Nikon D50 Review by Phil Askey

[JerseyJay]

Overall conclusion

Unlike Canon when they produced the EOS 300D (Digital Rebel) Nikon chose not to cripple their affordable digital SLR. Instead the D50 while lacking some of the D70's features doesn't compromise performance or photographic flexibility, most important for first time buyers who (surely) the manufacturers hope will progress to a more expensive D-SLR later.

The D50's sensor and image processing pipeline are clearly different to that of the D70/D70s, it exhibits fewer of the moire/maze artifacts but at the same time isn't quite as crisp as its 'elder siblings'. That said the D50 is more than capable of producing some fantastic results, and is tuned to deliver bright and colorful images from the first exposure. If this isn't to your taste you can of course configure the image processing to produce D70-like images.

We were probably the most surprised by the D50's noise levels, Nikon has clearly spent time since the creation of the D70 on design changes to keep noise down. The D50 has the lowest noise levels of any of the affordable digital SLR's we've tested (although they're all fairly clean, we're talking fractions here).

The nicest thing about the D50 however is that it just feels right, build wise it's a step above the Canon EOS 350D and Pentax *ist DS, it's also not too small, I'm all for making cameras lighter but there's a limit as to how small you can make an SLR before the hand grip feels cramped and controls begin to get in the way. The D50 feels as responsive as any film camera and is a pleasure to shoot with. The only change I would make would probably be a larger viewfinder view (like that of the Pentax *ist DS).

I'm quite happy to give the D50 our highest rating, Highly Recommended, there's little to dislike and for anyone looking for an affordable digital SLR it has to be seriously considered. My only advice would be to research lenses and decide if you want to go with the Kit or spend a little more on a slightly better lens.

Please read full review with sample pictures, here (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond50/)

[meriadoc]

Having the D50, the 350D and the Pentax *ist on our shelves at work, i'd have to say they're all pretty cheap feeling, even the D50 feels cheap in the way it is built, it just doesn't 'feel' right. Customers have said that too.

But between all three, the pentax by far is the cheapest feeling by far. 6mp, runs on 4 AA batteries (yes, AA batteries), the lens just feels wrong (worse than the 350D, although the D50 lens is nowhere near as good as the one that comes with the D70). I do wish though that nikon did an 8mp sensor, as alot of people want the 8, no matter how hard I try to push the D70 in terms of build (mainly because people don't want to spend the additional $$$ for the 20D).

They're all good, but for the sub-1000 mark, they all feel cheap. The whole SD thing also just isn't right. Don't ask me why, but its just odd. The three are all small, so on a large lens, they just look like end caps for the lens.

[JerseyJay]

Lisa,

I guess once I moved to D2X aka. Pro Body, D70 / D100 / 10D / 20D without grip feel way tooo small. I was holding my D70 before I send it out after sale and I felt like I could break it in a half :)

There is a huge difference in ergonomics. I would strongly suggest to 20D / D100 owners to get battery grip. It will improve stability and balance.

Re: D50, 350 and Pentax .....

Remember, those are true DSLRs. Would you ever imagine that companies will be selling them for less than $1000. Few years back they were $20,000 +

Gotta love Technology :)

[meriadoc]

the 20D for me is plenty big enough.

I'm currently not getting paid enough for my work (not that I'm actively looking for photo assignments yet, but will be soon), so I've no interest in getting a pro body. Eventually, yes, but I'm going to be holding out for a little while longer..

I'm more interested in the lenses more than anything else at the moment. Maybe in a couple years (once I get my car paid off ;)), I'll upgrade again, but until canon REALLY get the grip issues fixed, I ain't going the grip route right now...

Well, canon released the D30 a few years ago, at a reasonably affordable price..

But a DSLR using AA batteries, thats cutting WAY too many corners. You just don't get decent power out of one. Battery life just sucks in that thing.

I like my metal body. 1D mk 5 or whatever it will be when I finally go pro body...

More lenses for me right now currently...

edited to add : forgive me, I ramble too much

[benny]

I do use 6 X AA batteries on my Canon EOS 20D sometimes...

Cheers,

[paradise]

Lisa, what issues are there with the grip. I wholeheartedly agree with Jay, the grip makes the 20d feel like the Mark II body. I held Benny's Mark body and loved it, ordered the grip the next week. Now it feels kind of like that. I have recommended it since then, and have not had any problems with it. It just feels so much more balanced now with it on.

[ccplim]

There is a huge difference in ergonomics. I would strongly suggest to 20D / D100 owners to get battery grip. It will improve stability and balance.

It's a great improvement after adding the grip.

Btw, D100+grip is actually bigger in size than D2X.

[meriadoc]

Benny - thats occasionally. But would you use AA batteries all the time?

Ed - there are problems with some grips that lose power, and the camera will read that there is no battery life left. Only way to resolve the problem is remove and replace the grip each time it does it.

Its a pretty common problem - canon are fixing/replacing the grips with that issue. So i'm holding out until they have sorted the problem out.