Just got another SX50

Just got another SX50, had the last one between 2013 and 2016 and there were a few things I`d forgotten

1:- How good the Lens is , Corner to corner in RAW wideopen at the wide end and the long end is tack sharp across most of the frame too at 1200mm - only downer is CA as you`d expect .

2:- How amazing the sensor is , pretty sure its the same unit in the DJI Phantom 3 Pro (prob later ones too like the Mini) , clean skies in RAW at base ISO , more DR than it has a right to - as good as a modern iPhone 11/12 main sensor for noise , way better than the 16+ Mp cams which came after

3:- how bad the EVF is , wow its as bad as 2004 ones and switching from LCD to EVF means lotsa presses, no single EVF/LCD button let alone auto switching

4:- that it takes G1X batteries - YAY , have spares in real canon since my G1X died

5:- how tolerable it is for speed, even in RAW+JPG

6:- how amazing the IS is , 80th sec at 1200mm with lotsa pixelpeepers , that EVF maybe rubbish but this is where it comes into its own .

Funny thing is that with Phones dragging everyones photo quality expectations down to basement levels and Social media only needing 2MP at best, the SX50 in RAW is overkill and as its IQ in RAW is matching up to the main camera on a recent iPhone also in RAW , the SX50 is actually more relevant than it was in 2013 .. add the low used Price, Hotshoe and twisty screen and its quite a deal .

Couple of Test Shots,. 24mm F4 and 1200mm wideopen ,, in RAW

Sadly C1 no longer supports the SX50, it did in 2013-2016 but DNG converter dosen`t load it up with correction or NR for this camera so the files are as good as CR2s in C1

Mild Distortion correction applied at 24mm - none for CA applied , another note is that the lens at 24mm doesn`t toilet roll anywhere near as bad as a G7X , G5X-II or Pan FZ1000 let alone a G1X Mk2 - its just a bit at the corners so you can just correct to lose that and you get about 22mm as shown in the example below

Full Size images (CLICK ORIGINAL) quick test shots , you can see the windmill at the top of the 24mm image so you can see how well the zoom works - excuse atmospherics at 1200mm of course ..

Best £110 (Mint from a dealer with 12m warranty) I could hope to spend. makes a fool of all of the 1" megazooms optically except the RX10 Mk3 and Mk4 of course let alone stuff like the gargantuan Nikon P1000 - and that sweet spot 12Mp 1:2.3" sensor is rocking - the SX50 has aged so well , if Canon relaunched with modern EVF, screen and CPU (in a more R10 styling) it`d be a killer - dosen`t even need a new sensor .

I find the the EVF more tolerable than you, but I won't fault you for feeling differently.

I find it functional enough to make good use of it - the lack of a dedicated EVF/LCD button let alone auto switching more annoying than the actual viewfinder

The big impediment for me is the bulk. As far as cameras go, it's really not bad at all, but walking a few miles with it, well, I start to notice it.

here we differ again - I find the thing tiny but as I lug full frame DSLRs and a Z7 about all day for work and had a larger RX10-Mk3 for 3 years not surprising

I also feel it struggling at any zoom length as the sun goes down, but I'll forgive it for what it gives in regular daylight hours.

Yeah, it`s never going to be a night cam but the IS does an amazing job nontheless

I had an RX10 Mk3 for 3 years, this and the Mk4 (same cam but with PDAF basically) are the best bridge cams ever made IMO so pitting the SX50 up against one is rather an unfair comparison ..........

........and I made it unfairer by downsizing the RX10.3`s 20Mp images down to 12Mp and re-sharpened .. remember that the RX10`s lens is F4 at 600mm whereas the SX50's is F5.6 which is deep into diffraction for a 1:2.3" sensor - the RX10 has a 1" sensor of course , was made many years later, has far larger optics and was in far brighter conditions so at 500th sec .. the SX has one advantage, its at half its zoom range

So here we are - RX10 MK3 (the current Mk4 is £1500 - £1100 used or £800 used for a nice MK3) vs SX50 which was £110 used (scruffier ones can be had for £80 even from a dealer) ...... All in RAW in C1 . it`s slightly misty today so the RX (which was shot in 2019) gets a benefit there too . I think the little SX is doing pretty good

Full size available on Gallery or use Loupe

RX10.3

SX50

User4286416121 wrote:

For those who do not use an sx, the problem with the evf is that it is not high resolution.. Meaning at low zoom you cannot see what will be at high zoom.

the magnification is pretty low too , you can see the whole panel and a lot more around the edges - great for glasses wearers I guess but it does make for a small view

Pressing the display button changes the evf and rear screen. Also changes the review. Closing the screen automatically switches to evf.

this is the problem the button selects 2 different views before it swaps to EVF, a dedicated button where the wasted flash button is would have been ideal (flash is one of those things usually on the arrow pad)

Now focus speed, focus choice, manual focus... those are issues that need help.

Never had issues with focus speed , it switches on pretty fast too

I still use my sx50s. Exclusively. Some have gotten really good copies of sx70. Would need a hands on to feel the improvements.

that 20Mp sensor is pretty dire though from what I`ve seen .. 12Mp is a sweet spot for these tiny  sensors, the Iphones stuck there right up to now where Quad Bayer seems to have taken over but the sensor is twice the size, you`d not get one of those and 1200mm into an SX50 sized package

there`s no way I`d choose to use a Phone-sensor megazoom as a work camera, least of all indoors but as I was there I thought I`d see what the SX50 could do in an emergency

Had to shoot like the way we shoot theatre , you shoot for the micro-pauses rather than crank the ISO and try and stop action, totally different from sports - I shoot Full frame like this and it works, as you can see the shutter speeds are low but I managed to keep the ISO down to 320 .. Not disappointed in the least at ISO320 on the SX50 in RAW.. Doesn`t seem any noisier than 12Mp Micro 4/3 cams like the EPL1 or GF3 were..

I`m well impressed for a small 9 year old hypermegazoom camera with a Phone sensor - more than I was at the time I first had one - I guess its because I`m comparing to my Iphone 11 and not a 1DS Mk3 as a reference point - also RAW converters have improved somewhat in that time, C1 was always IMO the best but its NR has very much improved in subtlety

Full size images - Click ORIGINAL to pixel peep

Problem: for my low pressure, (non-pro, fun only), use, mostly birding, it has kept me from upgrading. Da/# things make it difficult to justify expensive gear.

If you can use an SX50 for anything faster than static birds I take my hat off to you , AF and card writes are definitely an area which could do with modernising but the SX60 & 70 aren`t the answerk, they screwed up the optics and the sensor , Pan & Sony options aren`t any better - the best is the Nikon P950 for mix of modernisation with a usable sensor in RAW but even the lens on that isn`t up to SX50 and its bigger than an RX10 Mk4 - the P1000 is ludicrous

These are such a nice shots. How does it perform in the low light condition? Does it capture complete detail if we take pics from it at the night time?

I tested it indoors at ISO3200 (in RAW of course , the JPG engine destroys all detail) and it did far better than expected for a "phone sensor" , I`ve not put it up but will do some when I get the opportunity ..

have a look at my SX50 gallery here , all in RAW in Capture one , some are at ISO320 indoors , please excuse the atmospherics at 1200mm (and movement on the long range chester shots as it was handheld at 40th sec 1200mm ) - there`s a comparison shot at 600mm from the RX10 Mk3 (same camera as the £1600 MK4 but without PDAF) resized down to 12Mp as well

I`ll be adding to this as tine goes on - click original to pixelpeep

https://www.dpreview.com/galleries/6254305281/albums/canon-sx50

My SX50 got me through the better part of six years for what I wanted to do. It's no longer my primary camera but dang I have to keep it if only for the reach that lens gives me. I can't give that up.

I only need that zoom for recreational shooting of amateur activities that for the most part are outdoors with lots of natural light so the image noise can be kept down. I don't have to deliver a print worthy shot to anyone in those situations. It's mostly the noise that drove me to upgrade. I'm not into the minutiae of image quality but it became one of those things that once I examined it, I can't NOT see it. With lots of sunlight, or flash or a continuous light it improves a lot.

It goes through those batteries in no time and the amount left really nose dives. I was caught out too many times so for planned indoor shooting I got a dummy battery AC adapter.

Back in 2016 all I wanted to budget was under $200 so I was comparing the pocket sized PowerShot cameras but wasn't happy about that. Then by chance (I guess the Google algorithm?) out of the blue Canon Canada emailed me a list of their direct to customer refurbs - C$160 including taxes and shipping. Done! That still gives me a smile.

I only need that zoom for recreational shooting of amateur activities that for the most part are outdoors with lots of natural light so the image noise can be kept down.

same here - my day to day work is mainly with a 24-70

I don't have to deliver a print worthy shot to anyone in those situations. It's mostly the noise that drove me to upgrade. I'm not into the minutiae of image quality but it became one of those things that once I examined it, I can't NOT see it. With lots of sunlight, or flash or a continuous light it improves a lot.

at base ISO in RAW, sky and shadow noise is no worse than a G7X or G5X Mk2 (I`d say maybe a touch better as those cams have a high base ISO noise floor and a base ISO of 125) and that`s no mean feat especially as I use the cam fixed at ISO80 unless desperate .

It goes through those batteries in no time and the amount left really nose dives. I was caught out too many times so for planned indoor shooting I got a dummy battery AC adapter.

I`ve found the SX50 superb on batteries like the G1X Mk1 was, currently up to 228 shots on an old G1X Mk1 battery I`ve had for 10 years and still full bars - the G5X Mk2 however , wow that chewed the things and those NB13Ls  cost the earth

Funny thing is that when I sold the first SX50 I vowed stick to larger sensors (Micro 4/3 and the pan 14-140 etc) but always missed the reach - nowadays with Phones being the standard by which small cameras are judged (and not DSLRs like back then) , the SX50 stands up,  in JPG or RAW (Compared it to the main cam on my Iphone 11 both in RAW) and the lens pixelpeeps well even at the edges at 24mm which nearly all mirrorless suprzooms don`t (DSLR ones were dreadful for that) .

Also as Social media is now overall the main target for leisure photography , the SX50 is more than up to the task making the camera far more relevant than it ever was when it was in production . funny how things change.

AdamT wrote:

Just got another SX50, had the last one between 2013 and 2016 and there were a few things I`d forgotten

1:- How good the Lens is , Corner to corner in RAW wideopen at the wide end and the long end is tack sharp across most of the frame too at 1200mm - only downer is CA as you`d expect .

2:- How amazing the sensor is , pretty sure its the same unit in the DJI Phantom 3 Pro (prob later ones too like the Mini) , clean skies in RAW at base ISO , more DR than it has a right to - as good as a modern iPhone 11/12 main sensor for noise , way better than the 16+ Mp cams which came after

3:- how bad the EVF is , wow its as bad as 2004 ones and switching from LCD to EVF means lotsa presses, no single EVF/LCD button let alone auto switching

4:- that it takes G1X batteries - YAY , have spares in real canon since my G1X died

5:- how tolerable it is for speed, even in RAW+JPG

6:- how amazing the IS is , 80th sec at 1200mm with lotsa pixelpeepers , that EVF maybe rubbish but this is where it comes into its own .

Funny thing is that with Phones dragging everyones photo quality expectations down to basement levels and Social media only needing 2MP at best, the SX50 in RAW is overkill and as its IQ in RAW is matching up to the main camera on a recent iPhone also in RAW , the SX50 is actually more relevant than it was in 2013 .. add the low used Price, Hotshoe and twisty screen and its quite a deal .

Well, I have little used SX60 and image quality wise, it kills iphone 12 pro max, the downside with it is that even EOS M3 is faster.

-- hide signature --

** Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist **

Well, I have little used SX60 and image quality wise, it kills iphone 12 pro max, the downside with it is that even EOS M3 is faster.

you need to try these phones in RAW , I have an app called "Manual" which churns out DNGs and the main cam on the old Iphone 11 holds its own in RAW in Capture one with 1" cameras like the G7X in nice weather and with far better optics too .. of course the Phone cam does native ISO30  which gets rid of sky & shadow noise (whereas the G7X starts at ISO125 and has a high noise floor anyway) and the lens is a prime rather than a zoom (which is at its worst at the widest end on the G7X) but I was impressed for what it was . the 1"`ers win on colour depth and if you need lower light of course..

anything that is slower than an M3 is pretty damn slow, but lets face it , fast performance isn`t needed a lot of the time , the SX50 pauses between shots too ,..

AdamT wrote:

Well, I have little used SX60 and image quality wise, it kills iphone 12 pro max, the downside with it is that even EOS M3 is faster.

you need to try these phones in RAW , I have an app called "Manual" which churns out DNGs and the main cam on the old Iphone 11 holds its own in RAW in Capture one with 1" cameras like the G7X in nice weather and with far better optics too ..

Better than the fake dngs from apple, eh? I have to try it but I also simply don't like iPhone from usability as a camera point of view.

of course the Phone cam does native ISO30 which gets rid of sky & shadow noise (whereas the G7X starts at ISO125 and has a high noise floor anyway) and the lens is a prime rather than a zoom (which is at its worst at the widest end on the G7X) but I was impressed for what it was . the 1"`ers win on colour depth and if you need lower light of course..

anything that is slower than an M3 is pretty damn slow, but lets face it , fast performance isn`t needed a lot of the time , the SX50 pauses between shots too ,..

Better than the fake dngs from apple, eh? I have to try it but I also simply don't like iPhone from usability as a camera point of view.

I don`t either, but don`t like the fiddlyness of the likes of RX100s either

The DNGs as good as CRWs etc - have a look at my test set from the IP11 Pro Max`s main and "Tele" cams  , sadly even in "Manual" the ultrawide cam doesn`t shoot RAW so you can`t escape the smeary "Halo-engine" (TM) Apple JPG processing

Some Capture one Develops from the main and 52mm cams full size, click original to pixel peep and the lenses hold up real well - technically your IP12-Pro-max ought to be a bit better even and the 13 better again as the main cam sensor size increased..

https://www.dpreview.com/galleries/6254305281/albums/iphone-11-pro-max

The App

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/manual-raw-camera/id917146276

AdamT wrote:

Better than the fake dngs from apple, eh? I have to try it but I also simply don't like iPhone from usability as a camera point of view.

I don`t either, but don`t like the fiddlyness of the likes of RX100s either

The DNGs as good as CRWs etc - have a look at my test set from the IP11 Pro Max`s main and "Tele" cams , sadly even in "Manual" the ultrawide cam doesn`t shoot RAW so you can`t escape the smeary "Halo-engine" (TM) Apple JPG processing

Some Capture one Develops from the main and 52mm cams full size, click original to pixel peep and the lenses hold up real well - technically your IP12-Pro-max ought to be a bit better even and the 13 better again as the main cam sensor size increased..

https://www.dpreview.com/galleries/6254305281/albums/iphone-11-pro-max

The App

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/manual-raw-camera/id917146276

Well, I have the manual app and probably have had it for years ... I have to experiment with it.

Well, I have the manual app and probably have had it for years ... I have to experiment with it.

Hope it works as well with the 12 as it does with the 11 and it gives proper RAW DNGs likewise .

As for handling, no I don`t like phone handling either and the larger MAX versions make it harder even with a square edged back case on to help stop dropping it but lets face it, soapbar compacts like the S90-110 and RX100 series are no more fun to use, the canon G7X/G5X-II are better but it takes a cam like a G5X mk1. LX100-II  etc with proper controls, a decent fixed EVF and a grip to dramatically separate camera from phone handling wise