Switching to Canon

[James Graham]

I've been a Nikon shooter for a long time, but along with a lot of other people, I'm getting tired of waiting for their new 600mm to become generally available.

I'm thinking of the Canon EOS 50D to go with the new 800mm.

Any comments, advice, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Lance Warley]

I can't comment on the 800mm, but I have seen many photos from the 50D taken by a newbie friend of mine, and they are great. The new sensor looks like a killer. Autofcus speed, high iso without much noise - it's all there.

The 50D is making this person look like someone with 3 years experience.

[James Graham]

Thanks for the input Lance

[Doug Brown]

The 50D is a solid body, but if I were dropping close to $11,000 on an 800 I'd go with a 1D Mark III.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The images that I have seen made with the 800 are excellent. Since the 50D can't autofocus at f/8 if you would attach a 1.4x TC, the Mark III or IV if it comes out soon might be more versatile. The lower ISO noise and higher frame rate would be beneficial, too.

Good luck with your decision!

[Bill McCrystyn]

For what it's worth, we'll miss you and you'll miss your Nikon. :D Been there done that.

[John Chardine]

It must be exceedingly frustrating still not to be able to source a piece of equipment launched late in 2007. And if you can get one you have the pleasure of paying a thick wad of cash more than the Canon version, which has been out since roughly 2000.

I run the 50D on a Canon 500/4 and it is one heck of a combination, and would be out of this world with the 800 IS.

[Roger Clark]

The 50D is a solid body, but if I were dropping close to $11,000 on an 800 I'd go with a 1D Mark III.

Hasn't the 1DIII been out a while? With the competition from the Nikon D3x, I would bet the 1DIV should be coming out soon (hope hope) :).

Roger

[Roger Clark]

How much better is the 800 f/5.6 versus a 600 f/4 + 1.4x TC?
(I only have a lowly 500 f/4 IS, but the 500 f/4 + 1.4x TC is impressively sharp, especially on a 5D2.)

Roger

[John Chardine]

Hasn't the 1DIII been out a while? With the competition from the Nikon D3x, I would bet the 1DIV should be coming out soon (hope hope) :).

Roger

The Canon Rumors site says no for the upcoming PMA at least. You may have a bit longer to wait Roger.

[Fabs Forns]

A Canon user friend of mine told me today that 50D is noisier than 40D because of the smaller sensor?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

A Canon user friend of mine told me today that 50D is noisier than 40D because of the smaller sensor?

I think the sensor is not smaller but they put 15 MP v. 10MP (40D) which should result in higher noise.

[Fabs Forns]

Thanks, Axel, it makes sense.

[Roger Clark]

I think the sensor is not smaller but they put 15 MP v. 10MP (40D) which should result in higher noise.

Correct. If you want to get into quantitative numbers on noise per pixel, it is at:
http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedeta...rmance.summary

But in terms of same print size, you have more pixels with the 50D so they would print smaller and thus the noise would probably appear similar per pixel. For normally exposed images and same print size, there is probably no effective difference in noise, unless you are doing very low light work like long exposure astro photos.
But then having more pixels gives the opportunity for more detail, so the images from the 50D will probably look slightly better, at least in most cases and assuming the lens delivered the detail. And for wildlife photography, the newer AF is probably a plus.

Roger

[Phil Liew]

Graham, I own both the 800 mm and 50D. If you are willing to spend that kind of dosh, the 50D should be a backup camera and add on the extra $$$ for a 1D Mk3 or even the 5D Mk2.

800 mm glass is superb and being f/5.6 is smaller up front and end result is a better balanced lens than the 600 mm f/4 which I also own. Image quality as compared to 600mm + 1.4II extender - Juza, an Italian nature photographer has done the leg work and posted his results pixel peeping etc. At f/5.6 the 800mm is a winner.

If you want to see some shots with the 800mm use both in birding and MotoGP action I have posted some in the other sections on this forum.

Buy it and don't look back but would say add the extra $$ for a better camera body.

[James Graham]

Thanks all for the valuable input.

[Paul Granone]

Arthur Morris is taking some beautiful shots with that combination (50D & 800mm). He comments on the lens and the 50D in some of the bulletins.

check out http://www.birdsasart.com/bn.html

[Jay Gould]

The Canon Rumors site says no for the upcoming PMA at least. You may have a bit longer to wait Roger.

John, can you share the urls for the Rumor sites?

Thanks,

[John Chardine]

It's simply http://www.canonrumors.com/