Canon EOS M50 Mark II mirrorless camera: good for photography and video?

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If you’re starting out and you’ve been looking for a camera that can do it all, but at an affordable price, well, the Canon EOS M50 Mark II fits the bill. It’s a great hybrid camera that’s good for both everyday photography and content creation.

Canon’s EOS M50 Mark II is an upgrade to the original EOS M50, which Canon claim is the #1 selling mirrorless camera in the U.S. market. In truth, there’s not much difference between the original model and Mark II.

Is the Canon EOS M50 good for photography?

As stated, the Canon M50 Mark II is an update to the M50, which has sold well since its launch in February 2018 appealing to the hybrid shooter on a budget. This camera provides photographers with specs that are more than enough for content creators and family photographers.

The EOS M50 MkII has 143 distinct AF points and now eye detect Dual Pixel CMOS AF (1-point AF, Spot AF, Face+Tracking priority AF, Zone AF), so you’re almost guaranteed sharp portrait images every time.

The CMOS 24.1 MP APS-C image sensor with DIGIC 8 processor produces sharp, crisp images with a maximum resolution of 6000 x 4000px. With such large image sizes, you have plenty of scope to crop your pictures to the way you want them to look.

If you want to capture action or wildlife, the camera lets you capture the moments you’re after. When set to ONE SHOT AF the maximum burst speed is about 10 shots per second. When set to SERVO the burst speed is approximately 7.4 shots per second.

Under darker conditions, this camera is also no slouch, with a sensitivity range of ISO 100–25600 (in 1/3-stop increments).

Does the Canon EOS M50 Mark II shoot 4K

This compact size mirrorless camera can record 4K UHD (3840×2160) at 24p/25p. However, the 4K on the M50 is a little flawed.

The 4K video on the M50 Mark II is a little below par because the superb eye-detect AF that’s available when shooting Full HD video is replaced with poorer quality contrast-detect autofocus.

A 1.6x crop on the 4K video output is a further downgrade Canon has introduced. However, it’s not one that really bothers me. The EOS R, another camera I own and use every week, has a 4K crop of 1.74x. The image quality is still good and all I need to do is use a shorter focal length to get the same framing I’d get uncropped.

Finally, some people have pointed out the poor rolling shutter effect on this camera.

If you don’t know what a rolling shutter is, it’s the way each image is taken on a CMOS image sensor. CCD sensors use a global shutter where every pixel is recorded at the same time. But CMOS sensors use a rolling shutter where the image data is recorded pixel by pixel, making vertical line appearing to lean in the direction of a camera pan.

My experience is that you’ll only notice the global shutter effect when performing quick pans or with fast-moving objects. When speaking to the camera, the rolling shutter will have no visible effect. In fact, most of the time you won’t notice the rolling shutter effect.

In truth, it’s not just the M50 that exhibits the global shutter distortion effect, I also see it when shooting 4K on my EOS R and EOS R6. In the case of the R6, that’s a camera that’s more than 3.5x the cost of the EOS M50 Mark II. So, don’t get too concerned if you read that rolling shutter ruins the 4K on the M50. It’s not appreciably worse than other Canon mirrorless cameras.

So, when it comes to 4K on the M50 Mark II, I wouldn’t worry about the crop or the rolling shutter. My only concern is the lack of eye-detect Dual Pixel AF that you get when shooting Full HD. Although Contrast Detect autofocus isn’t as good, but it may be fine for what you need, so give it a go and heck the results. 

Is the M50 good for Full HD video?

Both the original EOS M50 and M50 Mark II use the same 24.1-megapixel APS-C sensor and Digic 8 image processor. But the Dual Pixel autofocus has been updated to include eye autofocus for stills and video. Eye AF is a feature I use most of the time when shooting people on my EOS R and R6, so I find the feature very welcome on the M50 Mark II.

Another good feature on the M50 Mark II is the option to tap the screen to autofocus on your subject while looking through the EVF. That’s a handy feature to have, especially when you need to control who is the main focus of the image.

The camera excels at Full HD 1080p video, offering Dual Pixel eye-detect autofocus at 60, 50, 30, 25, and 24fps.

If you’re interested in slow motion, you’ll need to shoot at the low resolution of HD 720p. You’ll then get the option of shooting 100 or 120fps.

The recording format of all movies on the camera is MP4/ There are two types of compression, IPB (Intra frame compression) is standard and ALL-I (Interframe compression for time-lapse movies).

IPB produces much smaller file sizes but the larger ALL-I files are meant to be more accurate for editing.

As with Canon’s other DSLR and mirrorless cameras, video recordings are limited to 29min 59sec when shooting at up to 60fps. When shooting at 100 or 120fps recording times are limited to 7min 29sec. In both cases, the recording automatically stops when the timer hits those marks, however, you can immediately press the record button again to restart the recording.

What kind of SD card does a Canon M50 Mk II camera use? 

Suitable recording media includes SD, SDHC, or SDXC cards. The card slot is UHS-I compatible. The highest specification card you’ll need (for 4K) is UHS-I, UHS speed class 3.

For Full HD 1080p you’ll need a minimum of SD speed class 10 or 6 for 60/50fps or 24/25/30fps, respectively.

To cover all bases, just get a memory that is UHS-I, UHS speed class 3 or higher.

Does the Canon EOS M50 have a flip screen and vertical video?

Canon knows the original M50 has been popular with content creators, so it has added video features that will be appreciated by vloggers and social media influencers.

The Mark II version now have a flippy screen, or as Canon call it, a vari-angle LCD touchscreen. The screen is a decent size at 3-inches and now includes a new tap video record button and movie self-timer. So, instead of recording from the moment you reach out and touch the start button, you can get into position and the camera will roll when you’re ready to begin.

If your fan base watch you on their cell phone you no longer need to mess about with a camera phone. Vertical video shooting is supported on the Canon M50 Mark II.

M50 Mark II does Live Streaming and Webcamming

This latest version of the M50 is solidly aimed at potential vloggers and remote workers who need excellent quality video. 

The built-in Wi-Fi® technology enables YouTube Live streaming without needing to connect to a computer. You can live stream directly to YouTube using Wi-Fi or connect via your smartphone’s internet connection. You will of course need a YouTube account with 1,000+ subscribers plus an internet-connected WI-FI with a speed of at least 6Mbs.

When you want to live stream using OBS or Elgato Stream Deck you’re fine with the M50 Mark II. You now get a clean HDMI video output from the camera’s micro HMDI connector, with no distracting camera overlay. Just connect the camera to your laptop or desktop’s USB socket using an HDMI cable and a capture dongle, like Elgato’s CamLink 4K.

So, plugin and climb aboard the live streaming bandwagon using good quality video and the flexibility offered by a camera that offers interchangeable lenses.

Now if you’re working remotely and want to improve the image quality of your virtual meetings, the M50 Mark II turns into a high-quality webcam for you. Just connect the camera to your laptop using a USB-C cable and fire-up Canon’s free EOS Webcam Utility software. You can then join meetings on platforms like Zoom and Skype and look good.

Does the Canon EOS M50 have a mic input jack?

The M50 Mark II has a 3.5mm external microphone input is included so you can connect a range of external microphones, such as the extremely popular Rode and Deity mini shotgun mics or the Rode wireless lavalier mics. 

Please don’t be tempted to use the internal mics on the camera. It’s not that they aren’t any good, it’s just that they are inside the camera. To capture good quality audio, you need your microphone to be close to your subject.

If you get one of those mini shotgun mics that I mentioned above, don’t mount them on the camera. I know that’s where they are designed to go, but that won’t necessarily get you the best audio.

I have a Deity V-Mic D3 and it’s meant to slip into the camera’s hot shoe, but I always mount it on a mic stand so the mic is about 12-18″ from the subject. That way the audio I record is much better than if I left the mic on the camera.

Being able to connect an external microphone is the most important feature you need to look for on any camera body. In this respect, the M50 Mark II would work well for you.

One disappointment regarding audio is that the M50 does not have a headphone or audio out socket. This isn’t critical, but it would be handy to monitor the audio or at least check the audio on a test recording.

How big is the Canon EOS M50?

The Canon EOS M50 Mark II is the perfect camera for anyone who wants to capture high-quality photos and videos on a small yet versatile mirrorless camera body.

The Mark II camera body measures 116.3 x 88.1 x 58.7mm (4.57 x 3.46 x 2.32″) and weighs in at just 387g (0.85 lb/13.65 oz).

Remember this is just the size and weight of the camera body. You will need to factor in the size and weight of the lens as well. Since the M50 Mark II is an interchangeable lens camera you may have several lenses in your camera gear bag or backpack. That explains why it makes perfect sense to only quote the size of the camera body. 

Can the Canon M50 Mark II shoot RAW

The Canon EOS M 50 Mark II is a camera that can shoot raw images.

What’s the difference between RAW and JPEG?

RAW files are uncompressed and contain the “raw” data from the image sensor before any processing has been applied to them. However, JPEGs are compressed files that allow them to be much smaller than the large RAW files. The JPEG files conform to the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) standard, a method of lossy compression that reduces file sizes by discarding some color information around areas of similar colors.

The fact that RAW files contain no image processing and are saved with a bit depth of 14-bits means they give you maximum flexibility when editing images in programs like Lightroom or Photoshop.

When you shoot a photo on the Canon EOS M50 Mark II you can simultaneously save the image to the card as a RAW and JPEG file. Although you can choose to just shoot RAW or JPEG files if you prefer. You can also choose the quality of the saved images, for instance, you can save RAW or cRAW. Where cRAW is a compressed version of RAW that offers a file size saving while only slightly reducing the quality of the image.

The RAW images will have a .CR3 file extension while JPEG images will have a .jpg file extension. To view RAW images on a PC you will need a suitable image editing program since most Windows image viewers will not recognize the image format.

What lenses are compatible with the Canon EOS M50 Mark II

The M50 camera bodies use the Canon EF-M mount, so you have a reasonable set of lenses to choose from. These include the 2mm f/2 and 32mm f/1.4 lenses that are good candidates for vlogging without too much additional light, to the 55-200mm telephoto when you need more reach.

Although you have a good variety of glass with the versatile and compact EF-M lens range, if you want more choice, you’re in luck.

If you get the EF to EOS M Canon mount adapter, you’ll be able to attach over 70 EF-S and EF lenses to your EOS M50 Mark II. These include specialist lenses such as macro and fisheye.

But before you start flirting with the idea of getting your hands on any of those extra lenses, consider the kit lens options available with the M50 Mark II camera body.

There are two EF-M lens options to go with a brand new M50 Mark II camera body. You can get the camera body plus the EF-M 15-45mm lens kit or the camera body plus the EF-M 15-45mm and EF-M55-200mm double zoom lens kit.

EOS M50 MkII Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Light weight and compact	No Dual Pixel AF in 4K
Very good eye detect AF for stills and FHD video	4K cropped
Full HD video excellent	No headphone jack
Good 24.1MP sensor
Excellent vari-angle touch screen
Includes 3.5mm mic jack
Easy to use

Summary

Even though the update in the M50 Mark II hasn’t been extensive, it’s still a good camera at a price that won’t knock a huge hole in your wallet. The only caveat I’d add is that if you already own the original EOS M50 I wouldn’t bother moving up to the Mark II.

As well as taking lenses with an EF-M mount, the camera is fully compatible with the EF/EF-S series lenses, so there are plenty of options for you to choose from for the look of your photographs or movies. I was impressed by the quality of images from this small but powerful package. Hand-held portrait selfies, whether still or movies, are sharp thanks to Canon’s Dual Pixel eye detect AF.

The camera’s vari-angle touch screen is good for both stills or video shooting. Photographers can get the camera low-down, up high, or into tight spots while being able to see the screen.

If you’re vlogging or using the camera as a webcam, you’ll like the flip-out screen for checking your framing and using the touchscreen controls, including the AF. The touchscreen interface is intuitive and is designed to help you shoot stunning photos and videos with ease, whatever your level of expertise.

Overall, the EOS M50 Mark II is a good package deal that’s compact and lightweight. The Full HD video is terrific, as are the stills. This camera is ideal if you want to start on the path of quality content creation that lets you effortlessly start shooting right out of the box!

Buy Canon EOS M50 MkII

People also asked…

Is the Canon EOS M50 a full-frame camera?

The Canon EOS M50 and M50 Mark II mirrorless digital cameras are not full frame cameras but APS-C cameras with a crop factor of 1.6x. Both use the same 24.1MP dual-pixel CMOS APS-C image sensor and Digic 8 processor, giving a maximum resolution of 6000 x 4000px. The APS-C sensor size is 22.3mm × 14.9mm.

Is the Canon EOS M50 a mirrorless camera?

The Canon EOS M50 is a mirrorless camera that is a cost-effective entry for content creators. It offers Dual Pixel eye detect AF in still and Full HD movie mode. The clean HDMI output on the M50 Mark II is ideal for live streaming when combined with capture cards or dongles, like the Elgato Cam Link.

Does the Canon EOS M50 have image stabilization?

The Canon EOS M50 and M50 Mark II do not have IBIS or In Body Image Stabilization, where the image sensor moves to cancel camera shake. But they do have digital image stabilization, where the camera crops the image and digitally moves it to cancel camera shake. This is not as effective as IBIS and makes the image less sharp.

Is the Canon EOS M50 a DSLR?

The Canon EOS M50 (and M50 Mark II) is a mirrorless camera and not a DSLR. A DSLR uses a flip-up mirror to temporarily divert light to a focusing sensor prior to taking the photo. A mirrorless camera has no such mirror. Light falling on the main image sensor is used to both capture the image and provide focus.

Is the Canon EOS M50 waterproof?

Since the Canon EOS M50 is not a professional-grade camera body, like the EOS M5, it is not weather sealed. Therefore, the M50 is not waterproof and should be protected from rain or spray, and should not be used underwater unless it is in some form of waterproof housing.

Can the Canon EOS M50 shoot 4k?

The EOS M50 and M50 Mark II share the same 24.1-megapixel image sensor and Digic 8 processor. Both cameras shoot Full HD 1080p and UHD 4K video. Unfortunately, when using 4K the autofocus uses contrast detection rather than the much better Dual Pixel AF used for Full HD. The 4K also suffers from rolling shutter.