I've been giving some thought to reducing my colleciton of reasonably priced guitars and maybe turning them into a Dave Murray Signature strat. However it occurs to me that it may be a more sensible option to upgrade the excelent 450D to a 50D.
It looks to me that the the 50D has all the 450 has to offer, but has the benefits of bigger ISO range (very useful), Faster shooting (useful) and a metal body with better weather sealing (the clincher for me).
On the downside my batteries and memory cards would not be transferable and the CF UDMA are quite expensive (annoying).
Anyone played with one or have one - general reviews seem good - wonder if anyone has any specific thoughts on this one Particularly keen to hear about the kt lens that comes with it.
My original plan was to jump to full frame in about 3 years time, but I think there may be merits to this route too.
Full Version: Eos 50d - Any Impressions
While the 50D is a great camera, if you're going to eventually jump to full frame I would keep the cash saved until you're ready to go the whole hog and then buy the full frame.
Its good and certainly better than the 450D, but not so much that the money spent will be any sort of investment or improvement in picture quality, in fact I would say it is a false economy to buy the 50D now if you know you'll be going full frame eventually.
No 50D now = full frame sooner
.
Thats what I would do anyway.
Its good and certainly better than the 450D, but not so much that the money spent will be any sort of investment or improvement in picture quality, in fact I would say it is a false economy to buy the 50D now if you know you'll be going full frame eventually.
No 50D now = full frame sooner
.Thats what I would do anyway.
That is a good point - the plan has always been 5D equivalent in 3 years. I think the main reason for considering a change was the result of two days bad shooting - which with hindsight had more to do with the weather and location. holding off for 3 or so years for full frame, which would not only mean massive advances in sensors, but also built in features (thinking maybe GPS or WLAN), not to mention the ongoing overall cost reductions. I have to say the 450 more than holds it's own - so after thinking it over it may not be the right course of action, right now.
And having rewatched Iron Maiden's Live After Death today, I think I really do need that Dave Murray Signature Strat !! (which would also make a good photographic subject as well, more than justiifying it's silly price tag)
And having rewatched Iron Maiden's Live After Death today, I think I really do need that Dave Murray Signature Strat !! (which would also make a good photographic subject as well, more than justiifying it's silly price tag)
Well i have upgraded from the 400D to the 50D and i have to got say its been well worth it.
I am in a slighty different boat to you, as i have no reason to go full frame for what i wish to do ( at the moment)
i needed better iso rating and faster fps, both have exceeded my expectations.
the feel of the 50D just makes me more confident when using it, having it hanging from my arm etc, it feels very robust.
there are some down sides
no IR remote
no sensor cleaning.
as for the kit lens i have got to say i am fairly impressed with it.
ok its no L lens but its a nice walkabout lens. Its fairly sharp and the IS is good, it feels solid which other kit lens have worried me in the past.
all in all i would recommend it to those not having the cash for the full frame or one the 1 series.
now all i need is a few more L lenses to make the most of the 15M pixels
I am in a slighty different boat to you, as i have no reason to go full frame for what i wish to do ( at the moment)
i needed better iso rating and faster fps, both have exceeded my expectations.
the feel of the 50D just makes me more confident when using it, having it hanging from my arm etc, it feels very robust.
there are some down sides
no IR remote
no sensor cleaning.
as for the kit lens i have got to say i am fairly impressed with it.
ok its no L lens but its a nice walkabout lens. Its fairly sharp and the IS is good, it feels solid which other kit lens have worried me in the past.
all in all i would recommend it to those not having the cash for the full frame or one the 1 series.
now all i need is a few more L lenses to make the most of the 15M pixels
Well I took this a stage further and tried the 50D, 5D and the Dave Murray Signature Strat.
The 50D is really very cool - it's kind of taken the features of my 450D and boosted them all. It also feels very comfortable and seems to have better balance with longer lenses. I also really liked the 5D which felt very similar to the 50D, but seemed to pack a lot more in (as you would expect from something costing twice the price). My conclusion on that front was that the 50D would be a cool upgrade from the 450D, however I've not had the 450 long enough to truely justify it (if I'd been 450ing for another year or so, it would have been a perfect choice). So I think the option I'm going to take is review my perfomace next summer and see wether the 50D is justifed or see if I can go a further year and grab a 5D once I can survive on a single Kidney.
I did feel that both the 5D and 50D were not capable of delivering the sizzling heavy metal riffs associated with the world's premier metal act, the Mighty Iron Maiden. WHich is what the Dave Murray strat did exceptionally well - altough to be fair it doesn't produce particularly good images. However as this was pretty much the guitar I always wanted when I started playing I figured, blow the camera debate and go with total metal mayhem - Scream for me Long Beach !
The 50D is really very cool - it's kind of taken the features of my 450D and boosted them all. It also feels very comfortable and seems to have better balance with longer lenses. I also really liked the 5D which felt very similar to the 50D, but seemed to pack a lot more in (as you would expect from something costing twice the price). My conclusion on that front was that the 50D would be a cool upgrade from the 450D, however I've not had the 450 long enough to truely justify it (if I'd been 450ing for another year or so, it would have been a perfect choice). So I think the option I'm going to take is review my perfomace next summer and see wether the 50D is justifed or see if I can go a further year and grab a 5D once I can survive on a single Kidney.
I did feel that both the 5D and 50D were not capable of delivering the sizzling heavy metal riffs associated with the world's premier metal act, the Mighty Iron Maiden. WHich is what the Dave Murray strat did exceptionally well - altough to be fair it doesn't produce particularly good images. However as this was pretty much the guitar I always wanted when I started playing I figured, blow the camera debate and go with total metal mayhem - Scream for me Long Beach !
To throw a curve ball Canon are also soon to release the 500D. Early views of it look like it'll be a nice camera, although not sure where it fits in the line up yet.
Well just by way of an update, settled on a plan, bought the strat. A week ago a letter arrived containing a cheque from an inheritance I never new I had (not alot, but enough). Went out yesterday and tried 40D, 500D and 50D. Went with 50D with 17-85mm IS USM lens - very pleased with it, hopefully get some time on it later today!
Strange thing fate - and it also means I've been doing my bit to revive the global economy !!
Strange thing fate - and it also means I've been doing my bit to revive the global economy !!
Sounds like karma 
.
50D is a lovely camera. Been looking more intot he 500D but it just doesn't seem like a good buy unless you really want the video due to the closeness in price of the 50D or budget saving price of the 450D.
.50D is a lovely camera. Been looking more intot he 500D but it just doesn't seem like a good buy unless you really want the video due to the closeness in price of the 50D or budget saving price of the 450D.
500D pricing is excessive - I'm sure it will drop in coming months. Funny thing about the canon range is that they now have 3 "entry level" cameras - 1000, 450 and 500. Of the three I feel that the best value remains the 450 as it is well specced and reasonably priced (despite recent increases). I always question the wisdom of including video on what is specifically designed as a stills camera - I mean if video is important, then I'm sure a dedicated camera will do a better job (frin what I understand the HDEF mode supported by the 500D is 20fps and opposed to normal quality 30fps)
It's even more bizarre when you consider you can pickup a 40D with lens for less than the price of the 500D (I very nearly bought a ex demo 40d for a shade over £600 inc 17-85 IS USM lens).
That said the 500D is great - but I think it needs to come down in price before it becomes a sensible choice. In the meantime the 450D is really ace (I'd be keeping mine as a backup if I didn't want a 120-400 zoom!!)
It's even more bizarre when you consider you can pickup a 40D with lens for less than the price of the 500D (I very nearly bought a ex demo 40d for a shade over £600 inc 17-85 IS USM lens).
That said the 500D is great - but I think it needs to come down in price before it becomes a sensible choice. In the meantime the 450D is really ace (I'd be keeping mine as a backup if I didn't want a 120-400 zoom!!)
The Wallet
As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there for years. The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the return address. (ffxi gil)
I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then I saw the dateline -- 1924. The letter had been written almost sixty years earlier. It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting, on powder－blue stationery with a little flower in the left－hand corner. It was a "Dear John"letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the writer could not see him any more because her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always love him. It was signed Hannah.
It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way, except for the name Michael, to identify the owner. Maybe if I called information, the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope. The operator suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment, then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can't give you the number. " She said as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and ask whoever answered if the person wanted her to connect me.
maple story mesos,I waited a few minutes and then the super－visor was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak with you. " I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the name of Hannah. She gasped. " Oh! We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was thirty years ago!" "Would you know where that family could be located now？" I asked. "I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years ago, "the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them, they might be able to track down the daughter. "She gave me the name of the nursing home, and I called the number. The woman on the phone told me the old lady had passed away some years ago, but the nursing home did have a phone number for where the daughter might be living. I thanked the person at the nursing home and phoned the number she gave me. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home. This whole thing is stupid, I thought to myself. Why am I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that has only three dollars and a letter that is almost sixty years old？
Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living, and the man who answered the phone told me , "Yes, Hannah is staying with us. "Even though it was already 10 P. M. , I asked if I could come by to see her. "Well, "he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a chance, she might be in the day room watching television. "
I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah. She was a sweet, silverhaired old－timer with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eyes. I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second she saw the powder－blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, "Young man, this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael. "She looked away for a moment, deep in thought, and then said softly, "I loved him very much. But I was only sixteen at the time and my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor. " wow gold
"Yes, " she continued, "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And, " she hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, tears welled up in her eyes, "I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael. . . "I thanked Hannah and said good－bye. I took the elevator to the first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, "Was the old lady able to help you？"I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name. But I think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet. "I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, "Hey, wait a minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that bright red lacing. He 's always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times. "
"Who's Mr. Goldstein？"I asked, as my hand began to shake. "He 's one of the old－timers on the eighth floor. That's Mike Goldstein's wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks. "I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up. wow gold
On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in the day room. He likes to read at night. He 's a darling old man. "We went to the only room that had any lights on, and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost hiswallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, "Oh, it is missing. ""This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours. "I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet, and the second he saw it, he smiled with relief and said, "Yes, that's it！ It must have dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward. "
"No, thank you, "I said. "But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet. "The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that letter？""Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is. "
He suddenly grew pale. "Hannah？You know where she is？How is she？Is she still as pretty as she was？Please, please tell me, " he begged. "She's fine. . . just as pretty as when you knew her, " I said softly. ffxi gil
The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell me where she is？I want to call her tomorrow. "He grabbed my hand and said, "You know something, mister？I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I've always loved her. "
"Michael, " I said, "come with me. "We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened and only one or two little night lights lit our way to the day room, where Hannah was sitting alone, watching the television.
The nurse walked over to her. "Hannah, "she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in the doorway. "Do you know this man？"She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a word.
Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's Michael. Do you remember me？"She gasped. "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My Michael!"He walked slowly toward her, and they embraced. The nurse and I left with tears streaming down our faces. "See, "I said. "See how the good Lord works! If it's meant to be, it will be. "
About three weeks later, I got a call at my office from the nursing home. "Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding？Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!" aion gold
It was a beautiful wedding, with all the people at the nursing home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dressand looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall. They made me their best man. The hospital gave them their own room, and if you ever wanted to see a seventy-six-year-old bride and a seventy-nine-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple. A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly sixty years.
As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there for years. The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the return address. (ffxi gil)
I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then I saw the dateline -- 1924. The letter had been written almost sixty years earlier. It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting, on powder－blue stationery with a little flower in the left－hand corner. It was a "Dear John"letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the writer could not see him any more because her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always love him. It was signed Hannah.
It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way, except for the name Michael, to identify the owner. Maybe if I called information, the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope. The operator suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment, then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can't give you the number. " She said as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and ask whoever answered if the person wanted her to connect me.
maple story mesos,I waited a few minutes and then the super－visor was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak with you. " I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the name of Hannah. She gasped. " Oh! We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was thirty years ago!" "Would you know where that family could be located now？" I asked. "I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years ago, "the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them, they might be able to track down the daughter. "She gave me the name of the nursing home, and I called the number. The woman on the phone told me the old lady had passed away some years ago, but the nursing home did have a phone number for where the daughter might be living. I thanked the person at the nursing home and phoned the number she gave me. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home. This whole thing is stupid, I thought to myself. Why am I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that has only three dollars and a letter that is almost sixty years old？
Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living, and the man who answered the phone told me , "Yes, Hannah is staying with us. "Even though it was already 10 P. M. , I asked if I could come by to see her. "Well, "he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a chance, she might be in the day room watching television. "
I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah. She was a sweet, silverhaired old－timer with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eyes. I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second she saw the powder－blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, "Young man, this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael. "She looked away for a moment, deep in thought, and then said softly, "I loved him very much. But I was only sixteen at the time and my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor. " wow gold
"Yes, " she continued, "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And, " she hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, tears welled up in her eyes, "I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael. . . "I thanked Hannah and said good－bye. I took the elevator to the first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, "Was the old lady able to help you？"I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name. But I think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet. "I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, "Hey, wait a minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that bright red lacing. He 's always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times. "
"Who's Mr. Goldstein？"I asked, as my hand began to shake. "He 's one of the old－timers on the eighth floor. That's Mike Goldstein's wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks. "I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up. wow gold
On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in the day room. He likes to read at night. He 's a darling old man. "We went to the only room that had any lights on, and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost hiswallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, "Oh, it is missing. ""This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours. "I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet, and the second he saw it, he smiled with relief and said, "Yes, that's it！ It must have dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward. "
"No, thank you, "I said. "But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet. "The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that letter？""Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is. "
He suddenly grew pale. "Hannah？You know where she is？How is she？Is she still as pretty as she was？Please, please tell me, " he begged. "She's fine. . . just as pretty as when you knew her, " I said softly. ffxi gil
The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell me where she is？I want to call her tomorrow. "He grabbed my hand and said, "You know something, mister？I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I've always loved her. "
"Michael, " I said, "come with me. "We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened and only one or two little night lights lit our way to the day room, where Hannah was sitting alone, watching the television.
The nurse walked over to her. "Hannah, "she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in the doorway. "Do you know this man？"She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a word.
Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's Michael. Do you remember me？"She gasped. "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My Michael!"He walked slowly toward her, and they embraced. The nurse and I left with tears streaming down our faces. "See, "I said. "See how the good Lord works! If it's meant to be, it will be. "
About three weeks later, I got a call at my office from the nursing home. "Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding？Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!" aion gold
It was a beautiful wedding, with all the people at the nursing home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dressand looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall. They made me their best man. The hospital gave them their own room, and if you ever wanted to see a seventy-six-year-old bride and a seventy-nine-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple. A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly sixty years.
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