Ava's Papa: Hi! I've been entertained and informed daily by UHH for a while now. I'm afraid I believed all of the hype about the SX50. I'm 67 and not technically minded and can't...

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

Hi! I've been entertained and informed daily by UHH for a while now. I'm afraid I believed all of the hype about the SX50. I'm 67 and not technically minded and can't figure out how to use it correctly and to make matters worse I can't find a Busch or Busch-like manual on it's use. I used it indoors yesterday on automatic and out of 75 shots only one or two were acceptable. I also have a Nikon 610 and a Sony A6000. No problems. Outside on automatic the SX50 takes good pics. I bought it as a refurb on Amazon in July '15. I'm wondering if something might be wrong with it ( I know what you're thinking and IT probably is me...). I'll play with it a little longer and if I don't improve maybe I'll sell it here.

RJWagons Loc: Lake Ridge Virginia

I had a similar problem. I have marveled at some of the work shown by others who shoot with the SX50. I bought one to use when I didn't want to take the 6D out but I couldn't get any good photos with it. I couldn't see anything through the view finder and Just couldn't get any acceptable captures. I finally returned it. I still see excellent work shown by others and wonder what I did wrong????

Ava'sPapa wrote:

Hi! I've been entertained and informed daily by UH... (show quote)

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Welcome to UHH

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Here is a link to a downloadable user guide. If you have a CD with the camera; it's on there also.

http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/0/0300008700/01/pssx50hs-cug-en.pdf

Ava'sPapa wrote:

... I'm wondering if something might be wrong with it...

Indoors you will want to use the flash (see page 142) as this camera does not do well in low light.

Also, I suggest P mode over auto, as you will be able to control the focus square. If I recall correctly, in auto it jumps around trying to figure out what your subject is.

Start on page 113 to learn more about P (program) mode.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

RJWagons wrote:

... I couldn't see anything through the view finder and ...

Toggles among 4 choices: LCD, LCD with grid lines, viewfinder, viewfinder with gridlines (page 43). Note that with the viewfinder there is a diopter to adjust for your eyesight.

When you adjust, turn on camera but keep the lens cap on. Just use the numbers etc that show on the screen (through the viewfinder) to adjust the diopter. Like an eye exam :)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Ava'sPapa wrote:

... I'm afraid I believed all of the hype about the SX50...

I spent a year figuring out what settings worked best for my interests, and would not recommend the camera to someone not interested in investing the time. It definitely has strengths, weaknesses and a few quirks :)

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

RJWagons wrote:

I had a similar problem. I have marveled at some of the work shown by others who shoot with the SX50. I bought one to use when I didn't want to take the 6D out but I couldn't get any good photos with it. I couldn't see anything through the view finder and Just couldn't get any acceptable captures. I finally returned it. I still see excellent work shown by others and wonder what I did wrong????

My experience almost exactly.
Just couldnt use the silly little viewfinder.
Regretably I couldnt return mine and still have it, now gathering dust, in the cupboard.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Ava'sPapa wrote:

Hi! I've been entertained and informed daily by UH... (show quote)

LoL, Ava's, don't get discouraged. Many have been playing with their cameras for 50 years, and they aren't any better at it than you are!! LoL
As Linda said, indoors use the built in flash, or buy a nice little aftermarket flash that can be rotated, giving you the ability to bounce it's and get a little more creative indoors.
Sounds like this might be your first foray into serious digital?! Keep it on auto both indoors and out. Make sure the flash is enabled, that way it will pop up automatically any time it thinks it's needed. The best cameras on the planet don't do any better indoors than yours does without an external light source!
Don't worry, you will improve! In a year or so, you might even be eyeballing one of those fancy dslr's to take your photography to the next level....., or,
Heaven forbid......, one of those little toy-like mirrorless thingies!!!!! :lol:
SS

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

Thanks RJWagons. Good to know I'm not the only one.

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

Thanks, MAC, Linda from Maine and Tony P for
your input. I'll experiment a while longer. And Linda, I'll try the flash more often.

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

SharpShooter, I've had SLRs since the early 70s and more recently a Nikon D60 and presently a Nikon D610. I can handle them fairly well, but I just can't seem to access the controls I'm looking for on the SX50. Thanks much for your input.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Ava'sPapa wrote:

I'm afraid I believed all of the hype about the SX50. I'm 67 and not technically minded and can't figure out how to use it correctly and to make matters worse I can't find a Busch or Busch-like manual on it's use.

Yes, the hype can be tough to resist. I bought one a couple of years ago and sold it quickly. Have you been shooting in Auto? That's always a good place to begin.

This is what they've been selling for on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=sx50&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

jerryc41, when I hear that YOU didn't care for it either I feel much better. I've been enjoying your input for some time in this column. You're a very interesting guy. Thank you for the link.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

I had considered an sx50 for travel, but alas finally succumbed to the hype about the Sony a6000. Best moment of camera weakness I have experienced. No regrets.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Ava'sPapa wrote:

SharpShooter, I've had SLRs since the early 70s and more recently a Nikon D60 and presently a Nikon D610. I can handle them fairly well, but I just can't seem to access the controls I'm looking for on the SX50. Thanks much for your input.

Ah, could be you are so used to the Nikon way of doing things that the Canon way is confusing your "photography memory".
Sort of like when you first learned to drive, there wasn't enough time to do everything you needed to do at once and then with practice your subconscious took over a lot of stuff and suddenly you had lots of time.