Canon EOS R50 Black Review
The Canon R50 packs a surprising punch for beginners with its 15fps burst shooting, but its video features and lack of stabilization hold it back.
Overview
The Canon EOS R50 is a super light, entry-level mirrorless camera that's easy to recommend for beginners. It's got a 24.2MP sensor, shoots 4K video, and can rip off shots at 15 frames per second, which is honestly impressive for the price.
Performance
Its 15fps burst shooting is the star here, landing in the 86th percentile and making it surprisingly capable for action. But the autofocus and sensor performance are just average, sitting around the 45th and 34th percentiles. The video specs are also a bit behind the curve, and there's no in-body stabilization, so you'll need steady hands or a lens with IS.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Super lightweight at just 329g. 100th
- Fast 15fps mechanical burst shooting. 100th
- Excellent build quality for its class. 99th
- Great connectivity options. 98th
Cons
- No in-body image stabilization. 7th
- Battery life is just okay.
- Fixed rear screen isn't ideal for vlogging.
- Sensor and video performance are middle-of-the-pack.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Sensor
| Type | 22.3 x 14.9 mm (APS-C) CMOS |
| Size | APS-C |
| Megapixels | 24.2 |
| ISO Range | 100 |
| Processor | DIGIC X |
Autofocus
| AF Points | 4503 |
| AF Type | PhotoPhase Detection: 4503VideoPhase Detection: 3713 |
| Eye AF | Yes |
| Subject Detection | Yes |
Shooting
| Burst (Mechanical) | 15 |
| Burst (Electronic) | 15 |
| Max Shutter | 1/8000 |
| Electronic Shutter | Yes |
Video
| Max Resolution | 8K |
| 4K FPS | 30 |
| 10-bit | No |
| Codec | H.265, H.264 |
Display & EVF
| Screen Size | 3 |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Articulating | Yes |
| EVF Resolution | 2360000 |
Build
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.7 lbs |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| USB | USB-C |
| HDMI | Micro-HDMI |
| Hot Shoe | Yes |
Value & Pricing
At $679, it's a solid deal. You're getting a very capable stills camera for beginners, especially if you want to shoot sports or wildlife on a budget. Just know you're making some compromises on video features and stabilization to hit that price.
Price History
vs Competition
Compared to the Sony A6700, the R50 loses hard on video features and autofocus sophistication, but it's also way cheaper and lighter. Next to the Nikon Z fc, the R50 has much faster burst shooting and better build quality, though the Z fc has more style. And if you look at the Canon R6 Mark II, you're in a totally different league of performance and price.
| Spec | Canon EOS R50 | Fujifilm X-H FUJIFILM X-H2 Mirrorless Camera | Sony Alpha Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera | Panasonic Lumix GH Panasonic LUMIX GH7 Mirrorless Camera with 12-35mm | Nikon Z Nikon Z5 II Mirrorless Camera | OM System OM OM SYSTEM OM-5 Mark II Mirrorless Camera with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless | Mirrorless | Mirrorless | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C | 40.2MP APS-C | 33MP Full Frame | 25.2MP Four Thirds | 24.5MP Full Frame | 21.8MP Four Thirds |
| AF Points | 4503 | 425 | 759 | 315 | 273 | 121 |
| Burst FPS | 15 | 20 | 10 | 75 | 30 | 30 |
| Video | 8K @30fps | 8K @60fps | 4K @60fps | 5K | 4K | 4K @24fps |
| IBIS | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | false | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 329 | 590 | 635 | 726 | 635 | 371 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Evf | Build | Burst | Video | Sensor | Battery | Display | User Sentiment | Connectivity | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EOS R50 | 99.8 | 99.9 | 7.3 | 88.2 | 98.6 | 83.7 | 48.1 | 95.6 | 48.7 | 90.4 | 98 | 40.9 |
| Fujifilm X-H 2 Compare | 95.6 | 99 | 87.2 | 92.1 | 100 | 92.2 | 99 | 95.6 | 0 | 96.1 | 98 | 98.9 |
| Sony Alpha a7 IV Compare | 98.1 | 96.5 | 97.6 | 76.8 | 89.9 | 97.5 | 98.1 | 95.6 | 0 | 96.1 | 98 | 90.1 |
| Panasonic Lumix GH 7 Compare | 94.2 | 96.2 | 81.9 | 98 | 94.7 | 73.1 | 96.5 | 87.1 | 0 | 96.1 | 98 | 99.4 |
| Nikon Z 5 II Compare | 94.6 | 97.5 | 59.3 | 92.1 | 81.4 | 96 | 97 | 95.6 | 0 | 96.1 | 98 | 90.1 |
| OM System OM 5 Mark II Compare | 92.2 | 94.3 | 93.3 | 92.1 | 59.1 | 70.9 | 95.6 | 95.6 | 0 | 90.4 | 92.4 | 98.6 |
Verdict
Buy this if you're a beginner or someone on a tight budget who wants a lightweight, easy-to-use camera for stills, especially action shots. Don't buy it if video is your main focus, or if you need stabilization without buying special lenses.