Sony DSC-HX50V Super Zoom Camera Try Out

Can we go for wildlife photography, bird photography without having to carry bulky tripod, heavy lenses & big camera? The answer is yes. I brought with me just the latest Sony Super Zoom compact camera that small enough to fit in my pocket yet can produce optical zoom that is equivalent to 780mm (35mm conversion) to Admiralty Park this morning.

This is how the camera looks like when placed on the keyboard of my Surface tablet PC.

I set my camera to just auto mode (i+ mode). Just let the camera do all the setting for all the photo on this trip. The picture came out quite ok on a hazy day with high dynamic range (HDR) between the sky and the trees below.

 More HDR shots with water reflection and the plants on both side and signboard with bright sky.

 While on the bridge, I try the zoom power to shoot the eared turtle in the water below. No problem of capturing and the noise is acceptable.

Dried flower with fresh flower that just fall from the tree above.

 I have no problem of capturing the fresh flower that are high up the tree above too.

 The auto white balance are put to test on this shot.

 Since this camera selling point is about the zoom power, how about the macro performance?

 The camera can handle macro shot easily too.

I'm quite happy with this camera, from landscape to insects photography. Photography made easy without the need to carry heavy camera, bulky tripod & multiple lenses for different shooting needs! Most importantly I can easily keep it in my pocket!

 Taking birds photo is just as easy as ABC...

This camera even come with built-in wifi. You can easily transfer photo to your pc, mobile or even use your mobile phone as a remote for your camera. Good for low light shooting, group photo & self photo.

Just watch the video below to see for yourself the zoom power of this cute camera!! The video are taken without tripod, just hand held.


If you are looking for a handy camera that can take far away object & macro shots but lazy to carry heavy equipment or multiple lens, this camera is perfect. A great travel camera that won't weight you down on your trip. However, if you are DSLR user and photo quality is your top most criteria, this camera might not suit you as this camera don't capture raw format. With a Exmor R CMOS sensor, there is a limit when you compare the photo quality of this camera with DSLR. With the weight/size advantage & cheaper than entry level DSLR camera, I will still say this camera is a good buy!  I shall try this camera on low light/night shooting in my next trip. :-)

Crossing Wallace Line to Tomohon, North Sulawesi

This is Part 2 of my posting on my trip to North Sulawesi 2 weeks ago. You may read Part 1 Link  on my birding trip at Tangkoko.

Whenever I travel oversea, I will try and incorporate visiting to a local market into my itinerary. My last trip to Manado at North Sulawesi was no exception. I visited Tomohon market. Situated 700 m above sea level, Tomohon itself is a nice place to visit. 

 When I arrived at the market, saw this man just finish his shopping of the chickens.

 Some part of the market are sheltered and some part are open air.

 The locals can buy anything that they need from here. From vegetables, fruits, to spices and beans.

 The fruits here are so fresh & big. From the size of the papaya can tell that the soil here are very fertile!

 There is even a convenient shop inside the market.

There are also a lot of local snacks available in the market such as this "Apung". Very similar to the apung balik in Malaysia. The ingredient including rice flour, cinnamon, & palm sugar. In Malaysia, coconut sugar (gula Melaka) is used instead.

 This is the pan cake version of the apung.

This is the deep fried version of apung. Both also very nice!

We cross over to the meat section of the market. You will find all kind of meat from fish to pork...

 These are the fresh water fish

 These tuna was huge!

 Another huge yellow fin tuna.

 Not sure what fish is this.

 Smoked mackerel

The meat section of Tomohon market is not for the faint-hearted one. Some part are quite gory, like the scene in the video game or movie.

 Bats

 Forest rats

 Python meat are available too.

 Wild pig is the most.

 After the market, I continue my trip to the nearby area.

 Tomohon is a very nice place to simply take photo, birding or just enjoy the nice weather.

I can even see Lembeh Island & Lembeh Strait from here. Lembeh is another of my favorite diving destination.

 Is a nice place to jog too!

Thank you Safari Tours , I have another good experience of Sulawesi.