Canon SX50HS or Nikon CoolpixP600 HELP! (Page 3): The good news is that there IS a "cheat sheet" for the Canon SX50 HS! It's published by Bert Sirkin (info@photocheatsheets.com). I...

technilen Loc: New Jersey

The good news is that there IS a "cheat sheet" for the Canon SX50 HS! It's published by Bert Sirkin (info@photocheatsheets.com). I bought it through Amazon. It's fairly complete but is is laid out in such small type that I find it somewhat difficult to use. But is a hell of a lot smaller than a printed version of the SX50 HS manual. <g>

ggttc Loc: TN

MadMikeOne wrote:

Thanks for your reply. You are not missing anything. I was not clear enough, obviously. We will be going on shore, but will be approaching in Zodiaks. We know from the forums for our trip that there will be photo ops from the Zodiaks that require long optical zooms.
I am open to all suggestions. Does the Panasonic you suggested have a viewfinder and accept filters and/or a hood with or without the requirement of an adaptor?
Thanks again, and sorry for my lack of clarity.

If you are taking the trip of a lifetime I would suggest the sx50 for 2 reasons.

1. It shoots in raw. You will definitely appreciate the latitude that it gives you in Post Processing.
2. Its burst mode is almost twice that of the Nikon...(13fps) my wife shoots wildlife and has used it extensively with great results.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

ggttc wrote:

If you are taking the trip of a lifetime I would suggest the sx50 for 2 reasons.

1. It shoots in raw. You will definitely appreciate the latitude that it gives you in Post Processing.
2. Its burst mode is almost twice that of the Nikon...(13fps) my wife shoots wildlife and has used it extensively with great results.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

JPL

MadMikeOne wrote:

My spouse and I are heading for a trip to the Arctic (Greenland, Iceland, Norway) in September, and I am having major angst about what camera(s) and equipment to take with me.
I have a Nikon D5200 with a 55-300 zoom that I will take, but that lens will probably not be long enough. We will be out on the water in Zodiaks probably quite a distance from the life on shore. I do not want to miss any great photo ops. I considered a bridge camera but decided to try something else first.
Sooo - I got myself a Sony Cybershot HX50V. Great little point and shoot with lots of tweaking available that goes out to around 720 mm - perfect or so I thought. BIG problem is - no viewfinder. I took it out to our local bird observatory (right on the Altantic Ocean) and lost so many shots of birds in flight due to no viewfinder. No matter what I do, I cannot view what I need to on the LCD - turned it up as bright as it will go, tried a hood - no good.
Now I seem to be back to a bridge camera to get the viewfinder, but still keep the equipment I need to keep very accessible and on my body. When I first started this research, I got it down to the Canon SX50HS and the Nikon Coolpix P600. I have no allegiance to either brand, so let's not go down that road.
I am leaning toward the Canon ONLY because I want to be able to put filters on the lens. I was told by a tech at a big camera shop in NYC that the Nikon would accept filters but not a hood. This is definitely not so. I actually looked at one and what appear to be threads on the lens are not. The store I was in had the correct size filter so I tried it out. It does not screw on. The Canon will take a filter but and adaptor is needed - no problem there. And the Canon will take a hood. Just cannot use the hood with a filter on. Good grief! I really don't know if I will really need a hood and a filter at the same time. Keep in mind, there will be lots of light reflected off the snow and the water. My readings indicate that an ND filter and/or a polarizing filter will be needed.
I don't want to lug around lots of equipment; but I don't want to miss good shots, either. Also, I am new to DSLR photography and am trying to learn my way around the menus, etc. and I do not PP at this time.
Thoughts, comments? The view finder in combination with a long zoom are the critical considerations.
All input is welcome. My brain is fried and my head is spinning. Thanks.

My spouse and I are heading for a trip to the Arct... (show quote)

what you need might be the Nikon 1 v3 and the new 70-300 lens for it. That would give you fastest autofocus available today, electronic viewfinder and hood and filter.

ggttc Loc: TN

Let me make a comment here about superzooms in general... My wife shoots an sx 50 and I shoot a Nikon with a 300mm zoom.

We can stand side by side...and with the superzoom a whole different world of subject matter is open to her!

She can produce wall hanging pictures of things that look like a dust spot on my 300mm...

Just sayin'

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

ggttc wrote:

Let me make a comment here about superzooms in general... My wife shoots an sx 50 and I shoot a Nikon with a 300mm zoom.

We can stand side by side...and with the superzoom a whole different world of subject matter is open to her!

She can produce wall hanging pictures of things that look like a dust spot on my 300mm...

Just sayin'

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
And she sure does share some AWESOME examples here!!
Wish I could do as good as she does!!

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

Don't drive yourself crazy! Take a camera, get the pics you can get and just enjoy the rest of the trip. Don't worry about what you can't get and enjoy what you can.

Girl with A Canon Loc: Myrtle Beach,SC

I have just gotten back from a trip to Africia. I had asked the same question of the UHHer's about a camera. I ended up getting the Canon SX50. I took with me also my rebel as it was lighter then my 7d. I had two lenses with me my 24-105 and 70-300. After the first day and not being able to get out to some shots I left the rebel in camp. I used my SX50 most of the time when out on safari. At times I would turn it to sports so I could be the animals when they where moving. After coming home with more then 3000 pictures I only had to get rid of 25 that where way to blurry. Get the SX50 you will love it.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Ctrclckws wrote:

Have the p520, and the sx50. The nikon has gps, if thats desired otherwise, i think the sx50 checks boxes better. With the filter adapter, you could put on a 67mm screw on hood.

The p600 may have a little longer reach. But no raw, filters are a clumsy addon no gps. Etc.

I am still leaning toward the Canon between the 2. However, another member through 2 more possibilities into the mix - the Panasonic fz200 & the Leica v lux4. I have been studying those 2 and both check more boxes than the sx50.
The Panasonic is looking good both feature and price-wise. I need to get my hands on 1 to see how it feels. I had the Leica in my hands a while back, and that felt great - very comfortable to my hand.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Geri May wrote:

I have just gotten back from a trip to Africia. I ... (show quote)

I never thought about setting to Sports. What a great idea for shooting birds in flight where I live. Problem is that I started in photography as a hobby some 40 years ago and had to drop out, so to speak, after a couple of years. I only got back in a couple of years ago with a P&S and then went DSLR less than a year ago. Many times, I just plain forget what these digitals can do.
Love your last shot of the giraffe.

wrightwrjr Loc: Paducah, KY

I have to say the Tamron 150-600 can't touch the 50X 1200 mm equivalent on my Sony HX300 bridge. I will also say the HX300 IS is freaking amazing.

Ctrclckws

MadMikeOne wrote:

I am still leaning toward the Canon between the 2. However, another member through 2 more possibilities into the mix - the Panasonic fz200 & the Leica v lux4. I have been studying those 2 and both check more boxes than the sx50.
The Panasonic is looking good both feature and price-wise. I need to get my hands on 1 to see how it feels. I had the Leica in my hands a while back, and that felt great - very comfortable to my hand.

I also have the fz200, it is the same camera as the leica, as best i can tell. The 2.8 at 600mm is great for indoor shots. I think it only goes to 1200mm equivalent with digital zoom, though.
I took pictures at an ice rink of my daughter learning to skate. With the sx50 I had to back off the zoom even all the way across the rink. The fz200 was fully zoomed in.
Either will be good, though

ggttc Loc: TN

MadMikeOne wrote:

I never thought about setting to Sports. What a great idea for shooting birds in flight where I live. Problem is that I started in photography as a hobby some 40 years ago and had to drop out, so to speak, after a couple of years. I only got back in a couple of years ago with a P&S and then went DSLR less than a year ago. Many times, I just plain forget what these digitals can do.
Love your last shot of the giraffe.

If you are interested in BIF with a bridge...check this link

http://stokesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/canon-sx-50-hs-for-bird-photography-i.html

But let me add...that at full DIGITAL zoom in sports mode the ISO gets freaky...it goes way up and the ensuing noise is annoying at best

Stanley Fleming Loc: Maine/Florida

Let me point out that when zoomed out to 1200 mm and sitting in a small boat you will find it very difficult to find your subject let alone keep it in your viewfinder long enough to get a photo - AND you will need to use your fastest shutter speed and a high ISO - even those two things will likely not mitigate the affect of not being on solid ground. You may be asking to much for any still photo camera in those conditions. Video may be your better choice and then capture your stills from the video. The SX50 does do great video.

I have had great success with BIF images using my SX50 but it has been standing on solid ground and being zoomed only about ½ way on the lens.

Good luck. Have a fun trip!

MadMikeOne wrote:

My spouse and I are heading for a trip to the Arctic (Greenland, Iceland, Norway) in September, and I am having major angst about what camera(s) and equipment to take with me.
I have a Nikon D5200 with a 55-300 zoom that I will take, but that lens will probably not be long enough. We will be out on the water in Zodiaks probably quite a distance from the life on shore. I do not want to miss any great photo ops. I considered a bridge camera but decided to try something else first.
Sooo - I got myself a Sony Cybershot HX50V. Great little point and shoot with lots of tweaking available that goes out to around 720 mm - perfect or so I thought. BIG problem is - no viewfinder. I took it out to our local bird observatory (right on the Altantic Ocean) and lost so many shots of birds in flight due to no viewfinder. No matter what I do, I cannot view what I need to on the LCD - turned it up as bright as it will go, tried a hood - no good.
Now I seem to be back to a bridge camera to get the viewfinder, but still keep the equipment I need to keep very accessible and on my body. When I first started this research, I got it down to the Canon SX50HS and the Nikon Coolpix P600. I have no allegiance to either brand, so let's not go down that road.
I am leaning toward the Canon ONLY because I want to be able to put filters on the lens. I was told by a tech at a big camera shop in NYC that the Nikon would accept filters but not a hood. This is definitely not so. I actually looked at one and what appear to be threads on the lens are not. The store I was in had the correct size filter so I tried it out. It does not screw on. The Canon will take a filter but and adaptor is needed - no problem there. And the Canon will take a hood. Just cannot use the hood with a filter on. Good grief! I really don't know if I will really need a hood and a filter at the same time. Keep in mind, there will be lots of light reflected off the snow and the water. My readings indicate that an ND filter and/or a polarizing filter will be needed.
I don't want to lug around lots of equipment; but I don't want to miss good shots, either. Also, I am new to DSLR photography and am trying to learn my way around the menus, etc. and I do not PP at this time.
Thoughts, comments? The view finder in combination with a long zoom are the critical considerations.
All input is welcome. My brain is fried and my head is spinning. Thanks.

My spouse and I are heading for a trip to the Arct... (show quote)

skiptrip Loc: Victoria, BC, Canada

Very happy with my Canon SX-50 HD. Even without a tripod it's wonderfully stable at full extension. Solved the user-guide issue by downloading it to my iphone. Always there when I need it.