Canon EOS M50: a small camera for travel and vlogs
You don't always want to carry a big full frame. The Canon EOS M50 is a small APS-C mirrorless camera that fits in a jacket pocket and still takes far better photos than a phone. It was popular above all with travellers and YouTubers. How does it hold up in practice?
Key specs
- 24.1 MP APS-C sensor, DIGIC 8 processor.
- Dual Pixel AF with eye detection (for stills).
- 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder.
- 3" vari-angle touchscreen.
- Bursts of up to 10 fps (7.4 fps with focusing).
- 4K 24p video with a 1.6× crop, Full HD 60p and 120p in HD.
- Microphone input, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC.
- About 390 g with battery.
On the road
The M50 is light and small, especially with the EF-M 15–45 mm zoom or the EF-M 22 mm f/2 prime. You'll appreciate the viewfinder in sunshine and the vari-angle screen when shooting from a low angle or filming yourself. Dual Pixel AF is fast and reliable. For holiday photos and social media it's entirely enough.
Video and vlogging
The vari-angle screen and microphone input made the M50 a popular vlogging camera. It has two weak spots, though: 4K with a 1.6× crop (a wide shot of yourself is hard) and no Dual Pixel AF in 4K, so focusing is slower. That's why most vloggers film in Full HD, where AF works brilliantly.
Lenses
The EF-M mount has a limited choice of lenses, and Canon no longer develops it. Through the EF-EOS M adapter, though, you can mount every EF and EF-S lens. I used a similar system with the Canon M6, where I mounted telephoto lenses through the adapter too.
Who the M50 suits today
Canon has ended the EOS M system; its successors are the R-series mirrorless cameras with the RF mount (such as the R50 or R10). Second-hand, the M50 (or M50 Mark II) is still a great choice for beginners and travellers on a small budget.
Verdict
Pros: size and weight, Dual Pixel AF, viewfinder, vari-angle screen, price. Cons: cropped 4K without Dual Pixel AF, weak battery, discontinued EF-M system.
If you're thinking of moving to full frame, see my reviews of the Canon R6 and the Canon EOS R.
Faq
Is the Canon M50 good for beginners?
Yes. It's easy to use, has good autofocus and takes far better photos than a phone.
Does the Canon M50 shoot 4K?
Yes, but with a 1.6× crop and without Dual Pixel AF. Full HD is better for vlogs.
Can you use EF lenses on the Canon M50?
Yes, through the EF-EOS M adapter with no loss of quality or autofocus.
