How to Use Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
The Canon PowerShot SX50 HS was one of the first bridge cameras to break the 50x zoom barrier, and its 50x optical zoom (24-1200mm equivalent) still turns heads. The 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor delivers solid image quality for its class, and the full PASM exposure controls let you grow as a photographer. Add in RAW shooting, 1080p video, a vari-angle LCD, and built-in IS, and you’ve got a capable all-in-one camera.
This guide covers the settings and techniques that matter most for getting good results from the SX50 HS.
Getting Started
Battery and Memory Card
The SX50 HS uses the NB-10L rechargeable battery, which delivers about 315 shots per charge. Charge it fully before your first outing. A spare battery is cheap insurance for longer shooting days.
Insert an SD, SDHC, or SDXC card. A Class 10 card with at least 20 MB/s write speed handles photos and video without issues.
Initial Setup
Power on and set the date, time, and time zone. These stamps appear in every photo’s metadata and keep your files organized when importing to a computer.
The 50x Zoom
At 24mm, the lens captures wide scenes. At 1200mm, distant subjects fill the frame. Use the zoom lever around the shutter button for variable-speed control. At the telephoto end, even small movements send the subject out of frame, so practice smooth, controlled zooming.
The built-in Intelligent IS system adapts to your shooting situation (normal, panning, macro, tripod) and applies the right stabilization. At 1200mm, IS helps significantly, but a tripod or solid rest produces the sharpest results.
Shooting Modes
Auto: Camera handles everything. Good for quick shots.
P (Program): Camera sets aperture and shutter speed. You control ISO and other settings. Shift the program with the control dial.
Av (Aperture Priority): You pick the aperture (f/3.4 at wide, f/6.5 at full zoom). The range is limited but still affects exposure and depth of field.
Tv (Shutter Priority): You set shutter speed. Use 1/500+ to freeze action at long zoom. Use 1/30 or slower for motion blur.
M (Manual): Full control. Watch the exposure meter on screen and adjust both aperture and shutter speed to nail your exposure.
Scene Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Scene, and others. Each one adjusts multiple settings for the named situation.
RAW Shooting
The SX50 HS saves images in RAW format, which gives you more editing flexibility than JPEG alone. Set Image Quality to RAW or RAW+JPEG in the menu. RAW files are larger but let you recover highlights, adjust white balance, and fine-tune exposure in post without quality loss.
Autofocus
The SX50 HS uses contrast-detection AF. Half-press the shutter button to lock focus. A green box confirms the lock. The camera offers several AF frame options: Face Detection/Tracking (finds and tracks faces), FlexiZone (move the AF point anywhere on screen), and Center (focuses on the middle of the frame).
For distant subjects at full zoom, Center AF tends to be the most reliable. For portraits and group shots, Face Detection works well and tracks subjects as they move within the frame.
Servo AF tracks moving subjects continuously for action photography and video.
Video Recording
The SX50 HS records Full HD 1080p at 24 fps and 720p at 30 fps. Press the dedicated movie button to start and stop. The full 50x zoom is available during recording, with zoom speed reduced to cut motor noise. IS works during video, smoothing out handheld footage.
The built-in stereo mic captures ambient sound. There’s no external mic input on this model, so audio quality is limited to what the internal mic picks up. Keep the camera steady and avoid touching the zoom lever aggressively to minimize handling noise.
For more Canon compact guides, check out our How to Use Canon PowerShot SX540 HS walkthrough.
The Vari-Angle LCD
The 2.8-inch vari-angle LCD flips out and rotates, letting you compose shots from high angles, low angles, and even facing yourself for selfies or video. At the telephoto end, the LCD is easier to use than the electronic viewfinder for tracking moving subjects because you can see the wider scene with your other eye.
Electronic Viewfinder
The built-in EVF is useful in bright sunlight when the LCD is hard to see. It also helps stabilize the camera by giving you a third point of contact (camera pressed against your face). The EVF resolution is modest at 202K dots, but it’s functional for framing and focus confirmation.
Tips for Better Results
Wildlife and Birds: Tv mode at 1/500+, Servo AF, continuous shooting. Brace the camera on a fence, car window, or beanbag at full zoom. Shoot in good light for the fastest AF and lowest noise.
Moon: M mode, 1200mm, ISO 80-100, f/6.5, 1/250. Tripod required. The SX50 HS can capture clear detail on the lunar surface.
Landscapes: Wide end, Av at f/5.6 to f/8, ISO 80-100, tripod with timer. Use the panorama stitching mode for ultra-wide scenes.
Portraits: Zoom to 50-100mm, wide aperture, Face Detection AF. The background blur won’t match an interchangeable-lens camera, but subject-background separation is noticeable at longer focal lengths with some distance behind the subject.
Macro: The SX50 HS focuses as close as 0 cm in macro mode at the wide end. Get close, use a tripod, and shoot in good light. The shallow depth of field at macro distances means even small focus shifts matter.
Final Thoughts
The Canon PowerShot SX50 HS delivers 50x zoom, RAW shooting, and full manual control in a compact package. Its strength is reach. If you photograph wildlife, birds, sports from the sidelines, or the moon, this camera puts them all within frame. Spend time learning the zoom techniques and IS behavior, and the SX50 HS will reward you with shots that larger cameras can’t easily match without expensive telephoto glass.