Canon SX50 Specs (1 Viewer)

[crazyfingers]

apart from the positioning of the control wheel and my tendency to accidently turn on the self-timer

I don't think that I've ever accidentally done that. I have no idea if it can be disabled. My suggestion is to work on a different habit of holding the camera.

The one button I have a hard time with still is to get the frame assist button instead of frame lock.

Interesting birds by the way. Wish we had such interesting looking critters here.

 

[Neil]

I've been interested in birds for years, and I finally decided I'd like to try to make some permanent records.

I bought a Fuji HS50 seduced by how nice it felt to use, but I just couldn't get the kind of results I was hoping for. It went on eBay and I got an SX50 instead.

I'm really chuffed with the SX50 - apart from the positioning of the control wheel and my tendency to accidently turn on the self-timer just as I've got the bird perfectly in the frame so that I have to watch it gradually move away as the timer counts down! There isn't a way of disabling it is there?

Here's a few pictures I took at Chew Valley Lake in Somerset, England this week. I fiddled with them a bit in Apple's Aperture software. I like them - I hope you do.


Jeff Hosier, Bath, England

Jeff,
You should be happy with those. The SX50 has done a lot to get birders interested in taking photos.
You can't disable the Self-timer button unfortunately.
Neil.

 

[midge]

Reading all the great posts here over the past few days made me bite the bullet and order the SX50 myself. The wife and I have a Canon 550d with a 300 f4 IS lens and 1.4 TC the addition of the SX will allow us both to be taking photos at the same time, well thats my argument anyway, not at all sure she'll see it that way. We're going to Bempton on Wednesday so hope to get some practice in. Thanks for all the great advice and inspirational photos on this thread.

Midge
Lincoln

 

[pooleparrot]

I've been interested in birds for years, and I finally decided I'd like to try to make some permanent records.

I bought a Fuji HS50 seduced by how nice it felt to use, but I just couldn't get the kind of results I was hoping for. It went on eBay and I got an SX50 instead.

I'm really chuffed with the SX50 - apart from the positioning of the control wheel and my tendency to accidently turn on the self-timer just as I've got the bird perfectly in the frame so that I have to watch it gradually move away as the timer counts down! There isn't a way of disabling it is there?

Here's a few pictures I took at Chew Valley Lake in Somerset, England this week. I fiddled with them a bit in Apple's Aperture software. I like them - I hope you do.


Jeff Hosier, Bath, England

Hi Jeff, great photos. I must admit that I very often hit the timer function when rushing for a pic, if you just catch it once it goes to "Self timer off" , if this is the case just hit the middle button on the dial "func set" and it removes timer. If you hit it a couple of times it goes to"10 sec self timer" if this is the case just hit the dial at "9 0'clock" once back to "Self timer off" and then hit "func set" and your ready to go.

It's not ideal but its quicker than waiting for 10secs.

Ian

 

[pooleparrot]

Pics

A couple of pics of the 1st Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers I've managed to get a half decent photo of . They're not exceptional but for such an elusive species I'm happy.
Ian
Edit Taken from about 30 metres away.

 

[Egret]

Hi Jeff, great photos. I must admit that I very often hit the timer function when rushing for a pic, if you just catch it once it goes to "Self timer off" , if this is the case just hit the middle button on the dial "func set" and it removes timer. If you hit it a couple of times it goes to"10 sec self timer" if this is the case just hit the dial at "9 0'clock" once back to "Self timer off" and then hit "func set" and your ready to go.

It's not ideal but its quicker than waiting for 10secs.

Ian

Thanks for that. I am forever doing this and it drives me crazy because I need "specs off" to use the viewfinder and "specs on" to us most of the controls!

Andy

 

[TheScrutinizer]

I've been interested in birds for years, and I finally decided I'd like to try to make some permanent records.

I bought a Fuji HS50 seduced by how nice it felt to use, but I just couldn't get the kind of results I was hoping for. It went on eBay and I got an SX50 instead.

I'm really chuffed with the SX50 - apart from the positioning of the control wheel and my tendency to accidently turn on the self-timer just as I've got the bird perfectly in the frame so that I have to watch it gradually move away as the timer counts down! There isn't a way of disabling it is there?

Here's a few pictures I took at Chew Valley Lake in Somerset, England this week. I fiddled with them a bit in Apple's Aperture software. I like them - I hope you do.


Jeff Hosier, Bath, England

Great shots, Jeff!

For me the most annoying thing about SX50 is the self-timer button. I've never understood why this function has to be as available as it is. Hopefully, Canon have removed it with the next generation. At least it should be made configurable.

Here's a few of my last pictures.

Tom

 

[IanF]

Same problem for me with the self timer button. Even though I consciously try to avoid it I still sometimes activate the self timer menu.

I'm still very pleased with the results I'm getting from the SX50 HS whether the birds are close or distant.

A few photos over the last few weeks. All at least 50% crops and taken hand held in AV mode with aperture wide open at ISO80 and at 1200mm with the 1.5x digital converter engaged.

Waxwing c.20m
Long-eared Owl c.30m
Merlin c.60m
Long-tailed Tit c.5m
Little Egret c.30m

 

[crazyfingers]

AV mode with aperture wide open at ISO80 and at 1200mm with the 1.5x digital converter engaged.

I think I will try experimenting with that. Until now I've let auto do it all.

Have you ever tried switching back and forth to see what Auto would choose in the same situation?

 

[Geoff Pain]

Cracking photos Ian.

 

[IanF]

I think I will try experimenting with that. Until now I've let auto do it all.

Have you ever tried switching back and forth to see what Auto would choose in the same situation?

Yes, I've experimented with auto. I found that even on bright sunny days it always opts for an ISO higher than ISO80. I find that ISO80 gives the least grainiest results. I still got decent results using auto ISO, just not as smooth as controlling it. With the image stabilisation being so effective you can get away with using ISO80 in quite dull conditions if you're careful. On occasion I'll go up to ISO400 but no higher and I try to avoid even that high if possible.

I should add that I have the camera set at the highest quality jpeg setting and in 'superfine' jpeg.

 

[Brian Stone]

I've been interested in birds for years, and I finally decided I'd like to try to make some permanent records.

I bought a Fuji HS50 seduced by how nice it felt to use, but I just couldn't get the kind of results I was hoping for. It went on eBay and I got an SX50 instead.

I'm really chuffed with the SX50 - apart from the positioning of the control wheel and my tendency to accidently turn on the self-timer just as I've got the bird perfectly in the frame so that I have to watch it gradually move away as the timer counts down! There isn't a way of disabling it is there?

Here's a few pictures I took at Chew Valley Lake in Somerset, England this week. I fiddled with them a bit in Apple's Aperture software. I like them - I hope you do.


Jeff Hosier, Bath, England

You can't disable the button but don't have to wait for the timer to count down. Just hit the menu button and it cancels the shot.

 

[crazyfingers]

Here's something I would have completely missed without the power of the SX50.

I was in my back yard looking down where my property goes into a swampy hollow. The first photo shows where I'm looking down. I saw some black dots moving about.

It's springtime for Wild turkeys!

 

[kennethwfd]

Havn't defected from the Fuji camp, still have HS50 and just purchased HS30 for a song due to broken tripod mount, but decided to purchase SX50, this thread has been a major influence

Three recent pics

 

[Hamhed]

Yes, I've experimented with auto. I found that even on bright sunny days it always opts for an ISO higher than ISO80. I find that ISO80 gives the least grainiest results. I still got decent results using auto ISO, just not as smooth as controlling it. With the image stabilisation being so effective you can get away with using ISO80 in quite dull conditions if you're careful. On occasion I'll go up to ISO400 but no higher and I try to avoid even that high if possible.

I should add that I have the camera set at the highest quality jpeg setting and in 'superfine' jpeg.

Ian -
I'm assuming you use a tripod? Those are some fantastically sharp shots. The photo of the Owl buried in the branches shows off perfectly the capabilities of the SX50.

Steve

 

[Bob Philpott]

I'm still very pleased with the results I'm getting from the SX50 HS whether the birds are close or distant.

A few photos over the last few weeks. All at least 50% crops and taken hand held in AV mode with aperture wide open at ISO80 and at 1200mm with the 1.5x digital converter engaged.

Excellent shots as usual Ian. It is clear that as time progresses you may have changed your set up ( I have not seen ISO 80 mentioned before or have missed it). After all these entries I wonder whether it might be appropriate for one of the SX50 experts to give a breakdown of the settings they currently use. I am sure we all have our own set up but the clarity of the shots you are getting is way above mine.

 

[draycotebirding]

Excellent shots as usual Ian. It is clear that as time progresses you may have changed your set up ( I have not seen ISO 80 mentioned before or have missed it). After all these entries I wonder whether it might be appropriate for one of the SX50 experts to give a breakdown of the settings they currently use. I am sure we all have our own set up but the clarity of the shots you are getting is way above mine.

Or better still put them in a sticky at the top of the Canon threads so they don't get lost in the posts.

Regards

John

 

[Roy C]

It is always going to be best to shoot this Camera at the lowest ISO you can get away with - this is no different with any DSLR but with the small sensor of the SX50 it is doubly important as noise can be a big problem. This does not mean that you just stick the Camera into ISO 80 regardless as you have to have a adequate shutter speed to ensure that the pics are sharp, this is where good hand holding technique comes into its own.

 

[Roy C]

I no longer have this Camera but am still finding unprocessed shots from it. This one was handheld at about 1000mm (FF equivelent) and ISO 125.

 

[Mackem George]

Thats a nice one Roy,handheld eh steady as a rock.
GEORGE