08/27/2008, 6:50pm, EDT
Wednesday, August 27th5D Mark II specs, 50D sensor technology discussed
Following closely on Wednesday morning's D90 announcement, specifications were leaked about Canon's new, but as-of-yet unofficial, full-frame sensor 5D Mark II DSLR, with additional details of the 50D's image processing capabilities revealed as well. An anonymous source tells Canon Rumors that the 5D Mark II will offer a 21.1 megapixel full-frame DIGIC IV sensor, with full weather sealing, a 3.2-inch high resolution LCD, HD Movie capabilities and HDMI out.
Canon is also reportedly examining a "for her" model of the 5D Mark II. No details were readily available.
Canon staff were also overheard discussing the new 50D, specifically the sensor that will be used in the camera. The 50D will allegedly offer users better noise management than the 40D – up to 1.5 stops-worth – with noise reduction also stemming from a "colder" low-voltage CMOS sensor and the DIGIC IV technology.
The 50D will also bring a progressive step between using a physical anti-aliasing filter versus using a potential future DIGIC chip. Canon claims that by decreasing the distance between the sensor and the filter, it can increase overall image quality and resolution, without suffering pixilation problems.
Canon will also enhance the RAW image capture to 14 bits for an improved dynamic range, with 16 bits to come in future sensor generations. Building on the 40D's highlight tone preservation, the 50D offers new automatic brightness options, which independently change areas of the sensor to enhance image capture capabilities in mixed lighting situations.
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5D or 50D or Both
both cameras would have their uses.The 50D sounds more than i'll need, but the 5D MK II would be really nice.
Long awaited 5D. Hope it really shines!!
pro/prosumer/amateur
MiMiC, The 5D is the higher of the two cameras.
Maybe neither camera is something you're ready for...
facts.
darn! morons! do you sometimes read the comments? well if, than you should have read my last hint that "DIGIV IV" is not the sensor but the image processor.
kicking all of the macnn/electronista crap out of my reading list
50D rings my bell
After my last trip to the developer cost me nearly $35 for 2 rolls of film I decided it was time to make the switch to a DSLR. Since all of my lenses are Canon EF, not the DSLR-specific EF-S, I'd been eyeing the 5D and looking for a way to save the $$$ to purchase a body (used or new). However, with announcement of the 50D, I think I'll be settling for an APS-C sized sensor -- this is such an amazing camera for the money on so many other levels that I can live with the less than 35mm capture size.
And in response to a few other comments on this thread:
1. With Canon, the lower the number the better the camera. So the Rebel (a.k.a. 400D/450D/etc.) is the entry-level DSLR, the 40D/50D is the next step up, the 5D is the pro-sumer level (i.e. good enough for professionals or consumers who think they're professionals), and the 1DS is the absolute top-of-the-line. To make life more interesting, since they couldn't go from the 5D to the 6D or 4D, they've gone with 5D Mark II... same as with the 1DS which is now on Mark III. Still, I guess at that level you know what you're buying so the change in naming schemes isn't as important.
2. @guest: Oh come one, like you know everything about every single piece of electronics out there. It's not like the guys/gals running this site have anything better to do that read every single comment with bated breath, waiting for the moment of enlightenment on some issue that is largely irrelevant to 99.9% of the world's population. If you're not particularly into cameras and read Canon's release fairly quickly you might easily confuse the sensor and the processor. I'm just glad that they happened to mention this camera or I'd still be thinking about a 40D.