Not another camera! Oh yes!

[Grandad]

I believe that I recently expressed some disappointment at the quality of image with my Sigma 18 – 200mm lens on the Nikon. I bought that lens about 3 years ago for around £175 but have never been that impressed. At its shorter end the 18 – 55mm Nikon kit lens that came with the camera beats it in all quality respects.

So I was anxious to get a better long lens but could not justify a large expenditure on something that would cost as much as a decent holiday. (And a decent holiday will always take preference ) I re-read Horus's detailed comparison of his new camera against the Fuji HS50 which was a close second in his assessment. I checked out the Fuji Shop for refurbished HS50’s but as there were none in stock I left my email to be notified when one becomes available.

Bingo, on Monday pm I got an email advising that 2 had just become available. I didn’t hesitate and ordered one straight away. The price was £219.99 but a quick search found a discount code ‘paypal12’ which gave a 10% discount IF you paid by Paypal. I have a Paypal account and had forgotten that there was already a residual balance there of £55. (I use it mostly for ebay and had sold something and forgotten about it)

As I would now have a superzoom (24 – 1000mm) I decided to sell the Sigma lens on ebay. I have listed it at £150 BIN or offers. There is a lot of interest and I have no doubt I will sell at a good price.

SO, to end this drawn out tale my HS50, that arrived before lunch today, is going to cost me around a fiver accepting that my ebay balance was a forgotten asset. I couldn’t wait to try the new camera and these two rushed pics are the first ever from this very nice bridge camera. Hand held from the same position at the 24 and 1000 ends of the zoom. (Mrs G won’t thank me so don’t tell her about the pic that includes her.)



PS. I Know I have said in the past that, with my eye problems, I could not use an electronic viewfinder. Well, I tried them at Currys a couple of weeks ago and they are now SO good that I can hardly see any difference between the EVF and a LIVE viewfinder. Hopefully I will now get a day when from Dover cliff I can tell the time on the Calais clocktower 22 miles away in France.

[LovelyLadyLux]

WOW! That lens to 1000mm definitely sounds super duper! It is really amazing how often a long lens can be used and does introduce so many new and exciting photos that you otherwise couldn't remotely capture. Great way to have upgraded too for the equivalent of a couple cups of coffee Am sure your lens on Ebay will sell in due course too. Terrific score! Can't wait to see France too!

(And am sure for the purposes of Research Mrs G didn't mind )

[Grandad]

Fortunately LLL all the controls are similar to my X10 so not much new to learn. The camera is heavier than I expected but it has a good right hand grip and the buttons are well placed. I look forward to using a tripod and trying the digitalzoom that gives 2000mm. You can get the same effect with the fine setting at 1000 but I must push things to the limit. Just need a nice bright day.

[Kiya]

Oooooooo looking forward to seeing your photos with your new camera what ! another one , I'm losing track now Grandad

[LovelyLadyLux]

Secretly I think Grandad is upping the ante on the wildlife shots! Hmmmmmm - gonna have to think about this one

[Grandad]

Secretly I think Grandad is upping the ante on the wildlife shots!

Am I THAT transparent LLL

[Horus]

Great stuff Grandad, glad my comparison post helped you to make up your mind and as I said at the time it was only the larger sensor in the X-S1 that pushed me in that direction over the HS50. I think you will find it is a superb camera and as you have found out the electronic viewfinders are almost as good as a mirror, in fact Fuji are now world leaders in mirrorless cameras. My own X-S1 has a viewfinder that is twice as good as the HS50 resolution wise, (another reason I bought it) so it will give you some idea of how good they have become.

[Grandad]

I am always like a kid with a new toy whenever I have something new to play with. We boys never grow up.

So the new camera is presently being checked out to see how good it is. Thanks to Horus’s analysis and our mutual appreciation of Fuji cameras I am already very happy with my new purchase. I promise not to go on about it any more after this post but, as I said, I wanted a camera with something longer than 200mm zoom at an affordable price.

Well, the HS50 is ticking all the boxes. F2.8 at the short 24mm end to f5.6 at the full 1000mm zoom end. That is pretty fast optics in a camera costing a little over £200. My Sigma lens was f3.5 to f6.3 over the 18 to 200mm range and that was a lens costing almost as much as this camera.

Here are a few test shots from this morning. All hand held, I am afraid Mrs G gets impatient if I want to set up a tripod.
This is the ruins of Herne Bay pier head taken with my old lens at 200mm, ¾ mile distant. The other three are at 24mm, 1000mm, and 2000mm digital zoom. These are by far my most stunning results so up to about a mile seems to be the optimum distance.


The next three are of Reculver Towers a few miles along the coast. Again these are at 24, 1000, and 2000 zoom. (I have indicated the towers in the first pic)



Finally, about 10 miles north of Herne Bay are the remains of The Shivering Sands Maunsell defence fort from WWII in the Thames Estuary. These are at 24 and 2000mmm equivalent. (I have indicated the forts in the first pic)


So there we are. I shall be using this camera a lot but there will still be times when I need the quality of the Nikon lens and the compact convenience of the X10.

I won’t bore you any more……promise (unless of course I get something good at the local RSPB reserve.)

[LovelyLadyLux]

That camera IS really giving fantastic photos! And, as hand head they're great too! Super interesting. Am now starting to think I'm gonna need to start thinking about one too

Can't let you get the jump on the wildlife shots on me that easy Grandad! ;)

Must also say the price you got your camera for was really good. Here they're closer to 400GBP. Will have to keep an eye out.....

[Kiya]

Wow! these are pretty good.................I might be looking for a new camera soon too, not exactly 100% happy with my Canon.

[Grandad]

Kiya, for anyone like all of us on here who probably take more pictures than the average snapper, I think it is wise to have a second camera such as a compact just so that you are not without if your main camera fails. (Ring any bells? )

Although I am now back to three, I can see specific times and occasions when they will each be used. Long ago when I had a small darkroom and processed my own films and prints I had four cameras. A Minolta 7000 SLR with several lenses. Two old fashioned bellows cameras that I uased just for the hell of using old cameras, and my much favoured 1968 twin lens Yashica 635, medium format camera. A lovely camera that I eventually sold on ebay and it went back home to Japan.

Here it is

[LovelyLadyLux]

I remember the box Brownie my Grandfather used to use to take photos of us kids. He'd hold it about waist height, look down prior to snapping a photo. Photos were definitely not instantaneous either. We had to pose for a long time 'til he was sure the photo was right and photos were rather sparingly taken too. I don't think he ever took a spontaneous un-posed photo and I'd say 98% of the pictures he took were of family and people he knew.

I also remember the rolls of film being dropped off and then the wait to go back to get them but everybody looked at 'em. All photos were passed around in those days lots.

[Kiya]

Yes Grandad I thought of getting a compact as back up just not got round to it, hoping the old Canon keeps going for the next few weeks

That old camera of yours looks waaaaaaaayyyyyyy old, could be worth something someday

[LovelyLadyLux]

@ Grandad - Been a couple weeks now since the new (ahem) toy arrived. Still living up to all expectations?

[Grandad]

We simply have not been anywhere just lately LLL so no photo opportunities. (I did try to get a lift in Kiyas suitcase but she was having none of that )

I have been doing a bit of very minor makeover around the house. Nothing as ambitious as Horus's recent project, just changing a few things around and a few new bits and pieces, and all new window blinds. Well, the first three blinds installed and another four on order.

Are you off to Central America very soon? Have a great time. And it goes without saying......let's see some pics