Mar 18, 2002 10:47 AM
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(Updated Mar 18, 2002 11:58 AM)
INTRODUCTION
Back in 1996, while I am on a trip to Liverpool, England, on a long bus journey of 5 hours from Glasgow, Scotland, my first SLR camera (A Minolta 3xi) 'Drank' half a bottle of my Coke, and without question, it was bad damage internally and my whole trip have to be contented with a point and shoot camera bought used in Liverpool. Cost of repair was simply too high, so I just keep it as it is and purchase a new camera.
I was wondering during the period what should be my next SLR camera. Nikon and Canon comes to my mind because of their popularity in the market. After spending 2 years with the Minolta, I have picked up different skills of photography but are often limited by the number of functions the Minolta 3xi offers. I am still a students at that time, and with a budget of just $500, and hoping to get a camera which has as many functions as possible.
During that period of time, Nikon offers the F50 and F70 which is within my price range, and Canon with the EOS 50. After much consideration, and with the F50 and F70 without Multiple exposure capability, I decided to get the Canon.
This new baby was with me for 4 years until a few months back when I finally swap to a Nikon F80.
BUILD
The body of the Canon EOS 50 is solid and strong. The gripping of the camera feel good and secure.
During the 4 years of usage, it once fell from the luggage compartment on a bus and survived during my trip to Norway.
It was used in heavy snow in Scotland, wet tropical weather in Singapore, as well as the dry summer in Queensland Australia. It has never failed or breakdown in any of the above mentioned condition, only once when the battery is flat. That is serious as it cannot function without electricity, and that's why I always carry a spare battery now.
The build of the camera will definitely make it last in many adverse condition, unless you submerge it into the water.
FOCUSING
Canon does have a fast AF capability, and with it's AI Focus and AI Servo mode, action can be kept at focus at all time easily without trouble. I have used the AI Servo mode a few time during a local events and it serves well and accurate.
FEATURES
The Canon EOS 50 is catered basically for every type of users, from real beginners o budget professionals.
It offers 5 fully automated mode for casual users, as in
1) Green Mode
2) Portraits
3) Landscape
4) Close-up
5) Sports
As well as 5 Creativity mode, as in
1) Program
2) Shutter Priority
3) Aperture Priority
4) Manual
5) Depth of Field AE (DEP)
Together with 11 custom function, it can be catered for nearly all sort of needs.
Beside all the above mentioned, it also have the following useful capability
1) Multiple Exposure
2) Exposure Bracketing
3) Depth of Field Preview
4) Date Imprint
LENS
The Canon EOS 50 is having a EF Lens Mounts, which is supported very well from a wide range of terrific lens from Canon.
Cheaper lens from OEM like Sigma, Tamron, Tokina as well as Pheonix does provide lens in the Canon EF Mount. This lens are generally cheaper than the original Canon EF Lenses, but of course quality is not as good.
I would suggest sticking close to the original Canon EF lens as they do provide a very obvious different in optic quality.
SUMMARY
The Canon EOS 50 is still available in the market, both new and used. But with the availability of the new EOS Elan7, with it's new capability, the 50 will soon lose it's hold in the market. It will still be a good news to many as it is still a very capable camera.
