As an amateur photographer and budding videographer who enjoys capturing both cinematic stills and video for my YouTube channel, I rely heavily on having capable camera gear that keeps up with my creative demands without costing an arm and a leg.
Over the last few years, I’ve built out an attractive kit centered around Canon‘s crop-sensor mirrorless ecosystem thanks to its approachable pricing for aspiring hybrid shooters. However, Canon now faces stiffer competition from rival brands when it comes to packing professional-grade performance into small form factor mirrorless options.
The Canon EOS M50 Mark II aims to build on the winning formula of the original M50 by adding welcome tweaks like improved autofocus, Eye Detect tracking, and better IS while retaining popular features like the vari-angle touch display and Dual Pixel CMOS AF in Full HD.
But how does this upper entry-level ILC actually hold up now that we’re into 2023? In this detailed review, I’ll analyze whether the EOS M50 Mark II remains a smart buy or if budding photographers and content creators should consider other alternatives instead for both still and video excellence.
Canon M50 Mark II Review – Detailed Performance Breakdown
I’ve structured this review into three key parts – first analyzing still image quality followed by a video recording analysis before comparing the Mark II head-to-head against the competition. Let‘s dive in!
Shooting Photos with the M50 Mark II
Starting with traditional photography, the Canon M50 II built upon the solid imaging pipeline of the original to deliver satisfying results across different everyday genres I tested including:
Portraits
For portrait sessions, the 24MP sensor resolves excellent detail in facial features while the Dual Pixel focusing locks accurately onto eyes thanks to the Face + Tracking capabilities. The Eye AF doesn’t cover as wide or tall an area as some newer cameras but still helps in nailing focus for single subjects.
[Portrait sample image]Skin tones look pleasantly smooth at the default picture profile settings. Minor tuning to the Picture Styles lets me better match skin rendering to my creative tastes. No issues blowing portraits nicely for social media.
Landscapes
When shooting landscape vistas or architectural snapshots, the boosted dynamic range compared to past Canon cameras gives me more flexibility to recover blown highlight details in higher contrast scenes.
Shadow regions also display decent noise control which maintains clarity in foliage details when pushing exposure levels. I have over a stop of headroom to work with in post thanks to the clean ISO invariant sensor.
Sports and Wildlife
Alas, this is one area where the entry-level credentials of the Canon M50 II start to show. While perfectly responsive for leisurely shooting, the AF system can struggle to lock and track erratic motions when capture fast action.
Burst shooting tops out at 10 fps in Speed Priority mode which sounds fast. But a mere 15 shot buffer when holding focus means it‘s easy to hit limitations here for extended sequences.
Sony‘s Realm-Time Tracking AF or Canon‘s own latest subject detection smarts in the R7 far exceed what the M50 Mark II can manage for challenging, off-center compositions. Have realistic expectations if wanting to capture your kids football matches or dog running around the park.
Low Light Performance
Another consequence of the cost-saving sensor design stems from its high noise levels as light drops. Usable quality only extends through ISO 1600 for social media use to my eyes. Beyond ISO 3200 heavy luminance and color noise take over. So indoor events or dimly-lit venues won‘t play nicely unless using a flash or lenses with super bright apertures.
[Concert low light sample: Noisy past ISO 1600]In summary, the Canon EOS M50 Mark II takes very workable still images in optimal lighting conditions. But faster-focusing options now exist for capturing action and newer generation sensors handle high ISO and dynamic range better for the same money. Still, I found the photos perfectly nice for travel albums, blog content and causal walk-around enjoyment 👍
Video Recording & Vlog Capabilities
Now over to arguably the key reason most buyers, myself included, will consider the EOS M50 range – slick looking video paired with Canon‘s gorgeous color science!
The Mark II carries over the rightly-lauded Dual Pixel CMOS AF systems which provides confident focus thanks to its on-sensor phase detection points. Face Tracking works scarily well, making run-and-gun filming a breeze.
Full HD Video looks stunning with Canon‘s faithful color and pleasing sharpness. Lots of details are preserved and noise is well controlled across the ISO range resulting in great dynamic range for beginner videographers.
The vari-angle screen finally lets me comfortably film pieces to camera without annoying contortions. Touch AF functionality makes smoothly transitioning between focus points simple by just tapping the display rather than hunting through menus.
But the 4K video parameters do suck most of the joy away. The heavy crop makes filming wide establishing shots impossible and Contrast Detect AF proves woefully unreliable for any video requiring focus changes. It‘s a mode only worth using on a tripod for locked off real estate walkthroughs. What a shame!
At least HDMI output allows me to bypass recording time limits and route cleaner footage to an external recorder. But the lack of IBIS remains a surprising omission at this level for smoother handheld clips. Audio also requires off-body microphones to sound halfway decent which adds to production complexity.
All in all, captured video looks the goods in Full HD TV for my skill level but faster-focusing options with uncropped 4K now threaten its reputation as a Canon vlogging go-to.
Detailed performance table:
| Video Quality | Bitrate | Video Codec | Profile | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UHD 4K | 24 Mbps | H.264 | Canon‘s C-Log 1 Profile | 2.56x crop makes AF useless |
| Full HD 1080p | Up to 60 Mbps | H.264 | 8-bit 4:2:0 only | No serious limitations |
| HD 720p | Up to 26 Mbps | H.264 | 8-bit 4:2:0 only | No serious limitations |
- Max recording time: 29 min 59 sec
- No IBIS
- HDMI output 4:2:2 8-bit
How Does the Canon M50 II Compare to Mirrorless Competitors?
Let‘s address the elephant-sized full frame sensor in the room – Canon‘s own subsequent RF mirrorless system cameras! Plus rival options from segment leaders Sony and Fujifilm…
Canon M50 Mark II vs Canon EOS R10
As a long time Canon shooter, the EOS R10 released in 2022 stands out as offering far greater capabilities, albeit for roughly $150 more:
- Newer generation APS-C sensor with improved dynamic range
- DCI and UHD 4K options up 30p with no crop
- Superior low light performance – expanded ISO 51200
- 15 fps continuous shooting mechanical or 23 fps electronic
- 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilization
- Faster focusing Dual Pixel CMOS II AF system
- Higher resolution 2.36m dot EVF and today’s interface
Unless found at an outright steal, the R10 noticeably outmatches what the M50 II can achieve in both photos and videos for just a little more money.
Canon M50 II vs Sony ZV-E10
The Sony ZV-E10 brings some heated competition tailored specifically towards the vlogging and selfie scene:
- Larger 1.0-inch flip-out vari-angle touch screen better suited for front-facing filming
- Hot shoe microphone input for clearer audio recording
- Significantly better lens choices more suited to video within Sony‘s E system
- S-Cinetone color profile for richer cinematic rendering
- Wider focus area coverage better optimized for human and face tracking
Sony‘s class-leading AF paired with their video recording chops make a superior solution for hybrid shooters focused on multimedia capture over stills.
Canon M50 II vs Fujifilm X-S10
Looking outside Canon‘s ecosystem, Fujifilm‘s APS-C model brings nice-to-have goodies M50 II owners can only dream of:
- 5-axis in-body stabilization for better handheld footage
- Dedicated stills/movie mode switch
- Wider dynamic range and improved rolling shutter performance
- Larger capacity battery provides nearly 50% more recording time
- More easily articulated touch screen flips up parallel to body for vlogging
- Quicker face and eye AF with better subject tracking overall
The Fujifilm system appeals most to diehard stills enthusiasts. But filmmakers will rejoice at several video-centric advantages for just $100 more.
What About Canon‘s Upcoming Mirrorless Plans?
Canon execs have cryptically implied they plan on unveiling up to 5 new RF mount cameras across both full frame and APS-C sensor sizes over 2023 and 2024. I expect computational photography and video powers to take another leap forward similar to what smartphones now achieve.
Most concerning, Canon formally discontinued the entire EOS M range in 2022 after letting the system flounder without commitment over the last few years. The company seems focused exclusively on expanding capabilities of their newer RF system going forwards.
So investing heavily into Canon‘s crop-sensor EF-M system in 2023 poses risks now that the company has essentially abandoned it in favor of the R series. New lens choices will surely dry up sooner rather than later.
Conclusion – Still Worth Purchasing the Canon M50 Mark II in 2023?
If you‘ve made it this far through my full in-depth M50 Mark II review – congratulations! 🥳 Let‘s recap whether Canon‘s upper entry-level camera still deserves your hard earned dollars in the new year…
Canon got a lot right hitting the price point for novice photographers:
- Excellent Live View performance with fast Dual Pixel focusing
- Great ergonomics with 3" vari-angle touch display
- Polished full HD video matched beautifully with Canon color science
- Huge lens ecosystem to tap into with EF-M mount adapter
However, the quarter-baked 4K implementation really lets down budding filmmakers. Canon cripples this area to protect their high-end Cinema camera range. Awful autofocus in UHD and ultra heavy cropping make it a non-starter.
And with Canon themselves moving attention towards their new RF mount system, purchasing into an already abandoned APS-C line feels rather risky long term.
For that reason, I suggest only grabbing the Canon M50 Mark II if found used/refurbished for below $500. Full price money serves better invested into the significantly improved EOS R10 system. For roughly $150 more, you gain vastly better autofocus, faster burst shooting, uncropped 4K 30p, USB charging and future lens support.
Otherwise for beginners focused purely on vlogging, the Sony ZV-E10 with its selfie screen, outstanding Eye AF and unlimited recording makes a more well-rounded option than fiddling about with Canon‘s irritating HDMI workaround.
So in closing, while the Canon EOS M50 Mark II remains a very capable device for the price, its disappointing video powers and Canon‘s outright neglect of EF-M lenses means newer shooters should look towards rival systems for a smart long-term purchase today.
Let me know your thoughts and any questions in the comments! I‘m happy to offer buying advice to anyone also searching for a polished ILC that won‘t break the bank.