50D in the near rather than far future :-)

Hi, while I am truly enjoying the 5D2 for landscape and macro, it ain't no BIF body in my hands!

The FF sensor with the 300 f/2.8 + 2.0 extender leaves360mm short ;) :) .

Since I am less than three months to departure for my USA workshops rather than sit and wait and wait for the 1D4 I think I ought to buy the 50D and get used to it before the workshops and the trip to South America. Right now the cost of the 50D is substantially less than here in Australia than if I shipped a 50D from Adorama and paid both shipping and 10% import duty.

Those using the 50D with 300 and up glass, are you using the battery grip? If so, are you using the Canon BG-E2N, or an after market grip like the Phottix which has gotten good reviews and is 1/3 the price of the Canon grip?

What about after market batteries?

Thanks, Jay

Jay, Alfred and Artie can tell you their experiences with the 50D. I understand they love it. If I can't get a 1DMK4 by Christmas I will get a 50D/60D for Africa in February. I do not think either the 1DMK4 or 60D will be availble within your time frame. Better o get a 50D and get used to it and test it prior to your trip.

RE the battery grip I would certainly get one and I would stick with Canon. It is also my understanding that Delkin makes the best after market batteries. Be careful with the cheap ones as they are really not the same.

Jay, if I were you I would go to the thread just a few below yours about the 50D. I think it will help you with your decision.

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Originally Posted by Ed Cordes

Jay, Alfred and Artie can tell you their experiences with the 50D. I understand they love it. If I can't get a 1DMK4 by Christmas I will get a 50D/60D for Africa in February. I do not think either the 1DMK4 or 60D will be availble within your time frame. Better o get a 50D and get used to it and test it prior to your trip.

RE the battery grip I would certainly get one and I would stick with Canon. It is also my understanding that Delkin makes the best after market batteries. Be careful with the cheap ones as they are really not the same.

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Hi Ed, sounds like we are in the same boat. If I thought the 1D4 might come out even in November I would roll the dice and gamble. I can use my brother's 50D for the workshops with Jim and James; I would go to SA with just the 5D2 and my brother would bring me in this order ;): 1D4, 60D, 50D. I do not want to go to Antarctica with only one FF camera.

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Originally Posted by Marina Scarr

Jay, if I were you I would go to the thread just a few below yours about the 50D. I think it will help you with your decision.

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Why Marina? I have read that thread and all of the other 50D threads and nothing I have read would deter me from buying the 50D; I have been waiting because I really want the 1D4.

I still may drag my feet for a few more weeks to see if there is a Canon announcement.

Cheers, Jay

Jay when the Mk4 comes out I will get one but will also have 50D or its replacement. Sometimes is the best tool for the work at hand !!!

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Originally Posted by Alfred Forns

Jay when the Mk4 comes out I will get one but will also have 50D or its replacement. Sometimes is the best tool for the work at hand !!!

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Al my Mate, you will have multiple cameras at home and take the one or two with you that "is the best tool for the work at hand" and I agree with that philosophy. HOWEVER, I do not have the luxury of ever having more than two bodies when I travel for extensive periods of time. One will definitely be a 1DX series in the future starting with the 1D4; the other will either be an XXD or a 5DX.

Life is a compromise (gosh these are tough compromises :)); my leanings are toward a 1DX/5DX combination. The 50D would be a temporary purchase until I have the 1D4. Then someone here that wants a 50D or someone in Australia can buy it from me at a reasonable savings. ;)

Cheers,

Jay, I have had my 50D since last October and have taken about 14,000 shots with it. While the noise at higher ISOs is real, it is manageable IMO. Whether or not you should have to deal with noise in PP is a moot point to me as I just couldn't afford anything else. There was so much negative press about this camera when it came out (especially on DPR forums) that I almost didn't buy it. I did buy it though and have been posting my images on this site since last November. Folks can decide for themselves, but for the money I think this is a great camera and the point is to make good images with the tools you have available isn't it?

As for the battery grip, I got the Canon one and I couldn't live without it. The body alone is too small for my hands and I like having the shutter button for verticals also. I bought two "knock-off" batteries from SterlingTek.com for $12 each and have been using them for six months with no problems whatsoever. In fact, these batteries last longer in the camera than the OEM ones.

IMHO, you should not be afraid to buy this camera. Take a look at my postings and you can see that you can make decent images regardless of the noise issues.

Thanks Kerry, I will wait until 1 August. I just know that as soon as I order the 50D there will be a 1D4 announcement. Since the camera comes with one battery, why did you buy two and not three so that you had two sets for the grip? I will also get the grid precision matte screen. I have one in the 5D2 and really appreciate having the fine lines to assist in obtaining a level image. I believe, though I am not sure, that the matte screen is finer and the image you see is slightly sharper. Cheers, Jay

Jay, it was just oversight on my part. However, I have yet to need a backup set, as the two batteries I bought are higher capacity than the OEM and I can shoot for two days without replacing. Also, the battery grip works fine with one battery and could be used that way. I was thinking I should just get two more of the after-market ones since they are so cheap and would prefer not mixing them.

I know what you are saying about the grid screen. Have considered that for a while. I hate fixing horizons in PS. I want all those pixels!

Having bought one of the lowest serial numbered MKIII's in the U.S when first released I would / will not be so enamored to have it's replacement right off the bat when it's available. I for one am going to let the bugs play out for X amount of months before going through that fiasco again.

Hi Mike, I hear ya and understand what you are saying. Just have to decide whether to buy the 50D now and do my South America trip with the 5D2/50D even if the 1D4 is released in the next couple of months, and then make the decision to trade the 50D for the 1D4 after I return in May 2010.

Would like to have all three although I suspect that a good copy of the 1D4 will have equal to or better AF than the 50D since it will either have dual DIGIC 4s or 5s.

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Originally Posted by Mike Tracy

Having bought one of the lowest serial numbered MKIII's in the U.S when first released I would / will not be so enamored to have it's replacement right off the bat when it's available. I for one am going to let the bugs play out for X amount of months before going through that fiasco again.

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I will doing the same but some how I expect the replacement to be over tested !!!! :)

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I will doing the same but some how I expect the replacement to be over tested !!!! :)

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We should only be so lucky that it is over tested and released without any bugs. If you are going to take the conservative approach and wait a period of time, probably have to allow 3 - 6 months :( = I need to kick my self in the butt ;) and order the 50D.

Tried to do some BIF today - HA - I am looking forward to the Jim and James show! :D

I have the 50D & love it yes you get noise at higher ISO`s but if you follow the Art Morris tip about exposing to the right with this camera then you`ll be ok.

Steve.