Canon EOS 50D briefly appears on Canon's Chinese site

We'd take all these rumors with a huge grain of salt given how much chatter there is ahead of Photokina, but Canon's Chinese site briefly posted an official page for an EOS 50D this afternoon. It's down now, but the listed specs are pretty solid: 15.1 megapixel sensor with a 1.6x crop and ISO 12800 sensitivity through a DIGIC 4 processor, dust reduction, VGA-res 3-inch LCD, and built-in image stabilization -- which is a little odd given Canon's great line of IS lenses. Google still has the page cached if you want to take a look -- it's thrilling, trust us.

PS.- As usual, this image has been floating around forever, so it's probably a mockup.

[Via FredMiranda, thanks Gerald]

Read - Google translate page
Read - Photography Bay spec listing
Read - Screenshot of spec listing

[José @ Aug 21st 2008 11:50PM]

I read over at DPReview that that in-body image stabilization is a translation error.

[Charles Lee @ Aug 21st 2008 11:56PM]

Two concerns...

1) Noise level... unless Canon is using a new sensor technology (such as the Backside Illumination technology that Sony recently announced), the noise level will increase as the pixel pitch decreases in size. There's only so much light one can capture.

2) Very few lenses can actually out-resolve the pixel pitch on the current 10-12 MPix APS-C sensors. You have to buy pretty expensive glass to make complete use of the sensor's capability. Going to higher densities only makes it that much more difficult.

- Charles

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:54AM]

Oh boy. Another proponent of how more pixels is bad. Let me guess, your current camera has fewer pixels than this, doesn't it? Feeling the burn? You wouldn't have succumbed to megapixel mania and upgraded from the 6MP 10D, have you? It sure seems like DSLR owners are all ready to condemn anyone as having more MP than them as foolishly buying into the megapixel myth. But mysteriously, when they upgrade to a new camera, they suddenly think that their new number of pixels is the "sweet spot" and not so foolish after all.

Canon (APS-sized) DSLRs have gone from 6MP to 12MP so far and have become better and better with noise every step of the way, despite the shrinking size of individual sensor points. There's not a lot of reason to think we've run into fundamental limits yet, it's quite likely this will turn out to again be another improvement in noise levels from Canon.

[Chris Taylor @ Aug 22nd 2008 3:12AM]

HE is right you are wrong. Your wrong because you did not read what he said.

QUANTITY is not the problem DENSITY is!!

IE if you increase the number of pixels WITHOUT ALSO increasing the AREA of the sensor patch you INCREASE NOISE and BIG TIME.

Its a ratio. IE DENSITY. the number of pixel per square x of surface area on the sensor

the REASON some of the high end camera can take SUCH INCREDIBLE images is NOT because they have a lot of pixels but because they have a VERY large sensory patch!!

My Nikon 5000 is 5mp and STILL takes better pictures by a LARGE margin than almost ANY non slr camera today. those 8mp 10mp pocket shooters? Horrible image quality when you compare them directly to the 5mp images from my nikon.

Its DENSITY not Quantity that is the issue.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 22nd 2008 3:38AM]

Chris, read my last paragraph.

Canon's DSLR sensors have more than doubled in pixel count and have not changed in size much (not at all since the 8MP level). Thus the density has increased 2X, while the noise has also decreased markedly (to 1/4 or less of previous levels). There is no reason to think that the jump from 10MP on the 40D to 14MP (and a corresponding increase in density) is going to cause noise levels to jump any more than the previous increases in density going from 6MP to 8MP and 8MP to 10MP.

You completely failed to comprehend my message. Instead, you bang the same megapixel myth drum and fail to even consider that others might actually understand what is going on.

[Information Central @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:15AM]

"while the noise has also decreased markedly (to 1/4 or less of previous levels)"

That statement is bunk. Noise has remained relatively constant, despite resolution jumps. It hasn't decreased by 75%.

At some point, noise will increase or Canon will apply ridiculous noise-reduction levels and squander any benefits.

It will be sad to see SLRs fall prey to idiotic marketing concerns at the expense of image quality, as small cameras have. Meanwhile, Canon continues to omit obvious features like an interval timer and unlimited mirror lockup.

[Vex @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:47AM]

The noise level always decreases despite increases in pixel density because of further advances in noise reduction. That's all fine and dandy, but I'd give anything to have a 6-8 megapixel DSLR with the noise reduction of the new models. It would mean sacrificing megapixels, but if you're not doing enormous posters or heavy cropping you don't need anywhere near 14 megapixels. Just think of D3 low noise levels in a $1000ish advanced amateur DX/EF-S body! Too bad the megapixel myth guarantees that will never happen.

[Frankfurter @ Aug 22nd 2008 8:41AM]

When someone uses the term 'glass' to refer to lenses, just roll your eyes and move on. It's obvious they are either a) over 60, or b) trying to sound more 'in the know'.

In this case, both probably hold true.

[George @ Aug 21st 2008 11:59PM]

Canon Rumors www.canonrumors.com says there will likely be a new battery grip as well, but the old ones will work too.

[Johan S @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:02AM]

I hope the dynamic range is decent so I won't have to do bracketing and can instead choose/edit the exposure look i want in software/post processing.

[George A. Romero @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:13AM]

WHAT??? ISO 128000 (is that a typo?)

[mrdelayer @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:21AM]

That's ISO 12800.

[Cam @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:25AM]

Take out the comment about 1.6x crop and it sounds a lot more realistic that it will be the 5D successor than the 50D (when the 40D is only just a year old).

[Ethan @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:37AM]

It's unlikely that this will be a 5D successor if it's called the 50D, and the 1.6x crop and built-in flash makes it even more unlikely. The 7D or 5D mk II or whatever is way overdue, but this doesn't sound like it.

[BigDaddyM @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:05AM]

Agreed. If this was full frame, then it would be a worth successor to the 5D.

Don't get me wrong, even as a sucessor to the 40D it is great, but I do want to stick to full frame.

Of course the flip side is that a "50D" would be much cheaper than a "5Dm2".

As a back up to my 1Dsm2, either would make a great back up, but I would still prefer a "5Dm2" at teh price of a "50D" and while I am dreaming, make that 12800 silky smooth.

Nikon's D3 has shown great ISO performance, but I was impressed at the technical achievement, but ISO 12800 quality (the difference between no shot and something makes it worth it), but I want 12800 to be very usable. I was wordering if Canon was going to join teh ISO bandwagon or stick to the megapixel race.

Personally, I prefer clean ISO performance and Dynamic range. Nikon's D3 was a strong blow, will Canon's answer be worthy, I hope so.
M

[anmol @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:44AM]

what the hell canon. when will you ever address the 5d market?
Patient canon fans who have not yet switched to Noink are still waiting for our 5d mk2 or 7d whatever it will be called. We don't need a 40d successor yet. The 5d market is one you can't afford to lose.

[anychamster @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:00AM]

what does the iso level say?
the iso's over 9000!!!!!

[pieboy @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:04AM]

ISO 128,000? talk about overkill

[Vinnie @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:54AM]

No silly, 12,800

[Nick @ Aug 24th 2008 10:46AM]

Oh You!

[hp540 @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:12AM]

waiting for the 5D successor is ridiculous. Over the time I've had my 30D, i've invested in two L lenses....and I think I could get a lot more value out of this glass with a full frame sensor! Unfortunately, there's no way I'm going to buy drop money on a 3 year old body!

[Nick @ Aug 24th 2008 10:48AM]

My uni is waiting to invest in some 5D replacements, but they keep going for Nikon bodies instead of the Canons because there just simply isn't anything in the Canon range that deuces the 5D for the money. Got my fingers crossed that the MKII is released in time for the new school year, although I love using my 40D, I'd love to be able to book out a 5D MKII for studio work at Uni.

[peter @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:37AM]

it would be useful to switch the stabilizer from the body

[Temple @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:52AM]

Seriously, more important then megapixel and B.S. ISO numbers is the autofocus (AF) that they are going to use. When the D300 is using a 51-point AF (same as their pro D3), a 9-point AF for the 50D would be unacceptable.

[Jon Doe. @ Aug 22nd 2008 2:17AM]

Meh. I foresee my 40D being with me for at least another 5 years. Next stop will be full frameville.

[Mr. B @ Aug 22nd 2008 2:21AM]

I don't buy it... too soon.

[Ron Mertens @ Aug 22nd 2008 2:47AM]

There are rumors that the display will be a cool OLED -

http://www.oled-info.com/there-are-rumors-canon-will-introduce-two-new-cameras-3-oleds-photokina-september

Ron

[Owen @ Aug 22nd 2008 4:21AM]

It's got to be a 5D successor, that thing has whiskers now it's so old, but Canon badly need a full frame replacement DSLR to hit the market. It hasn't been that long since the 40d hit the market - and I'm delighted with mine - so I don't think this will be a 50D.

I'm glad someone pointed out the IS in the body is a translation error, as in the photo, it shows an IS lens mounted to the body.

[Slliim @ Aug 22nd 2008 11:52AM]

I don't claim to be a pro but it's not hard to believe that this is a successor to the 40D. The 30D wasn't out THAT long before it came out. Therefore, the fact that the 40D has only been out for a year doesn't make it any less feasable. I don't see it being a successor to the 5D considering mainly that it's not full frame. I will be holding on to my 40D until the full frame successor to the 5D gets here thank you very much.

~ Slim ~

[Arun @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:12PM]

I am definitely going to purchase this to replace my 30D when it comes out.. can't wait!

[It's a lock @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:24PM]

Canon will definitely debut the successor to the 40D next week. Also, a successor to the G9 will be announced (released in 2 months or so). Haven't seen the specs, however, I have heard this from a very reliable source.

[alex @ Aug 26th 2008 4:36PM]

I have been waiting sooooo long for the 5D MKII to come out to replace my 30D, and Canon go and release the 50D! Why? Where is the 5D MKII going to go now? Same specs as the 50D but full frame and a lot more expensive? Will there even be a 5D MKII? If they bring it out with even higher MP than the 50D won't it then be too close to the 1Ds MKIII?

And I'll believe low noise performance with that many pixels crammed onto a APS-C sensor when I see it.

[Stephan @ Aug 27th 2008 2:28AM]

The image at the top should be removed, as it's obviously a fake, an edited image of a 30D, not even a 40D.