Canon's 5MP enthusiast S-series compact of 2003 — 35-105mm f/2.8-4.9, RAW, manual modes, CompactFlash
The Canon PowerShot S50 was the 5-megapixel flagship of Canon's enthusiast S-series compacts when it arrived in 2003. It is essentially the 4MP S45 with a higher-resolution sensor — same body, same sliding metal lens cover — and it sat above the A-series as the pocketable choice for photographers wanting real control. Note it is unrelated to the much later SX50 HS bridge camera.
Behind the sliding front cover sits a 7.1-21.3mm f/2.8-4.9 zoom (35-105mm equivalent) in front of a 5.0-megapixel 1/1.8-inch CCD. The DIGIC processor enables nine-point AiAF with FlexiZone focus selection, full manual, aperture and shutter priority modes, RAW capture, three-minute movie clips and automatic image rotation. Storage is CompactFlash Type I/II including Microdrive, and power is the NB-2L lithium-ion battery.
The S50 suits enthusiasts who want a compact with proper manual control and RAW files from the early-digital era; its larger-than-average 1/1.8-inch CCD gives it a following among digicam revival shooters. Operation is leisurely by modern standards and the optical finder is small, but the sliding-cover design still feels well made.
Used checks: confirm the NB-2L battery holds charge and a charger is present — replacements remain findable as the cell was shared across many Canons. It takes CompactFlash, so budget for a card and reader. Test the sliding cover switch (it doubles as the power switch), check the lens for haze, and verify sample shots are free of CCD streaks.