Tarzan Loc: Brazil

A bit of info that may be useful in choosing SZ40xSX50:
When SX50 is zoomed to 950mm it's f is 5.6, a tad better than SX 40's f5.8 at 840mm. After all, you don't have to use it zoomed to 1200 everytime, do you?
Best regards.

EAL Loc: Western NC

Thanks for asking my question. New to the forum. Have traveled with the Canon SXIS 12 and SXIS20, loved both and gotten great pics. Have gotten into DSLR, off auto and totally enjoying. Another trip coming up to Nepal and gear very limited. Have been looking at both the 40 and 50 as an upgrade to my 20. Have used a "bean bag" for a tripod in a safari vehicle. Was wondering how steady the 40 or 50 would be handheld as there will be a lot of walking? Monopod helpful??
Also read comments concerning poor placement of some of the buttons on the back of the 40 that are corrected with the 50.
(easy to hit by mistake) Thoughts?? Have noticed that the prices on the 40 are great with the 50 out.

Coops Place Loc: Chicago Area

I've had the SX50 for about 3 weeks now. I needed a good walking around camera that can reach out. Takes great shots and the zoom is very good. Almost took the camera back though. The aperture settings are so restrictive, that it requires a lot of light. Dim light or night shots, forget it. But, I have SLR 50D and a powershot sx3 that I can use. Truthfully, if I had known what I know now, I would have looked to a different camera.

PhotoRichard Loc: Calgary, Alberta

Thanks for your insight. Yes, low light will create problems for the SX50. I am having second thoughts now. Looks like I'll be taking my 7D abd accessories.

Coops Place Loc: Chicago Area

If I were going to Africa, and I had a 7D, I would absolutely take it, but the SX50 will give you great reach out shots. I would take it as a secondary for quick wide angle to zoom shots. It won't take up a lot of room in your photo bag.

William Bennett Loc: Il

It's on the 7d ALL THE TIME MY MAINE LENS EXCEPT FOR THE 100 400 CANON LENS

Fran Loc: Northeast, United States

A trip to Africa is my dream trip. Although its bulky i would bring my 7d and 100-400 lens. I wouldn't want to miss out on the images that combo is capable of. I would also bring a bridge camera to fill in the gaps. I recently bought the Panasonic fx200 and love it.

Kestrel1029 Loc: Philadelphia, PA

Here are some examples of car window bean bags and car window tripods.

http://www.kruger-2-kalahari.com/photographing-from-vehicles.html

Canonuser Loc: UK and South Africa

I spend half of my life living in South Africa and have done safari trips in Kenya, Botswana and the Kruger Park in South Africa. I agree with all the information about lenses, etc, already posted. Tripods are out of the question really as carriage is a problem and a large hefty one would be necessary anyway. You do not walk too much (run a lot if confronted with lions, hippos, water buffalo or snakes) though. One item that is very useful is a bean bag. This is by far the best way to support a camera on the roof/windows of a vehicle and still allow some movement for composition, etc, although this has limitations if other people in the vehicle cannot be persuaded to keep still, which of course is impossible when there are so many things to see all around you. The good thing of course is that for much of the time, light is good so fast shutter speeds help the problem. However there will be the inevitable dawn and dusk shots to consider where sunsets, particularly, will be spectacular. One of the most amazing things you will ever see is the yellow light around dawn in these areas. You must do all you can to try and capture this wonderful light. Usually game drives start no later than 6.00am so you should get loads of shots around dawn. Good luck and enjoy.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

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The 40 ALSO has an external flash shoe..........

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

But they sure did a good job of hiding it!!! Took several of us quite a while to figure out where it was and how to get that cover off!! LOL!!

Shutterbugsailer Loc: Staten Island NY (AKA Cincinnati by the Sea)

Once again, the eternal conflict between bridge camera and DSLR is rearing its head. In the case of the South Africa trip, there are arguments for bringing either or both. True, you will always get the best shots with a DSLR, but, the weight, bulk, and time needed to change lenses and/or camera bodies can get in the way, not to mention the risk of getting dust on the sensor every time a lens is swapped. Were I making the trip, and had a DSLR, I would bring it with its kit lens or a 50MM prime, and buy a bridge camera for long zoom shots in bright light. If I had to start from scratch, I would get the Canon SX50 and a large sensor compact such as the Canon G1X. As to those tripods for shooting from vehicles, they were real neat. I do wonder how the car's owner would react to someone using something that might scratch the paint, mar the upholstery, or even crack a window if attached improperly, especially with a heavy DSLR/telephotos lens combo in place. With a bridge camera or or perhaps a micro 4/3 camera/short telephoto lens, one can stabilize the camera simply by opening the car window all the way and resting one/s elbows on the window sill.

2 Dog Don Loc: Virginia Beach VA

I just came back from SA and I took my Fujifilm HS20exr which is an excellent bridge camera. 30 Optical zoom uses AA batteries. It outshot a lot of expensive cameras others took on the trip and was very easy to carry. One word of advise if you take any of the game tours in the national parks make sure you extend the camera out past the canopy otherwise it will measure the light in the truck a lesson hard learned.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

The Canon measures what hits the sensor, so as long as the canopy is not visible on the LCD or in the viewfinder, it won't be a problem!

j.erwin.brown Loc: Cumberland County, Illinois

My lady friend & I each have Canon SX40 cameras. She is much better at catching pastoral scenic views, and I prefer going for macro shots of bugs and such. But what where the SX40 really shines, in my personal unbiased opinion, is its HD video mode (1920x1080p) that works superbly even at full 40x zoom. Even better, with image stabilization turned on, and the digital zoom set to 2x, this gives an effective range of 1680mm - sharp, crisp and clear. Indeed, in my opinion the SX40 (and no doubt the 50, as well) are great cameras for taking out in the bush and coming back with awesome photos.