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Canon PowerShot Sx50 HS Review

Canon-PowerShot-SX50-HS-front-mainCanon-PowerShot-SX50-HS-back-main

In the ever-increasing battle for the biggest, most super sonic, badass megazoom on the planet, Canon has fired its latest camera with thePower Shot. This digital camera is 50x optical zoom delivers the equivalent of 24-1200mm range from a 24mm wide-angle lens, and boasts several improvements over the PowerShot SX40 HS (the older brother model). But serious range isn’t all the SX50 HS offers. A refined 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor coupled with a DIGIC 5 processor was designed to provide enhanced image quality in a broader variety of shooting situations, so this is a pretty niffty camera for beginners, but comes with a variety flaws.

Specifications:

Resolution:

12.10 Megapixels

Sensor size:

1/2.3″

Lens:

50.00x zoom
(24-1,200mm eq.)

Viewfinder:

EVF / LCD

ISO:

80-6400

Shutter:

15-1/2000

Max Aperture:

3.4

Dimensions:

4.8 x 3.4 x 4.2 in.
(123 x 87 x 106 mm)

Weight:

21.3 oz (603 g)
includes batteries

MSRP:

£399 ($429.00)

Availability:

10/2012

 

The Canon SX50 HS can be connected to a computer, or printer using a USB (2.0 High Speed) cable with a Mini-B plug on the camera side. The jack is a combined USB/AV port used for both data transfer and standard-def composite video/stereo audio output. There’s also a Mini HDMI (Type C) port for high-def output, and a remote jack for an optional RS-60E3 wired remote. But, a flaw is that no cables are included in the retail box – they must be purchased separately, any online site will have these at a low price!

To support the megazoom mind blowing performance of the PowerShot SX50 HS, the camera employs Canon’s Intelligent IS optical image stabilization technology to add increased stability to super-long-zoom and low-light shots. Additionally, extreme telephoto lengths are bolstered by an improved Zoom Framing Assist function, which allows you to locate, track and capture subjects at great distances. The Zoom Framing Assist Seek button saves your previous zoom position, then zooms out to find your subject, then returns to your saved position when you release it. But that’s not it! A second Zoom Framing Assist Lock button allows the camera to lock the image stabilization onto the center of the frame to compensate for camera movement and make it easier to keep your subject in the frame.

Additionally, the camera features a hot shoe for attaching a Canon Speedlite (or third-party) accessory flash, as well as the cameras built in flash.

Canon-PowerShot-SX50-HS-top-main

Canon says the PowerShot SX50’s upgraded AF system delivers a 50% reduction in auto focus time and a 44% reduction in shutter lag when compared to the SX40 (the older brother model). Canon told us it has worked to increase the AF speed of its new PowerShot cameras by strengthening the AF motors, cutting AF processing and reading scan times, improving the algorithm for lens movement, and reducing lens weight. The Canon SX50 HS also captures up to ten 12-megapixel JPEGs at 13 shots per second in High-speed Burst HQ Mode – which is outstanding, for the size, and price of this camera.

The Canon SX50 HS records video in full 1080p HD at 24 frames per second, 720p at 30 fps, and VGA resolution at 30 fps. The camera allows for zooming while recording, and captures stereo sound, but the built in mic isn’t great (especially outdoors).Super Slow Motion modes record VGA and QVGA clips at 120 and 240 fps respectively, without sound. Other upgrades to the PowerShot SX50 HS include an improved Smart Auto mode that can detect 58 scenes (compared to just 32 for the SX40 HS), and the ability to capture 12-bit RAW or RAW+JPEG files, something previous models in the SX-line couldn’t do.

One disappointing, but ultimately understandable spec about the SX50 HS is the lens brightness, I advise you this get’s boring and technical, but is a crucial thing for shooting. Going from a 35x to a 50x zoom means the maximum apertures increased to f/3.4 at its widest and f/6.5 at its longest focal length, compared to f/2.7-5.8 for the SX40 HS. Guess you can’t have everything mind!

The Canon SX50 HS looks similar to its predecessor, though its lines are no longer as curvy. The grip is more pronounced, and the Shutter button rests at a forward-sloping angle, which is a feature I love, it’s a beautiful thing. Upgrades to the monitor include a slightly larger 2.8-inch, (approximately) 461K-dot vari-angle LCD. Canon also changed the button layout on the back, removing one button and making way for a larger navigational wheel. Overall, the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS is just a fraction smaller and lighter than its old worn out brother (the predecessor), measuring 4.8 x 3.4 x 4.2 inches and weighing 21.3 ounces, so, it’s incredible comfy in the hand, with the lightness, size, and design.

The Canon SX50 HS is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack (NB-10L) and comes with a dedicated charger (CB-2LC). The battery is CIPA-rated for 315 shots on a single charge when using the LCD monitor, and 335 shots when using the electronic viewfinder. An optional AC adapter kit (ACK-DC80) is available separately. The camera uses SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards, and Eye-Fi cards are supported. Note that there’s no internal memory available for storage. So, an SD card is vital. Still images can be recorded and stored as JPEG, 12-bit RAW and RAW+JPEG files. But Selfies, are automatically deleted! I kidd! You’re safe to pull the odd selfie, and have it saved to be uploaded later on. Videos are recorded and stored as H.264 MOV files.

In most ways the Canon SX50 HS proved to be the long-reaching camera I had longed to use for capturing images of Spring Training baseball. And I strongly suspect it would be as perfect for shooting daytime travel, street, architecture, landscape and wildlife photography as it was for capturing the sights and action of a sunny ballgame.

It was also an equally impressive travel companion in terms of its size, simplicity to use and shooting flexibility. While I love my Nikon D7000, I don’t always want to fuss with it — especially when I’m on vacation and want to spend most of my time enjoying the moment, rather than working hard trying to capture it. The Canon SX50 HS proved to have ample image quality and advanced features to make it a great second or travel camera for serious shooters, and plenty of flexibility to make it a great primary camera for beginning and casual photographers.

I’ve attached a small table to summerize the pro’s and cons, some mentioned, some not.

Pro:

Con:

  • Whopping 50x optical zoom range from a generous 24mm equivalent wide angle to powerful 1200mm equivalent telephoto

  • Improved Intelligent IS allows for sharp hand-held shots, even at full zoom

  • Ergonomic design and build with a good grip and excellent control placement

  • Zoom Framing Assist helps you track distant, moving subjects and keep them framed

  • Great image quality for its class

  • Good lens performance with strong detail across the zoom range and good distortion control

  • Good noise control at lower and moderate ISOs

  • Shoots RAW as well as JPEGs

  • Vari-angle 2.8-inch LCD screen fully flips out and swivels

  • Electronic viewfinder with diopter adjustment

  • Relatively easy-to-navigate shooting and setting menus

  • Bright flash, with fast flash recycling

  • Fast High-speed Burst HQ continuous shooting mode (up to 10 full-res JPEGs at 13 fps)

  • Creative modes and filters are fun to use

  • Full 1080p HD video recording with stereo sound

  • Small macro area

  • Two custom modes, My Menu and programmable Shortcut button

  • Accepts 67mm filters (with optional adapter)

  • Fast image downloading

  • Electronic level

  • Wired remote jack

  • Hot shoe

  • Autofocus frequently struggles to lock in on subjects in low light

  • Slow lens also not ideal for low-light photography

  • Center frame details are a hint soft at some zoom settings

  • Blurring is noticeable in the corners in some shots

  • Uncorrected RAW files have lots of chromatic aberration and geometric distortion (typical of long zooms, though)

  • Higher ISO shots (above ISO 800) lose detail and become too blotchy and fuzzy

  • EVF doesn’t automatically switch on when you look through it

  • Flash sometimes difficult to deploy quickly (doesn’t automatically pop up)

  • HDR mode fairly unusable unless camera is mounted on a tripod

  • Full HD video limited to 24p

  • Sluggish cycle times

  • Autofocus speeds could be better

  • Below average battery life

  • No cables included

 

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About the Author Cai Jones

I'm a procrastinating nerd, I guess? But, I am a life form evolved to live off movies, comics, video games and junk food. Sadly, I'll never be a super hero. I pursue my passion of tech, design, and gaming by producing informational but most of all honest reviews on the web via the YouTube platform, and writing articles on various webistes. By no means am I not experienced, or uneducated about technology, gaming or design as each I have at least five years experience in each creative field, plus a undeniable passion for the products I write about/review!

I'm a procrastinating nerd, I guess? But, I am a life form evolved to live off movies, comics, video games and junk food. Sadly, I'll never be a super hero. I pursue my passion of tech, design, and gaming by producing informational but most of all honest reviews on the web via the YouTube platform, and writing articles on various webistes. By no means am I not experienced, or uneducated about technology, gaming or design as each I have at least five years experience in each creative field, plus a undeniable passion for the products I write about/review!

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