4
Part I
Navigating and Setting Up the EOS 50D
respectively), the new sensor is
engineered to increase each pixel's
light sensitive area and to use a
larger microlens over each pixel.
The spaces between microlens on
the sensor array are now gapless so
that each microlens covers more of
the pixel surface than in previous
Canon digital SLR sensors. Thus the
EOS 50D provides approximately 1
to 1.5 f-stops better digital noise
performance at high ISO sensitivi-
ties than previous sensors. In every-
day shooting, this translates into
new opportunities for lowlight
shooting particularly when you're
using an Image-Stabilized (IS) lens.
DIGIC 4 processor. Every new iter-
ation of Canon's DIGIC processor
improves the speed of image pro-
cessing, and that's no less true with
the fourth generation of Canon's
on-board processor. The 14-bit
DIGIC 4 processor off ers 30 percent
faster image processing than previ-
ous processors. It also off ers
increased functionality including
full and variable resolutions; High
ISO Noise Reduction options; Auto
Lighting Optimizer with three
selectable levels; and Peripheral
Illumination Correction, or vignette
control, for JPEG capture (and
vignette control for RAW fi les using
Canon's Digital Photo Professional
program). And the faster processor
results in a faster and more respon-
sive autofocus system. Taken
together, DIGIC 4 performs more
processing with more selectable
options for image correction — all
with no appreciable loss of speed
and performance.
Camera Features
Overview
If you've had your EOS 50D for any amount
of time, then you are likely familiar with most
of the controls on the camera. However, the
following sections are designed to provide a
paradigm for using the controls in logical and
effi cient ways because once you learn the
overall design, you can make camera adjust-
ments more effi ciently. And chances are that
there are some buttons and controls that you
haven't fi gured out yet, so these sections
help you make full use of all the 50D has
to off er.
It's important to become familiar
with the names of camera controls
now because I refer to these names
throughout this book.
There are three main controls that can be
used together or separately to control most
functions on the EOS 50D. Here is a quick
synopsis of the controls and when to use
them.
Main dial and Quick Control dial.
You use the Main and Quick
Control dials to make changes for
the for dual-function buttons
located along the top LCD panel
such as the AF-Drive button
(Autofocus mode and Drive mode).
Use the Main dial to change the
fi rst named function. So for the
AF-Drive button, you turn the Main
dial to change the Autofocus mode.
For the second named function,
you make changes using the Quick
Control dial. So, you turn the Quick
Control dial to change the Drive
mode. This holds true for the