Canon EOS R50 review: Big performance for a tiny camera

Canon’s mirrorless EOS R mirrorless digital camera household now sits at a wholesome 11 members, however most of these to this point have been high-end fashions priced at over $1,000. Lately, although, the corporate has been wooing budget-minded customers with fashions just like the $480 R100 and the topic of this overview – the $680, 24-megapixel R50.

The R50 makes use of a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor from the $980 EOS R10, so picture high quality must be on par. In any other case, you possibly can consider the R50 as an RF-mount model of the older M-mount M50 Mark II – however with updates like uncropped 4K that make it higher for creators. On the identical time, it’s even lighter and smaller, so it’s very best for journey, avenue images and extra.

The place the $480 R100 is aimed on the backside finish of the mirrorless market, the $680 R50 is focusing on customers a bit extra critical about images and content material creation. Does it have sufficient going for it to entice such customers? Let’s have a look.

Physique & Dealing with

The EOS R50 is diminutive in each weight and measurement, weighing in at simply 375 grams with a battery and reminiscence card. With a equally mild and small lens, just like the 18-45mm package or the brand new 28mm pancake model, it could possibly simply slip right into a small bag. Vacationers and vacationers will usually accept a smartphone reasonably than lugging round a heavy digital camera, however the R50 removes that barrier.

There’s a value to be paid by way of usability, nonetheless. It has a comparatively small grip that’s successfully unusable with massive lenses, although it does have a pleasant rubber materials so it shouldn’t slip out of your arms.

The R50 can also be missing in controls in comparison with different fashions. It has only a single dial to alter settings, that means you need to hit the publicity compensation button to toggle between shutter pace and aperture in guide mode. However for the reason that digital camera is designed for inexperienced persons used to smartphones, it’s primarily designed to be managed by the touchscreen. That works properly sufficient, however the primary menu gadgets are just a little small and fiddly.

The two.95-inch touchscreen is good although, with a comparatively excessive 1.6 million dot decision. As with all different Canon EOS R cameras, it totally articulates, making it helpful for selfies and vlogging. The digital viewfinder is on the low finish although, being comparatively small and with a low 2.36-million dot decision.

With the identical small battery because the EOS R10, it will get simply 370 photographs on a cost – maybe the digital camera’s greatest weak spot. It’s, nonetheless, a major enchancment over the 305 photographs you get with the unique M50 II. Different options embody a mic however no headphone port, a single gradual UHS-I card slot, USB-C and micro HDMI ports and sure, a built-in flash that’s excellent for its goal market.

Efficiency

One important downside with budget-oriented cameras is the dearth of an excellent autofocus system – one thing that’s essential for digital camera novices. Fortunately, the R50’s hybrid phase-detect autofocus could be very strong. A simplified model of the AF from excessive finish cameras just like the R3, it tenaciously follows topics and captures sharp images.

It might monitor eyes, faces and heads, together with animals together with canines, cats, birds and horses. It additionally tracks autos like race vehicles, bicycles, trains and airplanes. You’ll be able to both let the system select a topic, or faucet the touchscreen to pick out it your self.

Efficiency is rather less reliable for animals and autos than it’s for individuals. And topic monitoring will usually drop the topic in the event you’re too distant from it. However general, the AI system is reliable, significantly with individuals.

That serves it properly for burst capturing, which is surprisingly quick for such a small digital camera. It might seize frames at as much as 12 fps in mechanical shutter mode or 15 fps in silent digital mode. Nevertheless, you’re restricted to 42 JPEG photos in a burst and simply 7 uncompressed RAWs, as a result of small buffer and gradual reminiscence card slots.

On prime of the standard guide and auto capturing modes, the R50 has inventive settings for inexperienced persons together with one thing known as A+ Superior Auto. If it detects a scene that’s difficult to shoot because of excessive distinction or darkness, it takes 4 photographs and combines them right into a single JPEG picture, very similar to smartphones have accomplished for years. The outcomes may be pleasing, however might also look overprocessed.

As you’d count on, there’s no in-body stabilization, so that you’ll must depend on optically stabilized lenses for that – and there are solely two of these within the APS-C lineup. These solely ship 4 stops of shake discount, but it surely’s sufficient to permit for sharp photographs at 1/tenth of a second or so. When utilizing the silent shutter perform, beware that some rolling shutter impact is current, but it surely’s moderately properly managed.

Picture high quality

Because the R50 shares the R10’s 24-megapixel sensor, picture high quality is almost the identical. For regular capturing, I noticed coloration correct images with pores and skin tones leaning on the nice and cozy facet as is typical with Canon’s coloration science. JPEGs strike an excellent steadiness between sharpening and noise discount, whereas RAW information permit for an honest quantity of room to tweak photos.

Low-light efficiency isn’t superb, although. ISO 6400 is just about a tough restrict, and even you then gained’t have plenty of room to spice up blacks with out getting tons of noise. And also you don’t have in-body stabilization to assist at low shutter speeds.

Fortunately, the R50 does have a built-in flash that may fill in in the event you’re missing mild. Simply be sure to dial the illumination ranges down within the settings to keep away from blowing out your topic.