So, I was given some gear...

[dkm777]

Hi folks,

A couple days ago my father gave me his old gear that he says he hadn't touched in at least two years:
Canon EOS 50D, Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS USM lens, Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 lens, Speedlite 380EX flash, a cleaning kit and a carrying case where all this stuff fits nicely. He said that this stuff is way too cumbersome to use in his travels and that I might make better use of it. Thing is though I still need some CF cards and a new battery or two which are going to be a pain in the behind to find these days. Should I invest in this old kit? When I have the means to upgrade to a modern body will I still be able to use the lenses that are probably worth more than the body itself? And the million dollar question - is this camera a good starting point for an, ahem, aspiring amateur artist :awe:?

 

[CuriousMike]

I don't know Canon, but doing a quick review on DPR, I'd say that's definitely a decent body. As an amateur, I imagine that could last you awhile.

That 24-105 f4 lens is super-duper-legit - that lens will last you for many years.

Honestly, I'd stick that lens on that body and shoot the shiznit out of it.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos50d

 

[TerryMathews]

Hi folks,

A couple days ago my father gave me his old gear that he says he hadn't touched in at least two years:
Canon EOS 50D, Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS USM lens, Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 lens, Speedlite 380EX flash, a cleaning kit and a carrying case where all this stuff fits nicely. He said that this stuff is way too cumbersome to use in his travels and that I might make better use of it. Thing is though I still need some CF cards and a new battery or two which are going to be a pain in the behind to find these days. Should I invest in this old kit? When I have the means to upgrade to a modern body will I still be able to use the lenses that are probably worth more than the body itself? And the million dollar question - is this camera a good starting point for an, ahem, aspiring amateur artist :awe:?

You are way overestimating how hard coming up with stuff is. Canon uses the same batteries for the mid tier body for the past several generations.

In the US, Canon's numbering scheme is counterintuitive but easy to follow. The more digits in the model number the lower tier it is. Eg 6D > 60D > 600D.

Without a doubt that camera is worth putting money into. And assuming its all in good condition he handed you well over $1k in gear. I don't think $50 for a battery and CF card is going to hurt you too bad.

One last bit of advice if you're really serious about the photography art aspect: get a nifty 50, otherwise known as the 50mm f/1.8. Should be around $100 used. One of the best budget lenses available for any of the DSLR systems.

Also, the 50D is capable of amazing video by installing Magic Lantern. Its limited in features but the video quality rivals many more expensive bodies.

 

[iGas]

The Canon 50D sensor is DIGIC 4 CMOS which is 1 generation old. Technically DIGIC 4 is not far behind the current DIGIC 5 CMOS beside the naming scheme and auto white balance, which a cheap $5 white balance lens cap or grey card would easily overcome the deficiency.

Both 24-105mm & 100-400mm are good L lenses that worth well over $2000 new, or at the very least over $2000 used with the body and flash.

PS. If you don't want them I'll take it off your hands for $1000 even those I already have the 24-105L

 

[dkm777]

Thanks for all the good advice guys.

@TerryMathews:
Is this the nifty 50:
http://www.vilbrafoto.lt/objektyvai...-zidinio-objektyvai/canon-obj50mm-f-1-8-ef-ii (~$140) ?
I think I have one of those on my film camera.

@iGas:
I knew about the white balance and noise issues on older Canons. Good to know it can be fixed. And no, I will not let you have it .

And continuing the topic - are there known general problems with CF compatibility? I found a good deal (~$70) on a 32GB Kingston 90MB/s card. Since I only used SanDisk cards before I'm not sure if Kingston are any good. Their RAM is rock solid though.
Also I'm nervous about buying a third party battery. 1/3 the price of genuine Canon though. (if you haven't noticed - stuff costs a lot in this bum part of Eastern Europe...)

 

[iGas]

There are virtually no different between most memory cards unless you want to shoot in continuous firing mode (I have 5 CF cards, 3 different brands and speed, from 16-128GB and there are no noticeable different between the cards). However, I would stick with name brand battery because it is a hit and missed among third party batteries.

I have 1 OEM Canon battery for my 5D MKII, and 3 third party batteries. The OEM battery still function perfectly after 2.5 years of use, 1 third party battery can't be charge beyond 60% of it rated charge when I just got it and completely died a year later, and 2 of the third party batteries are now holding 70% of power after 2 years of use. And, I also have 4 Canon NB-6L OEM batteries that still function perfectly after 5 years of usage.

 

[TerryMathews]

Thanks for all the good advice guys.

@TerryMathews:
Is this the nifty 50:
http://www.vilbrafoto.lt/objektyvai...-zidinio-objektyvai/canon-obj50mm-f-1-8-ef-ii (~$140) ?
I think I have one of those on my film camera.

Yes, that's the lens.

FWIW I've got several third party batteries for my 50D which work as well as OEM.

The best cheap memory card you can buy for this camera is: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009JS...&pi=SX200_QL40

Its a factory second of: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007BX...&robot_redir=1

 

[dkm777]

Cool, so I really do have a Nifty 50. Unfortunately I can't buy from overseas so I'm going to order a Kingston Ultimate 600x 32GB card that I found locally and start hunting for batteries. Then I'll have to wait for weather to clear up and that is always a fun thing to do...

 

[dkm777]

So, the weather cleared up and I went to town to test the gear. Holy lost shots, Batman! This thing is unforgiving! Of over 40 shots I only managed to save... 4. Totally not like the EOS 350D I used to use. I don't see myself outgrowing the 50D any time soon. Or ever.

 

[TerryMathews]

So, the weather cleared up and I went to town to test the gear. Holy lost shots, Batman! This thing is unforgiving! Of over 40 shots I only managed to save... 4. Totally not like the EOS 350D I used to use. I don't see myself outgrowing the 50D any time soon. Or ever.

That doesn't sound right. Dig into the settings. The auto settings should be as forgiving as the 350D and the metering and AF detection are significantly better.

 

[dkm777]

I think something might be wrong with AF. If I select any point besides the center one it doesn't focus properly. The worst thing is I don't have a manual. Maybe there is some setting buried deep in the Custom Function menu that I need to tweak. Or something is wrong with the focus motor in my lens. I'll try the nifty 50 and then going to borrow a Sigma from my brother to rule that one out.

P.S. are there any downsides to using Full Frame lenses on a DX camera? I just noticed my lens is an EF, not an EF-S.

 

[TerryMathews]

I think something might be wrong with AF. If I select any point besides the center one it doesn't focus properly. The worst thing is I don't have a manual. Maybe there is some setting buried deep in the Custom Function menu that I need to tweak. Or something is wrong with the focus motor in my lens. I'll try the nifty 50 and then going to borrow a Sigma from my brother to rule that one out.

P.S. are there any downsides to using Full Frame lenses on a DX camera? I just noticed my lens is an EF, not an EF-S.

No, it's only a problem the other direction. Due to the crop factor, your 50mm will behave as an 80. Other EF lenses will increase by the same proportion.

Before you mess with custom functions, why not reset to defaults and switch it to auto mode? I doubt the AF sensor is truly bad, things go wrong with the 50d but that's not normally one of them.

 

[dkm777]

Everything is fine now. And it's rather embarrassing... I had the wrong AF mode - AI SERVO. Found how to change it to SINGLE SHOT like in the 350D and everything's just dandy now. I shoot only stationary targets, so AI SERVO would detect minute movements in the scene, like changes in shadows caused by passing clouds, and try to refocus. Now my shots are crystal clear at ISO800 and below. I'm beginning to love this camera.

 

[TerryMathews]

Everything is fine now. And it's rather embarrassing... I had the wrong AF mode - AI SERVO. Found how to change it to SINGLE SHOT like in the 350D and everything's just dandy now. I shoot only stationary targets, so AI SERVO would detect minute movements in the scene, like changes in shadows caused by passing clouds, and try to refocus. Now my shots are crystal clear at ISO800 and below. I'm beginning to love this camera.

:thumbsup:

I set up C1 for fast action shots (center focus, AI servo, ISO 1200). Most of the time though its in auto.

Aren't you glad you decided to keep it? Its a wonderful piece of kit.

 

[dkm777]

I shoot mostly aperture priority and on the 350D I couldn't override much, but on the 50D I can. I love how the most important tweaks are easily accessible with the funny joystick thing without releasing my hand from the grip. Definitely a keeper. And best of all despite being old the battery is still good for almost a day, so that is off my chest. But then again I'm not used to what they call "chimping" so the LCD stays off all the time. I'm going to spend the money that was meant for the battery on some good learning material instead.

 

[TerryMathews]

I shoot mostly aperture priority and on the 350D I couldn't override much, but on the 50D I can. I love how the most important tweaks are easily accessible with the funny joystick thing without releasing my hand from the grip. Definitely a keeper. And best of all despite being old the battery is still good for almost a day, so that is off my chest. But then again I'm not used to what they call "chimping" so the LCD stays off all the time. I'm going to spend the money that was meant for the battery on some good learning material instead.

Do yourself a favor and when it gets to be battery time get yourself a Canon 40D/50D battery grip. That plus two new batteries and you'll be going forever without charging.