Featuring an APS-C sensor with 24 megapixels and a user-friendly design, the Canon EOS M50 Mark II is a tiny mirrorless camera. When compared to its predecessor, it only has a few minor improvements, but it has a price that’s hard to beat, ergonomics that are easy on the eyes, and image quality that’s rock solid.
Improvements have been made to the focusing system, as well as the ability to record videos in a vertical orientation and to Livestream straight to YouTube from the camera, provided that the Wi-Fi connection is strong enough.
Canon EOS M50 Mark II + EF-M 15-45mm is STM Kit Black
- 24.1 megapixel (aps-c) cmos sensor with iso 100-25600 (h: 51200).
- Digic 8 image processor with auto lighting optimizer.
- Improved dual pixel cmos af and eye detection af (still/movie servo af support).
- 4k uhd 24p and hd 120p for slow motion.
- 24.1 megapixel (aps-c) cmos sensor with iso 100-25600 (h: 51200).
- Digic 8 image processor with auto lighting optimizer.
- Improved dual pixel cmos af and eye detection af (still/movie servo af support).
- 4k uhd 24p and hd 120p for slow motion.
- Vari-angle touchscreen lcd convenient for vlogging and various composition.
- Lens type: Zoom
- Video capture resolution: 2160p
The EOS M50 Mark II may not be the most exciting release that Canon has come up with, but it also does not tamper too much with the formula that made the first M50 such a successful camera. This is a gentle update, and it may not be the most interesting product that Canon has come up with.
Because of this, the M50 Mark II is an appealing alternative for people with less experience, and in particular, the fact that it is capable of live streaming helps it stand out from the competition. In the later section of our evaluation, we will focus specifically on live streaming.
Autofocus
The capability to autofocus is one of the most significant improvements made to the EOS M50 Mark II. In spite of the fact that the Mark II has the same fundamental AF mechanism as its predecessor, the camera now includes face and eye tracking capabilities for both still and moving images. During our testing with the M50 Mark II, we discovered that the eye tracking feature performed quite well, even when we were photographing objects that were moving quickly in dimly lit environments.
The new eye detection technology can only be used on human subjects, and while it isn’t nearly as accurate as some of the other systems on the market, you are able to bypass it whenever necessary by utilizing the touchscreen.
While keeping your eye on the viewfinder, you can make adjustments quickly and easily using the touch-and-drag focusing feature, which we discovered to be fairly precise. We also liked that you could configure some portions of the LCD to be active, which prevented us from inadvertently changing the focus of the camera by nudging it with our noses.
It should come as no surprise that the camera has virtually equal image quality to its predecessor given that it utilizes the same sensor as its predecessor. You’ll receive JPEGs that are rich in color and have a good degree of contrast, and in general, the out-of-camera JPEGs required very little further processing to get them ready to be shared on social media.
When it comes to editing, Canon’s CR3 Raw format offers a great deal more freedom than other options. When reviewing Raw photos captured by the M50 Mark II at low ISOs and in well-lit environments, we did not see any problems with the degree to which shadow features in our photographs could be brought out in the light.
Video
Even though the EOS M50 Mark II is capable of recording in 4K, we believe that you will get the most out of it if you stick to recording in 1080p. The 4K/24p video has a significant amount of its image cut off, and you won’t be able to use the camera’s dual-pixel focusing because it solely uses contrast detection.
Because of this, the focus is disappointingly unreliable in 4K mode unless you are right next to your subject, and the cropping makes it difficult to shoot wider-angle scenes or to film yourself holding the camera at arm’s length. Essentially, this means that the focus is disappointingly unreliable in 4K mode.
If, on the other hand, you are willing to record in Full HD or 1080p, you can make advantage of the camera’s dual pixel focusing system, which enables you to employ eye tracking on the subjects you are photographing. This is a feature that we found to be of great benefit when we were testing the camera.
When we utilized the M50 Mark II to shoot performances in strong lighting situations, the camera performed an excellent job of maintaining focus. It did an acceptable job in dim light, but we noticed that it had trouble recognizing things when more creative lighting was being used. Nevertheless, it did a good job overall.
Streaming in real time
Live streaming to YouTube from the EOS M50 Mark II sounds like a pretty intriguing feature, allowing customers more freedom than a desktop streaming setup and greater resolution than streaming from a phone camera.
The EOS M50 Mark II is a professional-level mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. If you want to broadcast directly to YouTube using the M50 Mark II, you will not be able to do so until you have attained a minimum of one thousand subscribers to your channel on YouTube.
Conclusion
Even while the modifications made to the EOS M50 Mark II might at first appear to be minor, the significant improvements made to the focusing system when shooting stills or video in Full HD are impressive. The focus of this camera is particularly outstanding due to the fact that it is both incredibly quick and precise.
In the end, the M50 Mark II is simple to operate and produces JPEGs straight out of the camera that is vivid and has a pleasant contrast to them. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will make it simple to transfer those vivid stills to your phone directly from the camera without the need for an intermediary device.
Even though it is a tiny camera, it is still quite comfortable to shoot with. It would be a fantastic choice for beginners who are searching for their first camera, or for professionals who are seeking something lightweight to shoot with while they are spending time with family and friends.
The touchscreen is quick and simple to use, which makes up for the fact that some of the controls are on the small side and are packed closely together. The fact that the touchscreen capabilities may be used even while one’s sight is focused on the brilliant electronic viewfinder was another feature that impressed us.
Because of the 1.5x cut that occurs while recording in 4K at 24 frames per second, this is less beneficial for filmmakers and dedicated video bloggers. Even though the connector for the microphone is a good addition, we were hoping that Canon would also include a jack for headphones but they didn’t.
When capturing static images, the battery life is good, but once you start recording video, it depletes rather quickly. In the end, this camera shines as a tiny alternative for stills and quick video recording, particularly if the capability to record 4K video isn’t as important to you as other video resolutions.
Canon EOS M50 Mark II Specs
| Body type | SLR-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Body material | Composite |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 6000 x 4000 |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 24 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 26 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Digic 8 |
| Color space | sRGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 100-25600 (expands to 51200) |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 51200 |
| White balance presets | 7 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.31)Raw (Canon CR3 14-bit)C-Raw (Canon .CR3) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 143 |
| Lens mount | Canon EF-M |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.6× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,040,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Exposure modes | ProgramShutter priorityAperture priorityManual |
| Built-in flash | Yes |
| Flash range | 5.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| External flash | Yes |
| Flash modes | Evaluative (face priority), Evaluative, Average |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/200 sec |
| Drive modes | SingleContinuousSelf-timer |
| Continuous drive | 10.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedSpot |
| Exposure compensation | ±3 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±2 (3 frames at 1/3 EV steps) |
| Videography features | |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Modes | 3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 120 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 60 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 30 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p / 30 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1280 x 720 @ 120p / 52 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1280 x 720 @ 60p / 26 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC slot (UHS-I compatible) |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| USB charging | No |
| HDMI | Yes (micro-HDMI) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth |
| Remote control | Yes (via smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | No |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | LP-E12 lithium-ion battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 305 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 387 g (0.85 lb / 13.65 oz) |
| Dimensions | 116 x 88 x 59 mm (4.57 x 3.46 x 2.32″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | None |
