Cissyann Loc: Washington, PA

I am looking at the Canon SX50 and was going to take the plunge until I read some reviews from bird photographers (which I am)....they feel that the sensor is not adequate as it was in the SX40...that their pictures are flat and noisy...has anyone experienced this problem...I would be enlarging to 16x20...thanks for the input

CAM1017 Loc: Chiloquin, Oregon

A lot is dependent on technique. You should be able to get very nice results with the SX50 . 16 x 20 prints may be pushing it however and you might think about going to a Canon 60 or 70D or 7D and a 100-400mm lens. Have fun!

Cissyann Loc: Washington, PA

Thanks for your response....just wanted a great compact point and shoot...I think I will rent one and see what happens!!! Have a great holiday season!!

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

-IMO-
If you don't need that much reach, I'd be more prone to go with the stylus 1 and its 2.8 constant lens (and larger sensor, or other comparable camera). You can also add a TCON-17X for more reach if need be. I've seen a lot of photos posted here with the sx50 (seems like everyone here has one), but I haven't really been blown away when looking at the details...at less than 5x7 or maybe 8 x 10 prints the sx would be fine...larger than that, I think you'd have to do some serious PP work to convince me that it stands up to a shot taken with a camera that has a larger sensor and dedicated zoom lens.

Cissyann Loc: Washington, PA

Thanks for the input....seeing that I like bigger prints I don't think the SX50 will be my choice...have a great holiday season and thanks again!!

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

Have you looked at the Panasonic FZ200, since you like the SX50? The Panasonic has a huge range, like the Canon, but is much faster with f2.8 throughout the range. I have one, and love it. You might like to have a look at the Pana before making up your mind.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

If your budget allows you may want to look at something with a larger sensor. You can't beat a large sensor for clean images. Everything else is a compromise.

The down side of a large sensor camera is the long lenses are very expensive costing many times more than the camera.

The only exception at this time is M4/3 but you do sacrifice some image quality but not nearly as much as a 1:2/3 sensor (SX50).

Cissyann Loc: Washington, PA

The reach is what attracted me to the SX50, especially in wildlife photography....but thanks for the info....I think I will keep on looking....have a wonderful holiday!!

Cissyann Loc: Washington, PA

No I have not...but certainly will...thanks and have a great holiday season!!

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

One thing you need to consider before purchasing....
How much are you willing to spend?? The SX50 at $400 or less, or several thousand $$$ to get a dSLR with the equivalent lenses......
If you properly expose your shots, 11x14 and 16x20 should be possible with the SX50.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

oops double post

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Check out Lillian Stokes an excellent bird photographer who has been using the SX50 and will send you hints on how to use it
http://stokesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/red-shouldered-hawk-canon-sx-50-up-close.html

photo169 Loc: Chicago,ILL

Buy a 35mm film slr and you will get much better results. You can always scan or have them put on a cd.

Kuzano

Forget rent... at rental prices.

You should be able to buy refurb, save some money and if you don't like it, turn it within a month or two for a loss less than a months rent.

Or buy used. Be picky and do the same thing.

I never buy retail. I don't normally buy new on sales. I buy it refurb or used. I use it aggressively for a month, if I don't like it, I sell it.

I bought the Canon T2i shortly after it came out and was still popular. Found it refurb. Used it 60 days. Sold it for $90 less than I paid for it after 60 days. About half as much as renting it for the same time period.

Rent causes you to limit yourself to hardly getting to know the camera before the process is too expensive.

Kuzano

I've been shooting comparison tests with the Oly sensor against Canons APS-c sensors for a long time on various models.

I am an inveterate pixel peeker and I don't find myself losing any significant results blowing images up to print at 20x24. My last test was one of the 12 Mp Olympus PENs against the 15Mp Canon T2i over a 60 day period carrying both at the same time, duplicating shots.

Furthermore at 2X crop on the Olympus, my 200mm lens is equivalent to 400m 35mm.

My current choice is the Olympus E-PL5, with articulating lcd, the 14-42 kit lens, 16Mp. larger sensor than any P&S or bridge camera.

Olympus web site currently has that setup new at $499.

All lenses give an AOV twice the focal length, so my 14-42 is equivalent to 28x84.

All the lenses that fit and automate, from both Olympus and Sony are significantly less expensive for the quality of glass of lenses for larger sensor camera's.

I have the Panasonic 45x200, with a 35 mm equivalent of 90-400. Ideally for a one lens solution, I would get either the Oly, or panasonic 14x150 or 14x140, for a max of 300 equivalent. Currently, I can get the 14-150 Olympus lens for $500. That would put the body only and the lens at approx $1000.

I am and would still be under $1000 total outlay, camera body and the short to long zoom. Bigger sensor shooting near as good as APS-c.....

Don't rule out the Olympus (or Panasonic) micro 4/3 before you write that check!