jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

I have read the manual for the SX50 several times and I find I am still confused about a couple setting and when you would want them "on" or "off".

The 2 settings I wonder about the most are:

1. SERVO AF - my understanding is that when it is "ON" this is the same as selecting "AF-C" mode on a DSLR, and it would seem then that if it is set to "OFF" it should be like using "AF-S" on the DSLR. Is this correct? If not how would you decide if you want it "ON" of if you need it "OFF"?

2. CONTINUOUS AF - If I am understanding it correctly, when it is "ON" the camera is focusing all the time whether you press any buttons or not, and stops focusing when you half press the shutter. When would you want the AF focusing all the time? Wouldn't that just drain you battery faster?

So, would there be a condition where you would want both "ON" or both "OFF" at the same time and why? If only one or the other would be used at any given time, but not both, what situation would you want either ON or OFF?

For shoot birds or moving subjects which setting should be ON, and for shooting things that are still, which settings should be used?

Any help on how to determine which setting should be used, and under what circumstances will be greatly appreciated.

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

Continuous AF does not seem to affect battery life, & seems to be the 'normal' setting for most SX50 users. I have it set to 'On' on my SX50 & use nothing else. Most owners who I know do the same. Continuous AF works under all conditions, so why change back & forth? Just set Continuous AF to 'On' & leave it there. JMO.

Tom Kelley Loc: Roanoke, Virginia

That's what i do.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

What about the "SERVO AF"? When would you want in set to "ON" and when would you want it "OFF"?

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

Hmm, I have a '30 , and it does seem to drain , enough to notice, but not precipitously. If you are shooting action, and chasing soccer players, or small birds, you would want AF-C so it wouldn't "hunt". Continuous focus would be more useful in street photography or portraits, where the range stays pretty constant.

achesley Loc: SW Louisiana

Poo Yii guy. Lots of info on this if you do a search in google. I probably learned 75% of all my questions when first getting my SX50 several months back through google search on different functions.

bee7474 Loc: Selah, Wa

Ask Linda, she know this camera inside and out.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

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The other day, Linda_From_Maine offered her settings. She doesn't explain why she uses these particular settings, but since she's the acknowledged expert on the SX 50 HS, I trust her advice and I matched her settings. I'd ask her advice in a PM unless she steps in here.
Linda knows best.
This is the link to her post:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-230726-1.html

Michael Hartley Loc: Deer Capital of Georgia

I didn't even know it did all this.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

In the past year I've tended to use the HQ burst mode most often for the animals I shoot. Servo AF isn't available in that mode. But for any landscapes I might do in aperture priority or P mode, I have servo AF off.

More info from the 250-page manual is below.

HQ burst mode: knob on top of camera set to SCN, func button on back scroll to HQ. Not the same as "continuous."

(Download)

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

In the action shots I would want the "SERVO AF" to be "ON" and the "CONTINUOUS AF" to be "OFF", would that be correct?

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

Thank you, I believe I read it but I will read it again just in case. Maybe if she sees this she will be able to explain how to make the decision on how to decide which settings to use.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

She did see it. It's 2 posts above this. It's a clip from the manual. :-)

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

The SX50 is a very versatile camera. It offers plenty of options. I am more used to my Nikon DSLRs and I am trying to understand the differences in terminology so I can better know how to set it up. I do like the Canon SX50 a lot and enjoy using it too.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

Thank you and I will try your suggestions. Do you have any circumstances when you use the "SERVO AF" in the "ON" position? Do you have the "CONTINUOUS AF" in the "OFF" or in the "ON" position in the setting you gave here?