Canon Cameras
Canon EOS R50 Review
Canon EOS R50 is an entry-level APS-C camera positioned as a more affordable version of the EOS R10, released a year earlier. While it retains the same sensor, processor and autofocus system, Canon has placed everything into a smaller body and removed features such as the mechanical shutter, 23 fps burst shooting and 4K 60 fps video recording to make the camera more affordable.
Canon EOS R System
The release of the Canon EOS R in 2018 introduced the Canon RF-mount. With a larger mount diameter, shorter flange distance and a 12‑pin electronic interface, it allowed Canon to design faster, sharper lenses with better low-light performance. Compared to older DSLRs the system is smaller and lighter while also improving autofocus speed and overall image quality. After nearly a decade, the EOS R System now provides a wide selection of lenses. Canon EF-mount lenses (older DSLR lenses) remain fully compatible with Canon R System cameras via the EF-EOS R adapter.
Canon EOS R50 Price
Canon EOS R50 Specifications
General
Canon EOS R50 features a new 24.2 MP APS-C sensor (already used in the more expensive R10) paired with Canon’s DIGIC X processor.
Canon’s APS-C sensors are slightly smaller than those used by competitors, effectively providing a 1.6x crop factor compared to the 1.5x crop found in most other camera brands.
The body is compact and light, but less ergonomic than other Canon cameras. The R10 does not offer weather sealing or in-body image stabilization (IBIS).
The R50 has a fully articulating LCD screen. The EVF offers selectable refresh rates of 120 fps or 60 fps (power-saving mode).
There is only one SD card slot that accepts only older and slower UHS-I SD cards.
The batteries used in Canon APS-C cameras are smaller than those designed for full-frame models, so purchasing an additional battery is highly recommended.
Autofocus
Canon’s autofocus is generally considered one of the strong points of its cameras. Canon EOS R50 uses Canon’s ‘Dual Pixel CMOS AF II’ system. The same system was also used in other APS-C cameras in the EOS R system like the R7 and R10.
Subject tracking is available for humans, animals (dogs, cats and birds) and vehicles (racing cars and motorcycles). Eye-detection AF is available for both humans and animals and it performs well even when the subject is moving, though performance can decrease when there are distractions in the foreground.
When the camera recognizes multiple subjects, you can tap the screen while looking in the viewfinder to switch tracking between them.
Autofocus performs well for photography. However, in video mode the camera may occasionally shift focus to the background or foreground instead of the intended subject. Adjusting autofocus settings is often necessary to achieve more consistent results in different situations.
Overall autofocus performance on the Canon EOS R50 is good, but as expected it cannot match the performance of Canon’s full-frame cameras or Canon’s more expensive APS-C alternatives like the R7.
Photography
Image quality is impressive for an APS-C sensor, providing solid dynamic range and natural color rendering Canon has always been known for.
Canon R50 doesn’t have a mechanical shutter. You can only select between electronic front-curtain (EFCS) or fully electronic (silent) shutter modes.
The R50 can shoot at up to 12 fps in 14-bit RAW with the EFCS and 15 fps in 12-bit RAW with the electronic shutter. Using the electronic shutter also results in noticeable rolling shutter distortion when photographing fast-moving subjects. The R50 is believed to reduce RAW capture to 12-bit A/D conversion when using the electronic shutter, consistent with most Canon EOS R-series cameras without stacked sensors. However, Canon does not clearly document this behavior in the official Canon EOS R50 specification sheet.
The R50 uses slower UHS-I SD cards (compared to the UHS-II used in most modern cameras) and the buffer performance is extremely outdated. You can take just 7 RAW images before the shooting speed drops to around 2 fps. If you don’t mind shooting JPEGs the buffer allows 30-40 images.
Video
Canon EOS R50 can record oversampled 4K video at 30 fps using full width of the sensor. Footage is oversampled from 6K and very detailed considering the APS-C sensor size, though rolling shutter distortion is clearly visible.
Full HD (1080p) recording is available at up to 120 fps.
The R50 does not include in-body image stabilization (IBIS). Electronic stabilization is available, but it applies an additional crop. While it can be very effective for stationary handheld shots, it is much less effective for recording handheld video while walking.
The camera has a 1 hour recording limit. Some users noted some issues with overheating when recording 4K video, so keeping the screen flipped-out and keeping camera out of direct sunlight is definitely recommended.
The R50 records in 8-bit, with a 10-bit option available in HDR PQ mode.
| Feature | Canon EOS R50 |
|---|---|
| Release Date | February 2023 |
| Megapixels | 24.2 MP |
| Image Resolution | 6000 × 4000 |
| Sensor Size | APS-C |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Image Processor | DIGIC X |
| IBIS | No |
| Weather Sealing | No |
| Lens Mount | Canon RF |
| Body Type | Mirrorless |
| PHOTO | |
| Native ISO | 100 – 32,000 |
| Expandable ISO | 100 – 51,200 |
| Shutter Speed | 1/8000 – 30s |
| Burst Rate (Mechanical) | 12 fps RAW (EFCS) |
| Burst Rate (Electronic) | 15 fps RAW |
| Buffer | ~ 7 RAW |
| Shutter Types | Electronic, EFCS |
| Silent Shooting | Yes (Electronic Shutter) |
| Exposure Compensation | ±3 EV |
| High-Res (Sensor Shift) | No |
| Pre-Capture Mode | No |
| VIDEO | |
| 4K Video | 4K 30fps (oversampled from 6K) |
| Max Frame Rate | 4K 30fps / 1080p 120fps |
| Bit Depth | 8-bit |
| Recording Limit | 1 hour |
| Timelapse Recording | Yes |
| AUTOFOCUS | |
| AF System | 'Dual Pixel CMOS AF II' |
| AF Points | 651 |
| AF Coverage | 100% Frame Coverage |
| AF Joystick | No |
| DISPLAY / VIEWFINDER | |
| Articulated Screen | Fully Articulating |
| Touch Screen | Yes |
| LCD Size | 2.95" |
| LCD Resolution | 1,620,000 |
| EVF Resolution | 2,360,000 |
| EVF Refresh Rate | 120 fps |
| EVF Coverage | 100% |
| EVF Magnification | 0.95× |
| MORE INFO | |
| Card Slot 1 | SD (UHS-I) |
| Card Slot 2 | / |
| Sensor Protection System | No |
| USB | Type C 2.0 |
| USB Charging | Yes |
| HDMI | Type D (Micro HDMI) |
| Microphone Port | 3.5 mm |
| Headphone Port | No |
| Built-in Flash | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Battery | LP-E17 |
| Battery Life | 300 ~ 500 frames |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Yes |
| Dimensions | 116 × 86 × 69 mm |
| Weight | 375 g |
Canon R50 Alternatives
Canon R10
Canon R50 V
Canon EOS R10 (2022) is a mid-range APS-C mirrorless model in the EOS R Series. It also has a 24 MP sensor. It offers continuous shooting at up to 15 fps with the mechanical shutter and 23 fps with the electronic shutter. It can record 4K video at 60 fps with a 1.6x crop and oversampled 4K video at up to 30 fps without a crop, but video recording is limited to 8-bit. It has no IBIS and no weather-sealing.
Canon EOS R50 V (2023) is essentially the R50 with a simplified, compact design without a viewfinder. It keeps the same 24 MP sensor and the same processor and AF system. Just like the R50, the R50 V also doesn’t have a mechanical shutter. It can record 4K video at 60 fps with a 1.56x crop and oversampled 4K video at 30 fps. Video recording is also available in 10-bit instead of being limited to just 8-bit. It’s very lightweight, making it ideal for vloggers and social media content creators. It’s also compatible with faster UHS-II SD cards, significantly increasing the buffer compared to the R50.
Nikon Z50 II
Nikon Z50 II (2024) is a direct competitor to the more expensive Canon R10. It has a 21 MP BSI sensor and uses a new version of Nikon’s hybrid AF system. It can record 4K video at up to 30 fps and at 60 fps with a 1.5x crop in 10-bit, but the footage is not oversampled. It can shoot at up to 11 fps with the mechanical shutter and up to 15 fps in RAW with the electronic shutter (30 fps in JPEG).
Sony a6100
Sony a6400
Sony a6700
Sony’s APS-C lineup, commonly referred to as the a6000 series, includes some of the most popular beginner and hobbyist cameras on the market. They’re compact, lightweight and offer fast autofocus and great image quality. They benefit from Sony’s long-standing E-mount ecosystem and there are plenty of affordable used options available since they are very popular and has been around for quite a while. Sony a6000, a6300 and a6500 are considered the 1st generation of a6000-series cameras. They are no longer in production, but can be found at an affordable price on the used market.
Sony a6100 (2019) is Sony’s modern entry-level APS-C camera. It has a 24 MP sensor, it offers excellent autofocus performance, can shoot at 11 fps with the mechanical shutter and it can record oversampled 4K video at 25 fps and at 30 fps with a 1.2x crop. Video recording is limited to 8-bit and the maximum clip length is set to 13 hours. The a6100 does not have a weather-sealed body.
Sony a6400 (2019) is Sony’s mid-range APS-C camera also featuring the same 24 MP sensor. Most specifications are similar to the a6100, but the a6400 uses a weather-sealed body and doesn’t apply a crop in 4K 30 fps recording. Video recording is still limited to 8-bit, but the a6400 includes Sony’s higher-quality S-Log 2 and S-Log 3 picture profiles.
Sony a6700 (2023) is Sony’s most advanced APS-C model featuring a new 26 MP BSI sensor paired with Sony’s BIONZ XR processor and Sony’s AI processing unit. It features several notable upgrades like a fully articulating screen and an even more advanced AF system with an AI-based deep-learning engine for enhanced subject recognition and tracking. It offers continuous shooting at up to 11 fps, it can record 4K video at 120 fps and oversampled 4K video at up to 60 fps in 10-bit. It has IBIS and a weather sealed body.
Canon EOS R50 Price
Final Verdict
Canon EOS R50 is Canon’s entry-level APS-C model. It offers some solid features for it’s price like a proven 24 MP sensor and solid autofocus performance, but the lack of the mechanical shutter and extremely poor high-speed shooting performance limit it severely compared to competing entry-level models from other brands.
If you are not already committed to the Canon EOS R System, the Sony a6100 is worth considering. At a similar price point, it offers a broader feature set, including a mechanical shutter.
Buyers should also take a look at slightly more expensive mid-range APS-C models such as the Canon EOS R10, Nikon Z50 II and Sony a6400. These cameras offer additional features and definitely represent better long-term value.