Canon 50D or Sony A550 Purchase Advise

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solaire

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So I have been browsing the forum for a few months and finally decided to register now I have shortened down my selection & would like some input.

I will be taking a year out of work to go travelling and aim to do as much photography as I can in this time.

With no major investment in body/lenses now i have decided to go with one of the following.
  • Sony A550
  • Canon D50

I have played around and tested all three models & researched lens types.

any comments / comparison on the above would be appropriated ( I've already searched the site and read a lot of reviews


**Edit **

D90 ruled out
Lens added to camera body
 
As you have already played with the three models, have you decided which one feels best to hold?
You will be holding the camera for some considerable time so the ergonomics have to feel right for you.
There is no point people coming along and saying you should buy the blah blah because you don't need a biased opinion.
As you have been researching lenses, are there any in particular you are interested in?
Are they third party lenses of made by the manufacturers of the bodies?

Do you know anyone who owns any of these bodies?
If you are based anywhere near London? I'd be happy to let you have a play with my kit if it's any help.
Otherwise there is probably a member or two near you who might own the bodies you are interested in.
 
hashcake said:
I'd be happy to let you have a play with my kit
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Yeah I bet you would you dirty git! :naughty:

Seriously, all the cameras you listed are great. The Sony's are brilliant cameras feature wise (My first two DSLR's were Sony), but the Nikon and especially the Canon are definitely better built.

50D would be my choice, but that's totally a personal one....!!

Oh, and welcome to the forums!! :thumbs:
 
hashcake said:
As you have already played with the three models, have you decided which one feels best to hold?
You will be holding the camera for some considerable time so the ergonomics have to feel right for you.
There is no point people coming along and saying you should buy the blah blah because you don't need a biased opinion.
As you have been researching lenses, are there any in particular you are interested in?
Are they third party lenses of made by the manufacturers of the bodies?

Do you know anyone who owns any of these bodies?
If you are based anywhere near London? I'd be happy to let you have a play with my kit if it's any help.
Otherwise there is probably a member or two near you who might own the bodies you are interested in.
Click to expand...

The Canon 50D & Nikon D90 are the top two for comfort, The downside on the Sony is more to do with the build quality

I was more looking for overall views as I know loyalty to brands can some times bring out the Bias in people. People views on the body's and over all feeling.

All the lenses are made by the manufactures apart from the Sony that is made by Carl Zeiss but as Sony have such a love affair with Zeiss you could say it is part Sony.

I know a few people who own the body's apart from the Sony A550
 
I have zero brand loyalty, I'll switch between any of them....I just buy the best out of all the brands I can afford at the time. Hopefully I'll be going full frame soon (back dated payrise pending!) and I'll be looking at both the Nikon D700 and the Canon 5D mkII....

I said I'd choose the 50D because I think it's the best quality camera in that price range....but if I had to use a D90, I'd still be very happy! The Sony is a useful feature rich camera, but i'd kill it as the build quality just isn't up to par with the other two.....

D90 can record 720p video, is that important to you? 50D has faster shooting at 6.3 frames per second vs 4.5 for the D90 which makes it better for motorsport and moving wildlife, is that important to you? 50D also has a bigger buffer capable of shooting bursts of 16 RAW/90 JPEG photos vs the D90s 7 RAW/25 JPEG which again can be important for wildlife or motorsport etc. The D90 handles noise slightly better at higher ISO's which can help when shooting in low light/indoors....

Sadly, there is no "perfect" camera, there's nearly always a trade-off, I think you need to figure out what kind of shooting you'll be doing the most of, and find the camera that best suits that style....if you're after an "all rounder", then "eeeny meeny miney mo" between the two!!
 
Slimbert said:
I have zero brand loyalty, I'll switch between any of them....I just buy the best out of all the brands I can afford at the time. Hopefully I'll be going full frame soon (back dated payrise pending!) and I'll be looking at both the Nikon D700 and the Canon 5D mkII....
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Wouldn't help if you learned how to use the 40D before investing in a full frame body? :D
 
I've notice a few members have sold their Sony DSLR and moved to either Canon or Nikon.
Perhaps one or two them can give you a comparison.
 
I have a D90 and I am very happy with it!
 
So after playing around with the D90 more today I have ruled that out.

I am looking between the

Canon 50D with Canon EF 135mm f2 L USM Lens

or

Sony A550 with Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*

there will be other lens that I will get at the same time but i thought i would give you guys an idea of the lens type/price bracket I was aiming for
 
Canon has more lens lineups and that gives you more choices (in the future )than Sony atm.
 
solaire said:
Sony A550 with Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*
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Haven't used the A550- I've only used the A300 and A700. Based on a short test I'd say the CZ 135 is superb (I own the ZA 85/1.4 and I want the 135/1.8 - bank balance wouldn't strech to both at Focus this year!). Puddleduck owns the 135 so if he spots this topic he qould be able to give you a better opinion of it.
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
As a previous Canon 50D owner which i didn't like - The Nikon D90
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Can i ask what you felt was wrong with the 50D

onomatopoeia said:
Haven't used the A550- I've only used the A300 and A700. Based on a short test I'd say the CZ 135 is superb (I own the ZA 85/1.4 and I want the 135/1.8 - bank balance wouldn't strech to both at Focus this year!). Puddleduck owns the 135 so if he spots this topic he qould be able to give you a better opinion of it.
Click to expand...

If only i could PM
 
solaire said:
Can i ask what you felt was wrong with the 50D
Click to expand...

I moved from a Nikon body to the 50D and i just didn't like image quality,i found the noise visible at even low ISO's detracted from the image to much for me.
 
Thanks for your input.

Got both Camera's & 135 lens's on hold for me right now.

I think ill go down and have a play around with them both a bit more
 
I'm often fascinated by other peoples photography. 135mm seems an unusual choice as a travel lens to me, I get a nose bleed if I go past 50mm. :)
 
onomatopoeia said:
Haven't used the A550- I've only used the A300 and A700. Based on a short test I'd say the CZ 135 is superb (I own the ZA 85/1.4 and I want the 135/1.8 - bank balance wouldn't strech to both at Focus this year!). Puddleduck owns the 135 so if he spots this topic he qould be able to give you a better opinion of it.
Click to expand...

I only got the lens yesterday. Its a stunning optic - it totally blows away Nikon's 135mm f/2. Night and day would seem like an exageration.. but it IS night and day.

The Zeiss is already critically sharp wide open at f/1.8 - I shot a few test shots yesterday and I had to keep checking I wasn't shooting at f/5.6!

Best autofocus 135mm you can buy in any mount. For anyone considering Sony, the Zeiss 16-35, Zeiss 24-70 and 135mm f/1.8 are easily as good as the Canon and Nikon alternatives.
 
Gone for the Sony A550 with 135mm.

I know it is a strange decision and will go against the grain and views of most people.

But a last min change of heart meant i've picked the Sony.

I will set up a blog and post the pictures and the other len's i got with this in the coming weeks
 
solaire said:
Gone for the Sony A550 with 135mm.

I know it is a strange decision and will go against the grain and views of most people.

But a last min change of heart meant i've picked the Sony.

I will set up a blog and post the pictures and the other len's i got with this in the coming weeks
Click to expand...

Well its an interesting decision - you won't find a better 135mm anywhere, so if you follow the glass first, body second approach it's sound.

Although I find the A550 a surprising choice - the lens is amazing though!
 
:thumbs:Canon 50D all the way, mate. But i would say that, as i have one. Nice and easy menu system, and plenty of lenses out there secondhand to buy, if you want to expand your lens collection??
 
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