Pointers of using a Canon sx50: I am anxiously awaiting arrival of a Canon SX50 - a choice made with the help of many folks here on UHH - thanks for your comments, suggestions and...

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Pointers of using a Canon sx50

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Jan 30, 2013 12:27:48 #

Stanley Fleming Loc: Maine/Florida

I am anxiously awaiting arrival of a Canon SX50 - a choice made with the help of many folks here on UHH - thanks for your comments, suggestions and valuable information.

Because of limited funding I determined that the SC50 was a good option for my birding adventures - camera and lens for less than 1/2 of a 500mm telephoto for my sons nikon. And, it seems it will compliment my G10 which I plan to continue to use for closer hooting.

Now I am asking for any pointers and/or recommendations for accessories and for how to quickly get up to speed on its use. It being another Canon it seems to me it will be very similar to my Canon G10.

Jan 30, 2013 12:44:36 #

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Get a good tripod!!
Consider getting a flash unit.
Consider getting a Raynox 150 macro attachment (this will allow you to use the zoom and get magnified views of your closeups.

Then PRACTICE holding the camera VERY STILL when handholding at the longer telephoto settings!! The moon makes an excellent subject to practice on!!

Then submit your pics for our enjoyment and review!!

Jan 31, 2013 06:18:37 #

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

I still have and use this camera's grandfather, the S5 IS, withe 12x zoom. It takes very good shots but is very pale in comparison to your S50. The best purchase I ever made was the Canon (or aftermarket) lens adapter. Even if you don't purchase the telephoto lens (which works very well,btw, no light loss, but with your zoom you would need a tripod) when you attach a 58mm filter you have great protection for the lens glass and the zoom mechanism. Water, salt and especially sand can result in a jammed camera and expensive repairs.

Jan 31, 2013 11:36:05 #

Hunter Lou 1947 Loc: Minnesota

ocbeyer wrote:

I still have and use this camera's grandfather, th... (show quote)

I too have the SX50 HS, please explain yourself on the telephoto lens, what kind of attachment telephoto lens?, and the 58mm adapter and filter? What filter to use?

Jan 31, 2013 12:42:13 #

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

Well, looks like a spoke too soon. Apparently there no longer is a tube adapter available for the SX30- SX50 cameras as the end of the telephoto is threaded to accept filters and the tele or wide angle lens. Sorry about that. Short thread about this on DPReview:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3117569

Jan 31, 2013 12:50:45 #

photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

I don't know how much birding you guys do but, I find a tripod is too clumsy and a general pain in the gazort for that purpose. By the time I get set up, the bird is gone! I probaably have more pix of empty trees than anybody! A monopod, preferably with a ball head, serves the purpose well and is a lot faster and easier to maneuver.

Jan 31, 2013 12:58:01 #

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

Agreed. But I have discovered a nice alternative to a monopod (I never use hiking sticks so monopods get in my way too!). A hunter's shooting stick. No screws, it's very light weight, collapses and straps to my bag. Just rest the telephoto lens in the vee shaped mount and it helps keep you right on target. You can get them cheap on line, just over 7 bucks (or in WalMart but I have committed to staying out of there).

http://www.amazon.com/Eastman-Outdoors-Gorilla-Shooting-17-37-Inch/dp/B001PR90PS/ref=sr_1_15?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1359654923&sr=1-15&keywords=shooting+sticks

Jan 31, 2013 13:41:06 #

Hunter Lou 1947 Loc: Minnesota

ocbeyer wrote:

Again, please explain the telephoto and wide angle lens for the SX50, I'm interested and want to check these out. I know the end of the lens is treaded to acept a filter adapter which I have and filters but you mentioned wide angle lens and telephoto lens. Where can i find out info on these???

Jan 31, 2013 14:12:24 #

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

I wouldn't think you would need the telephoto but apparently it has a 58mm thread that screws onto the end of the lens using an adapter. Lensmate makes an improved adapter, supposedly better than Canon's.

http://www.lensmateonline.com/articles/products/canonsx50_new_lens_size/

You could go this route, but it's not cheap and I don't know if all this stuff is necessary or of very good quality:

http://www.amazon.com/Accessory-CANON-PowerShot-SX50-SX40/dp/B009OGHYNW

Or you could do a combination:

http://www.amazon.com/Conversion-POWERSHOT-MagicFiber-Microfiber-Cleaning/dp/B004F3OYQ4/ref=pd_sim_p_4aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

and

http://www.amazon.com/Zeikos-ZE-WA58B-definition-attachment-Warranty/dp/B001EM9JXC/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1359659133&sr=1-4&keywords=58mm+telephoto+conversion+lens

and

http://www.amazon.com/Zeikos-ZE-WA58B-definition-attachment-Warranty/dp/B001EM9JXC/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1359659220&sr=1-3&keywords=58mm+wide+angle+conversion+lens

But be careful, read the reviews. They don't all work nor all work well. Unfortunately the excellent 58mm 1.5X tele conversion lens and wide angle lens from Canon, that fits the older S models, has a proprietary deep thread and won't work with anything than the Canon adapter tubes, which won't fit your camera.

Good luck.

Jan 31, 2013 14:52:19 #

rdschwieren

Ive found that adding a ND or other filters (to protect the lens) causes the digital zoom to not focus properly.

Jan 31, 2013 15:02:45 #

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

Never had that problem with the S5. Not a big filter fan but the tube that attached to the camera body and surrounded the zoom, in conjunction with the lens, made a nice protective barrier. Of course, that made the camera less "pocketable". But for the SX50 that tube would have to be almost as big as a tennis can. :shock:

Jan 31, 2013 15:03:03 #

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

Um, tennis ball can.

Jan 31, 2013 16:51:05 #

DK Loc: SD

I don't use a tripod with the SX50. I just up the ISO. Took it to an indoor rodeo last weekend and used ISO of 3200 and up to 6000. Worked well from 16 rows up in the balcony. Also took some buffalo photos in a park from the car, handheld which were sharp at 200 ISO in sunshine. Could zoom right in. I also have the SX40 and never used a tripod to shoot wildlife and used ISO of 200-400.

Jan 31, 2013 17:22:54 #

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

You post process? Noise reduction? The old s5 was pretty noisy above 400 and no RAW. I hear the sx50 is much better (and shoots RAW) but its still a fairly small sensor. Wish I could shoot that high with my DSLR.

Jan 31, 2013 17:50:17 #

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Hunter Lou 1947 wrote:

quote=ocbeyer Well, looks like a spoke too soon. ... (show quote)

Not sure if it is actually threads or just ridges inside the lens of the SX40/SX50, but I got a filter adapter that fits in the bayonet mount where the lens hood goes and accepts 58mm filters. I might look into a wide angle filter but definitely don't need a telephoto addition on my SX40 with its excellent digital zoom that takes it to an equiv of 3360mm! Hard to hand-hold at that range, or even at the optical zoom limit of 840!! Wouldn't want to add more 'glass' for telephoto.

I am also considering getting a Raynox 150 closeup set that snaps onto the lens barrel and allows closer focusing at all zoom lengths so can get up to true macro or very close to it, without having to have the front lens element touching the subject.

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