Introduction

Both Canon and Sony have been at the technological forefront, constantly and tirelessly working to come up with innovative cameras that consumers can use to capture timeless memories. In this article we compare the Canon M50 and the Sony a6300 models, which are two similar yet dissimilar cameras that form part of the brands’ product portfolio.

Comparison – At a Glance

Canon M50 vs Sony a6300 – Specifications

The Canon M50 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens digital camera that uses an EF-M lens mount and was first introduced into the market in 2018. This DSLR style mirrorless camera is the crown jewel of Canon’s M-series cameras and with good reason. This camera which runs on a DIGIC 8 Image Processor has a 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor that facilitates the capturing of images that have a spectacular dynamic range, incredible color with clear details.

It brags a wide ISO range of between 100 to 25600 and continuous shooting speeds of 10 frames per second which is perfect for capturing subjects that are on the move. With an inbuilt electronic viewfinder that has a high resolution of approximately 2360K dots, when shooting, the amount of detail will pleasantly surprise photographers. Other additional features that the EOS M50 brags include inbuilt Wi-Fi and a well-articulated vari-angle touchscreen that’s useful when you need to capture shots from weird angles. The Canon M50 weighs 387 grams with dimensions of 4.6″ x 3.5″ x 2.3″.

The Sony a6300, on the other hand, is a slightly older interchangeable lens camera that was introduced to consumers in February 2016 and makes use of an E mount for functionality. The Sony a6300 brags a range finder style body which is a big contrast from the M50. Just like the Canon M50 the Sony a6300 is fitted with an APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor and is operated by a BIONZ X image processor. The Sensor which minimizes noise and expands sensitivity brags 24.3 megapixels that provide users with brilliant-quality images. Its ISO range falls between 100 to 25600 just like the M50; however, the Sony a6300’s ISO is expandable to 51200. It manages speeds of 11 frames per second in continuous shooting with 425 phase detection autofocus points.

Similarly, it has a well-articulated 3″ monitor and a high-resolution XGA OLED electronic viewfinder that enhances viewing for photographers.

Additionally, it also has inbuilt Wi-Fi, NFC and QR capabilities which simplify the file transfer process. With a weight of 361 grams, it has dimensions of4.7″ x 2.6″ x 1.9″. One noteworthy thing about the Sony a6300 is that its autofocus system is a hybrid system that uses both contrast and phase detection.

Canon M50 vs Sony a6300 – Performance

As previously mentioned, the Canon M50 and the Sony a6300 are two cameras that are quite similar and dissimilar. Based on their press release statements, the cameras were intended for two very divergent markets; however, they both perform exceptionally well at fulfilling their jobs. For example, both cameras shoot 4K videos and RAW videos.

Despite being similar, we felt that the backside illuminated Sony a6300 performs slightly better than the EOS M50. An example of this would be with the focal length multiplier where the canon only manages 1.5x while the Sony manages more at 1.6x. Similarly, even though they have the same type of sensor, the M50 has a smaller sensor area which reduces the quality and dynamic range of the images captured as well as increases the camera’s noise levels. When everything is taken into account below are the reasons why each of the cameras is better than the other.

Advantages of Canon EOS M50

• The M50 is slightly lighter than the a6300, and while this difference may seem small, it could be the determinant of the image quality you produce.
• When you are capturing videos, the camera uses phase detection autofocus which is much faster and can keep up with the movement of objects in motion without compromising on quality.
• The Canon M50 has a time-lapse function.
• Reviewing images is much easier as the Canon M50’s screen has a resolution that is 118.4K dots higher than that of the A6300.
• The LCD monitor is a touchscreen that can be used for focusing the camera.
• Canon M50 is extremely versatile and offers many functionalities, including slow motion video recording.

Advantages of Sony a6300

• It has a backside illuminated senor which the M50 lacks. The BSI sensor provides image quality and sharpness that is generally much better as its pixels are 1.25 % more than those of the M50.
• The camera’s sensor is 10.33% larger than that of the M50 and therefor yields images with better quality.
• The focus points in the Sony a6300 are copious, which means photographers have flexibility when deciding on what to focus on.
• When shooting JPEG format at the highest resolution, the AF is 10% faster as the Canon M50 only manages 10 frames per second in comparison to the a6300 11 frames per second.
• It has a better battery life that captures 165 additional shots after the Canon M50 is out of charge.
• The camera has an internal focus motor that helps in image stabilization when photographers use different lenses that don’t have their own focus motors.
• It is compatible with a lot more lenses than the M50

The Bottom Line

After comparing the two cameras using various specifications, features as well as their performance levels, we would recommend opting for the older Sony a6300 simply because it shone brighter in more categories than the Canon EOS M50. If you’re looking for the very best as far as image quality goes, the a6300 does a great job, but if you want a camera that is easy to use but still gets the job done, by all means, go for the EOS M50. Nevertheless, we would advise you to make your decision based on which camera you feel serves you best. Only you as the user can be able to gauge and weigh the cameras based on your preference.