Advice with 50D

[tesebas]

I am going to try to keep it short...

A friend gave me a defective 10D and I exchanged it through the Canon loyalty program for a refurbished 50D.

The first one that came had some back focusing issues and the grip rubber was pealing off in two places. You could also see if you looked carefully that the camera has been taken apart - some screwdriver marks - not a big issue (it is refurbished after all...) I called Canon about the rubber and they sent me another one instead of re-gluing it.

The second one came yesterday and it is pristine, absolutely pristine (and I am picky...) - no scratches or marks whatsoever, an external flash was never used, no signs of wear, has about 6K clicks, it even smells new... I was ecstatic about it being so nice, until I started taking pics with it...

They have different exposures. The first one I really liked (especially indoors with the 580 EX) when compared to my 40D I just sold (which underexposed). The second one is underexposing in my opinion (when I was thinking I just got rid of this problem). I think I took about 1000 shots with both of them today and the second one seems to be underexposing, mostly indoors (and I use it a lot indoors). The problem is that there are no differences in settings or metering. See some samples below. In the first two I am using the 580. The third one is outdoors. I had the camera on a tripod and focused and metered in the same spot, but there are some slight tilting issues because of the ball head tripod.



Am I just being paranoid? Why would the exposure be different if all the settings are the same?

I need to decide which one to keep, and fast... I would really like the second one because of the pristine condition, but there is a certain "je ne sais quoi" about the pics taken by the first one... Any advice/suggestions?

--
Cheers,
Gene

 

[Cal Dawson]

Using the Evaluative metering in manual mode (1/100 sec F5.6) and a flash (580EX) the flash will adjust it's output to give you what it perceives as proper exposure, so unless you have the exact framing you may get a different exposure....

So what you see may in effect be the correct exposure....

Cal

 

[E Gad]

be very sure you have the same settings in both cams. this could cause even more difference than you see, with the greatest of ease.

 

[Blue II]

The last image, with no flash, is probably only 1/3 of a stop difference between the two cameras. Hardly a difference. With the flash, you need to put the flash on manual power because the E-TTL could be causing the difference, not the camera.

--
Steve

 

[jrarsenault]

If it was a choice between the 1st and 2nd, I would choose the 2nd. The difference is not that pronounced and you can always correct it by using the exposure compensation on the on camera or by adjusting it in post processing.

Another alternative to to ask for yet a 3rd 50D. Three times lucky?! Worst case.... they say no. Best case.... they send you a perfect 50D that meets your needs and gives you peace of mind.

Good luck.

I am going to try to keep it short...

A friend gave me a defective 10D and I exchanged it through the Canon loyalty program for a refurbished 50D.

The first one that came had some back focusing issues and the grip rubber was pealing off in two places. You could also see if you looked carefully that the camera has been taken apart - some screwdriver marks - not a big issue (it is refurbished after all...) I called Canon about the rubber and they sent me another one instead of re-gluing it.

The second one came yesterday and it is pristine, absolutely pristine (and I am picky...) - no scratches or marks whatsoever, an external flash was never used, no signs of wear, has about 6K clicks, it even smells new... I was ecstatic about it being so nice, until I started taking pics with it...

They have different exposures. The first one I really liked (especially indoors with the 580 EX) when compared to my 40D I just sold (which underexposed). The second one is underexposing in my opinion (when I was thinking I just got rid of this problem). I think I took about 1000 shots with both of them today and the second one seems to be underexposing, mostly indoors (and I use it a lot indoors). The problem is that there are no differences in settings or metering. See some samples below. In the first two I am using the 580. The third one is outdoors. I had the camera on a tripod and focused and metered in the same spot, but there are some slight tilting issues because of the ball head tripod.

Am I just being paranoid? Why would the exposure be different if all the settings are the same?

I need to decide which one to keep, and fast... I would really like the second one because of the pristine condition, but there is a certain "je ne sais quoi" about the pics taken by the first one... Any advice/suggestions?

--
Cheers,
Gene