Canon lenses

Thanks for the info on the hood Kristen.

The SX50 arrived today, I've not had a chance to play yet as I've only just charged the battery.

 

Whoop whoop

 

I hope so Armandii! It's just slightly smaller than my SLR and the buttons are closer together which with my large hands could present a problem handling it when it's switched on. Obviously it's a lot lighter without the weight of the lenses as on the SLR though.

 

Looking forward to seeing some shots Sheal

 

Thanks Armandii and NG.

The weather's not looking to good at the moment but I hope to get out and about with it sometime this week. I have to take a trip up the mountain (Snaefell) at some point for Wiseowl, if I'm lucky and the sky is clear I may be able to take some shots of Scotland.

 

You'll probably get Norway in the background too, with that zoom!!

 

Nice thought Kristen but I'd need to be a bit further East. Norway is stunning, I did a three week tour of it many years ago by car.

 

That looks an awesome bit of kit Sheal. It will be thoughtfully used and I know you will get the best out of it,
looking forward to your pictures as always,
Jenny

 

Thanks Jenny. I spent a couple of hours getting my head round the controls today and setting it up, the manual as per usual with a Canon is absolutely hopeless!

 

Perhaps this justifies my concerns about that company

 

I suppose this was inevitable Scrungee.

 

I thought I'd best give you an update on the camera.

On the whole it handles well, although with my slightly larger than normal women's hands it needs careful handling regarding the buttons, most of which are fairly close together and easy to hit when manoeuvring the camera ready for a shot. For the most part I take shots on auto, I find the camera is happier working on it's own settings, auto focusing too. The electronic viewfinder can be a tad frustrating. I was trying to take night shots at a distance with it last weekend and it took some while for it to focus, however it does give the advantage of lighting up the shot (but not to brightly) so that it gives the effect of taking in daylight. The pictures I'd taken turned out to be rubbish unfortunately, back to the 1100D for night shots! The other issue with the viewfinder is anything that moves, particularly at speed. It's just not capable of setting up quickly enough and by the time it has the subject has moved on. Up until now I haven't used it for shots using the screen, although the speed issue should be non-existent with that. I'll try it during next years TT......proof of the pudding.....!

The Sx50's colour depth, focusing and clearness of shot I can't fault at close range, it's pretty good on zoom too!

The reason I wanted the camera was for distance, having ummed and ahhed over the extortionate price and weight of a large lens for my 1100D. I must say it was worth the gamble, even hand held, distance shots are very good as you will see below. I'm yet to use it on a tripod. Obviously, the more distant the shot the more camera movement but it's not so difficult to get a respectable shot.

This first shot of Peel Cathedral's tower was taken from the harbour wall, a distance of approximately three quarters of a mile. Camera hand held although I did use my car door as a prop for elbows.



Seal at the Calf of Man, approx. 60ft away.



Oystercatcher at Ramsey Bay. Would they stand still.....no! Taken at dusk on a windy evening, distance approx. 100 yards. Not the clearest of pictures, but shows what you can achieve handheld even with a brisk wind blowing and a moving target.



Aster taken in my garden showing the depth of colour the SX50 delivers.



All in all the camera has been a good investment, the functioning just takes a bit of getting used to. However it won't be replacing my 1100D but will work along side it.