Motivation
After Canon EF 300mm f / 4L had little luck on my 7D with the (sharpness just made me unconvinced, and the CA's backlit were just too blatant), I decided for the Wildlife Photography times a bridge camera a chance to give. Also, I was faced with the decision for an upcoming trip, a travel zoom (18-200mm) for D-SLR to create (in order not to have to carry 5 lenses), or a compact superzoom with.
In the Canon SX50 shortlisted, the Lumix FZ200 and the Fuji HS50EXR came.
- The Canon to use because of the 50x zoom (up KB-äquivalete focal length 1200mm) and the possibility of my Canon flashes in TTL mode ..
- The Lumix because of the continuous aperture of 2.8 at focal length 24-600mm (KB-äquiv.BW).
- The Fuji because of the new hybrid AF sensor in the revised as compared to the other models like the other EXR CMOSII sensor, the still impressive end focal length of 1000mm and the manual zoom and focusable lens.
Pivotable displays they have all three - I find very helpful - especially when macro photography.
The Fuji it has become for me now, is mainly due to the fact that with the EXR sensor concept very impressed (see below - Fuji tried here really help bring [see also the new X-Trans CMOS] technology). Also, I was really looking forward to the phase focus - after all, I'm D-SLR spoiled! That is precisely why I would be very reluctant to do without manual zoom / focus. The 1000mm focal length at f / 5.6 also promise frame-filling shots of birds with greater flight distance.
Haptics
If you come from the D-SLR, is the weight (841g [incl lens hood, lens cap, battery and memory card.]) Okay - if you come from compact it is safe lugubrious. Likewise, the size - as the HS50EXR has a manual lens, the lens can not be so far retracted (one need NEN ring where you can rotate), as with the competitors mentioned above. Actually, the camera acts like a small D-SLR - just that you just can not change the lens.
The camera is made of plastic, but which is very handy (but unfortunately also very Fettfleck-Receptive - can indeed wipe over again, but still looks Böd out) and does not look cheap. The rubber grips have a good friction coefficient and are pleasantly soft. You also do not smell unpleasant, so I can exclude that here billigster China rubber was installed. The dials can be good and turn the locking points are pleasant and act dibasic. The push buttons could have a gentle pressure point - but that's all right. The zoom ring can be rotated quite well, has sufficient resistance (the zoom level is not adjusted from alone when you shoot into the sky, or the camera holding down). What bothers me a bit is the scratchy noise that there is when zooming - but I suspect that it is due to a sealing lip on the extending tube, I want that time not complain - rather some noise as after a week of dust in the lens. The ring directly on the body is actually responsible for the manual focus - I had initially assumed that this area would be tight - therefore I am pleasantly surprised that this is not so. So This is really the whole lens and manual operation. However, not in the so-called full-time engagement - the ring only works when the AF selector to the left on M is (there is no connection to the lens system, but the AF.Motor is controlled by the ring).
The focus ring has a little game about the transverse axis on (though I moan here at the level of a Canon L-lens-owner). In considering the amount of the build quality is perfectly fine for me. Only the somewhat loose-fitting rubber cover for the USB and HDMI port interferes somewhat the picture. The USB port is incidentally not a mini or micro USB port, but a Fjui proprietary format that the micro HDMI connector is similar. I find that very unfortunate - because one must always have this cable and keep him as the apple (but I use anyway a card reader for image transmission).
Service
I must say that I am the operability of the HS50EXR has convinced - after a few minutes I felt like at home. ;) The only thing that was not opened up to me as a relatively experienced amateur photographers instantly switch between aperture and shutter speed in Manual mode (M). (Resolution: the exposure button next to the shutter button).
Some time and if necessary the study of Bedienunsganleitung (the full PDF on CD enclosed) takes it to the innumerable filter modes and fine-tuning to meet and especially to vertehen to what they do. So I think, for example, the name of Stabilisatormodi 1.1 ooo, ooo 2 and 2 (the three thousand standing here for 3 overlapping circles) chosen very unhappy. Who already suspects without read that it is in the 1 concerns the continuous operation and at the 2 to stabilize only when triggered? We selected a mode with ooo, Camera forced to shorten the shutter speed to motion blurs a moving subject to reduce. The symbols on the autofocus modes are not partly been self-explanatory to me. But you can verknusen anything as long as you will be compensated elsewhere for it.
Sensor
What many believe I still is not at all aware of is that we are not dealing here with a (stink) normal sensor with Bayer pattern, but with a natural development from Fuji. Here, the pixels are not arranged orthogonal but is tilted by 45 degrees. Also here always 2Pixel same color are juxtaposed - that allowed the Fuji engineers a wonderful artifice: In EXR Mode, the user can choose (or let it make the camera a) if he the sensor at full (16MP) - wants to use resolution (Mode HR [High Resolution]), halving the resolution will (8MP) and for the less noise in the image (mode SN [low noise]) or at half the resolution would have a higher dynamic range (mode DR [dynamic range]) needs , That's tremendously innovative (especially since the digital photography has to suffer anyway under the reduced dynamite scope compared to photographic film) - I wonder why so far seen so few people, the potential of this technology and the great men (Canikon) continue the old nag with Bayer -Pattern and low-pass filter ride. The sample images speak for themselves, however, in my opinion.
Aperture table
What (but rarely bring in experience) me even with travel zoom for D-SLR always very interested in is: How does the panel behaves the focal length? 24-1000mm F / 2.8 to 5.6 means nothing more than that at 24mm f / 2.8 is present and at 1000mm F / 5.6. It is often so that the bezel to go very quickly - so unfortunately also here. I have taken the trouble for the different focal lengths (which are printed on the lens) the full aperture, the minimum focusing distance (I give here the more practical distance between the subject and the front lens to [normally is the minimum focus distance, the distance between the subject and sensor]) and the to determine magnification:
Focal length ------- ----- open aperture Closest focusing distance ------- magnification
24mm 2.8 ------------ ------------- ------------------ 10mm 0, 25 (1: 4)
35mm 3.2 ------------ ------------- ------------------ 50mm 0, 13 (1: 8)
50mm 3.6 ------------ ------------- ------------------ 85mm 0, 12 (1: 8)
80mm 4 ------------ --------------- ----------------- 135mm 0.12 (1: 8)
105mm 4.5 ----------- ------------- ----------------- 200mm 0.11 ( 1; 9)
135mm 4.5 ----------- ------------- ----------------- 245mm 0.12 ( 1: 8)
200mm 335mm ----------------- --------------- ----------- 5 0.13 ( 1: 8)
300mm 5.6 ----------- ------------- ----------------- 540mm 0.12 ( 1: 8)
500mm 5.6 ----------- ------------- ---------------- 1000mm 0.11 (1 : 9)
1000mm 5.6 ---------- ------------- ---------------- 2180mm 0.10 (1: 10)
Explanation: The brightness unfortunately adopted it after the first mm focal length - that would look at the Lumix FZ200 just very different (but hears even at 600mm on). The macro capabilities of the camera are also limited - however I do not think that this may be another bridge camera much better. Using the Super macro mode, the camera creates a magnification ratio of 1: 4 (which would, by definition, not even a macro but a close-up - modern D-SLR macro lenses achieve a ratio of 1: 1). The Super Macro function works only in absolute Wide - at 35mm, only the normal macro function is already available and the image scale is only 1: 8. The minimum focus distance in Super Macro range is 10mm (one centimeter) - enough just for flowers - for most insects, the distance is already much too small (which comes prefer to crumble in front of him if something big, black as close ), alsdass could achieve this magnification. The HS50EXR is so ever no macro monster. For this she was but certainly not constructed.
That's the theory - as the camera is now proposing in the field?
Landscape / Architecture
The camera, respectively her lens has a problem with belonging directly incident sunlight - there arise highly visible Lensflares that can be seen as a visual style element though, but could this one also go properly on my nerves. For sunsets I hereby confess this camera to only limited suitability.
Otherwise, the camera at the short end does a good job. The distortions remain within the limits and can be expected out loose when needed.
Wildlife
Due to the long 1000mm (KB-equiv.), It is no problem to photograph small and timid songbirds Full Frame (the format is a half-inch admittedly quite small). The conditions for this, however, should vote. at aperture 5.6 you need already properly light the shutter speed to get so short that the lively wildlife (which almost always are in movement) to map sharp. In addition, the small angle at full telephoto position overwhelmed the image stabilizer quickly - ie to ensure that you do not get camera shake, you should use in this focal length range a tripod or support the camera at least somewhere.
The image quality I find remarkable for a camera in this price range and this sensor size - of course always good light condition (small sensors are already inherently no high-ISO Monster).
Macro
Nuja - what can I say? If you pass a EOS 7D with a magnification ratio of 1 a 100mm f / 2.8L IS USM: 1 at a KB-equiv. Focal length of 160mm is used to wrestle a 24mm with magnification 1: 4 and 1 cm minimum focusing distance only a sympathetic smile. One must here really do not expect great wonders. But to take time a little flower by the wayside during the hike, it reached all male - by the swivel monitor you have to put it not even in the dirt.
Addendum: a RAYNOX M-250 conversion lens, the camera turns but in a 2: 1 - Macro Monster (!)! Get this an image of a Croatian wild bee upload. However, the focusable range is very narrow - the AF often overwhelmed. My recommendation: use manual focus and the distance to the subject to focus (either free-hand, or [goes in these magnifications's eh hardly without stand] with macro sled on tripod). This takes some practice (I know this from my Bellows with fixed focus lens) - but the magnification is worth.
Portraits
Here the small sensor and fast ironing panel revenge. In a usual for portraits focal length range from 85 to 135mm (KB-equiv.) Has a maximum aperture from 3.6 to 4. Goodbye Bokeh! Since it does not help much that the camera tries to compensate for a software trick this. In the operating mode Pro Focus (dial to Adv., Then Menu button, second option from the top), the camera takes two pictures (one with scharfgestelltem face and the second with conscious fehlfokus) and expects these then quickly together (that cuts the face in foreground and sets the blurred image in the background). Although this is a compact camera and an amazing function knows to please - but one sees still a huge difference to images (APS-C) D-SLR with 50mm f / 1.8 (out of full-frame and aperture 1.4 not to mention)! So if anyone wants to primarily photographing portraits, I recommend more of a EOS 1100D (Body) + EF 50mm f / grab 1.8 II - saves (at today's prices) over the HS50EXR 100 and is lengths better pictures will be rewarded with order.
Downsides:
However, there are a few things I would have liked differently:
- The camera is really running very quickly after power - the camera from sleep to wake again takes sometimes but up to 5 times as long (an eternity). Those coming from Canon D-SLR will curse here! My tip: Always turn the camera off and on for a quick snapshot (with a bit of practice and conditioning works very well)!
- The EXR modes are only accessible in (fully automatic) EXR mode. If one wants to use for the manual mode or the semi-automatics, noise reduction / dynamic expansion with 8MP resolution, you have to set the dial to "EXR", select a EXR mode (not AutoEXR) and then the dial to the desired PASM mode switch (where you then, however does not see in which EXR mode the camera is). If one does not know and take into account, it can happen to know that you diligently shoots pictures and later on the computer detects that all images have only 8MP resolution. Was there the money for another icon on the display from? This is very annoying and in my opinion, unnecessarily! My solution would be: EXR mode dial on omit, take EXR settings to Q-menu and in its own icon in the viewfinder display the EXR mode. That would not really cost more, but would have greatly upgraded the camera in my opinion and the service greatly simplified, increasing transparency.
- In the video recording, it comes with my 32GB PNY Class4 SD card after a few seconds of recording to abort with the message typo - with my 16GB PNY Class4 works apparently everything as intended - but I managed not a single playable video throughout the test period ( However, as I see myself as Photograf and not as a videographer, that's not so bad) for me. Tone runs, Video hooked - maybe it just needs a faster SD !?
- While the camera writes the data from the buffer to the card can be the picture does not start - for small series of images so it can ever take 10-15 seconds before you can check the images (although I currently use RAW + JPG and have not the fastest cards).
- The strong backlight sensitive lens restricts the use unfortunately a (night photography, sunsets, etc.).
Conclusion:
This camera does not replace a full D-SLR equipment! This camera does not perform miracles! She makes a bad photographer no good ... (by the way does not create a camera on this planet)!
But who can this camera accepting than that and accept what it is: A compact camera (with a slightly enlarged compact sensor), which is trapped in the body of a small D-SLR with festgewachsenem megazoom lens, will be rewarded with above-average results , It must not go wrong with zoom (SLR) -Ansprüchen the thing only and should give the camera a chance to learn to love their peculiarities.
Edit the 6.4 .:
- Correction of the facts relating to the EXR settings in PASM mode (see "dark side")
- Supplementing my experience in video function (see "dark side")
- Supplement the "Macro" section
Edit on 10.4 .:
- Downsides point to Lightroom deleted because HS50-RAWs can be processed with Lightroom 4.4 now
