50D Basic Features
The Canon EOS 50D offers many menu options which we will attempt to explain.
Auto focus points:
The Canon EOS 50D has 9 auto focus points visible in the view finder. One can use the center point for all focus, allow the camera to select and have all points enabled, or select an individual focus point to compose a photo however one wants. These points can be selected by looking through the viewfinder, pressing the AF Point button on the upper right of the back of the body, also indicated by the Magnification + button. you then turn the selection dial located next to the shutter button to choose the auto focus point desired.
Rear of the 50D
On the 50D every focus point is a cross type sensor, this increases focusing abilities versus the lower level Rebel lineup. The center focus point is more accurate then the other focus points, if you are shooting sports you may want to stick with the center auto focus point. The center auto focus point also becomes more sensitive and accurate when a lens with a 2.8 aperture is used.
Top of the 50D
Raw vs Jpg:
Canon EOS 50D allows one to shoot in JPG or Raw file formats. A JPG is a compressed image which has been edited by the camera, its colors are changed and it attempts to produce a photo ready for distribution, printing and other use directly out of the camera. These images can be edited in photoshop, but they are not really ideal – and your results will suffer greatly versus the flexibility of a RAW file.
For more advanced users, the ability to control their images in post processing using applications like Canon Digital Photo Professional or Adobe Photoshop requires the use of the RAW file format. Raw file format on the 50D are approximately 20 mb images; this will significantly reduce the photo quantity capacity of your memory card. In turn the images retain all of their data when the photo was taken, without any processing by the camera. A RAW file is the original sensor data captured, and while you may have chosen a white balance and picture style, these do not embed themselves within the data of your image. Instead the RAW file uses your camera white balance and picture style settings as a type of marker, which can be interpreted by the computer, but easily changed using the previously mentioned software packages. You can then take the photo and using your computer software, change the white balance settings that were used, change exposure amounts, and other fine adjustments to perfect your photo in ways that a camera could never automate.
So should you use raw or JPG? that depends on how much time you have after shooting your photos. If you are taking 2,000 photos and wont have time to edit them all, you can shoot JPG and hope your settings will provide the images you want. If you are doing a smaller shoot, I’d go for RAW. That way you don’t need to worry about white balance settings, sharpness, or any of the picture style formats – they can be changed with a click in post processing.
Raw files are large and will take up a large amount of space on your computer. So be sure to have plenty of storage.
Another note on Raw files with the 50D they use a new standard called G9 CR2 raw files, this requires one to install both Canon Raw 1.4 or higher – available at canoneos.com and additionally Photoshop users will need to download Adobe Camera Raw plug in from adobe.com. Photoshop CS3 will not be able to open 50DI raw files without updating the Camera Raw plugin to version 4.6 or greater.
Raw files will require some sharpening, the camera normally sharpens photos in JPG, so clarity will improve with improving the sharpening of a raw file. Other techniques will be detailed in the post processing section of this site.
AI Servo / AI AutoFocus / One Shot
A quick press of the Focus Mode button on the top of your 50D will allow you to use the top dial to quickly change from One shot to AI Focus, or AI Servo mode.
1. One Shot: Canon’s default focus mode, the camera will not take a photo until the camera locks onto its subject matter. Once the red light in the view finder lights, the photo can be taken. Appropriate for non-moving subject matter, portraits, landscapes and other NON-moving subjects.
2. AI Servo: The 50D constantly refocuses attempting to calculate the moving subjects next movement and based on that prediction focus the lens on the subject. This mode should be used when shooting sports, moving objects, or any type of image where the subject matter is constantly changing location. This mode can be combined with continuous shooting to capture 6.3 frames per second while following a subject. If the auto focus is able to perform adequately, you will get 6.3 frames per second in focus while your subject matter is moving.
3. AI Auto focus: Mode where the 50D determines whether One Shot or AI Servo should be used. In general this is not a good mode to be in, and I avoid it at all times. Its quite quick and easy to switch between one shot and AI Servo – do that when switching is necessary.
Continuous H/ Continuous L / One Shot / Timer / Continuous Timer
Continuous H: Continuous H mode allows you to hold the shutter release button down and snap away at the fastest FPS available to the camera. This will result in many photos being taken, it is most helpful for action shots where you are trying to capture as many frames of the action as possible. The draw backs are that it will keep firing, and if you are using a flash – the flash may not be able to recycle its power cycle and keep up with your photos. You can also end up with more photos then you intended, if you hold it for too long.
Continuous L: Continuous L mode allows you to hold the shutter release button down and snap away at 3 FPS available to the camera. This will result in 3 photos being taken per second, it is most helpful for action shots where you are trying to capture a lot of the action but do not need every precise movement. The draw backs are that it will keep firing, and if you are using a flash – the flash may not be able to recycle its power cycle and keep up with your photos. You can also end up with more photos then you intended, if you hold it for too long.
One Shot: Press and hold the shutter and you get one photo, you have to release the shutter button and press again to get another photo.
Timer: Places the camera on a 2 second delay, press the shutter button – wait and then the photo is taken. Useful when using a tripod, reduces camera vibrations when pressing the shutter.
Continuous Timer: Places the camera on a 2 second delay, press the shutter button – wait and then 10 photos are taken. Useful when using a tripod, reduces camera vibrations when pressing the shutter.
Highlight Tone Priority
Highlight tone priority customization is intended to expand the standard dynamic range of your 50D. Essentially it is a mode where Canon limits you to an ISO range of 200 – 3200. When HTP mode is enabled, the rear LCD displays a D+ icon. HTP mode takes a photo at a higher ISO but processes using a lower iso settings configuration. So whats the point? HTP is an attempt by Canon to help prevent blow out or loss of detail to shadows. If something is overly white, it helps to bring it down so detail isn’t lost, if something is overly dark it helps lighten the area to bring in more detail. This feature does instills a larger amoutnofdigital noise especially in dark areas. I personally do not use this feature, you can instead under expose the image and fix it in post processing.
Light optimizer: Canon applies a contrast curve for you, if you shoot RAW the contrast curve will be applied in DPP. I recommend however, that you take control of your output and using photoshop create your own contrast curve adjustments.
sRGB v aRGB
Your camera allows you to shoot in sRGB or Adobe RGB modes. Adobe RGB mode has a greater depth of color range, and is considered a professional color mode. adobe RGB monitors are quite expensive, and most windows systems are not calibrated for adobe RGB. adobe RGB is used for printing professional prints and is not compatible with standard applications such as internet explorer etc..
If you are sharing your 50D photos via the web or printing them via your own printer or a photo service – make sure you are shooting in sRGB mode or at the very least converting them to sRGB in adobe photoshop prior to posting them to the web. Even if they look great on your screen, your images will look flat, muddy, and unattractive when posted on the web. Any edits you do will be muted, as aRGB is not appropriate for online use.
White Balance: A main reason to shoot using the RAW file format is the ability to change the white balance during post processing of your images. If you are shooting in JPG you will need select the proper white balance based on the type of lighting you are exposing the sensor too, this may require more complicated steps such as using a custom white balance.
Picture Styles: Using the picture style button under the rear LCD on your 50D you are able to quickly access the Picture style menu. This menu allows you to colors schemes, sharpness, and saturation settings that Canon has made available to the user. These selections embed themselves into JPG files and flag themselves on RAW files. This means that JPG files will be permanently tuned to the setting selected, RAW files will represent the choice shown, but can be easily changed in post processing using either DPP or Adobe Camera Raw (see Adobe Camera Raw tutorial)
Standard: basic sharpening and color saturation
Portrait: warmer tones, less sharpening
Landscape: more saturation, more vivid blues and greens, more sharpening
Custom settings: allow you to control the amount of sharpening, contrast, saturation of your JPG files.
Custom Functions: The 50D offers custom functions which are more advanced settings available to the user. These more advanced settings do not necessarily equate to better images, but they can certainly lead to the need for more complex and technical understanding and use of your camera. Custom functions allow things such as focus and exposure to be separated from the shutter button to independent buttons, allow the enabling or disabling of highlight tone priority, auto lighting optimization, flash sync speed, high ISO noise reduction, ISO range expansion, button reassignment, long exposure noise reduction, mirror lock, and other functions. We will touch on these with the more advanced sections of this 50D tutorial.
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50D Guide:
50D Portraits
50D Basic Features
50D Landscape Photos
50D ISO Test
Canon XSi Guide
Hyperfocal Distance Explained