Canon today announced a revision of its popular M50 mirrorless camera, the new M50 Mark II, bringing 4K 24fps capture to an entry-level price point.
The M50 line is a mirrorless camera designed around the APS-C sensor size, which is smaller than the full-frame sensor found on the R5. However, the APS-C size is relatively close to the Super 35 sensor popular in motion pictures. By focusing on a combination of stills and motion features in an affordable package, the M50 MK II makes a great introduction to shooting Canon video that's popular among creators and students alike.
Key Features
- 24.1 Megapixel (APS-C) CMOS sensor
- DIGIC 8 Image Processor
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Eye Detection AF
- 4K UHD 24p
- Full-HD 120p
- Vari-angle Touchscreen LCD
- Convenient Vertical Video
- Can be used a webcam
- 2.36 Million Dots OLED EVF
The big features to see, especially at this price point, are improvements to eye detection autofocus and touch autofocus.
This means you can be shooting a scene with two characters and touch the screen to rack focus between the two performers, which is an amazing feature that filmmakers only dreamed about a few short years ago. It's now available in cameras that are affordable to the masses. Eye AF is especially useful when shooting action or vlog content where you might not have the time to watch framing and focus, or another set of hands to manage it. This way the camera system can take care of it for you.
The camera also features a flip screen and support for vertical video. As an increasing number of clients are expecting it, and increasing numbers of creators are doing dynamic vertical work, it's becoming more vital in workflows. While many filmmakers assume "any camera can shoot vertical" with the right mount, having the menu's pivot to be readable in a vertical orientation is a tremendous time-saver on a vertical shoot and goes a long way to making the experience feel organic and coherent. On top of that, the M50 MK II offers a clean HDMI output if you want to record to an external recorder or monitor footage on a larger display.
The camera features the EF-M lens mount and can be easily adapted to accommodate EF-S or EF, which the latter, is arguably the most popular photography lens mount of all time. This opens up a host of lenses both in the new market and a robust used market that would allow a filmmaker to build up a portfolio of glass affordably in a short amount of time. However, since this is a 4K mirrorless camera that costs less than some lens adapters, you'll want to consider the type of lenses you invest in.
Canon EOS M50 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
- 24.1 Megapixel (APS-C) CMOS sensor with ISO 100-25600 (H: 51200)
- DIGIC 8 Image Processor with Auto Lighting Optimizer
- Improved Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Eye Detection AF
- 4K UHD 24p and HD 120p for Slow Motion
- Vari-angle Touchscreen LCD
- Built-in 2.36 Million Dots OLED EVF with Touch and Drag AF
- Price: $599
If you're just getting started with photography or video journey, the M50 MK II is worth a look. It's priced at $599 and is available for preorder now.
