Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i / Kiss X3 Digital) vs. Canon 50D

TriggerHappyDude

TriggerHappyDude

New member
So for someone who was shopping around and close to buying a 50D, does this camera now become the front runner? I mean I haven't compared the specs, at all, and wouldn't know what half of them mean yet, but for my first DSLR, I wanted to go with the 50D, but if this camera is the 50D in a "XSi" body and a lot less money...should I go for it?

I LOVE the feel of the 50D in my hand, is this going to feel smaller?

Also, are there two different body styles for the Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i / Kiss X3 Digital)? Or just two different stickers?

Thanks!
 
Canon, traditionally, has 3 separate lines of bodies.

Entry consumer: Rebel (XT, XTI, etc....)
High end consumer/low end professional: XXD (10D - 50D)
Professional: XD (1D* 5D*)

The Rebel line is smallest and the least expensive. They still take great pictures but they're geared towards a specific group. The control layout makes manual control a bit of a pain.

If you like the feel of the 50D, the Rebel will feel a bit like a toy.
 
Same camera. US models sport the Rebel name, the 500D is what it's called in Europe and most of the rest of the world.

The body will have similar feel to the rest of the Rebel line. It's also quite a bit smaller than the 50D.
 
Ok, and will weigh less, thats a big turn off, I've held the 50D and its a nice fit for my hands. I also don't want the HD video to sway my "camera" decision at all...I want to keep video separate from photography.

I compared the features on dpreview and they are very similar, besides the HD video, but the feel of the camera is still a big deal.

I'm sure there are other technical details that make the 50D stand out more, I just didn't catch them all.
 
The 500D might have more features, but the 50D will give you better manual controls, better noise handling, and a much higher quality build.
 
Don't get too hung up comparing features. Buy what's most comfortable as both camera are better than you are. :)
 
One thing I noticed is the new Rebel only does 3.4 pictures per second, whereas the 50D will take 6.

For me that is a big deal as one reason I got my camera was taking pictures of flying eagles, it's nice to be able to squeeze off 6 shots per second, plus the 50D is more weather proof than the Rebel line.
 
Also, a friend of mine is trying to argue with me that this camera is a must for him because of the HD video camera and using stupid comments like what I quoted below...Do the lenses you buy for a Rebel really matter for this 30 minutes of HD video? I told him I was going to keep my camera and HD Video separate from each other...oh and his original purpose for a new camera was to shoot astrophotography.


Video is a must for me. I'm still waiting to see what lens comes with your camcorder.
Click to expand...
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14704709#post14704709 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TriggerHappyDude
Why do more of the pros and you higher end users like the CF over the SD, or is that backwards?
Click to expand...

May pros use both. The 1D line, for example, uses both and they can be set up to back each other up.

CF cards are larger (harder to lose) and are a little more rugged. Your average pro also already has a bunch of memory cards. Switching to a different format is an unnecessary expense.

Cheers
 
It's supposed to be really cool but you have to focus manually. I'd personally never use it but that doesn't mean that it's not useful to someone.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14705422#post14705422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TriggerHappyDude
What is the deal with HD Video and the DSLR?
I know its on the 5D Mark II, do pros use it really?
Click to expand...
I can't imagine any pro using a 5D Mark II for its video capability. The 500D is the same way...the video just isn't that great. You need to keep the camera locked down on a tripod. If you try to pan, tracking a subject, it looks terrible.

The 5DMkII is a still camera. It is a WONDERFUL still camera. The 5DMkII is a video camera. It is an ill-equipped video camera.

"Video is a must for me. I'm still waiting to see what lens comes with your camcorder."

The real camcorders have exchangeable lenses. Lenses specifically made for camcorders. Canon has "L" and "non L" lenses for these camcorders ranging in price and quality just like it has for its still camera line.
 
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Not sure what everyone's definition of "pro" is... but there are certainly some pretty amazing videos coming from the 5DII. Of course most of them are using tens of thousands of dollars worth of lenses and other gear like gimbal rigs. Just go to the 1D/5D forum on DPReview and browse around; it seems like there is always some new and amazing video being posted.

At a minimum to get smooth video you need some sort of gimbal rig which run about $1000. But with that it opens up some possibilities. There are still issues with panning, but check out how much smoother the video can become. This is obviously amateur but none the less... http://www.vimeo.com/2978163

I think if I owned the 5DII or 500D I would say "I'll never use the video"... and then I would use it :) It's probably safe to say that most of the "really good" video coming from these cameras will be made by someone who has *at least* another grand invested in the setup, owns some good primes, and who is mostly interested in pushing/tweaking to produce results.
 
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Notice how slowly he is moving the camera. You can see how the frame jumps as he is panning. The extremely slow frame speed makes the great majority of dedicated camcorders higher quality than a 500D, 5DmkII, any other video capable DSLR on the market from any manufacturer.

The 5DmkII is a very serious and extremely capable still photography tool. In the realm of video it is a point and shoot.
 
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