Does 50D provide real improvement for landscape photographt

DutchPhotographer · Feb 24, 2009

All,

Having a 20D with Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX I am contemplating upgrading to a 50D.

Reason is an upcoming trip in Spring to the SouthWest of the USA for a month.

I have searched the internet but couldn't find any real comparison for landscape photos.

Any comparisons/experiences would be appreciated.

Regards,

Marco

ltrainer · Feb 24, 2009

Hello Marco,

I've moved from a 20D to a 50D and am quite pleased that I did. I am pleased both from a photo quality point of view and from the cameras handling view as well.

I think for landscape work the 50D does offer substantial improvment over the 50D. However this is mostly in the area of enlargement. If you want or do like to print large this is when the improvement is most realized (in regards to landscape photography,... portrait, sports is another matter). If your final print sizes are in the area of 10x15 inches there will be little to choose from between the two cameras in terms of picture quality. If you start printing larger as in 13x19 there is a difference due to the higher resolution sensor. This is assuming you are satisfied going from 240 dpi to output at these sizes. Its subjective but in the end if you want large prints the 50D does offer an advantage.

That being said the 50D does require reasonable care in shooting to maximize the higher resolution of the sensor. I like using a tripod for this type of work along with mirror lockup and using the lower ISOs.

I've started using live view as well with contrast detection and find it usefull too but its certainly not a deal breaker for me vs. the 20D.

In some landscape work cropping might be needed. You have a lens with a maxium focal length of 50mm. If you are photographing a scene that you are a little short with your lens then a crop will be needed and the extra pixels of the 50D would be helpful as well.

I think in the end its mostly about output size of your prints that matters between the two cameras and good shooting technique to maximize the advantage of the more pixel packed sensor of the 50D.

Hope that helps.
--
LT

Chris59 · Feb 24, 2009

The 50D excels at landscape photography because of its high resolution sensor and you would need to go to a Canon FF camera to get better reults. To get the best resolution you will of course need to make sure you use a tripod, low ISO, optimum aperture on a prime lens (or whatever lens you have), MLU and remote release, but the results are worth it.

For what its worth, the colours are also excellent, AF fast and accurate (with microadjustment) and exposure spot on. The camera is very responsive, fast and quiet and has a range of features second to none.

DutchPhotographer · Feb 24, 2009

Thanks LT,

I only prints photobooks now. They are 11 inch square, so only for double spreads (22 inch) there would be a real visible improvement I guess. Previously i printed 10x15 inch on the Fiji frontiers and these prints looked at sharp as I could imagine, way better than the one from film...

Anyhow, it seems that getting a 50D would make more sense that 'upgrading' my Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX to a Canon 17-55 IS, which are about the same cost here in Holland.

Regards Marco

ltrainer said:
Hello Marco,

I've moved from a 20D to a 50D and am quite pleased that I did. I am
pleased both from a photo quality point of view and from the cameras
handling view as well.

I think for landscape work the 50D does offer substantial improvment
over the 50D. However this is mostly in the area of enlargement. If
you want or do like to print large this is when the improvement is
most realized (in regards to landscape photography,... portrait,
sports is another matter). If your final print sizes are in the area
of 10x15 inches there will be little to choose from between the two
cameras in terms of picture quality. If you start printing larger as
in 13x19 there is a difference due to the higher resolution sensor.
This is assuming you are satisfied going from 240 dpi to output at
these sizes. Its subjective but in the end if you want large prints
the 50D does offer an advantage.

That being said the 50D does require reasonable care in shooting to
maximize the higher resolution of the sensor. I like using a tripod
for this type of work along with mirror lockup and using the lower
ISOs.

I've started using live view as well with contrast detection and find
it usefull too but its certainly not a deal breaker for me vs. the
20D.

In some landscape work cropping might be needed. You have a lens with
a maxium focal length of 50mm. If you are photographing a scene that
you are a little short with your lens then a crop will be needed and
the extra pixels of the 50D would be helpful as well.

I think in the end its mostly about output size of your prints that
matters between the two cameras and good shooting technique to
maximize the advantage of the more pixel packed sensor of the 50D.

Hope that helps.
--
LT

--

Michael G2 · Feb 24, 2009

A used 5D would probably be cheaper than the 50D and serve you far better for landscape. And after that I would consider the 450D, which is not as fast as the 50D, but slightly less noise. Even the 40D might be better than the 50D when is comes to noise.´

I have a 50D and it's a wonderful camera, but I haven't sold my 20D either...

Michael

http://www.pbase.com/kingfisher

DutchPhotographer · Feb 24, 2009

Hi Michael,

But body was the 5D is the same generation as my 20D, so I miss out the LCD and auto focus improvements that the 50D has.

Also, my Sigma 18-50 EX 2.8 is sharper than the Tamron 24-135 that used to be on my film camera, so I would also need a new lens...

Thanks for your input,

Marco

Michael G2 said:
A used 5D would probably be cheaper than the 50D and serve you far
better for landscape. And after that I would consider the 450D, which
is not as fast as the 50D, but slightly less noise. Even the 40D
might be better than the 50D when is comes to noise.´

I have a 50D and it's a wonderful camera, but I haven't sold my 20D
either...

Michael

http://www.pbase.com/kingfisher
--

--

Andreas_F · Feb 24, 2009

I beg to differ....

Michael G2 said:
A used 5D would probably be cheaper than the 50D and serve you far
better for landscape.

A used 5D in good shape is unlikely to be less costly than a 50D; he also couldn't use his crop sensor Sigma lens. Other than that, I agree that a 5D would be a better choice.

And after that I would consider the 450D, which

Michael G2 said:
is not as fast as the 50D, but slightly less noise.

The signal-to-noise ratio of the 450D vs. 50D is exactly the same according to DXOMark. I can't see any advantage of the 450 over the 50 other than price and weight

Even the 40D

Michael G2 said:
might be better than the 50D when is comes to noise.´

Why would noise be an issue at all unless you go over ISO 800, which is an unlikely choice in landscapes?

Michael G2 said:
I have a 50D and it's a wonderful camera, but I haven't sold my 20D
either...

Same here.....

Michael G2 said:
Michael

http://www.pbase.com/kingfisher
--

Search

Does 50D provide real improvement for landscape photographt

DutchPhotographer

Active member

ltrainer

Leading Member

Chris59

Forum Pro

DutchPhotographer

Active member

Michael G2

Senior Member

DutchPhotographer

Active member

Andreas_F

Leading Member

Keyboard shortcuts