Is a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS a useful second camera for long-distance wildlife or landscape shots?
Asked 11/11/2012
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I normally shoot with a Canon EOS 550D and currently use an EF-S 55-250mm plus a 500mm mirror lens, but I’m not happy with the mirror lens image quality. Instead of buying a 100-400mm lens, I’m considering a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS as a second camera because of its very long zoom range and RAW support.
Would a camera like the SX50 HS make sense mainly for distant subjects such as wildlife or landscapes, especially in good light where fast shutter speeds are easier to maintain? I understand the limitations of the smaller sensor, but for very long focal lengths the extra depth of field could actually be helpful. I’m mainly wondering whether it’s a practical complement to a DSLR rather than a replacement.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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Absolutely. There are several advantages to this and is something I often do.
Normally I travel with one DSLR plus a backup and a small social camera . The backup is often a second DSLR which lets me share lenses, batteries and charger. It gives me redundancy but no more capabilities.
Often I take an ultra-zoom instead of the DSLR when I expect to shoot distant subjects or be in a situation where subjects appear at unexpected distances.
The decision of which way to go depends on the trip and obviously has to be taken in anticipation to the best of my knowledge.
When I take the ultra-zoom which has a modest 26X zoom compared to the SX50, I can shoot much further since my longest DSLR lens ends at 250mm while the ultra-zoom tops at 676mm. I could buy that long a DSLR lens (or rent one) but I really wouldn't want to carry such a beast!
Even so, I would most often have the wrong lens mounted on either DSLR. The ultra-zoom on the other hand is always ready for anything between 24 and 676mm!
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — as a second camera for reach and convenience, a superzoom like the Canon SX50 HS can be very useful.
The main advantage is obvious: far more telephoto reach in a much smaller, lighter, cheaper package than a DSLR with a very long lens. That makes it handy for travel, wildlife, or unpredictable subjects at varying distances.
The tradeoff is image quality. A small-sensor superzoom will not match a DSLR with a good long lens in sharpness, low-light performance, high-ISO quality, or overall flexibility. Results tend to be best in bright light, and that fits your use case. RAW capture is also a real plus for getting the most from the files.
So the SX50 HS makes sense if you want a practical complement to your DSLR for extreme focal lengths, and you accept that it’s about reach and portability rather than DSLR-level quality. It’s useful, but it’s not a substitute for a DSLR plus a high-quality telephoto lens.
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