Canon EOS R50 Review
The Canon EOS R50 is perfectly fine, but its lack of stabilization and a flip screen make it a hard sell against rivals like the Sony a6400.
Overview
The Canon EOS R50 is a camera that knows its place, and that place is firmly in the 'just fine' category. It's the camera you get when you want to step up from your phone but don't want to think about it too much. The one thing you need to know? It's aggressively average across the board, which makes it easy to recommend but impossible to get excited about.
Performance
Honestly, nothing here surprised me, and that's the point. The autofocus lands in the 44th percentile, which means it's fine for a casual walk in the park but you'll miss shots if you're chasing kids or pets. The sensor is in the 30th percentile, so your photos will look good, but they won't have that rich depth or dynamic range you see from better cameras. It does the job without fuss or fanfare.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Dead simple to use right out of the box.
- Perfectly decent image quality for social media and small prints.
- The battery life is perfectly average, so you won't be caught off guard.
- It's a Canon, so the menu system is familiar and lenses are easy to find.
Cons
- No in-body stabilization, so your handheld video will look shaky.
- It's terrible for vlogging, scoring a dismal 10.7 out of 100. 29th
- The fixed screen is a major bummer for anything creative. 30th
- Not weather-sealed, so a light drizzle could ruin your day. 33th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Build
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.1 lbs |
Value & Pricing
If you find it on a deep sale, it's a reasonable first step into interchangeable lens cameras. At full price, you're paying for the Canon name more than you're paying for standout features. It's not a bad value, but it's not a steal either.
vs Competition
Forget the high-end competitors like the Canon R7 or Sony a7R IV; they're in a different league. The real fight is against cameras like the Sony a6400 and Fujifilm X-S20. The a6400 smokes the R50 in autofocus and burst shooting, making it a much better choice for action. The Fujifilm X-S20 has in-body stabilization, a flip-out screen, and is a vastly superior video and vlogging tool. The R50's main advantage is its simpler, more beginner-friendly interface.
| Spec | Canon EOS R50 | GOWENIC Digital Camera, HD 1080P Camera for Photography, | THINKWARE Thinkware Rear Camera Cable 7.5m (24.5ft) for | Nikon D500 Nikon UC-E22 USB Cable - For D5, D500, D810A, D810 | Fockety Digital Camera for Teens, 50MP 1080P HD Autofocus | Tether Tools Tether Tools TetherGuard Camera Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | - | DSLR | - | - | Mirrorless | - |
| Video | - | 1080p | - | - | 1080p | - |
| IBIS | false | false | false | false | false | false |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 68 | - | - | - | 156 | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Evf | Build | Burst | Video | Sensor | Battery | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EOS R50 | 42.5 | 42.8 | 0.2 | 36.3 | 28.7 | 29.9 | 48.1 | 35.1 | 33.4 | 60.8 | 40.9 |
| GOWENIC Digital Camera, HD 1080P Camera for Photography, Compare | 42.5 | 42.8 | 36.4 | 36.3 | 28.7 | 99.1 | 48.1 | 35.1 | 33.4 | 46.5 | 40.9 |
| THINKWARE Rear Camera Cable 7.5m for Q800PRO/QA100 ELITE/F800PRO/F800 Dash Cams Compare | 42.5 | 42.8 | 36.4 | 36.3 | 28.7 | 29.9 | 48.1 | 35.1 | 33.4 | 58.3 | 40.9 |
| Nikon D500 Nikon UC-E22 USB Cable - For D5, D500, D810A, D810 Compare | 42.5 | 42.8 | 36.4 | 36.3 | 28.7 | 29.9 | 48.1 | 35.1 | 33.4 | 0 | 40.9 |
| Fockety for Teens Compare | 42.5 | 42.8 | 2.3 | 36.3 | 28.7 | 71.3 | 48.1 | 35.1 | 33.4 | 46.5 | 40.9 |
| Tether Tools TetherGuard Camera Support Compare | 42.5 | 42.8 | 36.4 | 36.3 | 28.7 | 29.9 | 48.1 | 35.1 | 33.4 | 36.7 | 40.9 |
Verdict
Get the Canon EOS R50 if you're a total beginner who wants the safety of a big brand name and you'll only ever shoot still photos in good light. For literally anyone else—especially if you have even a passing interest in video or shooting moving subjects—save up a little more and buy the Sony a6400 or Fujifilm X-S20 instead. They're just better cameras.