Canon M5 vs M50 - A Complete Comparison

Introduction

The crown jewel of Canon’s M-series camera, the Canon EOS M5 was launched in September 2016, and this announcement was followed by the Canon M50 soon after. The M50 was, in our opinion the same as the M5 except for a few features such as 4K video recording that customers had been demanding for, for a long time. Despite the M5 being positioned at a higher level than the M-50 in Canon’s M-series lineup, the similarities between the two cameras are uncanny and more fraternal twins who are different but pretty much the same.

Comparison at a Glance

Primary Features of the Canon M5 And M50

As previously mentioned, these two cameras share quite a bit even in terms of the feature set they possess. Both mirrorless cameras are equipped with a 24.1-megapixel APS C CMOS sensor which delivers the high-quality photos that the cameras are renowned for. The images captured using the cameras have a 6000 x 4000 pixels resolution and a 1.6x form factor that can be attributed to the APS-C sensor. As far as exposure compensation goes, both cameras also have a +/- 3 exposure value in 1/3 stop increments and an auto exposure bracketing of +/- 2 EV, 3 shots, and 1/3-stop increment. The shutter speed range of the cameras is at an impressive range of between 30 to 1/4000 seconds.

The strikingly fast shutter speeds can be attributed to the cameras 0.39-type OLED electronic viewfinder. Both the EOS M5 and M50 have pop up flash capabilities, memory card support that covers SD, SDHC, and SDXC (UHS-I compatible)) as well as Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth connectivity options. The most notable difference in the discussed features is that the perks linked to the Dual Pixel CMOS sensor autofocus are not available unavailable in the Canon M50 when users are recording 4K videos. Finally, both the Canon M5 and the M50 Both have a microphone input and a Micro HDMI output.

Key Difference Between the Canon M5 and M50

The first differentiator between the two cameras is the price. The base price of Canon M50 is much lower than that of the M5, and this difference in price becomes more evident depending on a user’s choice of lens as well as other accessories that they may want. The second difference that we also noticed is the battery life where the M5 had a better battery life than the M50 which could be attributed the fact that the M50’s battery was much smaller than the M5 battery. Because of this, the M50 can shoot up to 235 shots in its standard mode and 370 shots when in eco mode while the M5 can shoot 295 and 420 shots in the respective modes.

Additionally, when it comes to physical attributes apart from the difference in the position of the dials the two cameras have a tiny difference as far as dimensions and weight go. The M5 which weights 427 grams has dimension of 115.6 x 89.2 x 60.6 mm, while the M50’s dimensions are 116.3 x 88.1 x 58.7mm with a weight of 387 grams. Finally, the M5O’s rear LCD screen is slightly smaller (7.5cm vs 8cm) and has a lower resolution of 1,040k dots in comparison to the M5’s 1,620k.

Who Should Opt for What Camera?

Relatively speaking the Canon EOS M5 and the Canon M50 barely have any significant differences. However, the few existing variances between the two cameras play a key role in determining why you should opt for one camera over the other depending on the type of photography you engage in. The M5, for example, is a camera that is ideal for experienced photographers who value having controls and a user interface that is easily accessible. This ease of use is evidenced by the custom shooting, quick control, and exposure compensation dials that are available on the M5 but missing on the M50.

Additionally, the M5 is ideal for shooting cold environments as it has a longer battery life and a wider environmental operating range with abundant remote options. The M50, on the other hand, is ideal for any other person including hobbyist and novice photographers who are trying out their hand at photography. The camera’s feature set makes it a handy device for general purpose videography and photography, such as when individuals meet up at social gatherings or are going on vacation. This camera is ideal for capturing images even in low light settings as it has an advanced and sensitive autofocus system that makes the process much easier and allows you to focus on all other things other than trying to capture the perfect photo.

As previously mentioned, the benefits of the Dual Pixel CMOS sensor when shooting gin 4k mode are unavailable with the M50. However, the mere fact that you can shoot 4k video and have access to a vari-angle LCD screen the EOS M50 does a decent job and is a perfect camera for filmmaking particularly if you are capture videos by yourself and are a one-man crew. Individuals can use a tripod to mount the Canon EOS M50 in order to record 4K video that is smooth.

Final Thoughts

Even though the Canon M50 camera has been touted as a camera for novices and amateurs, we would differ with this as it has several features like 4K recording capabilities that make it more superior than the Canon EOS M5. We felt that the M5 was lacking on several fronts that the M50 was able to deliver on and if we were the ones deciding on which camera to opt for, we would go with the M50. Aside from the 4K video recording capabilities we found that the M50 was also cheaper and was able to retain the inbuilt electronic viewfinder.

Maybe Canon will eventually come up with a descendant for the M5 that has more innovative features, but until then, the slight differences in physical attributes and somewhat better battery life are not enough for us to choose it over the M50. Nevertheless, it is important that when making a decision between the two cameras, you choose the one that best meets your needs and assists you achieve your purpose.