"Help me buy my next Canon D-SLR" article, January 2010 issue

[rbarry]

Hello Photoplus,

Love the magazine (do I sound like a Steve Wright sycophant?).

I was rather surprised by your summary verdict of the Canon 550D in the article referenced in the subject matter of this posting, that being; "Help me buy my next Canon D-SLR".

I fail to see how the ability of this camera to capture high definition video be considered a negative feature when arriving at your verdict score. To quote, "HD video seems unnecessary" next to a big red X. As the majority of the latest DSLR cameras include HD video capability, it would be more appropriate to include those cameras that don't have HD video capability as a mark against in the red "X" section.

I realise there are purists that have no time for video in a stills camera, and find the thought of video and stills in the same device abhorrent. However, you don't have to use it. I don't believe that manufacturing costs would be reduced if this feature were not included; the R & D has already been carried out on previously released models, including this models immediate elder sibling the 500D. I dare say it could be disabled in firmware, but how will that benefit the end user or the manufacturer. Effectively you are getting an extremely high quality HD video camera for nothing. How on earth can this be considered "unnecessary"?

The other points raised were low burst rate and reduced viewfinder magnification. I can live with that as there are other models around that can better those characteristics, albeit at a price.

Technological improvements move on very quickly in the DSLR world, and yesterday's top dog will inevitably be tomorrow's also ran. It may have been more appropriate to have mentioned the inherited focus system from the previous model, or the lack of an adjustable screen when assessing this camera, which I assume is based on many things such as price, feature set, innovation etc.

I hope I don't sound like a narrow minded blinkered curmudgeon, and I'm not suggesting thst the 550D should have been given any higher status than it achieved. In fact I thought the 7D might have beaten or come close to the overall points awarded to the 550D. The 60D deserves it's place at the top, it ticks all the boxes of spec, innovation, price etc. I just feel it to be unjustified that the ability to record HD video be considered "unnecessary" in the 550D, yet presumably appropriate in other models.

Love the magazine..........

[KeithT]

Apparently, including video in a DSLR is no big deal when it comes to manufacture. It cost only pennies to include the chip within the processor, yet the obvious advantage of doing so have been proved to be a big seller. I own the 5dMKII and have no interest in the video facility at all. I am purely a stills photographer and hobbyist. However, so good is the HD video with this camera that many independent film makers are using it to produce movies and television series. The BBC is also seriously thinking of using it for broadcast, a possibility that would never have been heard of in any other era.

Technology does move on, and still some photographers prefer to do everything manually, and some will never give digital a try. It's their choice and they are hurting no one by sticking with their preferences. But we live in a different age where many things are now possible that once were the dreams of the Heath Robinson brigade. We should just relax and enjoy our time on this planet while we can. It's probably later than we think...lol

[rbarry]

Originally Posted by KeithT

Technology does move on, and still some photographers prefer to do everything manually, and some will never give digital a try. It's their choice and they are hurting no one by sticking with their preferences. But we live in a different age where many things are now possible that once were the dreams of the Heath Robinson brigade. We should just relax and enjoy our time on this planet while we can. It's probably later than we think...lol

Agreed, life's too short to worry over things that are of little consequence.
But I felt I had to comment in case anyone reading the article were under the wrong impression that the Canon 550D was somehow flawed in it's ability to take top quality video images at full HD size and at standard PAL frame rate.

[AndyStevens]

Hmm, interesting that another mag I was flicking through commented that the 60D didn't feel very robust as they're using a different (and presumably cheaper) body. It didn't come out tops - but then it wasn't a Canon specific title.... And you would have thought video would be unnecessary in the 60D too? I didn't read the article but it seems odd to make the comment for one model and then not for another that's not much further up the Canon tree...

Cheers
Andy

[Carly Drew]

Hi everyone,

Great to see people enjoying and debating about the Help Me Buy features!

I think there are a few points worth clarifying here:

We are limited on space for text in Help Me Buy articles and, like many photographers (including myself), the reader wasn't a big fan of HD video recording on all DSLRs, not just the 550D. Rather than repeating the same point (and using up precious text space!) that HD video recording isn't of any benefit to him for each of the five cameras we tested, we thought that it was a statement only really worth making once and hoping that maybe people could see that it could be applied across the range. Obviously not though, so we will be more careful of this in the future!

We did however make sure to re-word and restate the same point from our reader about HD video being of no use to him in various other areas of the article, such as the 'Consider This' box and the final verdict statement, as there was more space in these areas to talk about it.

This isn't to say that PhotoPlus hates HD Video or that we believe it is a genuinely useless feature on DSLRs - this is the opinion of our reader who got to try out the various Canon's at our shoot in Southampton. Many people obviously disagree with this, and if we had chosen another photographer who enjoys movie recording for the shoot, their opinion would've been different.

Horses for courses, n all that jazz!

[swan lover]

Glad to see one photoplus expert not mad about HD video on Dslr's nice of you to be honest Carly, merry christmas

[rbarry]

Hi Carly,

I was under the impression that the "Photoplus Verdict" was the considered opinion of the Photoplus team or expert, not the Photoplus reader Ian Drury. The article finishes with "Ian's Verdict", furthering my incorrect assumption that the "Photoplus Verdict" was separate editorial from Photoplus staff rather than Ian's opinion.

Perhaps this could be made clearer; I don't believe I'm the only one under that impression. Even after your explanation, the next person to comment seems to be under the same impression that the Photoplus Verdict is that of the "expert" rather than the layman. To quote Swan Lover "Glad to see one photoplus expert not mad about HD video on Dslr's nice of you to be honest Carly, merry christmas".

Edit
I owe Swan lover an apology.
Reading that back I was wrong to assume Swan Lover misunderstood the "Photplus Verdict" as he was actually responding to your own opinion (Carly) of video in a stills camera. I could of edited the above sentence out, but that would be unfair if someone has aleady responded to my reply.

[Balenciaga]

Well as a person who just bought a 550D on the recomendation of PhotoPlus and several professional photographers I did wonder at the reasoning for having a video capability ( I sincerely doubt I would use it) but as its my first camera other than several dissapointing compacts I went with the adivce I got and laid my money on the table and its very nice..quite the most impressive camera that I have ever bought and I aspire to be worthy of it..

It does seem very capable and at the moment a bit daunting but I will get to grips with it in time..my only gripe was that it was a bit small but a Canon camera/battery grip thingy seems to have given it more substance in the hand and for now the lens supplied will do fine until I know a bit more and opt to add something or upgrade. Accessories are pricey IMO but everything is pricey these days so I guess I will add as I go along..

I would like to add that whilst I cannot comment on the technical issues like some of the above I did find the review in PhotoPlus the deal clincher, along with several other bits and pieces in the" Must Have List"..Yes I am a bit of a lamb to the slaughter but hey what do I know..if an independant magazine devoted to Canon cameras yet are unsponsored by Canon gives something the thumbs up then I find that it helps in my decision making..

I found the article about the Must Haves and the camera reviews/comparisons very helpful given that I know nothing at all so for me at least it was helpful..I am still at a loss to understand the Video aspect but i am sure that some people find it useful however it is a feature I could have done without.

Bal