Years after the success of the primary Sony ZV cameras, producers hold introducing “vlogging cameras” to the market regardless of the discharge of the near-perfect vlogging platform, the DJI Pocket 3. Nonetheless, I do really feel that there’s some want for extra of a “Creator Digicam” that can be utilized for net calls, podcasts, and product movies.
The $649 Canon R50 V is the newest digital camera to enter this house, and Chris Niccolls and I had been in a position to put it by way of its paces.
To know the R50 V, it’s worthwhile to first know a couple of issues about its sister mannequin, the R50. It’s an entry-level mirrorless digital camera styled like a small DSLR. It encompasses a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor that was supposed primarily for newbie photographers but it surely had some first rate video capabilities as properly. The R50 V carries the primary elements over, besides the EVF, it has a shallower grip, and it additionally receives a small downgrade in decision to the absolutely articulating LCD. Surprisingly, the R50 V solely shaves off 5 grams of heft for these compromises, weighing in at 323 grams (or 0.7 kilos). The only SD card slot and LP-E17 stay from the R50 as properly.
Canon EOS R50 V Evaluate: How It Handles
As Chris proved in his testing, the R50 V can be utilized for fundamental photographic pursuits. Regardless of the video focus, and in contrast to the aggressive Sony ZV-E10 II, the R50 V encompasses a mechanical shutter. Nonetheless, just like the R50, it’s digital first curtain solely. This permits images to be taken with out the rolling shutter artifacts prevalent in digital shutter-only cameras. The 24-megapixel images have Canon’s common punch and distinction and I used to be in a position to produce fairly a pleasant time-lapse taking pictures a sequence of JPEGs.
So issues are a bit stripped down for images, what do video lovers achieve? The addition of a second report button, a tally lamp to point when the digital camera is rolling and a devoted “Coloration” button for fast entry to numerous video gammas present the R50 V’s shifting image aspirations. I additionally love the inclusion of a second 1/4-inch thread on the facet of the digital camera, permitting for vertical taking pictures even when your tripod doesn’t have the flexibility to flip the digital camera 90 levels.
The zoom rocker on the highest report button makes it apparent that this digital camera is designed to be paired with the opposite half of the equation, Canon’s new 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ lens, which is out there as a equipment with the R50 V. This permits clean zooming whereas recording in a really small bundle, though the dim aperture means shallow depth of area and low mild filming might be fairly tough.
One large enchancment that will appear small regards the horizon degree. For over a decade, every time recording begins on a Canon mirrorless digital camera, the horizon degree disappears. That is maddening as the extent is most helpful to verify that the horizon continues to be in the appropriate place whereas the clip is recording. Fortunately this has lastly been addressed within the R50 V, and the horizon stays seen whereas rolling. Sadly, I can’t say the identical for the histogram which continues to senselessly vanish when the report button is hit. Small steps ahead.
By way of report modes, the R50 V is able to taking pictures 4K as much as 30p utilizing the complete width of its sensor, producing pretty over-sampled footage. Not like the R50, the R50 V can also be able to recording 4K at 60p, although this requires a considerable crop. 1080 Full HD will be recorded as much as 120p, although it needs to be talked about that that is fairly mushy even for 1080p requirements. Footage will be output utilizing Canon’s ready-to-deliver “Canon 709” profile, or C-Log 3 is out there for many who favor the flexibility to closely grade the footage afterward. HLG and PQ recording can also be included for many who need able to share footage for HDR shows.
Canon EOS R50 V Evaluate: How Does it Carry out?
The sensor and picture high quality of the R50 V is a recognized commodity, so I used to be most all in favour of testing autofocus, stabilization, and overheating. Beginning with autofocus, the digital camera does a wonderful job of conserving a topic centered in easy scenes. But, even when Chris had a number of folks behind him, the R50 V by no means dramatically shifted its focus to the background. Nonetheless, this digital camera continues to be vulnerable to a problem that has plagued all current Canon mirrorless cameras: every time one other face crosses in entrance of my chosen topic, the main target will constantly drift no matter my autofocus settings.
Stabilization was all the time going to be a priority with the R50 V because it lacks IBIS, or in-body picture stabilization. The lens does have OIS (optical picture stabilization) which definitely helps, however when shifting the digital camera you’ll usually want so as to add some digital stabilization to maintain the body from showing too bouncy. The default “Customary” DIS works properly, conserving the body extra regular whereas avoiding too many digital artifacts. The “Enhanced” mode provides very strong framing, however when taking pictures at slower shutter speeds you will note a number of well-stabilized however extraordinarily blurry frames. Growing the shutter pace along with “Enhanced” stabilization retains issues regular, however will affect the movement cadence in your clips.
![Settings menu showing "Auto pwr off temp." Options are "Standard" (highlighted) and "High." A warning reads: "Recording time may be extended. Please be careful when touching the camera and the card as they may get hotter than [Standard].](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2025/04/Canon-R50V-Heat-800x450.jpg)
Relating to overheating, the R50 V genuinely impressed me. For the longest recording you’ll want to set the thermal restrict to “Excessive” which permits the digital camera to get heat to the contact. When recording 4K at 24p to the cardboard with out exterior energy at room temperature, I captured one hour and 13 minutes earlier than the battery died, and the overheating warning had not even appeared on the display. Additionally, when recording our podcast on the NAB present in Vegas, we had been in a position to report an hour and 20 minutes whereas plugged into energy, once more with out the temperature warning showing. This is a superb efficiency for such an reasonably priced digital camera, and I’d completely be comfy utilizing it for lengthy recordings in average temperatures.
Canon’s Cheap Various in a Aggressive Area
In case you are invested within the EOS R lineup and want a small reasonably priced second digital camera, the lengthy report occasions and Canon video profiles make the R50 V a great buy. Nonetheless, in case you’re not invested in Canon’s mirrorless choices already, there are extra spectacular gives to be discovered elsewhere.
Canon EOS R50 V Evaluate: How Does It Examine?
In case you are searching for a “vlogging digital camera” the preferred choice is the $629 DJI Pocket 3 — and for good motive. The Pocket 3 gives state-of-the-art stabilization, intelligent controls, and spectacular picture high quality. Whereas the bigger sensor of the Canon R50 V makes it able to higher total picture high quality, the dearth of stabilization means it’s not a great vlogging digital camera till it’s placed on a gimbal. At which level, you’ll want you had the smaller Pocket 3.
I discussed earlier that the R50 V might work properly as a ‘Creator Digicam’ for net calls, podcasting, and product photographs. Its major competitors there’s the Sony $999 ZV-E10 II. These are very comparable merchandise with APS-C sensors, no IBIS, and a video-centric interface. The Canon is rather more reasonably priced and takes higher images as a result of bodily shutter. Nonetheless, the Sony gives a way more usable 4K/60P mode, much less rolling shutter, and a vastly bigger lens lineup. For those who can swing the premium, the Sony might be the higher purchase.
The ultimate comparability I’d prefer to make is with Canon’s personal $899 Powershot V1. This small digital camera has a set lens that’s each wider and quicker than the 14-30mm kitted with the R50 V. In case you have no real interest in further lenses, the V1 makes extra sense, and also you’ll get a smaller digital camera with a cute windscreen. Nonetheless, if you wish to take a look at further optics, particularly now that we’re seeing third-party lens help for RF-S, the R50 V gives you extra potential.
Ought to You Purchase It?
Possibly. Issues may look robust for the R50 V in these final comparisons however I see an actual use case for it.
