Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

    67
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    Highlights

    • 12.1 MP 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
    • 80 - 6,400 Native ISO
    • 9 Focus Points (9 Cross-type)
    • Image Stabilization
    • 2.80" 461k dot Fully Articulated Screen
    • 202k dot Electronic Viewfinder
    • 2.2 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
    • Built-in Flash
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS was announced in 2013 and is a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm) Bridge camera with 12.1 Megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 80 to 6,400. The camera has a Fully Articulated 2.80" screen with 461k dot resolution and built-in Electronic viewfinder with 202k dot resolution. It has an image stabilization.

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS can capture video up to 1920 x 1080 resolution.


    Here is the Canon PowerShot SXxx series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Canon PowerShot SXxx series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Canon SX70 HS September
    2018
    20.3 MP
    1/2.3-inch
    100 - 3,200 Articulated 3.0"
    922k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX60 HS September
    2014
    16.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch
    100 - 6,400 Articulated 3.0"
    922k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX50 HS January
    2013
    12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch
    80 - 6,400 Articulated 2.80"
    461k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX40 HS September
    2011
    12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch
    100 - 3,200 Articulated 2.70"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX30 IS September
    2010
    14.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch
    80 - 1,600 Articulated 2.70"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX20 IS July
    2010
    12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch
    80 - 1,600 Articulated 2.50"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX10 IS January
    2009
    10.0 MP
    1/2.3-inch
    80 - 1,600 Articulated 2.50"
    230k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Canon PowerShot SX70 HS vs PowerShot SX60 HS vs PowerShot SX50 HS vs PowerShot SX40 HS vs PowerShot SX30 IS vs PowerShot SX20 IS.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Canon PowerShot SX50 HS.

    PROS

    •   Cheap
    •   Video Capture
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fully Articulated Screen
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/2000 sec
    •   HDMI Output
    •   Built-In Bluetooth
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 12.1 Megapixel
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.2 fps
    •   Low DxO Overall Score - 47
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 315 shots

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Screen Size - 2.80"
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 202k dot
    •   Weight - 595 g (1.31 lb / 20.99 oz)

    Predecessor

    Here we are comparing Canon PowerShot SX50 HS to its predecessor PowerShot SX40 HS and displaying the major changes.

    UPGRADES Canon PowerShot SX50 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
    Lower Native ISO 80 vs 100
    Higher Native ISO 6,400 vs 3,200
    RAW Support vs
    Reachs More Telephoto 1200 mm vs 840 mm
    Greater Optical Zoom 50x vs 35x
    Larger Screen 2.80" vs 2.70"
    Higher Resolution Screen 461k dot vs 230k dot
    Lighter 595 g (1.31 lb / 20.99 oz) vs 600 g (1.32 lb / 21.16 oz)
    DOWNGRADES Canon PowerShot SX50 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
    Maximum Aperture at Wide End f/3.4 vs f/2.7
    Maximum Aperture at Tele End f/6.5 vs f/5.8
    Lower Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) 1/2000 sec vs 1/3200 sec
    Lower Max Continuous Shooting 2.2 fps vs 10.3 fps
    Speaker vs Mono
    Shorter Battery Life 315 shots vs 380 shots

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Canon PowerShot SX50 HS vs PowerShot SX40 HS.

    Successor

    In 2014 Canon PowerShot SX50 HS was replaced by Canon PowerShot SX60 HS. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Canon PowerShot SX50 HS and its successor.

    UPGRADES Canon PowerShot SX60 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
    Higher Sensor Resolution 16.1 Megapixel vs 12.1 Megapixel
    More Powerful Processor DIGIC 6 vs DIGIC 5
    Max Image Resolution 4608 x 3072 vs 4000 x 3000
    Reaches Wider Angle 21 mm vs 24 mm
    Reachs More Telephoto 1365 mm vs 1200 mm
    Greater Optical Zoom 65x vs 50x
    Larger Screen 3.0" vs 2.80"
    Higher Resolution Screen 922k dot vs 461k dot
    Higher Resolution Viewfinder 922k dot vs 202k dot
    Higher Max Continuous Shooting 6.4 fps vs 2.2 fps
    Speaker Mono vs
    Microphone Input vs
    Built-In Wi-Fi vs
    Wi-Fi Version Wi-Fi 5, 802.11ac/b/g/n, 2.4/5 GHz vs 802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz
    Longer Battery Life 340 shots vs 315 shots
    DOWNGRADES Canon PowerShot SX60 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
    More Expensive $549 vs $429
    Higher Native ISO 100 vs 80
    Image Stabilization vs
    Lower DxO Low Light ISO 127 vs 179
    Lower DxO Color Depth 19.2 vs 20.3
    Lower DxO Dynamic Range 10.1 vs 11.2
    Lower DxO Overall Score 39 vs 47
    Heavier 650 g (1.43 lb / 22.93 oz) vs 595 g (1.31 lb / 20.99 oz)

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Canon PowerShot SX50 HS vs PowerShot SX60 HS.

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Fully Articulated screen

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS has a 2.80" Fully Articulated screen with 461k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards. Fully articulated screen makes this camera selfie and vlogger friendly and generally very useful for video shooting.

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    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS with Fully Articulated screen


    Electronic Viewfinder

    Camera has a built-in Electronic viewfinder with 202k dot resolution. It has a 100% coverage.

    Sensor

    BSI-CMOS Sensor

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS features a 12.1 megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 28.1 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 6,400.

    The camera has BSI-CMOS sensor, short for Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor sensor. In traditional CMOS sensors, the wiring and circuitry are located on the front side of the sensor, which can block some of the incoming light. BSI technology flips this design by placing the photosensitive elements (pixels) on the backside of the sensor, allowing more light to reach the pixels. This significantly enhances light sensitivity and improves low-light performance. BSI-CMOS sensors are particularly effective in low-light conditions, as they can capture more light, resulting in brighter and less noisy images. This makes them well-suited for indoor and night photography. BSI-CMOS sensors deliver a higher SNR and reduced cross-talk.

    Photography Features

    Camera is equipped with DIGIC 5 processor and can take pictures up to 4000 x 3000 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 4000 x 3000, 4000 x 2248, 4000 x 2664, 2992 x 2992, 2816 x 2112, 2816 x 1880, 2816 x 1584, 2112 x 2112, 1920 x 1080, 1600 x 1200, 1600 x 1064, 1200 x 1200, 640 x 480, 640 x 424, 640 x 360, 480 x 480 with 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios.


    Image Stabilization

    The camera has an image stabilization.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Canon PowerShot SX50 HS.

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    Bluetooth

    Camera has a built-in Bluetooth which lets you to connect the camera to a smartphone or a dedicated remote control device. This allows you to remotely trigger the camera, adjust settings and controls remotely through a paired mobile app. While Wi-Fi is generally faster for transferring larger files, Bluetooth can be used for small, selective transfers, it can provide real-time information about your camera's battery status, memory card capacity, and other key settings directly on your paired smartphone or smartwatch.
      Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in Bluetooth.


    USB Input and HDMI Output

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer. There is a Mini HDMI connector for video signal output.


    Battery

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS comes with NB-10L battery pack with battery life of 315 shots.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS's shutter speed can go up to 1/2000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 2.2 fps.


    Flash

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS has a built-in flash with maximum range of 5.50 m and also accepts external flash which can be connected via Shoe Mount. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/2000 sec.

    Physical Parameters

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS has dimensions of 123 x 87 x 106 mm (4.84 x 3.43 x 4.17"). It weighs 595 g (1.31 lb / 20.99 oz) which is neither heavy nor lightweight.

    123 mm (4.84")

    87 mm (3.43")

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    87 mm (3.43")

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    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS dimensions

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Canon PowerShot SX50 HS is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    AVERAGE
    57

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS gets a score of 57 and is AVERAGE choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    69

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS gets a score of 69 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 202k dot
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.2 fps
    •   Short Battery Life - 315 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    67

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS gets a score of 67 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 202k dot
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.2 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 315 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    GOOD
    79

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS gets a score of 79 and is GOOD choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 2.80"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/2000 sec
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    81

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS gets a score of 81 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fully Articulated Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 595 g (1.31 lb / 20.99 oz)

    Travel Photography

    GOOD
    80

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS gets a score of 80 and is GOOD choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fully Articulated Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 595 g (1.31 lb / 20.99 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 315 shots

    Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Evaluation

    We evaluate Canon PowerShot SX50 HS and give score of 67 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    67

    Sensor

    GOOD
    70

    We give Canon PowerShot SX50 HS a score of 70 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 12.1 Megapixel
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
    •   Low DxO Overall Score - 47

    Photo

    GOOD
    72

    We give Canon PowerShot SX50 HS a score of 72 for Photo parameters.

    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.2 fps
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/2000 sec

    Video

    POOR
    46

    We give Canon PowerShot SX50 HS a score of 46 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080

    Focusing

    AVERAGE
    68

    We give Canon PowerShot SX50 HS a score of 68 for Focusing parameters.

    •   9 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    GOOD
    76

    We give Canon PowerShot SX50 HS a score of 76 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fully Articulated Screen
    •   Screen Size - 2.80"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 202k dot

    Connectivity

    GOOD
    71

    We give Canon PowerShot SX50 HS a score of 71 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   HDMI Output
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    41

    We give Canon PowerShot SX50 HS a score of 41 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 595 g (1.31 lb / 20.99 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 315 shots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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