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Canon 50D Front  (Source: PhotographyBay)

Canon 50D Rear  (Source: PhotographyBay)

Canon 50D ISO1600 Test Image  (Source: PhotographyBay)
Authenticity of leaked Canon 50D specs and images under debate

Frequently, new product images and specs are leaked on the web ahead of an official launch. There are typically many reasons for this to happen -- intentional leaks to build buzz, vendors launching sales pages too early, accidental leaks from marketing, and outright hoaxes. Over the last few weeks, information has been surfacing about a new Canon D-SLR camera called the 50D.

While there is no way to be sure until the 50D is officially announced, specs and pictures along with test images have surfaced online. Last week, PhotographyBay ran what it claims to be specifications on the 50D. The specs include a 15.1-megapixel sensor, DIGIC 4 image processor, 95% magnification pentaprism viewfinder, 9-point AF, 3-inch LCD, adjustable speed autofire at 6.3 or 3 frames per second, 16 RAW or 60 JPEG buffer, and Live View.

Other features include ISO 100-12800, magnesium alloy body, built-in flash, and images are saved to Type I or II CF cards. The camera is rumored to feature both auto and manual dust removal. The camera measures 145.5 x 197.8 x 73.5 mm and weighs 730 grams with the body only. The kit lens is an EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS unit.

Originally the specs and images leaked were believed to be from a Japanese Canon page. The page was later found to be written in Chinese and not to be affiliated with Canon. PhotographyBay says that the page -- which is now password protected -- is a Media Temple project.

Media Temple does web development for a number of top-tier tech firms including Sony and ABC. PhotographyBay believes that the leaked page is a project in the works for Canon that was accidentally leaked from a development server.

The last D-SLR camera officially announced by Canon was the Rebel XS in July.

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APS or Full Frame?
By Fnoob on 8/25/2008 2:37:18 PM , Rating: 2
If it was mentioned I missed it : is this a full frame or APS sized sensor? If it is indeed APS as I suspect, they have really pulled off some wizardry via software to avoid excessive noise, especially given the sample image at ISO1600 - which looks fantastic.




RE: APS or Full Frame?
By 306maxi on 8/25/2008 2:42:11 PM , Rating: 1
How can you tell how it handles noise from such a tiny picture?


RE: APS or Full Frame?
By Solandri on 8/25/2008 3:05:16 PM , Rating: 3
If you click the article link in the text, the referenced site has a 50% resolution pic.

http://ericreagan.smugmug.com/photos/357912992_MsF...

The noise appears non-existent. But the blurriness even at 50% and the fact that it's taken in sunlight makes me suspect the lack of noise is due to noise reduction software, not sensor performance.


RE: APS or Full Frame?
By Mitch101 on 8/25/2008 4:25:05 PM , Rating: 2
Consider the image is JPG which could be a reason for a little blur and I do see some noise in the darker areas. Before passing judgment I would be highly interested in seeing a RAW image and low light conditions also. Daylight images look great on most cameras so this is impossible to tell still. Considering how good the rebels are I suspect this will be a nice step up.


RE: APS or Full Frame?
By Fnoob on 8/25/2008 4:48:20 PM , Rating: 2
I saw the full sized image on (gasp!) another site a few days back.

Not a bad shot at all. Heavily dependant upon either in-camera or post processing I strongly suspect.


RE: APS or Full Frame?
By KingViper on 8/25/2008 3:18:12 PM , Rating: 2
The article mentions the kit lens is an EF-S, so therefore it is not a full frame sensor. Plus, I doubt they will ever release a full-frame sensor on this series of camera. Where would the market for the 5D be otherwise?


RE: APS or Full Frame?
By p4nts on 8/25/2008 4:31:56 PM , Rating: 2
Look identical to this 40D pic I reckon maybe it is a fake ;?


Uh oh
By MrBlastman on 8/25/2008 2:12:49 PM , Rating: 2
The rally guy doesn't have a co-driver. He better watch out for those turns. :)

Looks like they stole my car and chopped the wagon end off of it. Long live dirty Subies.




RE: Uh oh
By Denkino on 8/25/2008 2:36:46 PM , Rating: 2
did you not even look at the photo? navigator is there, with his head down looking at his notes.


RE: Uh oh
By Fnoob on 8/25/2008 4:49:44 PM , Rating: 2
Suuuuure, that's what he's doing. ;)


RE: Uh oh
By MrBlastman on 8/26/2008 11:52:44 AM , Rating: 2
d'oh

I see it now. I think my eyes were blurry when I first looked at it. Yeah, that's it.

:-| *eats foot*


RE: Uh oh
By SpaceRanger on 8/25/2008 2:38:29 PM , Rating: 2
Umm... Looks like the driver is on the right. Looks good to me.


RE: Uh oh
By ira176 on 8/26/2008 12:03:32 AM , Rating: 3
Agree with spaceranger, the driver's on the right side of the car, and no one can see the co-driver because he's using that new fangled cloaking suit.


Worlds most boring upgrade
By some1whoknows on 8/25/2008 3:22:44 PM , Rating: 2
I own a 40D and to me these 50D specs make me very sleepy. It seems like all they have done is upped the megapixel and ISO. The noise resulting from such an ISO hike on smaller pixels will be interesting (read rubbish). Everything else just looks exactly the same, the specs and the body. Then if they really had to update this camera it would prove how right they got it all with the 40D (and it is a great camera) but all I can see this doing is selling 40D's with better pixel pitch and a much lower price tag.

Note to Canon: Launch the 5D successor, you need it as Nikon are now whooping your ass in every area of the full frame market!! (I now own a D3). Also improve the resolution of your awful LCD screens (which I hear you may have with your next DSLR even though it's not mentioned here). Oh and finally but very importantly... Please consider your button functions and placement, this is another area where Nikon whoop your ass hard!!! Canon will never read this so who cares but my anger is now vented =P.




RE: Worlds most boring upgrade
By Lord 666 on 8/25/2008 3:29:24 PM , Rating: 2
I agree with you completely, but was rated down by some penny pinchers that only look at cost.

Supposedly, they put a better screen on the 50D as well (920,000)


RE: Worlds most boring upgrade
By Fnoob on 8/25/2008 5:43:43 PM , Rating: 2
I think they did increase the LCD rez to match that of the competing Nikons (920K). The onboard software has likely been upgraded as well.

Take your 40D and have it IR converted ;) If you have a D3 you can afford it, and it is a blast. I am seriously considering converting my D300 to IR just for the sake of being able to LiveView IR images - something my old IR converted D2x just won't do.

I'm personally skipping the D700 and waiting for the D3x.


I Want One
By ebakke on 8/25/2008 1:42:30 PM , Rating: 2
With a new house, the Mrs. definitely wouldn't be happy if I upgraded my 20D. :(




RE: I Want One
By Fnoob on 8/25/2008 4:54:11 PM , Rating: 2
Just get a sub-prime refi and grab yerself a Eos 1Ds MarkIII while your at it. Just be sure to buy her some shoes too.


yeah
By chhimp on 8/25/2008 3:13:18 PM , Rating: 2
This seem to handle noise pretty well. I have the 40d and at 1200 iso i see alot of noise in the background and some in the focus image. Maybe the higher resolution helps to eliminate the noise. I wish they can improve more on the 9 point autofocus. I usually set it on manual because it is difficult to focus on the subject I want. I wish it can automatically detect the best iso in the a variable lighting environment. The auto iso only set the iso at 100, 400, and 800 iso dependin on the zoom and lighting. I wonder what is the cost for this 50d which includes a faster processor?




12800? You're kidding, right?
By foolsgambit11 on 8/25/2008 3:26:45 PM , Rating: 2
Tell me the ISO settings aren't really 100 to 12800. Are the camera wars really making manufacturers expand their specs to these heinous extremes? Are they just going to noise filter the 12800 images to death to compensate for the graininess? At some point, wouldn't it be nicer to have more options on the lower end of the spectrum, say ISO 50, or maybe even 25?




A Fake?
By p4nts on 8/25/2008 4:34:19 PM , Rating: 2
zzzz
By Lord 666 on 8/25/08, Rating: -1
RE: zzzz
By maven81 on 8/25/2008 2:07:19 PM , Rating: 2
What exactly is lackluster about the 40D? Unless you've used it your paper spec assumptions are baseless.


RE: zzzz
By Lord 666 on 8/25/2008 3:24:26 PM , Rating: 1
Yup, I have used the 40d and was not impressed.

I ordered the D300 and received almost right after release date. Still very impressed by that body, but would prefer to have the D700 for its superior low light renditions.


RE: zzzz
By Fnoob on 8/25/2008 4:58:38 PM , Rating: 2
Save the money and buy faster glass. For the $2K difference you could grab a 200F2 - one amazing lense that will give you that extra stop. On a D300, its a 300F2, which is nuts.

Also agreed - the 40d is nowhere near the quality of the D300. The 5D, that's different story.


RE: zzzz
By GTaudiophile on 8/25/2008 2:26:15 PM , Rating: 2
If the 50D is priced $500 less than the D300, then I disagree with you. Then they are not direct competitors.

Now, if the 50D does not have real weather proofing, I will be very disappointed. It istoo bad that Canon did not give it a more pro-level AF. I worry about 15 MPX on such a small APS-C sensor and what that means for noise.

All in all, I am still waiting to see what Canon does with the 5D replacement before I do any upgrading.


RE: zzzz
By Solandri on 8/25/2008 2:58:56 PM , Rating: 2
Given the pricing of the cameras, I'd say the Canon 40D is more in the Nikon D80's league, and the Canon 5D is more the D300's competitor. There's some price staggering between the two companies so they're not direct head-to-head competitors, but the price differentials favor this comparison. Lowest body-only price on pricegrabber:

$1720 - Canon 5D
$1455 - Nikon 300D
$850 - Canon 40D
$640 - Nikon D80

We'll have to wait and see what the 50D and 5D mk II pricing look like.


RE: zzzz
By Lord 666 on 8/25/2008 3:10:19 PM , Rating: 1
The 40D was only priced that way after it did a belly flop in the market.

The 5D has been out for years and has come down in price since initial release... but never directly competed with the D300. The only reason why some people say its a competitor is because of price... which is a a completely worthless measure.


RE: zzzz
By Solandri on 8/25/2008 4:12:14 PM , Rating: 2
I suppose if you're filthy rich cost is a completely worthless measure. But for anyone else picking a camera, the first thing they're going to look at is cost. What gives me the most for my money? And that's going to wind up comparing a D80 to a 40D, and a D300 to a 5D.

I agree Canon's latest offerings have been subpar. However it's important to keep in mind that Canon and Nikon's pricing and release schedules are staggered so they keep leapfrogging each other. I've been waiting for a successor to the 5D for a long time now, even toying with the idea of switching to Nikon. But you cannot ignore cost when comparing their offerings.


RE: zzzz
By jpeyton on 8/25/2008 2:40:50 PM , Rating: 2
Agreed. Nikon took a different approach with the D300, giving people 90% of the D3's features with an APS-C sensor, including the same 51-point pro-level AF with 3D-tracking.

Even with the 50D, Canon is still dishing up rehashed versions of their Digital Rebel's 9-point consumer-level AF.

We're more than halfway through with 2008. How long until Canon engineers figure out how to include a proper ISO-program mode in their cameras?


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