The 50D has arrived ...

[ajlipe]

and is waiting for me to pick it up after work. The camera came as part of a kit that included the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens. I've never owned an EF-S lens and I've always been skeptical of lenses with this much of a zoom range (11x). Guess I'll test the lens and go from there. I already have a lens line-up that fits my needs and style of shooting so I don't know if I will keep this lens. It may be up for sale in a week or so.

[jefg99]

Alice,

Have fun. Looking forward to continued good results from your Canons. Had I not committed to buying my son's XTi some months ago, I would have taken your 40D off your hands.

[Brian Keifer]

I expect a full review! =)

[karlg]

Good luck, keep us posted on what you think of both the 50D and the new lens.

[sgelatt]

Congrats on you new camera and lens! I can't wait to see the pics you take with it.

[leelf62]

Alice,
I think you beat my husband re:  having the newest and the finest!!  Good luck with it and, most of all, enjoy!!

[ajlipe]

A couple of observations so far:

1) the RAW files are huge!
2) LR 2 doesn't recognize the RAW files but LR Release Candidate 2.1 does. Hadn't planned on updating LR until 2.1 was a final release.
3) For a consumer grade lens, the 18-200 seems decent - I hope to give it a good workout this weekend.

[ajlipe]

I haven't had time to do a proper test of the 50D and the 18-200mm lens yet but, for a consumer grade lens, the 18-200 is a pleasant surprise so far. It will never replace my Canon L lenses but it looks like it will be a decent walk-around lens so I may just keep it. I'll have a better feel for this lens after the weekend.

[Nick D]

Glad you are enjying it so far. Good luck with it and happy shooting

Nick

[ajlipe]

Today is test day. Heading to the Philadelphia Zoo with just the Canon 50D and 18-200 lens. I think this will be the lightest I've traveled with gear in a long time but I want to force myself to use just this lens to see what it can or can't do.

[Joe Burke]

Alice,
Do you have a flickr (or other) site where you post?  I would love to see how the zoo pics turned out today with the D50 and the lens.

[ajlipe]

Joe - I just got home and am transferring the files to my computer. I will post a link to some of the photos tomorrow.

[ajlipe]

General impressions of the new Canon 50D and high ISOs are that 3200 is very good if you are spot on with the exposure. Naturally, underexposure will bring out noise but that is true at any ISO. ISO6400 is useable and ISO12800 will be reserved for emergencies only when it means the difference between getting the shot or not.

Now for the Canon 18-200 f/3.5-5.6 IS lens - it is a good walk-around, general purpose lens. However, I've worked hard to acquire my current lens line-up and each lens serves a purpose so I think I will sell this lens.

Now back to sorting images from yesterday. I'll post a link soon.

[Joe Burke]

Good critique of the camera and lens Alice.  The Nikkor 18-200mm is the only lens left on my (realistic) lens list.  I want to keep that lens on my D40x as you say; a walk around lens.   The specialty lenses go on the D300.

[ajlipe]

Images taken at the Philadelphia Zoo yesterday with the 50D and EF-S 18-200 lens may be seen at —> http://ajlipe.smugmug.com/gallery/6146557_WVWCX//387030860_tCMgT.

I'm not real happy with the mountain lion and tiger shots but they were taken through some very dirty glass.