Canon EOS M50 Review – Is It Still the Best Mirrorless Camera for Beginners?

The Canon EOS M50 is a great choice for beginners and hobbyists who want a small, mirrorless camera. It has lots of features, and it’s perfect for taking photos and videos. Even though newer cameras are coming out, the M50 is still a popular option for people who are new to mirrorless photography.

Key Features of Canon EOS M50

The Canon EOS M50 offers a great range of features, making it a versatile option for both photographers and videographers. It has a 24.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 image processor, delivering high-quality images and solid low-light performance.

One of its key features is the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, with 143 autofocus points for quick and accurate focus in both photos and videos. The Eye Detection AF in One-Shot mode is perfect for portraits, keeping your subject’s eyes sharp.

For video, the M50 stands out as Canon’s first entry-level mirrorless camera to shoot 4K at 24fps. While 4K has some limits, it records Full HD at 60fps, ideal for slow-motion and regular video work.

The camera’s 3-inch fully articulating touchscreen makes it great for vloggers and creative angles. It also has an OLED electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage for traditional shooting.

The M50 also excels in connectivity with Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth, making image transfers easy. The Canon Camera Connect app lets you control photo and video settings remotely, offering more functionality than earlier models.

A few other notable features:

• It can take up to 10 photos per second (7.4 photos per second with continuous autofocus)
• It has a Built-in flash
• Silent shutter mode
• Can create 4K time-lapse videos
• Has image stabilization (digital + optical)
• Saves photos in CR3 RAW format, which can be smaller with the C-RAW option

Canon EOS M50 for Photography: Performance Breakdown

The Canon EOS M50 is a great camera for many different kinds of photography. Its 24.1MP sensor takes sharp pictures with bright, realistic colors in good light. Even in low light, the M50 is good for a camera in its class. You can use it up to ISO 3200 without seeing a lot of noise.

For landscape photos, the M50’s sensor is a good size for getting good details and is also easy to carry. The screen can be flipped around to help you take photos from low angles, and the viewfinder is good for taking pictures in bright sunlight. However, it doesn’t have image stabilization, so you should use a tripod for the sharpest photos in low light.

Those who take pictures of people will like the camera’s eye-detection autofocus, which works well when you want to take one photo at a time. The autofocus system is quick and accurate, so you can easily catch people’s expressions. The built-in flash can help you add light to your photos, but it’s not very powerful, so it’s best for close-up portraits or for adding a little light to your face.

The M50 is small and easy to carry, which is great for street photography. You can also take pictures silently, which helps be discreet. However, you can only take silent pictures in a special scene mode, so you can’t control the exposure manually. The camera can take up to 10 photos per second, which is good for some action and sports photography, but it can’t take many photos in a row.

Canon EOS M50 for Videography: A Vlogging Powerhouse?

The Canon EOS M50 is a popular camera for people who make videos on YouTube and other platforms. It’s small, has a screen that can be flipped around, and focuses very well, which makes it a good choice for content creators. The camera can record videos in 4K, but there are some limits. In 4K mode, the video is cropped, and the autofocus system is not as good.

However, the M50 is great for recording videos in Full HD 1080p. You can shoot at up to 60 frames per second with full autofocus, which is perfect for smooth motion or slow-motion effects. Vloggers who move around while filming will like this. You can also use a better microphone with the M50 because it has a microphone input. The camera has image stabilization, but it’s not as good as the image stabilization in some newer cameras.

Even though the M50 has some limits in 4K mode, it’s still a good choice for people who want to make videos. It’s also a good camera for taking photos, which makes it a versatile option for people who like both photography and videography.

Canon EOS M50 vs Competitors: How Does It Compare?

To evaluate the M50’s position in the current market, let’s compare it to some key competitors:

Canon M50 vs Canon M6:

• The M50 has a built-in viewfinder and can record 4K video, but the M6 can’t.
• The M6 takes pictures a little faster than the M50.
• The M50’s screen can flip around, but the M6’s screen can only tilt.

Canon M50 vs Sony A6400:

• The A6400 has a better autofocus system and doesn’t crop in 4K mode.
• The M50’s screen can flip around and is easier to use for beginners.

Canon M50 vs Canon M50 Mark II:

• The Mark II is similar to the original M50, but it has a few small software improvements.
• If you don’t need these improvements, the original M50 is a better value.

Overall, the M50 often offers great value, especially when on sale, thanks to its combination of features, ease of use, and image quality, making it a strong choice even against newer models.

Best Accessories for Canon EOS M50

To get the best experience with your Canon EOS M50, here are some accessories that you might consider to buy:

Lenses:

• Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM: A compact “pancake” lens perfect for street photography.
• Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM: Great for wide-angle shots and vlogging.
• Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM: For telephoto reach.

Microphones:

•  Rode VideoMicro: A compact on-camera microphone for improved audio.
•  Rode Wireless GO: For wireless audio recording.

Tripods:

•  Joby GorillaPod 3K: Flexible tripod great for vlogging and creative angles.
•  Manfrotto Compact Action Tripod: A lightweight, full-size tripod for stable shots.

Other:

•  Canon EF-EOS M Mount Adapter: To use Canon EF and EF-S lenses.
•  Extra batteries: The LP-E12 battery life is modest, so spares are useful.
•  SD Card: A fast UHS-I SD card for 4K video recording.

Who Should Buy the Canon EOS M50?

The Canon EOS M50 is a great camera for many people. Beginners will like how easy it is to use, and it has automatic settings that make taking pictures simple. If you want to learn more, you can also use manual controls. People who make videos on YouTube and other platforms will love the screen that can be flipped around, the microphone input, and how well it focuses in 1080p. If you travel a lot, the M50 is a good choice because it’s small and has many features. People who want to take better pictures than their phone can also consider the M50. Even though there are newer cameras, the M50 is still a good option, especially if you don’t need the latest features. It’s also usually cheaper.

Canon EOS M50 Firmware Updates and Futureproofing

Canon has updated the M50 with new software that fixes problems and makes it more stable. But unlike some other camera companies, Canon doesn’t usually add big new features with these updates. The M50’s 24MP sensor and 4K video recording are still good, even though they have some limits. There aren’t as many lenses made for the M50 as there are for other cameras, but other companies are still making new ones. Canon is now focusing more on its full-frame RF mount cameras, which might be important if you want a camera that you can use for a long time. But for most beginners and hobbyists, the M50 and its lenses are still great and will be for a long time.

Final Thoughts: Is the Canon EOS M50 Worth It?

The Canon EOS M50 is a great camera for people who are new to mirrorless cameras. It’s easy to use, focuses very well in most modes, and is good for both photos and videos. Even though it has some limits in 4K video, it takes great pictures and videos in Full HD. It’s small, has a screen that can be flipped around, and has a microphone input, which is perfect for making videos. If you’re new to cameras with interchangeable lenses, the M50 is a good choice because it has many features, takes great pictures, and is affordable. Even in 2023, the M50 is still a good option. Newer cameras might have a few small improvements, but the M50’s main features and performance are still great, especially if you can find a good deal.

FAQs about the Canon EOS M50

Q: Does the Canon M50 have image stabilization?

A: The M50 doesn’t have in-body stabilization but offers digital stabilization for video and works with optically stabilized lenses.

Q: Can the Canon M50 shoot a 4K video?

A: Yes, but with a 1.6x crop and without Dual Pixel AF.

Q: Is the Canon M50 good for beginners?

A: Yes, its user-friendly interface and auto modes, combined with room for growth, make it excellent for beginners.

Q: Can I use Canon DSLR lenses on the M50?

A: Yes, with the Canon EF-EOS M Mount Adapter.