Canon HX50

[e320dave]

I already have an Canon Ixus 960IS compact camera which is now quite a few years old and consigned to the drawer. I also have a Canon 500D with the kit lens and the cheap Canon 55-250mm lens.
I find the pictures from the Ixus are not that great and because of that I tend to use the camera on my phone instead. The 500D is great and I can get great pictures from it, but it is rather bulky if carrying both lenses and for a greater zoom just for the odd time that I want it, I am looking at a lot of money.
I have read some great things about the Canon HX50 bridge camera and I feel that it could fill the gap as a camera I would take out more often than the 500d and it would give me the zoom range. I also wouldn't have the issue whereby I have the wrong lens attached.
That's me talked into a Bridge Camera.....
Does anyone have experience with it and is it as good as the reviews make out? Canon also have £40 cash back on it until the end of October making the cost easier to stomach. I have not yet played with it in the flesh, I will do that over the weekend. I have already dismissed the FinePix HS50EXR as it is bulkier and heavier, however it does get rated highly. Some review do however say the picture quality is not as good as Canon. Anyone played with both and am I wrong to dismiss the FinePix?

Thanks

[Mr Will]

What exactly do you need the enormous zoom for? There are an awful lot of compromises involved in putting one that long on a camera.

[e320dave]

It is not that often that I need an enormous zoom, just every now and again. One example is at the rugby. I wanted to get a picture of the scrum, however it was at the other end of the pitch. I know I will not get a great picture if they are moving, however for a scrum it will be fine, especially in good light when not on max zoom.
The other one is when I am doing archery. I will at least be able to get a picture at 80yds without having to convert my scope to a digiscope. I would be using a tripod when on max zoom. Also when we host archery events, I cannot go in front of the shooting line whilst people are shooting, however with a huge zoom, I can get in there. Those are just 2 recent ones where the cameras I had with me were just not good enough (phone for rugby and SLR with 55-250 for archery)

[Mr Will]

That's fair enough, sports are a decent justification for it Was only checking because a lot of people get sucked in by the spec sheets of these cameras when they would be better served by another option.

[e320dave]

Got bored, went to John Lewis, handed over some notes and came back with the Canon SX50. First impressions are .... impressive.
Did a comparison of the zoom against the 250mm on the DSLR and it certainly gets closer. Well I zoomed in to a celebrations box on max zoom from the same place with both cameras and took a picture on auto.
Will take this camera to the wedding I am going to on Saturday instead of the DSLR and see how I get on. At least I won't have to worry about swapping lenses after a few drinks and there is always the full auto mode and the adjustable screen so I don't have to try and work out how to align my eye to an eyepiece for when the drink gets the better of me.
I think even the other half would be able to use this one. Now time to get some decent SD cards and a spare battery.