Canon EOS M50 review

Easy to use, but comes with some compromises

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Verdict

Despite its age and the arrival of both the newer EOS M6 Mark II and the M50's direct successor, the M50 II, the EOS M50 remains a good value option for beginners who want a small, approachable mirrorless camera that can shoot great stills - and since it's been replaced, you can pick it up at great prices. 

Indeed, the M50 Mark II is essentially a very minor upgrade that most people probably be missing out by ignoring.

The EOS M6 Mark II is a far superior video camera and makes the EOS M50's heavily cropped 4K video look pretty dated. The M50's 1.6x crop factor means its effectiveness with the 15-45mm kit lens is pretty compromised. The alternative is to use another lens, but with Canon's EF-M range of lenses still pretty limited, and rivals offering superior 4K capture, there are better solutions out there. 

A big boon on the M50, though, is its built-in electronic viewfinder, which comes in very handy when shooting in sunny conditions. The vari-angle screen also offers that bit more in the way of flexibility over its cousin's tilt-angle mechanism.   

The relative lack of body-mounted controls may be a bit of a disappointment for more experienced users, but for the M50's target market of novice users it does make the camera feel very accessible, and the touchscreen interface is one of the best around.

The finish could also be a bit nicer, with the plasticky exterior not matching up to rivals, while the battery life is going to be pretty limiting without a spare. 

If you're looking for a mirrorless camera that offers great image quality, is easy to use and has a decent autofocus system, the EOS M50 is an excellent choice. If, however, you're looking for a more rounded camera with a greater breadth of features and system support, then you should consider alternatives like the Canon EOS M6 Mark II and Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III.

Competition

Phil Hall

Phil Hall is an experienced writer and editor having worked on some of the largest photography magazines in the UK, and now edit the photography channel of TechRadar, the UK's biggest tech website and one of the largest in the world. He has also worked on numerous commercial projects, including working with manufacturers like Nikon and Fujifilm on bespoke printed and online camera guides, as well as writing technique blogs and copy for the John Lewis Technology guide.