lenses. i would be very surprised to see a noticeable difference between the 40D and 50D images UW with any lens

 

i sent the 50D back and now have a 5D2 which i don't plan to use UW.

Which lenses were you using?

The two lenses I use most are the Tokina 10-17 and Canon 100 macro (sometimes with Kenko 1.4X teleconverter and/or Canon 500D close-up lens). Other lenses I use occasionally just to do something different are Canon 60 macro, Tokina 35 macro and Sigma 17-70.

I have both too.

 

The biggest difference for me is in the review screen, and that when you review a RAW picture it doesnt just use the embedded jpg thumbnail any more.

 

With the 40D you basically couldnt check the focus afterwards because it only used the thumbnail which in practise this meant checking focus was a bit of a guess. I also prefer the tone curve used on the jpegs more, the minimum flash shutter speed is handy sometimes. There are other little bits here and there that I find useful, either above or below water.

 

It wasnt worth an upgrade from the 40D, but as a spare body or if picking from new I think it was worth it.

 

Otara

I also have both. I consider the 50D to be very similar to the 40D but I now have power steering and power windows.

I use the 50D as the primary and the 40D as the backup.

 

I love the micro-adjustment feature - it made a heck of a difference with my Sigma 17-70 @ 70mm. (never knew how bad my copy of this lens was until I dailed in the adjustment)

I am not trilled with the larger file size but it comes with the territory.

 

TomC