Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

First of all: Please apologize my language, I'm no native speaker, but received so much help from Amazon.com reviews over the years, that I now try to give back my modest bit and tell about my experience with the Canon SX50 HS. Before I used to walk around with two cams standby: 1st the Samsumg WB500, because I'm living at the shoreline where we need horizontal space for our pictures, hence can make best use of the 24mm ultra-wide lens. 2nd the Olympus SP-800UZ, because in a harbor area there are lots of fences and off limits zones, where they won't let you in, but you just want, want and want to take your pics nonetheless, hence depend on zoom potential. Additionally there are seabirds and seal, a shy sheep's eye, a distant cow's tongue, whatever - I just never left the house without the 30x zoom of my Olympus. Some weeks ago however, I noticed that besides taking pictures I'd love to now and then take videos, too. And this is, where the Canon SX50 HS cought my attention, because: My Olympus can take decent movies, but either you want it to zoom, so you need to go without sound. Or you want sound, so it won't zoom. No comment. :-( My Samsung can take decent movies, even with zoom and sound, but once you touch the zoom, it will produce this pesky grinding noise, which spoils whatever atmosphere. So I googled my bit and my nostrils got wide when I cought whiff of Canon SX50 HS's fragrance. A bridge camera with 24mm ultra-wide lens, x50 instead of my beloved x30 zoom? OK, here is, what I can tell about after 12 days of testing: I tested it for 3 days with 3 cameras around my neck. Every video I shot, every picture I took, were shot thrice. Meantime (day 11) I only leave the house with one camera with me, with Canon SX50 HS). Beginning with the results of what my other cams did satisfyingly good anyway: The 24mm ultra-wide lens is at least as good as is the Samsung WB500 one. No awkward distortion. You can approach the ship or whaterver else horizontal you wish to take your pic of, and will be satisfied with the result. Canon SX50 vs Olympus SP-800UZ: Of course the zoom range 30:50 stands for itself. The magnificent difference in addition however is the Canon's stabilisation potential. No matter if picture or video, where an Olympus' shot depends on absolutely steady hand, your Canon will be tolerant and kind of swing it out gracefully. I compiled some videos Canon vs Olympus on youtube, to show the difference, you can find me on "amSeehafen", if you like to watch. I also put there lots of videos, which to even try wouldn't have made any sense with both the other cams. 1st: Neither Samsung WB500 nor Olympus SP-800UZ are any good after sun down. Still, such a harbor area has it's temptations at nighttime as well. So one of my first Canon tests was, to see, how it would handle darkness. You can see some results at youtube amSeehafen, too. It paints black black and light light. Quite crisp and perfect. Wow. My next reason to love the Canon is, that it is way more tolerant re movements, shaking of hand, etc. Of course it shakes like hell, if your hand is directly being twisted by coastal winds. Who wouldn't. Yet if it's just halfway still, you can zoom the full ammount (including digital) zoom without tripod, and earn undreamt of crisp and calm results. The sound, however, at first shocked me. Knattering, rattling, loud. (!?) Until I found out, that the culprit was our constant coastal wind. So I reduced noise sensitivity down to close deafness, and voila: This lovely camera's sound is pretty perfect. It can even handle wind and make it sound like wind. Which - you'll agree, if you're anyway experienced - is quite a piece of artistry! (Addition - written 1 month after: On the long hand the deafened microfones are not satisfying, because they muzzle too many desired environment sounds, too. But some investigation on youtube gave me the idea, which helped to solve the problem: Just attach a piece of fur via doublesided sticky tape round the microfone holes. Make sure not to block the openings. I admit, it gives your cam quite a funny look, but hey - you'll love the sound! Find my tutorial and sound examples on youtube AmSeehafen. Well, what else to tell - I tested the macro mode with both flowers and spiders - you can find shares on youtube amSeehafen as well, it's doing good job. I found the slow motion mode, which nobody needs, but is lots of fun. I never knew how long our cat's tongues can gear out, until I could watch them slurping their treats in slow motion... The only shortfall I noticed up to now is, the lense is helluva sensitive to pollution. So you best *always* carry a handkerchief or something with you, to clean lense as soon as necessary. None of my other cams ever was nearly as 'sissy, as is the SX50 HS in this regard. But the display is fantastic. Even I with my elderly weak eyes can notice pretty quick, once the pictures or movies blurr. Talking of the display: I also love that it can be moved. I'm not so tall, and fences can be oh so high... No prob to me anymore. If I keep the Canon SX50 HS. Which I intend to do. And herewith recommend it to everybody who has about the same ideas of what to ask from their camera.