Canon 50D:
Positives: Ingenious magnesium housing with superior feel and operability (thumb wheel, joystick button, perfect grip ...), great 3 "high-resolution LCD screen with real image evaluation, Giant screen resolution with 15 MP (for me but absolutely untergordneter role, only huge amounts of data I do not need) fast autofocus, high speed continuous shooting speed (6B / s), better noise performance (from ISO 800/1600, but why ?, in so little light, the colors are no longer beautiful stored), internal automatic vignetting correction for Canon Lenses , internal automatic sharpening (even though I had not changed the focus, the image information showed a sharpening of the stage 4 on, so many photos were also relatively sharp). Has (Mini) HDMI connector.
Negatives: photos (can also be purely subjective) somehow pale, bland, not as sharp, not as beautiful and brilliant as in Olympus, clear trend towards overexposure (Canon-typical), lenses show vignetting (therefore in the 50D for Canon's own Lenses automatic Vignettierungskorrekturen stored), a few scene modes, only 6 Sizes and -emfindlichkeiten for JEPEG adjustable, no image editing in the camera, no format setting (16: 9 etc.), a few settings. No Camera Internal image stabilizer. No upper limit for auto ISO-fixed (or I have not found). Life-View autofocus unreliable (20-30% of the photos out of focus), no autofocus-assist illuminator (except for the built-in flash, as with the E-30), autofocus indoors in low light in connection with the internal flash not nearly as soon as the e-30th The 50D needed before their pre-flash to focus search where the E-30 came as clearly still without problems (may be due to the lichtstärkerem lens 12-60 SWD). Does not 2-fold memory card slot. Overall, I was disappointed, not because the 50D is bad, but I expected much more.
Result 50D: The camera is a blender and for me is actually an entry-level camera in an ingenious housing, gaukelt professional unit. The 450D and 500D are honest.
If the D 50, then possibly with the 2.8 USM 17-55 with higher costs (not sealed and not with the focal length range of 2.8 Olympus 12-60 SWD) or by 3.5 15-85 USM (Wide weakness , fainter and unsealed). For Canon system owners nevertheless a recommendation for the 50D. The camera can only exploit their potential, albeit in accordance with good lenses before. The 50D makes it necessary to achieve approximate image results as the E-30 has a much higher cost (including PC-post) for me. This may be because I am biased and Olympus E-System know well.
Olympus E-30:
Positive: Even without Magnesium design great housing with great usability (50D but better) with short menu on the Info button, a lot of direct keys, 3 ads for digital spirit level (on rear display even in two axes). Ingenious 2.7 "vari-angle LCD screen (better than the E-3) take pictures with lots of opportunities to Life-View from the tripod, from the hip or just above the ground (hence more valuable than the 50D display). Very fast and precise 11-point cross-type autofocus with direct switching from 1-point to 11-point (Life-View with face detection) and dynamic 3-4 point (Grouped) autofocus. Correct 11-DOT Life View autofocus (not as soon as the 50D, but precise) with 5.7.10 multiple Lupe also to manually focus awesome. Fast Serienbildgeschwindigkei (5B / s, is completely sufficient). Internal excellent Image Stabilizer with 3 functions (vertical or horizontal panning possible) . Many perfectly matched motifs and art filters (and s / w filter) programs (you get yourself no better way) with great results My favorite programs next program, time and shutter priority:. Landscape, Sunset, Grainy Film (grainy S / W), Pop Art (extreme color-u. Contrast enhancement) and soft focus (soft filter with paler colors) with brilliant results. Several size setting is 3: 2, 16: 9, 6: 6, etc. with setting only for Life-View, delivery-View and viewfinder or subsequently cropping in the camera. Panorama function with the xD memory card. Various post-processing in the camera (RAW dev. To JEPEG, backlight compensation, in addition Red Eye Correction, File reduction, cropping, B / W Sepia conversion, color saturation, etc.). All possible types of bracketing (incl. ISO, WB, flash, etc.) in differnet. Distances (also 1st), thus automatic multiple exposures (3-4 fold) in JEPEG or on 1 RAW. 28 different. Sizes and -komprimierungen adjustable. Unbelievable many settings (see instructions on Olympus website). Has two memory card slots (1xCF and 1x xD-Picture as it did the E-450 and E-520, even though xD cards are discontinued models, there are now SD micro adapter) so but copy or backup function possible.
Compared with the E-450 and E-520 is the exposure / white balance / gradation in one. Programs and visibly better coordinated also in the scene modes, also especially in connection with the internal flash (interiors, exteriors, Fill) much better coordination. Virtually no red eyes in flash photography (as it did in the E-450 and E-520).
Thus less try, less manual influence and fewer PC reworking necessary. Finer ISO settings in smaller increments possible (100.125, 160 ... and so on) so that optimum utilization of the lighting conditions. At Olympus lenses by the digital FourThirds format no visible vignetting and distortion little. Easier and better lenses than with Canon, Nikon and Co. already from the Standard (beginners) system lenses. The 12-60 SWD lens (24-120 mm KB) is simply awesome, great resolution and great clarity and very fast focus. In addition still sealed against water and dust and there are real macro shooting (about 5 cm minimum focusing distance at 60 mm focal length). The all-round properties, these lens are just awesome. Through the extra light intensity (from 2.8 in 60mm still 4.0), the good internal image stabilization (camera) and the weight of the camera and lens are in low light up to ISO 800 very good pictures in it. With less light the images with the camera tripod or are just on or created (post, pillar, signs, trees, etc.) and excellent with less ISO photos in it. But that also makes sense only if the subjects do not have an internal or external lighting.
In the discussion about tolerable noise performance must distinguish what one needs high ISO values. If you use it in order to realize faster shutter speeds, then ISO 800 or 1600 (under certain circumstances) in the E-30 no problem. If you want high ISO (from 800-1600) use values to at all be able to take pictures, because it is too dark, you can see the results (but also in the 50D from ISO 1600) due to excessive color noise forgotten and do not make any sense , I do not know a photographer who seriously tried with so little light and without a tripod, still should get great pictures. Important: a large part of the image noise disappears why when developing the photos (when of imaging) on photo paper, so only the screen annoying.
Negatives: The resolution of the LCD screen could be higher, since a complete and final picture assessment only on the PC screen or is possible. Focus and exposure can nevertheless be assessed adequately. No autofocus assist illuminator (except for the built-in flash), as with all Olympus E-cameras (Incidentally, in the Canon 50D may not). Through the sensitive and good autofocus to cope but. When using an external flash unit which infrared auxiliary light is used, then photography is very possible in the dark. Has no (mini) HDMI connection. Does not bother me because my Flachbildschrim TV a multimedia USB has input for digital video transmission and even the card reader of the automatic image rotation for portrait photos work (acc. To the stored information in the image file).
Result E-30: Just in connection with the 12-60 SWD the absolute outfit and creative blockbuster and for me this is definitely the better and more versatile camera kit with best images "out of Cam". Since then I have forever to sit at the PC, for me the better implement no desire. It is also the best in my opinion Olympus DSLR. The sealed magnesium body of the E-3 it would be a big hit. From me again a big recommendation for an excellent in every way fr processed camera of the extra class. All circumstances and rising stars, I can only encourage and do also give the information in my review for E-450 read. Basically approximately equally good images are possible even with the E-450 and E-520, if you then specify the settings yourself hinbekommt so. My current Olympus package: E-450, E-520, E-30 (each camera with specific characteristics and depending on the application) with the lenses: 14-42 (super at E-450 and E-520 and with Delamax Polarizer) , 40-150 (ideal on the E-520 and super on the E-30), 35 Macro (ideal for E-450 as a very small and lightweight kit for hiking / biking, super to E-520 / E-30), 12-60 SWD (ideal on the E-30 and super on the E-520, the E-450 the design Pops). What is missing is the 70-300 lens (ideal on the E-30 / E-520) and the Sigma 2.8 105 Macro (extremely sharp part). When external flash I have the Cullmann D-4500 Digital O / P (programmed on Olympus / Panasonic), which I would recommend.
Friends and relatives who also have Digital SLR (Nikon D 5000, Canon 40D, Sony alpha700) are in any case already out of my pictures with the E-450 and E-520 become pale. Basically, however, all the various DSLR. Manufacturers can make almost equal good pictures that are almost indistinguishable from each other. The difference is so small that you can actually almost exclusively to focus on the desired facilities, size, weight and ease of use to. The key, in my opinion the quality of mitgekauften lenses and / or the photographer behind. Most other entry-level kit lenses APS-C competition are simply times below average, you have to still buy more or buy better lenses and camera lenses individually. At Olympus already the beginner (standard series) and kit lenses have very good imaging properties. Who do not believe that should verify, in the reviews of the photography magazines or even. A possible alternative would be the Nikon D90, Pentax K7 or Sony alpha500 / 550th But even with these DSLRs it becomes difficult with good Kitobjektiven.
Addendum dated Okt.2010:
After I have often wondered that the 16: 9 pictures on LCD televisions are displayed much sharper, I've found the cause! The resolution of 12 MP is simply too high for the TV. The Full HD TV has only about 2 MP resolution. At 16: the upper and lower parts of the image 9 format yes cut (ie, the mean proportion shown wide), so that reduces the resolution and the image is razor sharp. It shows the subsequent pruning. My tip: at 16: 9 pictures in Large / Normal (LN) format and at 4: 3 or 3: 2 division in Middelburg / Normal (MN) format pictures. The photos are presented much better and sharper the flat and on the camera LS display. Representation losses I could not find even after intensive search on the PC and it will Bilschirm space saving. Sufficient crop reserves for enlargements are still available. Up to A3 photo-developments / Ausducke also no problem. Have fun trying.
