Camera Question

[Len Nowak]

My wife got me a Cannon PowerShot SX50 HS. I am a happy man. This is the first "real"one I've had. I'm trying to learn it.
Are there any things I should be aware of? Tricks of the trade?
This is one of my first.

Zoomed in a little more and got this.

They are from my porch about 250 yards. They second shot is a little blurry any suggestions? Someday if the gods smile on me I'll get some shots like Al Hansen. I know I've got some work in front of me, but retirement is getting better.

 

[TimJ]

Its always cool seeing bucks fight.

Since you went with a camera that has the ability to do so learn to use the AV and TV modes. Those will give you the ability to get those nice out of focus backgrounds or smooth waterfalls without needing to always go fully manual. Not that hard to understand but takes some tome to explain. Lots of instructions on those modes on the internet.

Also when you know you are going to be taking photos in low light or a long ways off have it on a tripod no matter if it has image stabilization or not. It sharpens up photos a lot.

Looks like the second shot was in low light and zoomed way in so the shutter speed was a little slow even with IS. If on some auto mode it probably turned the iso way up also. Those probably combined to add a little blur and grain to the photo. Some light is just hard to get good photos in without a lot of work.
But I'm a newbie so that is just my guess.

Have fun with it and take lots of photos, that is the only way to learn.

Tim