Canon Loyalty upgrade program

I'm considering upgrading a canon 300D to the 50D through the upgrade program. My reasons for doing so would be to get higher resolution for enlargements/crops and to be able to shoot at higher ISO with lower noise (1600-3200). With that being said, I am debating on whether I should go with the 50D or look at the new rebel T1i that has video capability for a similar price. I can get both bodies for around $650. I have two questions to pose to try to help downselect:
1. How does the image quality of the two compare, especially at ISO 1600?

2. How good is the video on the T1i? (and the audio component) I have some nice glass to use, will this feature along with good glass provide top quality videos?

There will probably be an update to the D50 in the next few months but I'm guessing it will be significantly higher priced than the $650 I'm willing to pay so I am really not interested in waiting for that release. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

50D and T1i are the same sensor/PQ. the difference is body, features, speed/AF (50d better) and 50D lack of video. the decision is do you want a rebel or Dxx body. if you can live without video the 50D is a no-brainer.

60D is probably shelved due to 7D. i don't see a market for the 60D myself it would only cut into 7D sales and be a neutered 7D that would get poor response in the market. what canon thinks is more important and that is obviously unknown.

right now the 50D is in a great position of features/price and needs no updating.

a-rod_dc said:

I'm considering upgrading a canon 300D to the 50D through the upgrade program. My reasons for doing so would be to get higher resolution for enlargements/crops and to be able to shoot at higher ISO with lower noise (1600-3200). With that being said, I am debating on whether I should go with the 50D or look at the new rebel T1i that has video capability for a similar price. I can get both bodies for around $650. I have two questions to pose to try to help downselect:
1. How does the image quality of the two compare, especially at ISO 1600?

2. How good is the video on the T1i? (and the audio component) I have some nice glass to use, will this feature along with good glass provide top quality videos?

There will probably be an update to the D50 in the next few months but I'm guessing it will be significantly higher priced than the $650 I'm willing to pay so I am really not interested in waiting for that release. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

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video is ok on all canon cameras including the 7D..its not top quality and it will not replace a video camera

a-rod_dc said:

I'm considering upgrading a canon 300D to the 50D through the upgrade program. My reasons for doing so would be to get higher resolution for enlargements/crops and to be able to shoot at higher ISO with lower noise (1600-3200). With that being said, I am debating on whether I should go with the 50D or look at the new rebel T1i that has video capability for a similar price. I can get both bodies for around $650. I have two questions to pose to try to help downselect:
1. How does the image quality of the two compare, especially at ISO 1600?

2. How good is the video on the T1i? (and the audio component) I have some nice glass to use, will this feature along with good glass provide top quality videos?

There will probably be an update to the D50 in the next few months but I'm guessing it will be significantly higher priced than the $650 I'm willing to pay so I am really not interested in waiting for that release. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

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Hi

when I was looking for an upgrade to my rebel XT the T1i look really great, but then came the 7D and all of the new AF features and video. I think that the rebel body is lean and small even more now having a XD body.

If your on a budget the rebel T1i is a great upgrade with more MP (al dough with 8MP is more than enough) good video Q, live view and better high ISO performance than the 300D and if you like the rebel series bodies then you should go for it, now if you don't mind the video The 50D offers higher ISO and FPS than the rebel series and better IQ overall.

Now If you really want to make a leap go with the XD body and want video too the 7D is on the money.

Hope it helps you decide

I used the loyalty program to upgrade the Rebel 350 XT to the 50D. I also have the XSi 450. When contemplating this upgrade I really worried about the extra weight especially as I have a fair amount of pain in both wrists most of the time. That worry evaporated very quickly after receiving the camera and even more so after my first all day outing with it. Yes, it is significantly heavier, but the speed of the camera made that completely worthwhile. With the same lenses I use on my XSi, there is a lot less hunting for focus, and when I have it on high speed continuous shooting it is great. I still have a great deal to learn about this camera, so obviously it is a tool I can grow with and I have a lot of growing to do. The camera doesn't make me a better photographer, but it does make me more serious about becoming better at it.

Mine is definitely a refurb. A lot of people on her say that many 50Ds in the loyalty program are brand new. I didn't luck out that way, but I've had it for several months now with no problems. I'm happy I took Canon up on this offer.

Dan

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WSSA Member #287

As you said, we don't know, but I have a hard time believing that Canon won't come out with a 60D in the next 2-4 months: a lot of people expect "upgrades" and will buy into them, even if they don't add all that much, and the 50D will soon be considered an "old" model. Besides, the 50D doesn't have a video mode, which is becoming a "standard feature," regardless whether it is needed/used. So I would guess that there will be a 60D, a 50D with video and a few other tweaks that much will be made of in an effort to get folks to upgrade to make them much better photographers......

chinch said:

......

60D is probably shelved due to 7D. i don't see a market for the 60D myself it would only cut into 7D sales and be a neutered 7D that would get poor response in the market. what canon thinks is more important and that is obviously unknown.

right now the 50D is in a great position of features/price and needs no updating.
..........

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Hendrik123 said:

video is ok on all canon cameras including the 7D..its not top quality and it will not replace a video camera

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Which video camera? It won't replace a cheap, consumer, camcorder because of the lack of autofocus in video, and the poor built-in microphone. It will replace a high-end video camera when used by someone who knows what they're doing - using manual focus and an external microphone. In fact, it can give results as good as video cameras costing over $10 - just look at some of the results posted by professionals.
--
Jeff Peterman

Any insults, implied anger, bad grammar and bad spelling, are entirely unintentionalal. Sorry.
http://www.pbase.com/jeffp25
http://www.jeffp25.smugmug.com

The 7D looks good but is way out of my price point. I'm leaning more towards the 50D because while the T1i has good video, from what I have gathered there is no autofocus and ergonomically it is not really comfortable for video (no tilt screen for example). I like the idea of having video capability but that really is secondary and would only make it a priority in a camera if the video could compare with a quality camcorder (from what I gathered it doesn't).

Hi

Well if youre just into pictures the 50D is a great upgrade from the T1i and as you mentioned has faster AF & IQ.

Don't agree on the video quality I think it is really excellent and you can see awesome samples on vimeo.com

regards

chinch said:

60D is probably shelved due to 7D. i don't see a market for the 60D myself it would only cut into 7D sales and be a neutered 7D that would get poor response in the market. what canon thinks is more important and that is obviously unknown.

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I disagree, there's plenty of a market for the 60D. Video has been the big feature push, so we'll likely see that. I'd be fine if they capped it at 720p, but they have to at least match the lame 20fps 1080p of the T1i (again, I'd argue they should have just shelved that 'feature').

Personally, it's not something that is important to me. What would be nice would be digic 4 and some minor improvements to the AF. doesn't need the 7D AF since that would obviously cripple sales. But again, I don't need the 7D AF, or the dual digic processing. take those out and you have your 60D to replace the 50D.

The only real question is when. The dropped the 18 mon cycle for the xxD line down to 12 w/ the 50D, but it seemed like a rush job to have something to answer to Nikon.. even if it was a lame answer.

I want to believe canon will announce something in February. Namely because I want to push my 40D to replace my 20D backup, heh

again... the 50D doesn't NEED any upgrading. releasing products just to release them is a waste of resources by canon. the 50D is a great CAMERA besting the dRebels for CAMERA purposes. Video is moot.

no company in their right mind would release new $1200-ish "consumer" stuff in Jan-April having missed the x-mas sales season. 2 months would be a idiotic by Canon in a globally failing economy. a new rebel would be the smarter/expected move and that would have been fit the holiday release.

people "expecting" an upgrade to the 50D ALREADY GOT IT a few months ago...

7D

and with the 7D canon can actually SELL IT AT THE INTENDED PRICE and not have to cut-rate discount it like the 50D, 40D was before they even ship to compete with other brand similar bodies.

if canon were smart they'd simply abandon the XXD line in 2010 and introduce a 3D (7D w/ FF sensor) pushing the 7D price even lower where crop sensor bodies actually belong anyways. Again killing the XXD line.

They could create a new upscale dRebel with the 50D AF system, T1i video and 7D sensor next summer which would trounce any potential 60D sales also and be a useful upgrade at a better price (between lowest dRebel and 7D) for that audience (too cheap to buy a 7D)

Greg Pavlov said:

As you said, we don't know, but I have a hard time believing that Canon won't come out with a 60D in the next 2-4 months: a lot of people expect "upgrades" and will buy into them, even if they don't add all that much, and the 50D will soon be considered an "old" model. Besides, the 50D doesn't have a video mode, which is becoming a "standard feature," regardless whether it is needed/used. So I would guess that there will be a 60D, a 50D with video and a few other tweaks that much will be made of in an effort to get folks to upgrade to make them much better photographers......

chinch said:

......

60D is probably shelved due to 7D. i don't see a market for the 60D myself it would only cut into 7D sales and be a neutered 7D that would get poor response in the market. what canon thinks is more important and that is obviously unknown.

right now the 50D is in a great position of features/price and needs no updating.
..........

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chinch said:

again... the 50D doesn't NEED any upgrading. releasing products just to release them is a waste of resources by canon. ...

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It's done it before and it will do it again. It's not a waste of resources from Canon's perspective if it increases sales.

chinch said:

.... the 50D is a great CAMERA besting the dRebels for CAMERA purposes. Video is moot. ........

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To you, perhaps, and to lots of others, but it is becoming a check-off item nonetheless, which means that Canon will soon include it in almost every, if not all, of its DSLRs.

canon has lost marketshare and it's a global failing economy.

doing the same-old doesn't cut it. if they try they'll only further erode themselves. time will tell. if they do "one last XXD upgrade" then the 60D is it and it will pretty much get hammered by the press/bloggers.

the smarter CES announcement in Jan/Feb would be a small body (G11 size) aps-c body to compete with micro 4:3 which is where the industry is moving (smaller not larger).

60D at what $1299 (50D + video) won't increase it's sales vs a dRebel (or improved dRebel) and it's too cheap and too feature poor for enthusiasts (D300/7D mentality). in short it's a total waste of time with no actual market.

the better move would be an improved dRebel to compete in pricepoint (sub $1k without huge discounts days after launch ie 40/50D) and also size (slightly smaller than the 10-50D ancestors which are REPLACED by the 7D.

plus the 7D has serious price drop potential when canon realizes FF bodies are in demand (not just $7999 1Ds or $2599 FF bodies with 20D AF systems mind you).

Greg Pavlov said:

chinch said:

again... the 50D doesn't NEED any upgrading. releasing products just to release them is a waste of resources by canon. ...

Click to expand...

It's done it before and it will do it again. It's not a waste of resources from Canon's perspective if it increases sales.

Greg Pavlov said:

.... the 50D is a great CAMERA besting the dRebels for CAMERA purposes. Video is moot. ........

Click to expand...

To you, perhaps, and to lots of others, but it is becoming a check-off item nonetheless, which means that Canon will soon include it in almost every, if not all, of its DSLRs.

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So you think Canon should discount 7D to make it a xxD replacement at similar price level?

I think Canon should release a 50D upgrade to keep cashing the price premium for 8 fps, superior AF, large VF and remote flash control of 7D.

They have done all the R&D, it costs almost nothing to combine 50D and 7D subsystems into a new model, successor to 50D.

Las but not least, they need something to compete with D90. 7D is too pricey and no Rebel can do that at whatever price point. 50D can but only at low price point and well, that bites into their profits.
--
Marek
http://galerie.kolas.cz/

I went from 350D to 30D. IQ the same but "the camera" makes a big difference and it was well worth the upgrade. Even a 40D would be a better choice over T1i at the same price, IMHO.
--
Marek
http://galerie.kolas.cz/

no, not today.

50D is $941 today from B&H

D90 is not $1299 (the price point you'd want the 60D at)

The hypothetical 60D makes no sense whatsoever as a bolstered 50D at $999 or $1099.

there might be a market for $1299 xxD camera again but it's not now. Nothing points there.

You guys convince yourself the 60D would be some great seller. When the dRebel T1i or next model is more attractive to it's customers at that price point and the 7D more appealing to actual customers (not those theorizing online what they might purchase if and when)

kolas said:

So you think Canon should discount 7D to make it a xxD replacement at similar price level?

I think Canon should release a 50D upgrade to keep cashing the price premium for 8 fps, superior AF, large VF and remote flash control of 7D.

They have done all the R&D, it costs almost nothing to combine 50D and 7D subsystems into a new model, successor to 50D.

Las but not least, they need something to compete with D90. 7D is too pricey and no Rebel can do that at whatever price point. 50D can but only at low price point and well, that bites into their profits.
--
Marek
http://galerie.kolas.cz/

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chinch said:

canon has lost marketshare and it's a global failing economy.

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It did in '07 and '08, tho I would say that it was more of a phenomenon of Nikon finally getting back on track after really falling back more because of its failings than Canon's strengths.

chinch said:

doing the same-old doesn't cut it. if they try they'll only further erode themselves. time will tell. if they do "one last XXD upgrade" then the 60D is it and it will pretty much get hammered by the press/bloggers. .....

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I have no idea of what Canon will do, but based on past behavior - Canon's as well as that of the perennial upgrade folks - my guess is that a body with "60D" on it will be released.

Looks like I waited to long to make a decision...canon upped the price on the 50D by fifty bucks.