I am thinking either the 50D or the 40D but I definitely want the EF-S 18-200mm 3.5-5.6 IS Lens as a walk around lens....It would take the burden off weight wise when I go to France next year.
I can't wait for the reviews.
These super zooms typically have thier "compromises".... and I had the canon 28-200... a coke bottle of a lense for sharpness and color. I've tried the Tamaron 18-200 and that one achieved stunning pop in sharpness with great color... when it could focus... which oddly enough was about 15% of the time. It had a curious handling quality ... and I did NOT care for the build quality and feel in the end.
The 18-200 will be an EF-S lense - so you're not working with the optical sweet spot here ... so vignetting might be a real issue ... as will the overall performance at extremes of focal range and aperature.
I think you really should try out the lens in he store... shoot several dozen image to YOUR memory card and examine the output. I'll bet the enthusiast test results will reveal several performance compromises in such a lens... otherwise they would have repackaged such a superlense into an "L" body and slapped an "L" price to go with it!
I for one am humbly soldiering on with the venerable 28-135IS and the newer 70-300 IS. I have nothing of merit to shoot below 28.
As for the 50D.... I think it should perform well... if the recent track record for Canon is any indication. The core competantcies are god for IQ with thier new DSLRs... (please correct me if I am mistaken)... compared to other manufacturers who have NOT survived the scrutiny of independent reviews for IQ and otherwise.
SO... I am - for the moment - coveting a 50D when it emerges into general circulation. HOWEVER, I am perpetually frugal... and am disillusioned with purchasing a NEW model DSLR when in a scant 12-18 months the manufacturers replace it with yet the latest "must have" configuration. It smacks of silly momentum thinking to have to have it now when in perhaps as little as 2 years it will depreciate to less than half the cost. IE, Ritz camera is selling a 30D for $695and it was INTRODUCED in Feb of 2006 and replaced in AUG of 2007 .... which I was seriously considering. In 2.5 years this great camera has gone from being a hot DSLR to a final markdown model?
I know the holy grail is having a DSLR that is equal or better then film in sharpness, tone, dymanic range and so on... but I already am enjoying tremendous results with my venerable 10D. That's right... a 10D that was introduced in Feb of 2003 at $1999! At the time that was THE hot prosumer DSLR to have.
At any rate... on spec and by reputation I have strong expectations with the 50D. Undeniably it is a HOT APS-C DsLR to have... one I would take in a heart beat IF it were priced at or under $1000. The 40D is a fine DSLR too... but the 50D seems to boast of much much more for just a few hundred more.
Jumping up to a 5d or the anxiously awaited 5D replacement (originally announced Aug 2005... so it's gone uncharacteristicly 3 full years without replacement!). However, the market for this particular spec FF DSLR is smaller than the cheaper APS-C models.
At some point we all know they will start selling FF DSLRs near $1000.... and the APS-C DSLRs will be all floating at $500-700 at introduction! The manufacturers are enjoying a brisk business with digital phtography in these GOLDEN years... and I am happy to a part of it ... in my own way!
I for one am considering the 30D seriously... otherwise ... I'll hold out for a REBATE on the new 50D... which might not emerge until next summer or possibly next winter!
I bought the 40D with the promise to myself that when the 50 came out I would completely ignore it.
after using the top line enough the green one will come in really handyBTW, I'm glad it doesn't.
