Official: Canon's 15.1 megapixel EOS 50D with DIGIC 4 processing

Not much left to tell here that you didn't already know. Still, now that the EOS 50D is official, we can list the specs with certainty: 15.1 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 image processor, up to ISO 12800 support, 3.0-inch LCD with face detection Live View, HDMI output, 6.3fps burst mode, and same AF system found in Canon's 40D with new Microadjustment feature. This DSLR targeting the "advanced amateur" will be ready for the holidays (shipping in October) for an estimated $1,599 with Canon's EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens -- $1,399 for the body only.

Gallery: Official: Canon's 15.1 megapixel EOS 50D with DIGIC 4 processing

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[Thanks, Phil W.]

[HalfJoey @ Aug 26th 2008 12:43AM]

$1,400 SRP with stock lens?

[gjp303 @ Aug 26th 2008 12:47AM]

1500...

[Temple @ Aug 26th 2008 1:25AM]

er . . ."$1,599 with Canon's EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens -- $1,399 for the body only."

[gad get @ Aug 26th 2008 1:33AM]

Oh my gosh, I'm so confused!

Try reading it next time.

[Root @ Aug 26th 2008 3:06AM]

Is that even a camera?

[Legend @ Aug 26th 2008 12:44AM]

Ah, there's the pop up flash...

[BigDaddyM @ Aug 26th 2008 2:07AM]

A clear sign that it is FAKE.

(I am just reminding those that called it faked who are hiding now.)

As far as the flash, there is a time and place for a pop up flash and if you know how to use it, it can be helpful when you do not have anything else with you.
M

[Dustin @ Aug 26th 2008 9:06AM]

I'm just ticked that Canon refuses to do what Nikon has done for a while now in allowing the pop-up flash to control a wireless Speedlite. Yes, I know Canon probably thinks it would cannibalize the sales of their mighty (expensive) 580EX II, but Nikon is starting to look better and better to me with each generation of disappointment from Canon.

[MrLegend @ Aug 26th 2008 11:34AM]

Yeah, if the 5D replacement doesn't knock me out, I have some thinking to do.
Though a few grand in lenses has me on a leash.

[efua @ Aug 26th 2008 8:33PM]

Wow! I am amazed. Well done canon. I'm going to be sticking to my 450D/xsi though.

[muzhik @ Aug 26th 2008 12:45AM]

i'll take 2...

[Chris @ Aug 26th 2008 12:45AM]

ISO 12800? Holy god. And I thought 3200 was high.

[Temple @ Aug 26th 2008 1:24AM]

natively it only goes up to 3200 ISO. It gets two stops Hi 1 (6400) and Hi 2(12800) via artificial extended mode. Meaning that you should realistically expect a good deal of noise at 3200 with anything above it to be noisy as hell. But its there for when you need it.

[gad get @ Aug 26th 2008 1:35AM]

If there's a manufacturer who knows how to minimize noise at high ISO's, it's Canon.

[Richard @ Aug 26th 2008 1:41AM]

Not necessarily true. You are right in that H1 and H2 are extended modes, but if the D3 is any indication, H1 will be usable and H2 will still produce decent prints when absolutely needed. Canon's DIGIC IV has yet to be seen in action and Canon's history shows that they're no slouch in high ISO situations, even if you're running up against the once inconceivable ISO 12,800.

[Billy Fiul @ Aug 26th 2008 2:07AM]

Agreed, gad get. I'd like to see the puny girls of Nikon achieve such low noise at these ISO levels. You won't, of course, as they are too busy giving each other massages.

[Temple @ Aug 26th 2008 3:29AM]

@Richard

The Nikon D700/D3 natively goes up to 6400 ISO, so Hi1 is 12800 and Hi2 is 25600. At Hi1, not even the D700/D3 already has significant noise, Hi2 is filled with chroma noise. Its there when you absolutely need it, but not really what you would call usable. For this 50D, as far as noise, you have much smaller photosites, and you are talking about a 1.6 crop sensor. Canon has this new gapless microlens which should give it a stop or a stop and a half better then the 40D, but its operating range is indicative that it can only go to 3200 ISO without boost, which is around where the D300 is at. The point being, the whole 12800 is more a marketing figure then anything else.

[DBrim @ Aug 26th 2008 12:45AM]

Yawn. When's the 5D replacement coming?

[Photo Phil @ Aug 26th 2008 12:51AM]

Agreed, the xxD series gets updates quite often. Time for the 5D to be retired.

[Photo Phil @ Aug 26th 2008 12:47AM]

Canons EOS lineup website was also updated in the last 20 minutes or so, http://www.canoneos.com. Also the direct link to the 50D: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17499

[gjp303 @ Aug 26th 2008 12:48AM]

or maybe 1599.

[onin @ Aug 26th 2008 12:50AM]

Good thing I held off for the 40D. Now the question for me is D90, 50D or D300? those 3 cameras are inside my price point.

[enos @ Aug 26th 2008 1:04AM]

You would be crazy not to buy the d300 over both of those cameras. It blows both of those out of the water.

[Temple @ Aug 26th 2008 1:33AM]

The D300 is around $1500 online these days, so price-wise its almost the same.

With the D300 you'll get better pro-autofocus (51-point AF and spot meter linked to the focusing point) compared to Canon (9-point AF with spot meter linked to only center point), 100% pentaprism, and 8fps (with MBD10 grip), but with the 50D you're getting 3 megapixels more and cool features like micro-lens adjustment.

Different strokes for different folks, but I would say if you are going to be taking lots of action photography then the D300 would better serve you. If you for some reason need more megapixels or do a lot of cropping then the 50D may be better.

[gad get @ Aug 26th 2008 1:39AM]

@ enos

Based on what? All we know about the 50D so far are the specs, and they look even better than those of the D300. So tell me, what are you basing this most definitive of statements on, exactly? Please don't tell me you're one of those fanboy types. That's dangerous territory when it comes to such a big investment as a DSLR.

[gad get @ Aug 26th 2008 1:44AM]

Well, as good, anyway.

[Paul @ Aug 26th 2008 2:47PM]

If it makes any difference, I own the 40D (so definitely not a Nikon fanboy) and I would still recommend the D300 out of those three if you have no equipment forcing you to go with one brand over another. The screen is unbelievably nice.

[Zeke @ Aug 26th 2008 1:02AM]

Sweet, but I'm still waiting for the 5D follow up. Now if I just knew how to take a photograph without my thumb in the shot.

http://www.nicephotomag.com

[Arie @ Aug 26th 2008 12:58AM]

Specifications


Type
Type
Digital, single-lens reflex, AF/AE camera with built-in flash

Recording Media
CF Card Type I and II, UDMA-compliant CF cards, via external media (USB v.2.0 hard drive, via optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3A)

Image Sensor Size
22.3mm x 14.9mm

Compatible Lenses
Canon EF lenses (including EF-S lenses) (35mm-equivalent focal length is approx. 1.6x the lens focal length)

Lens Mount
Canon EF mount


Image Sensor
Type
High-sensitivity, high-resolution, large single-plate CMOS sensor

Pixels
Effective pixels: Approx. 15.10 megapixels

Total Pixels
Total pixels: Approx. 15.50 megapixels

Aspect Ratio
3:2 (Horizontal: Vertical)

Color Filter System
RGB primary color filters

Low-pass Filter
Fixed position in front of the CMOS sensor

Dust Deletion feature
(1) Automatic sensor cleaning
(2) Manual cleaning of sensor
(3) Dust Delete Data appended to the captured image


Recording System
Recording Format
Design rule for Camera File System 2.0

Image Type
JPEG, RAW (14-bit, Canon original), sRAW, RAW+JPEG

File Size
(1) Large/Fine: Approx. 5.0MB (4752 x 3168 pixels)
(2) Large/Nomal: Approx. 2.5MB (4752 x 3168 pixels)
(3) Medium/Fine: Approx. 3.0MB (3456 x 2304 pixels)
(4) Medium/Normal: Approx. 1.6MB (3456 x 2304 pixels)
(5) Small/Fine: Approx. 1.7MB (2352 x 1568 pixels)
(6) Small/Normal: Approx. 0.9MB (2352 x 1568 pixels)
(7) RAW: Approx. 20.2MB (4752 x 3168 pixels)
(8) RAW+Large/Fine: Approx. 20.2+5.0MB (4752 x 3168 pixels)
(9) sRAW 1: Approx. 12.6MB (3267 x 2178 pixels)
(10) sRAW 1+Large/Fine: Approx. 12.6+5.0MB (3267 x 2178 pixels)
(11) sRAW 2: Approx. 9.2MB (2376 x 1584 pixels)
(12) sRAW 2+Large/Fine: Approx. 9.2+5.0MB (2376 x 1584 pixels)
Exact file sizes depend on the subject, ISO speed, Picture Style, etc.

Recording Functions
With the WFT-E3A attached, image recording to the CF card and to the USB external media connected to the WFT-E3A will be possible as follows:
(1) Standard
(2) Automatic switching of recording media
(3) Separate recordings according to image-recording quality
(4) Recording images having the same size

Backup Recording
Enabled with WFT-E3A attached

File Numbering
Consecutive numbering, auto reset, manual reset. Possible to create new folders and select folders in the CF card

RAW + JPEG Simultaneous Recording
Provided (sRAW+JPEG also possible)

Color Space
sRGB, Adobe RGB

Picture Style
Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Def. 1-3


Image Processing
Type
Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten Light, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, Custom, Color Temperature setting

Auto White Balance
Auto white balance with the image sensor

Color Temperature Compensation
White balance correction: ±9 stops in full-stop increments
White balance bracketing: ±3 stops in full-stop increments
Blue/amber direction or magenta/green direction possible

Color Temperature Information Transmission
Provided


Viewfinder
Type
Eye-level pentaprism

Coverage
Vertical/Horizontal approx. 95%

Magnification
Approx. 0.95x (-1m-1 with 50mm lens at infinity)

Eyepoint
Approx. 22mm (from eyepiece lens center)

Built-in Dioptric Adjustment
-3.0 to +1.0m-1 (diopter)

Focusing Screen
Interchangeable (Ef-D: Grid lines, Ef-S {point of Focus), Ef-A standard focusing screen provided

Mirror
Quick-return half mirror (transmission: reflection ratio of 40:60, no mirror cut-off with EF600mm f/4L IS USM or shorter lenses)

Viewfinder Information
AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), Exposure information (shutter speed, aperture, ISO speed, AE lock, exposure level, spot metering circle), Flash information (flash ready, flash exposure compensation, High-speed sync, FE lock, Red-eye reduction light), Image information (Highlight tone priority, monochrome shooting, maximum burst, white balance correction, CF card information)

Depth-of-Field Preview
Enabled with depth-of-field preview button


Autofocus
Type
TTL-CT-SIR AF-dedicated CMOS sensor

AF Points
9 (Cross-type)

Metering Range
EV 0.5-18 (at 73°F/23°C, ISO 100)

Focusing Modes
Auto, One-Shot AF, Predictive AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF, Manual focusing (MF)

AF Point Selection
Automatic selection, manual selection

Selected AF Point Display
Superimposed in viewfinder and indicated on LCD panel

AF-assist Beam
Small series of flashes fired by built-in flash
Effective range: Approx. 13.1 ft./4.0m at center, approx. 11.5 ft./3.5m at periphery


Exposure Control
Metering Modes
35-zone TTL full-aperture metering
Evaluative metering (linkable to any AF point)
Partial metering (approx. 9% of viewfinder at center)
Spot metering (approx. 3.8% of viewfinder at center)
Center-weighted average metering


Metering Range
EV 1-20 (at 73°F/23°C with EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100)

Exposure Control
Program AE (Shiftable), Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Depth-of-field AE, Creative Auto, Full auto, Programmed image control modes (portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, night portrait, flash off), Manual exposure, E-TTL II autoflash program AE

ISO Speed (Recommended Exposure Index)
Automatically set, ISO 100-6400 (in 1/3-stop or 1-stop increments)
Basic Zone modes: ISO 100-3200 set automatically
Extension settable (with C.Fn.I-3-1): ISO 12800
High Tone Priority settable: ISO 200-1600

Exposure Compensation
Manual: ±3 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments (can be combined with AEB)

AE Lock
Auto: Applied in One-Shot AF mode with evaluative metering when focus is achieved
Manual: By AE lock button


Shutter
Type
Vertical-travel, mechanical, Electronically-controlled, focal-plane shutter

Shutter Speeds
1/8000 to 1/60 sec., X-sync at 1/250 sec.
1/8000 to 30 sec., bulb (Total shutter speed range.
Available range varies by shooting mode)

Shutter Release
Soft-touch electromagnetic release

Self-timer
10-sec. or 2-sec. delay

Remote Control
Remote control with N3-type terminal


Built-in Flash
Type
Retractable, auto pop-up flash

Flash Metering
E-TTL II autoflash

Guide Number
13/43 (ISO 100, in meters/feet)

Recycling Time
Approx. 3 sec.

Flash-ready Indicator
Flash-ready icon lights in viewfinder

Flash Coverage
17mm lens angle of view

FE Lock
Provided

Flash Exposure Compensation
Up to ±2 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments


External Speedlite
Zooming to Match Focal Length
Provided

Compatible Flash
EX-series Speedlites

Flash Metering
E-TTL II autoflash

Flash Exposure Compensation
±2 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments

FE Lock
Provided

External Flash Settings
Flash function settings, Flash C.Fn settings


Drive System
Drive Modes
Single, High-speed continuous, Low-speed continuous, and Self-timer (10 sec. or 2 sec. delay)

Continuous Shooting Speed
High-speed: Max. 6.3 shots/sec.
Low-speed: Max. 3 shots/sec.

Maximum Burst
JPEG (Large/Fine): approx. 60 (CF)/approx. 90 (UDMA CF)
RAW: approx. 16
RAW+JPEG (Large/Fine): approx. 11
Based on Canon's testing standards with a 2GB CF card, high-speed continuous shooting, ISO 100 and Standard Picture Style
Varies depending on the subject, CF card brand, image-recording quality, ISO speed, drive mode, Picture Style, etc.


Live View Functions
Shooting Modes
(1) Live View shooting
(2) Remote Live View shooting (with a personal computer installed with EOS Utility)

Focusing
Manual focus
Autofocus (Live View image interrupted for AF): Quick mode, Live mode, Live Face Detection mode

Metering Modes
Evaluative metering with the image sensor

Metering Range
EV 0-20 (at 73°F/23°C with EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100)

Magnified View
By 5x or 10x at AF point

Grid Display
Provided

Exposure Simulation
Provided

Silent Shooting
Provided (Mode 1 and 2)


LCD Monitor
Type
TFT color, liquid-crystal monitor

Monitor Size
3.0 in.

Dots
Approx. 920,000 (VGA)

Coverage
Approx. 100% (viewing angle: approx. 160°)

Brightness Adjustment
7 levels provided

Interface Languages
25


Image Playback
Display Format
Single image, Single image + Image-recording quality/shooting information, histogram, 4- or 9-image index, magnified view (approx. 1.5x-10x), rotated image (auto/manual), image jump (by 10/100 images, index screen, by shooting date, by folder), slide show (all images/selected by date/folder)

Highlight Warning
Provided (Overexposed highlights blink)


Image Protection and Erase
Protect
Single images can be erase-protected or not

Erase
Single image, check-marked images or all images in the CF card can be erased (except protected images)


Direct Printing
Compatible Printers
PictBridge-compatible printers

Printable Images
JPEG images compliant to Design rule for Camera File System (DPOF printing possible) and RAW/sRAW images captured with the EOS 50D

Easy Print feature
Provided


DPOF: Digital Print Order Format
DPOF
Version 1.1 compatible


Direct Image Transfer
Compatible Images
JPEG and RAW images
Only JPEG images can be transferred as wallpaper on the personal computer screen


Customization
Custom Functions
Total 25

Camera User Settings
Register under Mode Dial's C1 and C2 positions

My Menu Registration
Provided


Interface
USB Terminal
For personal computer communication and direct printing (USB 2.0 Hi-Speed)

Video Out Terminal
(1) Video OUT terminal: NTSC/PAL selectable
(2) HDMI mini OUT terminal

Extension System Terminal
For connection to WFT-E3A


Power Source
Battery
One Battery Pack BP-511A
AC power can be supplied via optional AC Adapter Kit ACK-E2 (with optional Battery Grip BG-E2N or BG-E2 attached, AA-size batteries can be used)

Number of Shots
Number of shots (approx.)
Temperature Shooting Conditions
No Flash 50% Flash Use
Normal Shooting 73°F/23°C 800 640
32°F/0°C 640 540
Live View Shooting 73°F/23°C 180 170
32°F/0°C 140 130


Battery Check
Auto

Power Saving
Provided. Power turns off after 1, 2, 4, 8, 15 or 30 min.

Date/Time Battery
One CR2016 lithium-ion battery

Start-up Time
Approx. 0.1 sec. (Based on CIPA testing standards)


Dimensions and Weight
Dimensions (WxHxD)
Approx. 5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 in./145.5 x 107.8 x 73.5mm

Weight
Approx. 25.7 oz./730g (body only)


Operating Environment
Working Temperature Range
32-104°F/0-40°C

Working Humidity Range
85% or less


Note: All the specifications above are based on Canon's testing standards.
The camera's specifications and exterior are subject to change without notice

[Anthony H. @ Aug 26th 2008 3:00AM]

And the biggest reply of the year award goes to...

[Frankfurter @ Aug 27th 2008 4:01PM]

Looks like someone needs to spend less time cutting and pasting and more time learning about 'hyperlinks'. Thanks, nad.

[Dirk Belligerent @ Aug 26th 2008 1:15AM]

I was trying to justify getting a 40D to replace my aging XT; now I don't need to. I hope that 12800 ISO is actually usable (i.e. reasonable noise) because my main use (live concert photography in very badly lit clubs) would be a lifesaver.

[David @ Aug 26th 2008 1:40AM]

Finally, now i can sell my XTi and call my 30D a backup body...

[Root @ Aug 26th 2008 1:55AM]

This is a useless camera. The D700 has everything you need. Canon was dumb and they released the another crop/crap sensor with a just a few more megapixels. They could have gone full-frame and not release ANOTHER 40D with a bigger sensor. Fighting noise more fiercely will only make pictures look worse - there shouldn't be noise to begin with. Sell your 40D and get a D700 now !!

[霽月瀛台 @ Aug 26th 2008 2:55AM]

I do prefer Full frame, too
FF is much more useful, so that the lens can be in full power.
I do not want 1.6c telescope effect anymore.

[Patrick Austin @ Aug 26th 2008 9:32AM]

I'm a Canon shooter and like their stuff, but you're on crack if you think the 5D beats the D3 in any way.

The 50D would be a pass for me, but if it's getting the ability to adjust the camera for individual lenses (a la the 1-series cameras) then I might have to pony up for it, especially if it's got another stop or two of usability in low light.

[Silverfrog @ Aug 26th 2008 10:45AM]

The 5D beats the pants off the D3 in one important category--price/performance ratio. You pay a lot more for the D3 to get those added benefits.

[sigma @ Aug 26th 2008 2:09AM]

umm i have an xt and this is not what im looking for. I guess I'm really going to nikon next round. I need better AF,.better metering and better flash ( think CLS system). I shoot mainly people indoors in low light situations. I don't need F4 glass or super teles.

[Kevin T. @ Aug 26th 2008 2:20AM]

Uhm, if you shoot mainly indoors in low light situations, why wouldn't you have an external flash, and why wouldn't you want a faster lens?

[Root @ Aug 26th 2008 2:26AM]

Yeah, the 50D is pretty fucked up. They're just making the 40D even worse by throwing in a couple of new parts (crammed sensor and digic 4) and changing the label on the outside. Hopefully their 6D won't be the same - just a few more megapixels and useless features. At least nikon has a bubble level built into the D700 - that's useful. Squishing megapixels and providing "light balancing" crap that photoshop or a filter can do is a waste of time. They knew their 40D was bad, so they release a "replacement" 10 months later. Seems like they liked their 5D in comparison - no release for 3 or so years.

[tekdemon @ Aug 26th 2008 2:29AM]

Even if it's crazy noisy I'm really looking forward to seeing that crazy high ISO in action. It was only on my last vacation where I realized just how useful higher ISOs can be in letting you nail some pretty impressive night shots-they look like crap at 100% resolution, but when you're downsampling to put the pictures online they actually look great because the noise isn't as noticable when shrunk and there's still enough detail to support great photos at lower resolutions. I was able to hand-hold night-time shots of Shanghai all lit up from a moving boat without any motion blur by using ISO 1600 on a rebel XSI...can't wait to see what kind of insane shots ISO 12800 is going to allow you to do.

[Moordryd @ Aug 26th 2008 2:34AM]

Ehm, the photo of the lens in this post is an 18-200 IS... is that really the one with the cam or is it the 28-135 IS? That 18-200 looks mighty tasty.

[Root @ Aug 26th 2008 2:35AM]

You can pay $1700 for a D700 and get no noise, or pay $1500 for a 50D and get plenty of noise, or pay $500 for a 40D and get a little bit of noise. Nikon beats Canon again !

[Rod @ Aug 26th 2008 5:47AM]

Alternatively you can spend $1,600 on a 5D (released circa 1584) and have a camera that woops even the D3 in image quality! (ok so the rest of the specs don't look too impressive, but after all is aid and done - Image Quality IS the holy grail of digital - not having 1,637 focus points and bragging rights down the pub)

So, to re-cap: it took Nikon 5 years to develop a camera that isn't quite as good as Canon's ancient efforts. Well done! What's that...the 5DMk2 is coming?

[a @ Aug 26th 2008 9:08AM]

Where are you getting your prices? $1700 for a d700? try $3000.

[MuahMan @ Aug 26th 2008 7:27PM]

The D700 is $3000+ It's a good camera but you are still stuck with the Nikon lenses. A camera is only as good as the photographer, and Canon makes better lenes IMO.

[dave @ Aug 26th 2008 2:48AM]

epic fail. epic.

[Jasmine @ Aug 26th 2008 3:06AM]

grr... I just got my 40D about a year ago.

[Hans @ Aug 26th 2008 3:33AM]

I got mine just 4 weeks ago :)

[Arya @ Aug 26th 2008 7:47PM]

I got mine about two months ago - spent all my damn savings (sob sob sob). Someone assured me that Canon wouldn't bring out a replacement to the 40D for atleast another year, judging by their product patterns thus far.

Guess that's what I get for believing others.

Pfft.

(I'm only a little bitter.)