Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera, I published an article introducing and sharing about this camera when it was announcedin March 2018. The latest Canon mirrorless camera got quite a lot of attention and coverage on photography websites/portals and YouTube channels around the world.
Photo courtesy of Canon Singapore
An entry level mirrorless camera, with an Electronic View Finder (EVF) built in, 4K video capabilities, latest Canon Digic 8 processor and sensor, full articulating LCD screen making it ideal for vlogging. All these features coming together at an attractive price point, getting photographers, social media enthusiasts, YouTubers, Vloggers and bloggers interested in the Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera.
The opportunity to review the Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera came recently in May 2018! Before I proceed to share my review experiences, thoughts and views, let me give you readers a recap of the Canon EOS M50 camera.
Key points and highlights of the Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera
- Lightweight
- Full articulating LCD screen
- 1 control dial
- In-built EVF
- Stablisation : Lens IS + Digital
- Wi-Fi, easy to connect with smartphone with the button located at the right side of the camera where the camera grip is
- Touchscreen , easy to use and configure
- AF System points : 143 / 99 AF points (up to 143 AF points may be displayed when a compatible lens is attached
- Touch & Drag AF
- Eye Detection mode in AF-S
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF
- Ease of use on the user interface
- Digic 8 processor
- Maximum ISO: 25,600 (expandable up to 51,200)
- Still image aspect ratio: 3:2 / 4:3 / 16:9 / 1:1
Photography segment
Before starting my review on the Canon EOS M50, I did some prior research into other photography websites review on the Canon EOS M50. The various photography websties highlighted the excellent still photography quality output from the Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera.
When I received the review unit and started my photography review adventure with the Canon EOS M50, I concur with the various photography websites aroudn the world on their excellent still photography quality output.
Indeed, it produced vivid and accurate colours, it’s also the first Canon camera to adopt Eye Detection mode in AF-S mode, I am glad the Eye Detection feature is now inside Canon mirrorless cameras. This mode is really useful when shooting portraits and I believe it would get better in the future Canon EOS M mirrorless cameras. At ISO 25,600, noise level is high, it might not be suitable for usage, whether your high ISO acceptance is at 12,800 or 6,400, it’s up to the photographer’s personal preference.
Video
The Canon EOS M50 video is something that has received more attention than its predecessors (in both Canon mirrorless and DSLRs) with the 4K video capability built inside it for an entry level interchangeable lens digital camera. A number of photography websites wrote and produced videos with the Canon EOS M50, whereby I did my research and learning more about the video segment before I received the review unit.
HD video
– HD (1280×720) video at 50fps
– Full (1920×1080) HD video at 25fps
– Full (1920×1080)HD video at 50fps
– High Frame Rate Movie (1280×720) at 100fps – Movie Servo AF, Movie digital IS and audio not available.
– AF not available in High Frame Rate Movie Recording.
– Dual Pixel CMOS AF
4K Video
– 4K (3840×2160) at 25fps
– 4K video: crop effect of about 1.67x (about 2.67x total crop relative to full frame)
– Other photography articles mention 1.6x crop or 1.7x crop factor
– Contrast Detect AF
From the two videos below shot with the Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera, observe the crop effect and field of view when the videos were shot in the following formats:
4K Video
Full HD Video
Time lapse movie
Scene 1 – Shoot moving subjects such as walking people
Scene 2 – Shoot slowly changing subjects such as clouds
Scene 3 – For shooting slowly changing scenes
Custom – Freely customise shot number and interval
During my review of the Canon EOS M50 video capabilities, the 4K video autofocus during recording is slower, it lags and takes a bit of time to readjust its autofocus while recording since it is using contrast detect AF. Another point to note is that 4K video is only available in Movie Recording mode
More information on the Canon EOS M50 4k video can be found on this Canon USA website article – http://learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2018/eos-m50/eos-m50-4k-video.shtml
I had been self learning (and stil learning) in the videography segment since my foundations and skills are in photography. The changes in market tastes and requirements cannot be ignored, video is a growing segment to complement photography, events coverage, social media etc etc.
Through the various videos shot with the Canon EOS M50 mirrorles camera, I observed that the video quality of the Canon EOS M50 was pretty good. The 4K video has its limitations and challenges with the additional crop factor and only contrast detect AF.
Personal thoughts and views
- Easy to use, affordable, light weight.
- Not too expensive interchangeable lens mirrorless camera
- 4K video has its limitations, slow AF and additional crop factor. All these would make it not suitable for commercial usage, however for personal / leisure usage, it’s great to have 4K video feature at a not too expensive price.
- My review videos that I produced were all shot hand held without the aid of photography accessories such as tripod, monopod or handheld gimbal, which may not reflect the true video quality of the 4K videos shot with the Canon EOS M50.
- Full HD video is excellent and ideal for most usage and purposes, very ideal for YouTubers, Vloggers, travelers, blogging, social media requirements that doesn’t require 4K video standards.
- Wifi and Bluetooth enabled connectivity, social media and internet friendly when and if you need to use it.
- I have used and tested the Drag and Touch AF previously during my review of the Canon EOS M5 and M6 mirrorless cameras. However, I still haven’t gotten used to it since I don’t own any of them to perfect my Drag and Touch AF usage.
When I first heard and read about the Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera when it was officially announced, to be honest, I was secretly very excited because it is a mirrorless camera that has EVF (yes, I am old school) and 4K video capabiliites.
Prior to the Canon EOS M50 arriving into my hands for a review, I read several overseas photography websites review articles and videos that had already got their hands on with the Canon EOS M50. I confessed that I was a bit skeptical with the 4K video due to the additional crop factor (about 2.67x total crop relative to full frame) and contrast AF only.
During the review, I began to realise that if I am able to minimise the inconveniences due to the technical limitations, the 4K video is still usable and the 4K output is really excellent. With my Canon EF L lenses with IS (EF 24-70mm f/4 L IS USM, EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM and EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro L IS USM lenses) inside my setup, a EF-M to EF adaptor (belongs to my dad who owns an EOS M and he is still using it) that I used during the review and a tripod/monopod/gimbal, I reckon you can produce pretty good quality 4K videos with the Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera.
The Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera is an in-expensive camera that has good technical specifications, excellent in the stills photography segment, with an EVF built in, along with 4K video (with technical and capabilities limitations mentioned earlier). Last but not least, it’s social media/internet friendly for those who needs/wants to share photos quickly on their social media platforms and networks.
Ideal for YouTubers, Vloggers, travelers, blogging, social media enthusiasts, as for photographers, I reckon the Canon EOS M50 would attract you with its attractive price point, excellent stills photography capabilities, Full HD and 4K video, lightweight and it has an EVF! The Canon EOS M50 is going to be an ideal camera for photographers who are active on social media with their sharing of photographs and videos while on assignment , vlogging or traveling.
If you view the photographs that I took with the Canon EOS M50 review camera inside this Flickr album, I was able to use it across most (if not all) photography genres for most photographers today, using the kit lens or additional Canon lenses with the EF-M to EF adaptor. As for the videos, you can visit my YouTube channel and view the amateur videos that I shot with the Canon EOS M50.
Is the Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera suitable for you, whether as a photographer, YouTuber, Vlogger, social media enthusiast or in your daily life? A daily lightweight camera that you can bring it out in your bag? With its price point, technical specifications and 4K video (with limitations) capabilities, I reckon it would suit many of us folks.
I would like to thank Canon Singapore and Ogilvy for the opportunity to review the Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera.
Created with flickr slideshow.