Canon EOS R50 REVIEW: best budget mirrorless camera?

My Canon EOS R50 review - small but perfectly formed?

Equipment used for producing my videos

00:00 - Introduction and alternatives
00:59 - Canon EOS R50 design and controls
03:11 - Canon EOS R50 screen and viewfinder
03:43 - Canon EOS R50 ports, card, battery and life
04:37 - Canon EOS R50 mount and lenses
06:37 - Canon EOS R50 vlogging test with RF-S 18-45
07:46 - Canon EOS R50 autofocus
09:53 - Canon EOS R50 photo quality, resolution, noise
11:41 - Canon EOS R50 burst speed and buffer
13:26 - Canon EOS R50 other photo features, focus bracketing
13:39 - Canon EOS R50 movie quality, 1080 vs 4k, slow motion
16:02 - Canon EOS R50 verdict and sample images

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[cameralabs]

My Canon EOS R50 review - small but perfectly formed?

Equipment used for producing my videos

00:00 - Introduction and alternatives
00:59 - Canon EOS R50 design and controls
03:11 - Canon EOS R50 screen and viewfinder
03:43 - Canon EOS R50 ports, card, battery and life
04:37 - Canon EOS R50 mount and lenses
06:37 - Canon EOS R50 vlogging test with RF-S 18-45
07:46 - Canon EOS R50 autofocus
09:53 - Canon EOS R50 photo quality, resolution, noise
11:41 - Canon EOS R50 burst speed and buffer
13:26 - Canon EOS R50 other photo features, focus bracketing
13:39 - Canon EOS R50 movie quality, 1080 vs 4k, slow motion
16:02 - Canon EOS R50 verdict and sample images



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

[jacobnathanielzpayag]

This is like the "tell me the EF-M mount is dead without telling me the EF-M mount is dead camera". However, I do like how Canon is keeping their lineup clean and logical this time with price to feature ratios across all models being justifiable and not feeling like things are being artificially left out for the sake of forced market segmentation.

[ScottJWaldron]

Looks like a nice upgrade over the M50. Glad to see they used the LP-E17 instead of holding onto the LP-E12. It was odd how they split battery types in EF-M considering how close in size the two batteries are.

[WolfsHaven]

I've been a Canon fan going back to the film days then the T3i hooked me on digital. I didn't have money or a major need to upgrade till the m50 and SL3 came along. I ultimately settled on the SL3 mainly because it used EF and EFS lenses which I already had and it had clean hdmi out. It wasn't mirrorless but other than that the two were almost identical in faults and features. Shortly after my purchase the R series came out and the announcement that Canon was doing away with DSLRs and their primary lens system going forward would be the new R-mount. I immediately regretted going Canon with my previous purchase and vowed never to buy Canon again.

Since Sony came out with the EV-10 it's been on my wish list and my recommendation for an entry-level or budget interchangeable lens camera. I did purchase the ZV-1 and it is the camera I take everwhere but the 24-70 while good is a limitation where I often have to take my SL3 along to compensate for.

The R50 has a lot of promise and fixes the issues I had with the M50 and SL3. I wish it were closer to the M50's price point but at least I can adapt my existing EF and EFS lenses with fewer issues than adapting them to Sony's E-mount. I might consider it though as I like Canon colors over all compared to Sony.

While Canon generally produces a better overall picture to my eye, Sony cameras at similar price points tend to offer more features. What I'll end up doing is comparing the EV-10 to the R50. Whichever I choose will be my brand choice and recommendation for a long time to come.

[seansiquig]

anyone looking to buy this camera—PLEASE watch reviews on the Canon RP. This video did not mention it (from my knowledge) and many creators seem to have forgotten about it. It shoots full-frame and offers more buttons and other features over this new R50 model. I found my Canon RP online, refurbished FOR ONLY $600 (sold and bought directly from Canon’s refurbished shop)!

[TUFFBASS]

Now deciding between the R50 vs the ZV E10

[lisahorton]

I preordered the R50 as a replacement for my SL2/200D, and as a smaller companion to my RP. For kayaking and outdoor activities I like to have a small & light kit. As much as I've liked the SL2, the R50 is the camera I've been waiting for, better and smaller.

[joepublisher]

Nice review! Glad you compared it with the M50 because I was trying to see if there were compelling enough reasons to get an R50. Not sure I was convinced to do that, given the capabilities of the M50 and the smaller lenses associated with that. I sure wish that Canon would come out with an M50 iii. I'm thinking if the R50 doesn't sell like the M50 did, that Canon just may come out with an M50 Mark III, although many photography channels have been insisting the M line is done. Do they know something I don't know?

[cristianhaivaz]

it would be awesome seeing a comparison with the Sony zv e10

[Emma-ennb]

Thank you for making such thoughtful, in-depth videos. I really appreciate the time and effort you put in to help us all make purchasing decisions.

[stubones]

Canon have dropped the ball in a way. They need to release a aps-c body aimed at more pro users who need a battery grip. I would have ordered one for the sports I shoot if it had been made available with a BG, which is practically mandatory for the way we shoot. Their line up is becoming stacked with practically every type of mirrorless body aside from “pro” level crop sensor body.

[DadHut]

Great review, I still don’t understand why we can’t get 4k 60fps in every camera at this point. Heck at least put 2k @ 60fps.

[goldfries]

Seems like the battery / memory door for R50 is like the M series. To me this is a huge problem as I always have an attachment plate on the camera, so it is very likely that those plates will obstruct the opening of the battery door.

[colonelangus]

Cannon needs to open it's APSC cameras to third party lens manufacturers, they don't even have a prime lens.

[simonmaduxx]

first, this should have been an update to the m62 form factor. The m62 now looks futuristic compared to this little thing.

The second and core problem with this camera + RFS crop is that the lens selection is pretty much the worst in the industry. Canon has actually made their entry level lenses worse than its last generation. It's a damn shame. Canon has taken their marketing to the extremes and that these cheap cameras are proposed with really cheap low performing lenses (At least in terms of gathering light). That 24 to 50 is one of the most awful lenses I've ever seen produced in terms of range. That's just terrible for crop.

Unless you can put some really good primes or ultrawides on this thing, then it just fails completely. For the most basic shooting it's going to be pretty much full auto ease of use in daylight. After that It will desperately need a tripod.

The R8 I can understand. This camera tragically I just can't.

[Astrolavista]

Thanks Gordon, amazing review as always! Some outlets have the R50 priced remarkably close to the R10 I notice E.g. WEX have the R50 body for £789 and the R10 for £799 with a lens reward ? Baffling! ?

[Shaddad_Gomid]

Hi Gordon!!
I'm not a professional in using video cameras, I make dance videos using my smartphone but honestly I would like to upgrade the quality of my videos. I'm looking for a simple camera for dance videos with the ability to add wide angle length and be capable in low light environments as well. It doesn't have to be the best, but I need it to be better than a smartphone in terms of quality, to be a budget and of course, simple to use. Is this camera good for me ? There's also the Sony ZV 1 and ZV 1f.
I would appreciate your recommendation

[stanzinkhar]

It's been three year on a m50 and its slowing down my interest due to weak battery, no PD function and small body . I'm more on the photo enthusiast side and I just think m50 is not for hybrid enthusiast, m50 is only for YouTuber and specially vloger .
Now if I only upgrade the camera, I would want to go for R6mk 2 but it's costly for my enthusiasm. I think people.like me would find R10 the best option, pocket friendly, good ergonomic with decent features and spend rest on glases . R50 doesn't make that much of a sense for me .

[titomiguelmarques]

Canon R50 = Canon cheaping out at its best. As barenone as it gets.
If stills is what people want, an Olympus EM1 MK1 from 10! years ago, with tank like build quality, 4 f-stops ibis and 10fps blows this one out of the water. If you want movie, GX80.
Like with many other product categories, was we move forward, things just keep getting worse...

[brianmckeever]

Looks like its a good candidate for the old EF-S 10-18 IS if someone has the R-EF adapter. I loved that lens on my 80D.