When Canon strikes back at Nikon

When Nikon took the place of the top camera with the D300, D700 and D3, I was pretty sure it will be short-lived because Canon, knowing them, must have the best, the top. I’m sure they’ve been doing a lot of R&D since then (especially on high ISO performance). Now, The EOS 50D is out. And I freaking want one. I just knew about it a few minutes ago, after school. I’m surprised it’s announced before Photokina, which is scheduled for next week and is where fellow photographers are hoping hard for Canon to announce a 5D Mark II. I know I shouldn’t be so boastful that Canon is striking back and all, but I think this is only the first move from Canon. Just like those Nikon users said when the D3/D300 came out. Take that. Btw, Nikon users are keeping nicely quiet on some forums. I’ll see what they have to say, especially about the high ISO boost, because that was the only major thing they could say that was better than Canon.

Changes look substantial but trust me, there are physical changes. Somehow, it looks more pleasing to my eyes than the 40D.

Here’s a run through the specifications of the 50D.

1.6X crop CMOS

15.1 megapixels

DiG!C IV processor

6.3fps max burst with limit of 90 JPEGs with UDMA card

ISO 100-3200 with expansion option to ISO 12800 (I can’t wait to see how it fares here)

HDMI compatibility

3″ ‘clear view’ VGA LCD (ala-Nikon D300/D3/D700, their LCD panels are all the same) display with Live-View and face detection live AF

So, what do I have to say about it? I want it! Especially for its DiG!C IV and ISO 12800. But I might instead get a 40D sometime later, maybe after PMR (with the 400D becoming a back-up) because its price is going on a free-fall now. Heh. It was just in school today I was thinking about it.

They’ve also announced a new lens, a much anticipated one. One that I was just saying the other day that they should have it in their lineup.

More on the 50D here. Dpreview is expecting to have a hands-on preview up later today.

It’s the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. Thought so it was going to be like that.

How nice. Just throw it into the bag and you can shoot planes to architecture without switching lenses and carrying the extra weight.

Wow, I have to say I like that 50D.

note: Photos from Canon Press Library

Update: According to some sources, Canon has 2 cameras (probably with a couple of new lenses) in the pipeline to launch at this year’s Photokina. My guess is the 5D Mark II and 1D Mark IIIN. One will probably be announced tomorrow, 28 August. I read there will be an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM too. And yeah, Nikon announced the D90 today to replace the D80. It’s got a video shooting function, which IMHO makes it like a PnS but is useful.