For years, Canon’s RF mount camera lineup ballooned to 20 models since its 2018 debut. Yet, something was missing: a dedicated vlogging champion. Enter the R50 V, Canon’s $700 answer to the call. This budget-friendly creator’s tool is squarely aimed at dethroning Sony’s ZV-E10 II, promising to fill that vlogging void with Canon’s signature flair.
The R50 V isn’t just another camera; it’s the R50’s vlogging-centric twin, packing a 24MP APS-C sensor with a serious content creation punch. We’re talking silky smooth 4K at 60fps, the dynamic latitude of C-Log3, and a one-touch livestream button. Plus, that side-mounted tripod socket? Genius for nailing those perfect vertical shots. Think of it as a budget-friendly ZV-E10 II slayer, even undercutting the OG ZV-E10. But hold up – after putting it through its paces, I discovered it stumbles in areas where Sony shines, leaving beginner vloggers wanting more.
Canon/Engadget
Canon EOS R50 V
Canon’s EOS R50: A Vlogging Contender But Is It a Champion?
The EOS R50 delivers stellar video quality for budget-conscious vloggers, but a shadow looms. Key features, readily available in competing cameras, are noticeably absent, leaving you to wonder: is Canon cutting corners where it counts? This camera offers a taste of vlogging excellence, but be prepared to potentially supplement its shortcomings to truly shine.
Pros
- Good photo and video quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Cooling fan allows extended shooting
- Decently fast photo shooting
Cons
- Rolling shutter distortion
- No in-body stabilization
- Lacks rival’s vlogging friendly features
- Mediocre battery life
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Design and handling
The R50 V isn’t just slimmed down; it’s been reborn as a vlogging essential. Forget heavy metal – this camera embraces a lightweight polycarbonate shell, making it feather-light at a mere 323 grams. Trade-offs? Sure, it sacrifices some ruggedness and weather resistance, but the real story is its portability. One minor catch: The grip is more petite than the R50, so pairing it with hefty lenses might feel a tad unbalanced.
The R50 stumbles out of the gate, handicapped by a missing electronic viewfinder a shared oversight with the ZV-E10 II. Battling bright sunlight becomes a frustrating guessing game. Compounding this issue, the rear display is a low-resolution disappointment, struggling to remain visible. Thankfully, it salvages some points with its fully articulating design, flipping effortlessly for vloggers who demand creative angles.
Ditching the dials? Not entirely. The R50 V favors its responsive touchscreen, streamlining manual controls compared to other Canon mirrorless cameras. While top, rear, and back dials remain for essential adjustments like aperture and shutter speed, prepare for a thumb workout. Controlling both with a single digit can feel a tad cramped, a quirk that might test your dexterity.
Unleash cinematic control! The front rocker isn’t just a button; it’s your personal zoom slider for compatible Canon lenses like the revolutionary 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ – a lens born alongside this camera. Creators, rejoice! Dedicated livestream and color buttons put instant, professional polish at your fingertips. And the mode dial? Six video settings ready to transform your vision into reality.
Canon’s EOS R50 V has decent handling designed for creators but it lacks manual controls for photography
(Steve Dent for Engadget)
Canon’s menu system? Familiar territory. Color-coded tabs neatly organize everything from video options to autofocus tweaks. But the real magic for vloggers? The Quick (Q) Menu. A tap of the touchscreen summons instant control. Better yet, tailor it. Reprogram those functions to fit your workflow, your style, your vlog.
The R50 V boasts a vlogger-friendly array of ports: microphone and headphone jacks, microHDMI, and USB-C. Power comes from Canon’s compact EP-17 battery, good for an hour of video or 300 stills – a noticeable step down from the ZV-E10 II’s stamina (113 minutes & 600 shots). A single, high-speed UHS-II SD card slot is available. But the real solo-shooter perk? A side-mounted tripod socket, flipping effortlessly into vertical video mode for seamless social content.
Video
Unleash your inner filmmaker: the R50 shines as a video powerhouse, outperforming its predecessor. Capture stunning, supersampled 4K footage at 30fps, or crank it up to a silky-smooth 60fps with vibrant 10-bit color and C-Log3. But beware, chasing that high frame rate comes at a cost: a noticeable 1.56x crop that can impact image quality and bokeh. In contrast, Sony’s ZV-E10 II offers a wider view at 4K 60fps with only a minor 1.1x crop, giving you more creative freedom. Choose wisely – resolution or field of view? The choice is yours.
The Z50 V skips in-body stabilization, placing its bets on optical and electronic solutions a common compromise at this price. Like the ZV-E10 II, it asks lenses to do the heavy lifting or leans on its digital crutch. The electronic stabilization capably smooths handheld jitters and even tames the sway of walking, provided you glide, not stomp. Push it too hard, though, and sharpness suffers. For a tripod-like stillness, the “Enhanced” electronic mode crops in, digitally locking down your shot.
The R50 V offers good image quality and key creator features like a fully articulating screen.
(Steve Dent for Engadget)
Compared to the ZV-E10 II, two key features vanish: background blur and the convenient product showcase button. A real shame, because creators lean on these shortcuts to instantly spotlight products or soften distracting backgrounds. Without them, prepare to dive deep into manual settings.
This camera’s Achilles’ heel? Noticeable rolling shutter distortion. Its 30ms scan rate means quick camera movements transform into a wobbly “jello effect,” a stark contrast to the smoother 16ms of the ZV-E10 II. On the bright side, video autofocus is a star player. It’s lightning-fast and dependable, even with fidgety subjects. The AI-powered face and eye detection is like a heat-seeking missile, locking on with unwavering accuracy. Plus, it’s not just people – it flawlessly tracks animals and vehicles too.
Forget tedious menu diving! Canon’s R50 V just stole a trick from Panasonic and Fujifilm, throwing a dedicated color button into the mix. Think instant access to pro looks: standard BT.709, cinematic C-Log, HDR-ready HLG and PQ. But the real magic? Dive into film-inspired profiles – “Portrait” softens edges, “Fine Detail” sharpens focus, “Faithful” keeps it real, and “Monochrome” goes grayscale. Feeling adventurous? A “color filter” mode lets you tint your footage with dreamy teal or peachy hues… though proceed with caution, thingscouldget a little wild.
Forget overheating woes! The R50 V laughs in the face of thermal throttling thanks to its internal cooling fan. I pushed this tiny titan to its limit, recording a full hour of standard 4K at 30fps – not a flicker of overheating. And for the truly adventurous? Crank it up to 4K 60p; its clever sensor cropping keeps the heat down, letting you capture silky smooth footage without melting your camera.
Canon EOS R50 V review
Canon R50 V review: An affordable vlogging camera that doesn’t measure up to its rivals
The camera’s video sings in glorious 4K at 30fps. Think razor-sharp detail and colors that pop – a visual feast! Canon’s signature warm tones flatter every complexion. For filmmakers, the 10-bit C-Log3 is a gift, preserving shadow and highlight nuances for incredible dynamic range that punches way above this camera’s weight class. But hold on, 4K 60p takes a noticeable dip in sharpness, and the 1080p slo-mo, while cool, is disappointingly soft. When the light fades, expect the usual APS-C story: grain starts creeping in around ISO 3,200 or 6,400. Push it further, and noise becomes a real party crasher.
Photography
Photography might not be the R50 V’s primary purpose, but don’t dismiss its capabilities. This little camera packs a surprising punch, rattling off shots at a blistering 15 frames per second with the electronic shutter, or a solid 12 fps with the mechanical. The catch? Its small buffer, holding only 36 RAW images, means that rapid fire pace is short-lived.
Autofocus shines, effortlessly locking onto subjects and delivering tack-sharp images. The AI-powered face and eye detection, equally adept with people, pets, and vehicles, works like a charm in both photo and video modes. While rolling shutter can be a factor, the R50 V’s mechanical first-curtain shutter lets you sidestep the electronic mode for most stills, reserving it for stealth-mode shooting. The tradeoff? No in-body image stabilization. Steady hands are key for low-light sharpness, or consider optically stabilized lenses to conquer those shaky moments.
Image quality mirrors the R50, thanks to their shared sensor. Expect Canon’s signature warm-toned skin, rendering pleasingly accurate colors in standard shooting scenarios. JPEGs present a sweet spot – sharp without excessive noise. RAW files offer editing flexibility, inviting post-processing tweaks. Low-light performance is adequate; push beyond ISO 6400 only as a last resort.
Wrap-up
With a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor, the R50 V squares off against Sony’s ZV-E10 II
(Steve Dent for Engadget)
Canon’s R50 V: A promising start for vloggers, nailing video and ease-of-use. But hold on – Sony’s ZV-E10 II steals the show. Think richer video, sharper photos, lightning-fast focus, silky-smooth stabilization. Plus, ZV-E10 II packs tricks the R50 V misses, like that oh-so-handy product showcase. Is the R50 V good? Yes. Is the ZV-E10 II better? Almost everywhere you look.
The Canon R50 V hits the sweet spot for budget-conscious vloggers at $700 (body only), undercutting the ZV-E10 II’s $1,100 price tag. Trading up from your smartphone? This is a game-changer. But if you can stretch your budget, the ZV-E10 II remains the king, offering a noticeable leap in performance for the extra $400.
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