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Canon EOS M50  Camera Review

Reviewed Feb 08, 2021 at 07:40am
Writing modified Jan 24, 2024 at 05:05pm
Tested using methodology v0.12.1 
Canon EOS M50
7.6
Travel Photography 
7.5
Landscape Photography 
7.1
Sport & Wildlife Photography 
7.2
Raw Photo Performance 
8.1
Vlogging 
7.3
Studio Video 
3.8
Action Video 
 0
Notice: This cameras was replaced by Canon EOS M50 Mark II

The Canon EOS M50 is an APS-C mirrorless camera. It offers very good image quality, even in dimly lit environments, and has a relatively small, lightweight body. Its autofocus system is effective and consistent, and it has a fairly broad selection of photo and video configuration features. It has a bright, sharp, and responsive touchscreen interface that's easy to operate, even for novice users. Unfortunately, it has a short battery life and middling video quality in both FHD and 4k, so your videos may appear slightly soft and grainy, especially in poor lighting conditions, and recording in 4k incurs a severe crop.

Our Verdict

7.6
Travel Photography 

The Canon M50 is good for travel photography. It takes fairly clear, sharp images, even in fairly dark environments. It's light enough to carry for extended periods, too. Unfortunately, its short battery life may not be sufficient for a full day of use. Its autofocus system also struggles with very fast-moving subjects.

Pros
  • Compact, lightweight design.
  • Good image quality.
Cons
  • AF tracking is unreliable.
  • Cheap build quality.
  • Short battery life.
7.5
Landscape Photography 

The Canon M50 is good for landscape photography. Its fully articulated screen is bright enough to be read in direct sunlight, and the camera's light enough to be carried around on a hike without too much of an issue. It takes reasonably sharp images with good dynamic range for high-contrast scenes. That said, its plastic construction doesn't feel especially durable and isn't weather-sealed.

Pros
  • Compact, lightweight design.
  • Good image quality.
  • Bright, fully-articulated screen.
Cons
  • Cheap build quality.
7.1
Sport & Wildlife Photography 

The Canon M50 is decent for sports and wildlife photography. It has a fairly quick max burst rate to capture bursts of action. Image quality is also good overall. Unfortunately, lens options are limited for the EF-M mount, and its autofocus system struggles to track very quick-moving subjects.

Pros
  • Good image quality.
  • Quick burst shooting.
Cons
  • AF tracking is unreliable.
  • Short battery life.
  • Maximum continuous shooting speed is a little slow.
7.2
Raw Photo Performance 

The Canon M50 has decent RAW photo performance. Its dynamic range is good, so it can capture a fairly wide range of highlight and shadow detail. Images also appear sharp, with a good amount of fine detail when punching in. However, its low-light noise handling is just okay, so it isn't the greatest choice for low-light situations, though you can mitigate noise by slowing down your shutter speed or opening up your aperture.

Pros
  • Good dynamic range.
Cons
  • Noise management is just okay.
8.1
Vlogging 

The Canon M50 is a good option for vlogging. It has a fully articulated screen that can be oriented to face you directly, and the camera itself delivers excellent overall face-tracking performance whether you're shooting in 4k or FHD. Unfortunately, it's best to stay in well-lit environments, as it exhibits significant amounts of visual noise in dark areas. While its video stabilization performance is decent in FHD, quite a bit of camera shake may be present in 4k video. Its battery life also isn't especially impressive, so you may need to keep a second battery charged for longer shooting sessions.

Pros
  • Compact, lightweight design.
  • Bright, fully-articulated screen.
  • Good overall autofocus performance while shooting video.
Cons
  • Middling video recording quality.
  • Bad image stabilization performance in 4k.
7.3
Studio Video 

The Canon M50 isn't meant for studio video, though it isn't a bad video camera for its class. Video quality in both 4k and FHD is sub-par overall, especially in less well-lit environments, but it does have an effective and reliable autofocus system and an easy-to-use menu system. There's also a fairly broad selection of inputs and outputs for videography accessories. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a clean HDMI output or a headphone jack to accurately monitor audio levels.

Pros
  • Good overall autofocus performance while shooting video.
  • Easy-to-use menu system.
Cons
  • Short battery life.
  • Limited selection of inputs and outputs.
3.8
Action Video 

The Canon M50 isn't designed for action video. While it's relatively lightweight and compact, it feels slightly cheaply made, isn't water-resistant, and doesn't feature support for high-speed frame rate recording, so you can't generate smooth slow-motion videos. Its stabilization performance is disappointing overall, so handheld video may have a jittery, unstable quality.

Pros
  • Compact, lightweight design.
Cons
  • Cheap build quality.
  • Middling video recording quality.
  • Bad image stabilization performance in 4k.
  • Limited selection of frame rate recording options in 4k.
  • 7.6
    Travel Photography
  • 7.5
    Landscape Photography
  • 7.1
    Sport & Wildlife Photography
  • 7.2
    Raw Photo Performance
  • 8.1
    Vlogging
  • 7.3
    Studio Video
  • 3.8
    Action Video
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Jan 29, 2024: Added text to the 'Raw Photo Performance' verdict box and updated existing verdict boxes for clarity and accuracy.
    2.  Updated Jan 29, 2024: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.1.
    3.  Updated Aug 23, 2023: Added link to the Canon EOS R100 in the 'Build Quality' section to provide an alternative that feels better built.
    4.  Updated Dec 20, 2022: We noticed the focal length was off in the original 'FHD Rolling Shutter' video, so we've reshot and reuploaded it for comparable framing. The score and rolling shutter measurement are unchanged.

    Check Price

    Black (Body Only)EOS M50
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    Black W/ EF-M 15-45mm LensEOS M50
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    White W/ EF-M 15-45mm LensEOS M50
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    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The Canon M50 comes in two color variants: 'Black' and 'White'. We tested the 'Black' variant fitted with the EF-M 15-45mm lens, and you can see its label here. We expect the 'White' variant to perform similarly overall.

    You can also purchase the Canon M50 with the EF-M 55-250mm lens or without a lens at all, but we haven't tested the performance of these variants.

    If you come across a differently-equipped variant, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.

    Popular Camera Comparisons

    Canon EOS R50

    The Canon EOS R50 is better overall than the Canon EOS M50. It has an updated autofocus system with more reliable AF tracking and better video specs, including uncropped 4k video at up to 30 fps. On top of that, its RF lens mount is more future-proof since Canon has effectively stopped development for the M50's EF-M mount.

    Canon EOS R100

    The Canon EOS M50 and the Canon EOS R100 each have their own advantages. The R100 feels better built, has a higher-capacity battery, and offers eye tracking in 4k video, though both cameras are saddled with a max frame rate of 24 fps and a severe crop when shooting in this resolution. Meanwhile, the M50 is a little more compact, features a fully articulated touch-sensitive display, and has a faster max shooting speed. Unfortunately, it's worth noting that Canon's M mount is discontinued, and the manufacturer won't be developing any new lens designs for this system.

    Canon EOS M50 Mark II

    The Canon EOS M50 Mark II is the follow-up to the Canon EOS M50. Both cameras perform similarly, but the M50 Mark II has minor improvements. These include the addition of eye-tracking autofocus in video mode and AF Servo mode for stills, as well as a built-in live streaming function and better battery performance. Otherwise, the cameras are nearly identical in design and perform very similarly.

    Sony α6000

    The Canon EOS M50 is better overall than the Sony α6000. It's a newer camera with better processing, better ergonomics, a higher resolution viewfinder, and better video capabilities. The Sony has a much wider range of lens options, so it may be better if you want to go beyond a kit lens.

    Show more 

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    7.8
    Portability
    Height
    3.5" (8.8 cm)
    Width
    4.8" (12.3 cm)
    Depth
    2.2" (5.5 cm)
    Volume
    36.3 in³ (595.0 cm³)
    Weight
    0.87 lbs (0.40 kg)
    6.5
    Build Quality

    • Wheels are robust and offer clicky feedback
    • Buttons lack some proper physical feedback when pressing them
    • Body is made of hard plastic
    • Screen hinge feels a little delicate
    • Inputs are covered by rubber flaps
    • Consider the Canon EOS R100 if you're looking for a better-built entry-level camera

    Body
    Body Type
    SLR-Style
    Water Resistance
    No
    Mirrorless
    Yes
    Rugged
    No
    Hot Shoe
    Yes
    Customizable Button
    Yes
    Command Dial
    1
    Tripod Mount
    Yes
    Lens Mount
    EF-M Mount
    Built-In Flash
    Yes
    Fastest Shutter Speed
    1/4,000 s
    In The Box

    • Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera
    • Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens
    • Lens cap
    • Shoulder strap
    • 1x Canon LP-E12 battery
    • Battery charger
    • User manual

    7.5
    Ergonomics & Comfort
    Hand Grip: Small Hand
    Yes
    Hand Grip: Medium Hand
    Yes
    Hand Grip: Large Hand
    No
    Hand Grip: Extra-Large Hand
    No

    • Touchscreen interface gives you access to most essential functions, freeing up your thumb since you don't have to rely on physical buttons
    • Grip is fairly small, which can cause your hand to cramp up during longer shooting sessions
    • Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection button is located near the natural resting point of your right palm, making it very easy to press unintentionally
    • Not a lot of room on the backside of the camera, and it's easy to accidentally touch the screen

    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Type
    Electronic
    Advertised Coverage
    100%
    Advertised Resolution
    2.36 million dots
    Advertised Magnification
    N/A
    9.5
    Screen
    Screen Articulation Type
    Fully-Articulated
    Screen Max Brightness
    966 cd/m²
    Advertised Resolution
    1.04 million dots
    Size
    3.0" (7.6 cm)
    Touchscreen
    Yes
    9.0
    Menu System
    Guide Mode
    Yes
    App Name
    Canon Camera Connect

    • Menu navigation is intuitive with physical and touch controls
    • Functions related to autofocus, image quality, video quality, and menu customization are readily accessible
    • Graphics clearly indicate the functions found in each category
    • Guide mode helps walk novice users through the camera's features

    0.0
    Built-In Lens
    Maximum Aperture
    No built-in lens
    Max Aperture (Full-Frame Equivalent)
    N/A
    Minimum Focal Length
    N/A
    Maximum Focal Length
    N/A
    Max Focal Length (Full-Frame Equivalent)
    N/A
    Optical Image Stabilization
    No
    Luminance
    N/A
    Light Falloff
    N/A
    Sensor
    Sensor Type
    CMOS
    Advertised Effective Pixels
    24.1 MP
    Sensor Size
    APS-C
    Processor
    DIGIC 8
    Extended ISO Minimum
    N/A
    Native ISO Minimum (Base ISO)
    100
    Native ISO Maximum
    25,600
    Tested Firmware
    Ver. 1.1.0
    5.2
    Battery
    Battery Type
    Canon LP-E12
    USB Charging
    No
    Power Delivery While Recording
    No
    Advertised Battery Life In Photo
    235 photos
    Tested Battery Life In Video
    90 min
    Photo General
    6.6
    Photo Shooting Speed
    Low Speed Continuous
    4 fps
    High Speed Continuous
    9 fps
    Silent Shooting Continuous
    N/A
    Raw Buffer Size
    11 Photos
    JPEG Buffer Size
    52 Photos
    Buffer Empty Time
    4 s
    3.8
    Photo AF-C Tracking
    Autofocus Tracking Shots
    tracking-run-01-01
    Run 01
    AF-C Tracking 01
    Perfect Focus Hit Rate
    27%
    Usable Focus Hit Rate
    41%
    8.8
    Photo AF-C Center Point
    Autofocus Center Point Shots
    center-point-run-01-01
    Run 01
    AF-C Center Point 01
    Perfect Focus Hit Rate
    84%
    Usable Focus Hit Rate
    98%
    8.8
    Photo Image Stabilization
    Minimum Shutter Speed Achieved
    1/6 s
    In-Body Image Stabilization
    No
    Photo Image Quality
    7.5
    Photo RAW Dynamic Range
    Dynamic Range At Base ISO
    9.8 f-stops
    Dynamic Range At 1/500s Exposure Time
    8.0 f-stops
    Dynamic Range At 1/2000s Exposure Time
    6.7 f-stops
    Dynamic Range At 1/4000s Exposure Time
    5.8 f-stops
    7.6
    Photo RAW Sharpness
    See details on graph tool
    Vertical Edge MTF50 At Base ISO
    1,563 LW/PH
    Horizontal Edge MTF50 At Base ISO
    1,811 LW/PH
    6.6
    Photo RAW Noise
    See details on graph tool
    SNR 18% At 1/8 Exposure Time (125 ms)
    32.7dB
    SNR 18% At 1/30 Exposure Time (33 ms)
    29.2 dB
    SNR 18% At 1/125 Exposure Time (8 ms)
    24.1 dB
    SNR 18% At 1/500 Exposure Time (2 ms)
    18.9dB
    Pictures Sample Gallery
    The Skate Park Picture
    JPEG Skate Park PictureDownload
    RAW Skate Park PictureDownload
    The Polish Church Picture
    JPEG Polish Church PictureDownload
    RAW Polish Church PictureDownload
    The Studio Picture
    JPEG Studio PictureDownload
    RAW Studio PictureDownload
    The Stairway Picture
    JPEG Stairway PictureDownload
    RAW Stairway PictureDownload
    Video General
    Video Features
    Full HD Video
    Yes
    4k Video
    Yes
    6k Video
    No
    Clean HDMI Output
    No
    Advertised Max Chroma Sampling Over HDMI
    Not Advertised
    Advertised Max Bit Depth Over HDMI
    N/A
    Log Picture Profile
    No
    Recording Light
    No
    Audio
    Audio Test Sample
    Audio Recording
    Stereo
    Microphone Level Display
    Yes
    Video File Format And Compression
    MP4 H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
    Yes
    MP4 H.265 / HEVC
    No
    MOV H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
    No
    MOV H.265 / HEVC
    No
    AVCHD H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
    No
    All-I Compression
    No
    4k Video
    3.0
    4k Video Frame Rate
    240 fps In 4k
    No
    120 fps In 4k
    No
    60 fps In 4k
    No
    30 fps In 4k
    No
    24 fps In 4k
    Yes, with a Crop
    4k Crop At Max Available fps
    1.5 x
    7.8
    4k Video Internal Recording
    Bitrate Maximum In 4k
    123 Mbps
    Bitrate Minimum In 4k
    120 Mbps
    Chroma Sampling In 4k
    4:2:0
    Bit Depth In 4k
    8 Bit
    Record Time Limit In 4k
    30 min
    Overheat Recording Interruptions in 4k
    0
    4.2
    4k Video Autofocus Performance
    Object Tracking In 4k
    7.0
    Face Tracking In 4k
    1.2
    Face Detection In 4k
    Yes
    Eye Detection In 4k
    No
    6.5
    4k Video Quality
    Low Light Capability In 4k
    6.0
    Test Scene Extract In 4k
    7.0
    4.0
    4k Video Rolling Shutter Effect
    4k Rolling Shutter
    9.7°
    Full HD Video
    8.5
    FHD Video Frame Rate
    240 fps In FHD
    No
    120 fps In FHD
    No
    60 fps In FHD
    Yes
    30 fps In FHD
    Yes
    24 fps In FHD
    Yes
    FHD Crop At Max Available fps
    1 x
    7.6
    FHD Video Internal Recording
    Bitrate Maximum In FHD
    60 Mbps
    Bitrate Minimum In FHD
    30 Mbps
    Chroma Sampling In FHD
    4:2:0
    Bit Depth In FHD
    8 Bit
    Record Time Limit in FHD
    30 min
    8.0
    FHD Video Autofocus Performance
    Object Tracking In FHD
    9.0
    Face Tracking In FHD
    8.0
    Face Detection In FHD
    Yes
    Eye Detection In FHD
    No
    6.8
    FHD Video Quality
    Low Light Capability In FHD
    6.0
    Test Scene Extract In FHD
    7.5
    6.6
    FHD Video Rolling Shutter Effect
    FHD Rolling Shutter
    5.0°
    Storage And Connectivity
    Storage
    Card 1 Slot
    SD Card UHS-I
    Card 2 Slot
    No 2nd Card Slot
    7.8
    Inputs / Outputs
    USB
    Micro USB
    HDMI
    Micro (Type D)
    Headphones
    No
    Microphone
    Stereo
    Wi-Fi
    Yes
    Bluetooth
    Yes

    Comments

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    1. Update: Added text to the ‘Raw Photo Performance’ verdict box and updated existing verdict boxes for clarity and accuracy.

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