Canon SX50 Specs (1 Viewer)

[Frogfish]

You guys have cost me money ! Not that much though, it cost me just £200 here and should arrive tomorrow.

I've bought this for a specific reason (or three) and the excellent images on here, and range of this camera, look perfect for what I want and I'm sure it will be up to the job.

I'm off to Taman Nagara (oldest rainforest in the world) next week and instead of taking a big backup lens (80-400) to my 300/2.8 and TCs, plus taking a macro lens and then also carrying around my scope ... I thought this could do the job of all three ! Not to the same IQ level but from what I've seen on here not to be sneezed at either.

Anyway I'm going through the whole thread trying to pick out the best settings (never had a Canon before so have to get used to the terminology - I feel a bit traitorous) o

Thanks !
Kevin

 

[Nickgas]

I bought the SX50 a few days ago. I have been very pleased with it but when I took it out this afternoon all the images are coming out blue. By the way it is the same blue image with every option (TV, AV, M etc.) except auto. I'm hoping I have just knocked a setting but any advice gratefully received!

 

[IanF]

I bought the SX50 a few days ago. I have been very pleased with it but when I took it out this afternoon all the images are coming out blue. By the way it is the same blue image with every option (TV, AV, M etc.) except auto. I'm hoping I have just knocked a setting but any advice gratefully received!

Check the white balance setting. It should be on AWB.

 

[Nickgas]

Check the white balance setting. It should be on AWB.

Cheers Ian that has made a big difference

 

[crazyfingers]

Fun stand-off "macro". Maximum optical and 2x teleconverter from about 6 feet away. No crop. Resized to attach.

 

[Frogfish]

Some Pros & Cons from the first day's fiddling with the SX50 (trying to get to grips with it before a birding trip next week):

Note that my main DSLR is a D3s and backup a D800 so this is something very different (and very small !) for me !

1. It is tiny. It weighs nothing and the buttons are minute. I keep knocking the Timer button by accident.

2. It is going to work well as my intended uses as :-

i) a macro setup (luckily I already have both Raynoxes (or is that Ranoxii ?!), the 250 and 150, I haven't decided which is best with this camera yet but the 250 and full optical zoom gives about a 5-6" (ca. 18-20cms) working distance to the subject which isn't bad though it's not great either).

ii) Scope substitute on trips. Not really But it's going to be better than cropping from a DSLR shot (even 600mm) and is great for record shots to help ID birds.

iii) But it may not work well as an emergency backup to my DSLR and long lenses. Too many missed shots as AF is slow and IQ lower than I initially expected based on the shots from more experienced users of the SX50 here. I may still have to take a backup long lens on trips - something I was hoping to avoid.

3. Changing shutter speed or aperture in M is a real pain and slow (though can be done without taking your eye away from the VF). The tiny dial doesn't have enough grip for large fingers.

4. Why on earth is the S button (which I have assigned to the x1.5 and x2 convertors) on the back of the camera ?! I will always be using the VF and this means moving my head away from the camera and fiddling around trying to find it whilst maintaining the image in the VF. A real pain !! It would be a huge improvement if Canon were to exchange this position with that of the Flash button.

5. LOVE the Framing Assist button.

6. The amount of CA (Purple or Green fringing) (it is rather a dull grey day so lower contrast anyway) does not seem exceptional and is easily cleaned up in LR5 or similar. 5 secs per pic to remove it.

7. The VF is downright awful.

8. Memory card/Battery cover is very flimsy (however this seems to be a gripe with every camera so nothing unusual).

9. Pics can get very noisy very quickly though in the main (low ISOs) they look like they should clean up easily in LR/PS or similar.

10. I'd tried assigning different shooting parameters to C1 & C2 as advised throughout this thread (not exactly I've changed some to my personal preferences) however so far I still prefer M and may assign this to C2.

11. Love the Pic-in-pic for reviewing shots.

 

[gadus]

Have you considered using a Hoodman Loupe?
It acts as an excellent viewfinder and turns the camera into a reasonably useful scope if used on a tripod.

Peter

 

[Frogfish]

Have you considered using a Hoodman Loupe?
It acts as an excellent viewfinder and turns the camera into a reasonably useful scope if used on a tripod.

Peter

Thanks for the idea Peter. Got one, hate it. I keep knocking it off and it's fiddly when this will be in the backpack most of the time.

There's a lot of us on this forum from the Wirral it seems :t:

 

[Frogfish]

Sample from first macro attempt. On it's deathbed the fly dedicated it's body to science and so here we are: SX50HS, Raynox 250. Roughly 25% of the full frame.

I think the normal macro function on the camera is good enough for most macros of small insects etc. The Raynox (either 150 or 250, both are good) will help with tiny insects or for detail of larger insects etc.

Careful when attaching the Raynox - I pulled the lens 'cosmetic ring' (the piece with the writing on) off the front of the lens when removing the Raynox adapter ! it clips back on easily but it might be worth shaving (or sandpapering - the adapter has no glass but just make sure you clean it properly before using it on your camera) a tad off the Raynox adaptor lugs to get a slightly less 'snug' fit

 

[crazyfingers]

For most "macro" photos, I do the stand-off approach at maximum zoom. I've also found that this works better with the 2x teleconverter ON. I don't know how it happens but I can get closer (actually physically), to the object and get a focus with the teleconverter on.

 

[rob lee]

Now in its third year, my garden pond is really coming good for Odonata. The emerging insects allowing close approach, and with a Raynox 250 attached to the SX50 & on a tripod, I`ve been getting some pretty good shots. Below are some examples from the last couple of days.

Still loving the camera.

 

[TRT45]

My Fix for the SX50 Control Wheel

Thought I’d share my experience with the SX50… I picked one up a few weeks ago, after hearing about it from my brother-in-law, who happened to attend an Audubon lecture by the Stokes while vacationing in Florida. I checked reviews online and posts on the forum here, thought it sounded like a good deal, and went ahead and ordered one.

I have no interest in becoming a bird photographer, but I thought it would be nice to have something lightweight and small to document sightings on trips. After a couple of days in the field, I was very pleased with the images I was getting, especially considering my level of experience. I had a Powershot S5, so I was already familiar with the Canon interface.

From reading posts, I was aware of some of the complaints regarding the touchy control wheel. I wasn’t prepared for what a pain it turned out to be. Maybe it’s my hand size, or fat thumb pads, but I was constantly ending up in a function or menu screen, or activating the self-timer. Really frustrating, especially when there’s a bird close and in the open that flies away just as you’ve spent precious seconds clearing the viewfinder.

I wanted a fix that didn’t physically alter the camera, so after some thought, I came up with the idea of a guard that attached by way of the tripod screw. I fabricated the device shown in the photos of 0.064” and 0.032” brass sheet, joined with silver solder. Both the battery compartment and the outputs are accessible with the guard in place.

I haven’t had a chance to take it out in the field, but I did spend about an hour carrying the camera around in the backyard trying to inadvertently bring up the function or menu screen, and couldn’t. And no accidental self-timer activation. While I don’t appreciate having to spend my time fixing Canon’s poor engineering, I do know that my outings are now going to be a lot calmer!

 

[Egret]

I wanted a fix that didn’t physically alter the camera, so after some thought, I came up with the idea of a guard that attached by way of the tripod screw. I fabricated the device shown in the photos of 0.064” and 0.032” brass sheet, joined with silver solder. Both the battery compartment and the outputs are accessible with the guard in place.

!

Impressive! Now, if you can just ramp-up production so that we can all buy one.

Andy

 

[punta]

No scope these days, only the daughters SX50 and its big zoom.

Glossy Ibis x2 converter and cropped.

 

[TRT45]

Impressive! Now, if you can just ramp-up production so that we can all buy one.

Andy

Thanks, Andy, but I'm retired and I only do that w**k thing sparingly, as needed. I'm just glad I was able to stop the visions of me twirling the camera over my head by the strap, then launching it into the woods! Seriously, I having a lot of fun with this. I've got an Alaska trip coming up in June, and I'm looking forward to hopefully getting some neat photos. You know, something to bore the family with at get-togethers...

 

[Mevcrna]

Hi, Can you tell me more about the Raynox? I love macro but the SX50HS doesn't have threads for a filter. How does the lens fit?
Thanks.
Mike

 

[Frogfish]

Hi, Can you tell me more about the Raynox? I love macro but the SX50HS doesn't have threads for a filter. How does the lens fit?
Thanks.
Mike

The Raynox lenses screw into their own plastic adapter which has two lugs which fit inside any lens barrel. Simple fit - just 2 seconds. It is however a very tight fit on the SX50HS so you may need to use sandpaper and rub a mm off of the lugs on the plastic Raynox adaptor (which is not a part of the Raynox lens, which screw into the adapter). Suggest you go to the excellent Raynox website and look for the 150 or 250 pages. You can use them on just about any lens / camera so they are fully transportable across systems.

 

[crazyfingers]

A "Macro" from about 8 feet away of a garter snake peaking out from some clover over a water puddle in the grass.

 

[BrianWH]

Just to show the zoom on my SX50 HS here are two photos taken from a hide at Rutland water of some Cormorants in a tree. The second photo is the zoomed shot of the Cormorant in the middle of the tree.
Rather a gloomy day, but I was happy with the results.

 

[jeffhosier]

Windswept week in Wales

Just come back from a windswept week in Pembrokeshire in Wales. Wonderful place for looking at birds. Here are some pictures I took. I particularly like the one of the chaffinch that got away!


Jeff