Canon PowerShot SX50 HS menu settings
The SX50 is the first camera we’ve owned that requires only one manual adjustment in the field. We shoot most of the time in “P” program mode. The mode dial is on the top - right of the camera. P mode is one click counter-clockwise from the “Auto” Green Camera Icon on the mode dial
Exception: When photographing birds in flight simply turn the control knob to the icon of the “running man”. That’s one click counterclockwise from SCN. This is the sports setting and works great for action shots.
The only manual setting required is exposure compensation. Sharie and I tend to work on clear days or partly cloudy days. The majority of our images are shot with exposure compensation set at minus 1/3 or minus 2/3.
— If we work in overcast conditions we reduce exposure compensation to minus 1/3 or zero. Detail in highlights is preserved.
— On rare occasions like a close-up of a white pelican or snow geese; minus 1 stop or more may be required to preserve detail in highlights. Check the instant image review and continue moving in the minus direction until highlights contain detail.
A few general suggestions:
It’s good to get into the habit of checking the mode dial setting often. We check every time the camera is used. Many images that we've captured are “once in a lifetime”. It’s discouraging to miss an opportunity because of an incorrect setting. It’s best to start every session with a fully charged battery.
—————————————————--
For consistent high quality images here are screen by screen menu settings that we use:
Under Camera Icon in menu:
AF frame: FlexiZone
Digital Zoom: OFF (1200mm of optical zoom is all you’ll need!) Or if you care to use some digital zoom set this to “standard”.
AF Point Zoom: Off
Servo AF: Off
Continuous AF: On (Focus is locked on the subject when pressing the shutter button half way down.)
AF Assist Beam: Off (increases battery life) Turn this on when photographing indoors in low light.
MF Point Zoom: On (this is helpful if you occasionally use manual focus)
ISO Auto Settings: Max ISO Speed 1600, Rate of Change - Fast
High ISO Noise Reduction: Low
Spot AE Point: AF Point (This setting only comes into play if Evaluative Exposure is not used.)
Movie Audio: Mic Level - Auto, Wind Filter - Off
Custom Display: Place a check mark in box 1 next to Shooting Info
Reverse Display: On
IS Settings: Continuous Dynamic IS: 1
Review: Quick (enables a quick view of each image.)
IS Image Stabilization Settings: IS Mode - Continuous, Dynamic IS - 1
Display Area (focus area): Small - this will allow you to avoid focusing on tree branches or blades of grass in front of your subjects.
Date stamp: Off
Face ID: Off
Set shortcut button: Not assigned
Under wrench and hammer icons:
Mute: On (shuts off all camera sounds)
Hints & Tips: On
Date/Time: Set date and time
Time Zone: Home
Start Up image: default no. 1
File Numbering: Continuous
Create Folder: Monthly
Lens Retract: 1 Minute
Power Saving: Auto Power Down: Off
Display Off: 3 Minutes
Units: Metric or Standard
Electronic Level: Don’t worry about setting this if you don’t have problems keeping horizons level.
Video System: NTSC
Ctrl via HDMI: Disable
Copyright Info: Enter your name or company name
Certification Logo Display: Default
Language: Finnish
Finally, press center of control button on the back of the SX50 to finish the menu setup selections. (This button is in the center of the control knob that has a the flower icon on the left.)
DR correction: Auto
AWB: Automatic white balance
N: Neutral color and saturation balance
BKT: Bracketing Off
Continuous Shooting: Continuous shooting while shutter is pressed
Evaluative Exposure: setting based on overall scene (this setting is used on all of our cameras)
4:3 aspect ratio
Image JPEG, Large 12 million pixels (We found no advantages in shooting Raw images.)
Exception: When photographing birds in flight simply turn the control knob to the icon of the “running man”. That’s one click counterclockwise from SCN. This is the sports setting and works great for action shots.
The only manual setting required is exposure compensation. Sharie and I tend to work on clear days or partly cloudy days. The majority of our images are shot with exposure compensation set at minus 1/3 or minus 2/3.
— If we work in overcast conditions we reduce exposure compensation to minus 1/3 or zero. Detail in highlights is preserved.
— On rare occasions like a close-up of a white pelican or snow geese; minus 1 stop or more may be required to preserve detail in highlights. Check the instant image review and continue moving in the minus direction until highlights contain detail.
A few general suggestions:
It’s good to get into the habit of checking the mode dial setting often. We check every time the camera is used. Many images that we've captured are “once in a lifetime”. It’s discouraging to miss an opportunity because of an incorrect setting. It’s best to start every session with a fully charged battery.
—————————————————--
For consistent high quality images here are screen by screen menu settings that we use:
Under Camera Icon in menu:
AF frame: FlexiZone
Digital Zoom: OFF (1200mm of optical zoom is all you’ll need!) Or if you care to use some digital zoom set this to “standard”.
AF Point Zoom: Off
Servo AF: Off
Continuous AF: On (Focus is locked on the subject when pressing the shutter button half way down.)
AF Assist Beam: Off (increases battery life) Turn this on when photographing indoors in low light.
MF Point Zoom: On (this is helpful if you occasionally use manual focus)
ISO Auto Settings: Max ISO Speed 1600, Rate of Change - Fast
High ISO Noise Reduction: Low
Spot AE Point: AF Point (This setting only comes into play if Evaluative Exposure is not used.)
Movie Audio: Mic Level - Auto, Wind Filter - Off
Custom Display: Place a check mark in box 1 next to Shooting Info
Reverse Display: On
IS Settings: Continuous Dynamic IS: 1
Review: Quick (enables a quick view of each image.)
IS Image Stabilization Settings: IS Mode - Continuous, Dynamic IS - 1
Display Area (focus area): Small - this will allow you to avoid focusing on tree branches or blades of grass in front of your subjects.
Date stamp: Off
Face ID: Off
Set shortcut button: Not assigned
Under wrench and hammer icons:
Mute: On (shuts off all camera sounds)
Hints & Tips: On
Date/Time: Set date and time
Time Zone: Home
Start Up image: default no. 1
File Numbering: Continuous
Create Folder: Monthly
Lens Retract: 1 Minute
Power Saving: Auto Power Down: Off
Display Off: 3 Minutes
Units: Metric or Standard
Electronic Level: Don’t worry about setting this if you don’t have problems keeping horizons level.
Video System: NTSC
Ctrl via HDMI: Disable
Copyright Info: Enter your name or company name
Certification Logo Display: Default
Language: Finnish
Finally, press center of control button on the back of the SX50 to finish the menu setup selections. (This button is in the center of the control knob that has a the flower icon on the left.)
DR correction: Auto
AWB: Automatic white balance
N: Neutral color and saturation balance
BKT: Bracketing Off
Continuous Shooting: Continuous shooting while shutter is pressed
Evaluative Exposure: setting based on overall scene (this setting is used on all of our cameras)
4:3 aspect ratio
Image JPEG, Large 12 million pixels (We found no advantages in shooting Raw images.)