Canon EOS R50 V Review

Design and Handling

• Blocky, brick-like design that can fit in a jacket pocket
• Familiar top plate shooting mode dial
• Adjustable backplate LCD screen in lieu of viewfinder

The design of the Canon EOS R50 V feels more about function than form. There are no fun retro flourishes or any attempt to ape an SLR camera shape. Instead, the body appears to have taken inspiration from Sony in being distinctly brick-like, with the handgrip adding a gentle curve to what would otherwise be a rather uninspired oblong. 

In terms of weight and handling, the balance of camera body and compact RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.3 IS STM PZ lens I was provided just about works; but I’d have preferred a larger handgrip for a more reassuring hold. Similarly, the thumb rest at the rear is barely there; a quick pan with this camera and I can imagine it flying from my hand if I’m not too careful. Still, without a lens attached, the 119.3 x 73.7 x 45.2mm camera will slip into a regular jacket pocket, which will be convenient for content creators on the move.

Overall, the handling feels very much geared towards that contemporary audience. Not least because there is not only a shutter release/record button on the top plate where you’d normally expect to find one, there’s also a second alternative button provided on the front of the camera just beneath the lens.

The latter comes in useful for anyone holding a camera at arm’s length and taking a selfie or recording themselves and their surroundings. Such compositions are further aided by the 3-inch, widescreen ratio rear plate LCD screen, which can be swung out from the body and tilted in a camcorder-like fashion to face the photographer/filmmaker. 

While appreciating that this is a video-first model for Canon, what I do miss here is the traditional eye level viewfinder. In bright conditions, it can come in handy as an alternative means of framing – if you’re not alternatively stood in front of the lens attempting a selfie, of course.

As usual for the brand, the EOS R50 V feels reasonably solid in the hand despite its compact camera-like 370g body-only weight, and like it could withstand the odd accidental knock in the heat of the action. While its plastic and rubber construction is disguised by a matte black finish, the build doesn’t feel too obviously comprised to meet a certain price point. In fact, with a lens attached it feels far sturdier than its official weight might indicate.

While it would be unfair to judge this one as a professional’s tool, the camera is as responsive as I’d hope a mirrorless camera in its consumer-level class would be, powering up from cold in just under two seconds, its rare panel LCD blinking into life to indicate it’s ready to go. A half press of the shutter release button and the unit’s also quick to acquire a target, although handily you can tap the screen to re-direct the focus point if it hasn’t quite landed on your intended subject or portion of the frame. This operation will feel intuitive for anyone trading up to the EOS R50 V from a smartphone, even if its handling will require an initial period of familiarization.

The feature set here also leaves room to grow and experiment as confidence increases. You can set the camera to ‘auto everything’ to start with and begin to drill down into manual controls in time.

Features

• APS-C sized CMOS image sensor
• In-body digital image stabilisation for vlogging on the go
• 651 available AF areas, with AF tracking for common subjects including humans, animals and vehicles

As this is an entry level filmmaking/photographic tool, Canon has brought features including its built-in Picture effects and creative filters to the fore – functionality that will be appreciated by anyone trading up from a smartphone, who will be immediately familiar with such tools being available at a button, or indeed screen, press. 

Three quarters of the back of the device are taken up by its widescreen ratio LCD monitor, which is also a touch screen. If pressing the menu button, you can tap directly on the options presented to select them. Alternatively, you can spin the command dial on the top right of the top plate to quickly scroll through settings to find what you want and press the ‘set’ button to affect any change; whichever feels more convenient or intuitive to you. Because of the size of said screen relative to the rest of the body, what few physical controls there are on the camera back are ranged to the right or, like the playback and menu buttons, squeezed in just above it, where they should naturally fall within your sightline. 

Features and functionality here fall somewhere between a typical mirrorless camera, a point-and-shoot compact and a camcorder of yore. Looking down on the top plate of the Canon EOS R50 V, I found the control layout both relatively sparse yet ergonomic with the main shutter release button here handily encircled by a lever for operating the zoom, just like you’d get on a fixed lens digital compact. 

While this lever operates the 14-30mm PZ ‘Power Zoom’ lens we had fitted, you can also use the zoom ring on the lens itself, or indeed the focus ring, as you would on any interchangeable lens camera. What’s less familiar is direct access to live streaming options via a press of the camera’s aptly marked ‘Live’ button, situated just to the left of the shutter release and above the shooting mode dial. 

The latter dial features not just a setting for stills but a dizzying seven video modes, including several customizable settings. Those new to video can, of course, just select the automatic video mode to start with, and get perfectly decent results with it, moving incrementally through settings in time as confidence and knowledge increases.

Further video settings here include a Scene mode, a Smooth Skin mode for social media junkies wanting to look their best, plus a ‘S&F’ Slow and Fast mode allowing governance over both capture and playback speeds; either speeding up or slowing down action, for example. Finally on the top plate, there’s a DSLR-like command dial. This falls readily under the thumb, as does the power lever located below it, moved from off to on with a quick flick while your forefinger hovers over the raised shutter release.

A familiar accessory shoe also sits midway above the lens mount, while covered ports at the camera’s side allow for the attachment of an accessory microphone and headphones, plus mini-HDMI and USB cable. There’s no built-in flash here, so if you want artificial illumination you’ll need to invest in one of Canon’s EX/EL series Speedlite flashes, or indeed an LED light. The opposite camera flank provides the camera’s grip as well as the second screw thread for tripod attachment, should the user wish to turn the camera on its side and shoot portrait/TikTok/Instagram Stories fashion, as opposed to regular landscape. 

The R50 V’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery sits in the base of the handgrip, next to which is provided a single SD card slot for removable media. Unusually, a separate mains charger was provided with my early review sample. With most cameras in this price bracket, what you get nowadays is a simple USB cable to charge the battery in-camera and that’s it. At normal room temperature the provided battery should last for up to 480 shots, which isn’t bad at all.

This model’s drive modes, located on screen, offer a choice between standard single shot or continuous shooting options. The latter enables bursts of 12fps if utilising the camera’s mechanical shutter for up to 42 JPEGs or 7 Raw images. The alternative is 15fps if switching to electronic shutter for up to 28 JPEGs, or again 7 Raw files. 

Image Quality

• 24.2 effective megapixel 22.3 x 14.9mm APS-C CMOS sensor with a default 3:2 image aspect ratio
• Stabilised images if pairing the camera body with the ‘IS’ equipped RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.3 IS STM PZ lens
• Ability to shoot in Canon Log 3, enabling fine tuning of colours in post-production if desired, or go for widely compatible MPEG4 for starters

As with its other consumer targeted entry level cameras, the Canon EOS R50 V has an APS-C CMOS sensor at its heart, as opposed to the larger full frame sensor of more expensive semi-pro/pro targeted models.

This provides imagery comprising a maximum 24.2 million effective pixels, from a total of 25.5 million, data crunching coming courtesy of a latest generation Digic X image processor.

Without image stabilisation built into the camera body in the form of a gyro sensor, anti-shake is via an IS equipped lens. That said Canon does provide digital IS for video.

Images and videos are composed and reviewed, in lieu of any optical or electronic viewfinder, via the 3-inch TFT display on the camera back. With a resolution of 1.04 million dots, it’s adequate though obviously falls short of looking lifelike. With higher resolution, smaller viewfinders our brains are often tricked into thinking we’re looking at a real-life scene through an optical viewfinder. We never quite forget we’re merely looking at a screen here.

Still, it’s output that counts here. In terms of photography, while not quite a match for the quality of a full frame sensor, if it’s video with the occasional stills capture you want, then the APS-C chip of the Canon EOS R50 V will more than suffice.

Photos are richly detailed and colours are well saturated without slipping into the unrealistic, which is exactly what I’d expect from JPEGs straight out of the camera. There’s room to experiment too with various picture styles and colours in-camera if you want to cut down on post-processing after the fact. 

The same goes for video, though I did notice even a slight breeze will batter the internal microphone, which seems particularly sensitive.

Usually, that would be a good thing and in its defence there is the ability to add an external microphone, preferably equipped with a ‘dead cat’ to sort out any potential wind noise if shooting outdoors.

Video is almost as crisp and clear as the still images; with the caveat that I found the lens supplied a little sensitive to the touch. What begins as a slow and steady zoom can suddenly ‘jump’ close-in on the action, when I was aiming for a smoother transition. As with everything in life, practice will no doubt make perfect.

Should you buy it?