Canon 50d vs Canon 550d (For Birds) (2 Viewers)

[xmesox]

I realize this is quite a thread bump, but I'm always stuck with the decision of which forum 'no no' to commit. Posting a thread on the exact same subject that already exists, or bumping up an old one.


I am stuck in the same predicament as the OP, that is to say that I am stuck between the 550D and the 50D and was hoping for some input from someone here who has had both cameras and which they found better. I currently have the 550D and I'm not happy with a few things.

To my knowledge the pros and cons are as follows.

550D:

PROS
- Better noise handling at higher ISOs (mainly visible from 1600)
- Newer sensor with slightly better quality and larger resolution.
- Video functionality
- Light

CONS
- Plastic body
- Low Frame Rate (3.7fps)
- Only center cross focus point
- No microfocus adjustment ability
- High shutter lag

50D:

PROS
- 6.3 FPS
- Low shutter lag
- 9 Cross-type focus points
- Magnesium sturdy build
- Microfocus adjust (huge plus for me)
- Apparently quicker overall AF performance

CONS
- Less than ideal high ISO noise
- Older sensor
- More expensive CF card
- Lower resolution
- No video

Now even with these written down it's not an easy decision. I rarely ever shoot over 800 ISO and I have fallen victim to the shortcomings of the low FPS of the 550D in the past with birds in flight. AF performance and the ability to get my lenses sharp without having to send the body in for calibration to each of my lenses are big points to me... The microfocus adjustment is almost a selling point in its self, my body needs to be calibrated to my lens at the moment too, so I figure I need to decide what to do before I waste a lot of money for calibration when I could just buy a new body and use the micro focus adjustment.

While I do shoot landscape, I shoot at 100 ISO almost always, at 400 on the rare occasion, and I rarely shoot any live events. My primary use is birding, and this is why I am siding with the faster FPS. Having heard the shutter of both next to each other, the speed difference is very noticeable. I also have never really used my 550Ds video functions.

My question is - Has anyone here shot birds with both cameras and which one did they prefer? Any other opinions are welcome, but I've yet to read a post by someone who has used both bodies for the purpose I would be using it.

I also realize that the 7D would be ideal, combining all my needs into one. But I do not have the money for a 7D which would cost double the price of a used 50D, so that's not an option for another year or so.

Thanks

 

[frinky]

Not quite the same but I have a 50D and a 500D and have used both for birding in the past. The 500D has a slightly better sensor than the 50D.

If this camera is mostly for birds (including BIF) I think you would find the slower FPS, smaller buffer, likely slower memory cards, slower and less accurate focusing (particularly the 8 outer points) and lack of rear dial on the 5(5)0D quite limiting and frustrating compared to the 50D. A better sensor is nice but if you miss the shot it's worthless.

While my 500D is quite useful for landscapes while hiking and as a backup camera, I've become very frustrated with its shortcomings (particularly now that my main body is a 1D4) and will be replacing it with (probably) a 60D soon as my 'more portable and discreet' body. Some of the issues are resolved in the 650D (more FPS, better focusing) so it's not as if Rebels are inherently bad, they're just more limited for things that require speed.

 

[Hor Kee]

The 50D should win hands down on this. However, for me at least, coming from a superzoom background, the one thing Rebels have that all others don't is a dedicated exposure compensation button within easy reach of one's right thumb. I use that in conjunction with the scroll wheel near the shutter button all the time as I shoot predominantly in Av mode with my constant-aperture 400mm 5.6 lens.

 

[SteveClifton]

I realize this is quite a thread bump, but I'm always stuck with the decision of which forum 'no no' to commit. Posting a thread on the exact same subject that already exists, or bumping up an old one.


I am stuck in the same predicament as the OP, that is to say that I am stuck between the 550D and the 50D and was hoping for some input from someone here who has had both cameras and which they found better. I currently have the 550D and I'm not happy with a few things.

To my knowledge the pros and cons are as follows.

550D:

PROS
- Better noise handling at higher ISOs (mainly visible from 1600)
- Newer sensor with slightly better quality and larger resolution.
- Video functionality
- Light

CONS
- Plastic body
- Low Frame Rate (3.7fps)
- Only center cross focus point
- No microfocus adjustment ability
- High shutter lag

50D:

PROS
- 6.3 FPS
- Low shutter lag
- 9 Cross-type focus points
- Magnesium sturdy build
- Microfocus adjust (huge plus for me)
- Apparently quicker overall AF performance

CONS
- Less than ideal high ISO noise
- Older sensor
- More expensive CF card
- Lower resolution
- No video

Now even with these written down it's not an easy decision. I rarely ever shoot over 800 ISO and I have fallen victim to the shortcomings of the low FPS of the 550D in the past with birds in flight. AF performance and the ability to get my lenses sharp without having to send the body in for calibration to each of my lenses are big points to me... The microfocus adjustment is almost a selling point in its self, my body needs to be calibrated to my lens at the moment too, so I figure I need to decide what to do before I waste a lot of money for calibration when I could just buy a new body and use the micro focus adjustment.

While I do shoot landscape, I shoot at 100 ISO almost always, at 400 on the rare occasion, and I rarely shoot any live events. My primary use is birding, and this is why I am siding with the faster FPS. Having heard the shutter of both next to each other, the speed difference is very noticeable. I also have never really used my 550Ds video functions.

My question is - Has anyone here shot birds with both cameras and which one did they prefer? Any other opinions are welcome, but I've yet to read a post by someone who has used both bodies for the purpose I would be using it.

I also realize that the 7D would be ideal, combining all my needs into one. But I do not have the money for a 7D which would cost double the price of a used 50D, so that's not an option for another year or so.

Thanks

I think you've pretty much summed up the pros and cons of each camera. I have both (the 50D for 18 months and the 550D for about 6 weeks). I still see the 50D as my 'main body', though I haven't used the 550D all that much to be fair up to now. If I had to choose between the two I think I would stick with the 50D. I use it on a 100-400 L most of the time, and it is definitely matched better in terms of size and weight to the heavy lens. It also feels more solid and sturdy (I appreciate this choice is more about ergonomics than about the features or results I get from each camera, but don't under-estimate this factor). Often I also carry the 550D about as a spare body as it is so light, just in case I need the video.

If I could only keep the 50D the one thing I would miss is the video, but if it came to the crunch I could live without this. I do wish it had better high ISO performance too, but remember that we all managed quite happily with ISO 400 until quite recently. Another plus of the 50D is the silent shooting mode in live view mode-surprisingly useful for both macro/close-up work, and also when using teleconverters for longer range work.

If I lost the 550D I would miss the video function, and also the better ISO range, but not the 3.7 fps.

If you cannot afford a 7D, why not a 60D? It has the best of both worlds but is still cheaper than a 7D.

 

[Froggy]

If you cannot afford a 7D, why not a 60D? It has the best of both worlds but is still cheaper than a 7D.

I seem to recall the 60D lacks MFA .

 

[shepster]

Just as an aside - a shot on the 50D was good enough to win the Birds category in this year's International Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards - see http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats...ns/wpy/photo.do?photo=2707&category=2&group=1

 

[Weekend Birder]

The fact that the 550D has a different focus point sensitivity set-up can be an advantage sometimes.

I get very reliable AF on the 400/5.6 with a 1.4x teleconverter - it works about 95% of the time.

It's pretty reliable with the 100-400 too - say about 85-90%.

Having an effective 896mm f8 with pretty reliable AF is great.

It only struggles on very dim days or with really low contrast targets.