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EOS 50D - the EOS 40D replacement
>Rumours< about the Canon EOS 50D DSLR
21st March 2008 - 40D price cuts
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2008 March
21st Quite noticeable price reductions for the 40D in the UK - now down to £600, and with £100 cashback too. This has led some [POTN] to suggest an update - just a bit soon perhaps ;-)
26th January A 40D update already?
Since Canon have just announced the 12MP 450D and not an update to the venerable 5D, a lot of people are still hoping for something else at PMA next week.
Current favourite on DPR is for a new model, a 'step up' from the 40D. Have a ramble through this DPR thread for more... ;-)
Nikon did a quick update with the D40X, so why not an EOS40DN with the improved AF, the 12MP sensor and the contrast detect AF, from the 450D
If you look through previous Canon release strategies you'll notice that all new stuff tends to get announced on the same day some time Jan/Feb or Aug/Sept
26th December 2007
In yet more "We've seen a bar code, so it must be true" news, a Chinese site is mentioning both the 70D and 320D. It also manages to work in some (wrong) info from the Swedish Canon interview (5D2 page) suggesting that the cameras will be part of an announcement on the 24th Jan (there is no actual mention of camera announcements in the original interview - the 24th date could just as well be a stack of copiers and printers ;-) That said, given that PMA is shortly afterwards, many -are- expecting a 5DMk2 and 450D.
17th September
Some specific 50D related info was amongst several interesting items we were recently sent. -Currently- it's key features are:
- 12mp sensor still at 1.6 crop
- DIGIC IV
- 6400 ISO
- HDMI output
In the 'most wanted' category (from a marketing POV) are:
- Extra AF points (half way to the 1 series)
- High resolution screen
- Full AF in live view
Still on the 'maybe' list are:
- 16 bit A/D on RAW (possible with DIGIC IV)
- Built in WiFi
- Hard Drive Grip (80-100GB drive in a dedicated 'grip' - possibly solid state memory)
The full AF in live view and ISO 6400 as an H2 option could currently be done in firmware for the 40D, but doing this as a firmware upgrade would reduce the feature list of the 50D, although now there is real competition in the market this could change.
The 50D development is still at early stages rather than say the 5D2 which is pretty much 'feature complete' ready for early next year (or sooner if need be)
Interestingly the reaction to the Pro Level AF and metering in the D300, and what appears in a D80X (or whatever) may do more to make the 50D a bigger advance over the 40D than might have been.
The D300 is generally seen as marking a major change in the market. Canon and Nikon have retained their pro-level AF and exposure for their top line bodies, making that (and the extra size, ruggedness etc) a real distinguishing point. The Canon marketing point of view is that this was an inevitable part of competion and the same change is due in the xD series.
12th At last a rumour - OK it's from POTN, but...
"Digic IV, 16mp FF with 10mp crop mode, 3.0 inch higher resolution LCD, MLU button (god, finally!), next-gen dust removal, 45 point AF, ISO 100-6400, boost from 50-12800, 8fps @ 16mp, 11 @ 10mp, face recognitiion, Live View with full AF, bigger viewfinder, proper weather sealing."
I suspect not, since it would canibalise 5D2 sales or the 16MP FF 3D (the one thats like a digital EOS 1V) ;-)
- Enough of this - go out and take more photos!
Will the 50D cure the persistent problems of the 40D - the ones discussed on some forums, from the very day it first shipped :-)
Will it include Digic 4 - will it finally move to a bigger sensor? What about in body IS? Will it be announced for PMA 2009?
I'm sure that this and more will find a home here, over the next couple of years :-)
Meanwhile here's the recent history of similar models
| Model |
Announced
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Effective pixels
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Auto focus
|
Continuous (JPEG) | LCD monitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EOS D30 | Apr 2000 | 3.1 mp | 3 point | 3.0 fps, 3 frames | 1.8" |
| EOS D60 | Feb 2002 | 6.3 mp | 3 point | 3.3 fps, 8 frames | 1.8" |
| EOS 10D | Feb 2003 | 6.3 mp | 7 point | 3.3 fps, 9 frames | 1.8" |
| EOS 20D | Aug 2004 | 8.2 mp | 9 point | 5.0 fps, 23 frames | 1.8" |
| EOS 30D | Feb 2006 | 8.2 mp | 9 point | 5.0 / 3.0 fps, 30 frames | 2.5" |
| EOS 40D | Aug 2007 | 10.1 mp | 9 point | 6.5 / 3.0 fps, 85 frames | 3.0" (Live view) |
Our most recent info (originally on our 1Ds3 page) about Canon's plans over the next few years was sent in August (shortly before the 40D was announced)
- Sensor technology - Canon have mentioned that full frame sensor chips need two stepper passes. Sony now has the technology to do this in one pass and are preparing their own sensors and selling to them Nikon. However, Canon have a new 'one pass' technology too. What's more, it can do even larger than 35mm (36x24mm) in a single pass.
- Canon is very excited about a next generation CMOS sensors they are working on. Two full frame versions have 40M and 50M pixels at the -same- noise level as the current 1D series. Low power supply voltages give cooler chips and lower noise even with smaller pixels. Different circuit fabrication techniques also promise to make close to 100% of the sensor area active pixels. This technology won't make any of the upcoming models, but is expected in 2009/10.
- The competition - Canon were somewhat shocked by the success of the Nikon D80, D40 and D40X. Hence the 'improved' 40D and the improved 400D replacement in the works. Canon know what Nikon have coming (D300 and D3) and have planned the 40D, 1Ds III and 1D III as their answers.
- However Nikon is moving to CMOS sensors to over the next couple of years. Sony are moving CMOS to a near full frame (1.25 or so) and full (35mm) FF, so Canon is getting serious and starting to plan some aggressive upgrades.
- Sony worries Canon somewhat, since with their manufacturing capabilities, they could move the whole price base down for SLRs. So far they haven’t and their lens prices and range are not a worry for Canon. The current Sony Alpha has been less than astounding in the market.
- Moreover, Nikon have the camera credibility and certainly won’t stop with the D3 and D300. Their plans for the lower end (D40-D80 as well) are to replace them in much shorter timeframes than their previous 3-4 years. Nikon have moved emphasis from the low end 'point and shoot' digital into R&D on the DLSRs. They've found this to be 3-4 times as profitable (note Nikon's record profits over last 12 months). Nikon is more than happy with trouncing Canon for the last 12 months in Japan (not so world wide). So the next 2-3 years will see a major DSLR feature 'war'.
- IS Technology - This is being introduced in some of their consumer grade lenses. The technology has matured to the point that it can be added at only a small price premium. It gives product differentiation - a reaction to Sony and keeps them ahead of Nikon.
- Digic IV - Digic III just won't cut it for the new high density sensors. Digic IV can deal with with the transfer rates for higher bit per pixel images. One Digic IV chip beats the two Digic III in the 1D3.
- 16 bit RAW - Canon's target for their next generation of sensors is 16 bits per channel giving true HD quality. They are also looking at processing formats to retain that extra definition.
- ISO sensitivity - Canon see their next generation lower voltage CMOS as easily doing ISO6400, with a boost to 12800.
Brief review of 30D/40D specs for comparison
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Canon EOS 40D
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Canon EOS 30D
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|---|---|---|
| Weatherproof | Battery door and storage compartment | No |
| Sensor | 10.1 million effective pixels 5.7 µm pixel pitch |
8.2 million effective pixels 6.4 µm pixel pitch |
| A/D converter | 14-bit | 12-bit |
| Image sizes | 3888 x 2592 2816 x 1880 1936 x 1288 |
3504 x 2336 2544 x 1696 1728 x 1152 |
| RAW files | CR2 format, 14-bit RAW full resolution sRAW (2.5 MP) |
CR2 format, 12-bit RAW full resolution |
| Image processor | DIGIC III | DIGIC II |
| Dust reduction | High speed vibration of filter | None |
| Auto focus | 9-point TTL CMOS sensor Points cross-type for F5.6 or faster lens Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster |
9-point TTL CMOS sensor |
| Metering range | 0.0 to 20 EV | 1.0 to 20 EV |
| Spot metering | Approx. 3.8% at center | Approx. 3.5% at center |
| Auto ISO | ISO 400 to 800 / 100 to 800 depending on exposure mode | ISO 100 to 400 |
| White Balance | 2500 - 10000 K in 100 K steps | 2800 - 10000 K in 100 K steps |
| Viewfinder | 95% frame coverage Magnification: 0.95x Eyepoint: 22 mm |
95% frame coverage Magnification: 0.90x Eyepoint: 20 mm |
| Focusing screen | Interchangable precision matte Two other screens available |
Fixed precision matte |
| Viewfinder info | Now includes ISO sensitivity, B&W icon | |
| LCD monitor | 3.0 " TFT LCD 230,000 pixels |
2.5 " TFT LCD 230,000 pixels |
| LCD Live View | Yes, including mirror-drop AF | No |
| Main LCD settings display | When changing settings such as AF mode or White Balance | No |
| Tilt correction | Yes | No |
| Opening CF door | Warning message shown | Power down, loses images |
| Mirror lock-up | Single or multiple exposures | Single exposures |
| Mirror mechanism | Motor up / down, quieter, faster | Spring up / motor down |
| Playback modes | Exposure line at top in single image view | No exposure in single image view |
| User modes | Three custom user modes on mode dial | No user modes |
| High-speed continuous | 6.5 fps Up to 75 JPEG Large/Fine images |
5.0 fps Up to 30 JPEG Large/Fine images |
| Portrait grip | WFT-E3/E3A, BP-E2N, BP-E2 | BP-E2 |
| Wireless connectivity | WFT-E3/E3A Integrates as vertical hand grip | WFT-E1/E1A No grip |
| Menu UI | Same as EOS-1D series | Sames previous xxD series |
| Menu languages | 18 | 15 |
| Custom functions | 24 | 19 |
| AF-ON button | Rear 'under thumb' | None |
| Rear buttons | Direct print, Menu, Play, Erase, Jump, Info, Picture Style | Direct print, Menu, Info, Jump, Play, Erase |
| Top right buttons | Lamp Metering / WB AF / Drive ISO / Flash comp. |
Lamp AF / WB Drive / ISO Metering / Flash comp. |
| Dimensions | 146 x 108 x 74 mm(5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 in) | 144 x 106 x 74 mm (5.6 x 4.2 x 2.9 in) |
| Weight | No battery: 740 g (1.6 lb) With battery: 822 g (1.8 lb) |
No battery: 706 g (1.6 lb) With battery: 785 g (1.7 lb |
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