Should I exchange the SX50 for something better in low light and action mode??????

Hey everyone,

I know many of you have replied to my thread about my camera. This is my concern.

Everyone says this camera is not good in low light. I DO take pics inside at night and such...not a lot but when the mood strikes me or something is funny with the dog and kids I am on it. Is this not the camera for me? Or is this all just me trying to figure it out and make it work right for me? I am not a wildlife picture taker (at this point) it is really just family, friends, my kids sporting events and my crazy dog. Is this camera a good pick??

I'm totally losing sleep over this camera...I know..silly right. I just don't want to spend this money for something that I wont be happy with. If there is another camera that would suit me better I am all for it If all of these issues are my fault and that I just have to learn that is great too. I have no problem with that!!!

I appreciate any help or opinion on this cuz I need to make a decision. I keep finding myself grabbing my kodak for action shots and that's not cool.

Lisa

The SX50 is a better camera than your old Kodak Z950, also for low light and action shots, but maybe a camera with a faster lens like e.g. Canon G15 or Panasonic FZ200 would be even better.

If you are losing sleep over this camera then you should probably take it back for a refund!  I've never known any camera good enough that is should wreck your health--physical or mental.  Sorry but I don't have experience with any other P&S to recommend.

Murry

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http://grigsbys.smugmug.com

This is what I thought....it is better then the kodak so why are my action shots coming out blurry? Shouldn't I just be able to put it on sport and go like I do with my kodak? Other then that I LOVE the camera. Is this just me and having to learn about it??

Murray....I swear I am not totally crazy. I am worrying cuz I don't want to have spent the money and then it not be the camera I want. I just want to be able to get those action shots and stuff like that. I worry about stupid things you see lol DO you think I can get those shots once I learn? That is really my issue. If I know I can achieve what I want then I am totally on board.

The sx50 is a superzoom extraordinaire please remember with a tiny sensor and somewhat of a slow lens. So regardless of what you learn with low light/action shots it will always probably be hit or miss unfortunately as I have found. You just cannot defeat the law of physics

I have been toying with the idea of getting an Panasonic FZ200 2.8 for low light action photos, but I have dslr for that type of stuff so I cannot justify the purchase although it would be nice to have a smaller footprint camera for those sort of situations. However l still may pull the trigger.

As far as the sx50 it is a hit or miss camera in those types of situations but it is still my fave of all the cameras I use. Your expectations are still probably a little to high, the camera is not a cure all, but pretty close and I use it as my main cam regardless of its action / low light limitations. I just don't think overall and image quality wise the sx50 can be beat compared to any other superzooms on the market right now including the FZ200.

Thanks for the input! So have you found that this camera does well in action shots that are lit well? I could get over the lighting issue I think to keep the zoom. So really.....if my kids are outside playing with the dog will I be able to get a good action shot? That's the question.

I guess you just can't have it all can you lol I returned the rebel cuz I wan't thrilled with the zoom on the reg lens and I really didn't want to have to carry around the larger lens all the time.

Yes, you probably just have to become a bit more familiar with the camera. Did you use flash with your old Kodak? Remember that you'll have to lift the flash on the SX50 manually to activate it. And maybe you should try the auto mode instead of the sports mode, because the minimum focus distance is rather long in sports mode, like Stephen said in the other thread.

Lisa, check out this new entry with low light.  Not many cameras can do this.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/post/50580576

Your concern about family pictures in low light is easily remedied by using your flash.  You can use an auxiliary flash to really reach out.

This camera is really fun to use and I think you will be happy.  The picture quality is exceptional.

To learn all of the functions, I suggest you watch these videos.  They are for the SX 40 which is basically the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS1NKymFUUs

I believe I had the flash up but not certain. I was trying everything. I think I have confused myself more then needed!! One more question....sorry WOuld the SX 40 work better for what I want since the zoom isn't as long? I didn't know if that had a play on this. I can get over the low light issues I think but I definitely need it to be able to take outside action shots or action shots where there is enough light.

I think you can but it is not worth ruining your health!!  I just don't have any experience to recommend any other P&S camera.  The SX50HS is an amazing little camera but like any other camera it has it's limitations and strengths.  You might try some of the SCN settings like night-time images, sports action images.  But regardless of what you choose and your settings you must press the shutter button half way down to achieve focus and then press it all the way down to take the picture.  This is not as easy as it seems especially when shooting action because the tendency is to "PUNCH" the shutter rellease button as quickly as you can to catch the action.  This is a problem with any camera!  So learn to control your emotions while shooting and gently press the shutter release button half way down and then press it all the way down in two quick motions.  Good luck!!

Murry

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http://grigsbys.smugmug.com

Well, maybe the SX40 would be a tiny bit better at the wide/mid end. Not because it has less zoom, but because the SX40 lens is a bit faster. And you don't have use the SX50 at full zoom, it'll always be better to shoot at a closer distance, with less zoom, if possible

Thank you Murray! Its not going to ruin my health. I just have to make a decision and move forward. Sounds so silly. My husband just laughs at me. Once I decide this is it I will be full force head on into it with a million more questions for you all! I will try those modes. I think my decision is going to be to stay with this one Thank  you for your patience!

Just a tiny bit better?????? LOL I know you can smack me through the computer. Will the difference be worth losing the zoom......THAT is the question. I wont use the 50x zoom at full for these shots Im talking about....Just on the bball field and all those type of settings where I am not that far away. Opinion?? Or you can tell me to hush lol that's ok too

Thank you!!! I have so many questions lol The more I read the more questions I have. If I get an external flash will that help with motion pictures in low light also?

I'd just keep the SX50. I've just ordered one myself today, to replace my 'old' SX40.

Ok Done deal! Im keeping it! Now for me to learn how to use it! Yikes! Thanks so much

As I found with my sx40 and now sx50 the camera likes well lit, exposed subjects as any camera does regardless. We are not talking dslr performance but I can get a lot of fast moving keepers with my sx50 for sure as long as they are well lit.

While the SX40 does have a slightly faster aperture than the SX50 at the wider end of the zoom, it is partly compensated for by having ISO speeds in 1/3 stop increments rather than the 1 full stop increments on the SX40. This just means that you can go to a faster shutter speed quicker with the SX50 then by having to go up a full stop in ISO on the older camera. In many cases that evens out the slightly slower lens. The small bonus on the long side of the zoom is that at 840mm, the highest zoom on the SX40, the newer camera is actually faster ( a slightly brighter f-stop). On the SX50, the aperture doesn't close down to f6.5 until around 975-1000mm.

You sound like a very determined person, so i'm willing to bet that if you keep the SX50 ( I think you will), that you'll figure out a technique to take almost all the picture types you want to do. The range of ISOs that fall into an acceptable area is pretty wide to use the higher shutter speeds for action photography that you need. Just takes practice in technique to hold the camera steady and squeeze the shutter halfway for focus and the rest of the way to snap. With that practice, you'll get quicker in the two step process to react as soon as the green box appears and not miss your shot. I've been doing this photo thing for a very long time and getting action shots with this camera (mostly the SX40 before it) was a process in learning. But I was so elated to get the diving Bufflehead sequence in shaded light (from my review series) that I thought it was all worth the practice . Patience, you'll get there too. Here's the sequence shot one more time:



Good luck to you,

Vision

I would not exchange it until you try putting it on Auto and shooting what you want. Sports is for a very specific kind of action...not the catch all "kids in motion" mode that it was on your Kodak. Auto should do the trick.