Canon’s EOS M50 introduces DIGIC 8 processor

Angled front view of the EOS M50 with the EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM   lens. (Source: Canon.)

Designed primarily for travellers, the new EOS M50 camera sits alongside the EOS M5 and features the same 24.1-megapixel sensor but comes with a new DIGIC 8 processor chip that enables it to support 4K movie recording at 25 frames/second (fps) using a combination of frame cropping and pixel binning. 4K movie recording requires the camera to be in movie mode, which is set via the mode dial on the top panel. The new processor powers related 4K functions, including 4K time-lapse and 4K frame grabs from 4K movies   The M50 also supports movie recording with Full HD 1080p recording at up to 60 fps and HD 720p at 60p or 120p. Dual Sensing  IS combines information provided by the CMOS sensor with data from Canon’s stabilised lenses. In movie mode, Digital IS provides 5-axis correction, while stabilisation enhancement is available from lenses compatible with Dynamic IS. No data was provided on the degree of shake correction available.

 

Back and top views of the new EOS M50 camera. (Source: Canon.)

The sensor chip includes Dual Pixel AF technology for fast autofocusing when shooting stills, although regular contrast AF is used when Movie Servo AF is selected. The AF system has a maximum of 143 points, with at least 99 points selectable, depending on the lens. In Zone AF mode, up to 25 frames are available for selection. The AF system also includes face and subject tracking via automatic recognition or manual selection with the touchscreen monitor. Eye AF is available in One Shot AF mode.

The EOS 50D has an OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2,360,000 dots plus a vari-angle monitor screen that supports touch-and-drag AF point selection while the photographer is composing the shot with the EVF. The native sensitivity range of the new camera extends from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with expansion to ISO 51200 available. Continuous shooting is supported at up to 10 fps with focus and exposure locked on the first frame or seven fps with autofocusing.

Canon has also revised its raw file format and introduces the new CR3.RAW setting in the EOS M50, along with a C-RAW compressed mode that replaces the S-RAW mode and supports in-camera raw file conversion. RAW+JPEG recording   is also available. New software will be released for converting the latest raw files.

Integrated Wi-Fi, NFC and low-power Bluetooth communications facilities make it easy to transfer files between the camera and a connected smartphone. A new Canon app enables auto-saving of images captured by the camera to the photographer’s smartphone while new Image Transfer Utility 2 software makes the M50 the first Canon camera to support automatic transfer of image files from the camera to a computer via a Wi-Fi network. The M50 is also Canon’s first mirrorless camera to be compatible with the EOS Utility software, which supports tethered shooting.

The EOS M50 is powered by the same LP-E12 battery as is used in the EOS M100, but not the EOS M5. Canon rates it for approximately 235 shots/charge or 370 shots/charge when the camera is in Eco mode. Movie recording can be supported for approximately 85 minutes.

As in Canon’s entry-level cameras, the battery and memory card share a single compartment accessed via a hatch in the base plate. The single card slot accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC cards, but is only compliant with the UHS-I standard.

The camera is compatible with Canon’s compact EF-M lenses but EF and EF-S lenses can be fitted via the Mount Adapter EF-EOS M.  The camera’s hot shoe accepts Canon’s Speedlite flashes as well as dedicated microphones, such as Canon’s Directional Stereo Microphone DM-E1.

The body of the EOS M50 is made from black polycarbonate plastic. Interface ports include Micro USB (v.2.0), HDMI (Micro Type D connector) with HDR output, wireless LAN (IEEE802.11b/g/n) with   Dynamic NFC support and Bluetooth v. 4.1.  It measures 116.3 x 88.1 x 58.7 mm and weighs 387 grams with battery and memory card installed. It is scheduled for release in late March with pricing in the vicinity of AU$1100-$1150. For more information, visit www.canon.com.au.

SPECS
Image sensor: 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor with approx. 25.8 million photosites (24.1 megapixels effective); built-in low-pass filter
Image processor:  DIGIC 8
A/D processing:  14-bit
Lens mount: EF-M (EF and EF-S lenses compatible via Mount adapter EF-EOS M)
Focal length crop factor: 1.6x
Image formats: Stills: JPEG (Exif 2.3 compliant), CR3.RAW, RAW+JPEG; Movies: MP4 [Video: MPEG-4AVC/H.264, Audio: MPEG-4 AAC-LC (stereo)]
Image Sizes: Stills ““ 3:2 aspect: 6000 x 4000, 3984 x 2656,  2976 x 1984, 2400 x 1600; 4:3 aspect:  5328 x 4000, 3552 x 2664, 2656 x 1992, 2112 x 1600; 16:9 aspect:  6000 x 3368,  3984 x 2240, 2976 x 1680, 2400 x 1344; 1:1 aspect: 4000 x 4000,  2656 x 2656, 1984 x 1984,    1600 x 1600; Movies: 4K – 3840 x 2160 (23.98, 25 fps), Full HD – 1920 x 1080 (59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, 23.976 fps),  HD – 1280 x 720 (119.9, 100, 59.94, 50 fps)
Image Stabilisation: Optical Image Stabilisation  in compatible lenses;  In-camera Digital IS is available for movies with further stabilisation enhancements from lenses compatible with Dynamic IS
Dust removal: EOS integrated cleaning system
Shutter (speed range): Electronically controlled focal-place shutter (30 – 1/4000 sec. in 1/3 stop increments plus Bulb)
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3EV in 1/3EV steps
Exposure bracketing: 3 shots, +/- 2EV in 1/3-stop increments
Self-timer: 2 or 10 seconds delay
Intervalometer: Time-lapse movie
Focus system: Dual Pixel CMOS AF with Hybrid CMOS AF III covering an area of the frame that is roughly 80% vertically by 70% horizontally
AF System/ Points:143/99 points depending on lens; max. 25 frames in ZoneAF
Focus modes: One-Shot AF and Servo AF;  Face + Tracking AF available; Eye AF available in One Shot AF; manual point/zone selection via touchscreen/buttons
Exposure metering:   Real-time metering from the image sensor with Evaluative (384 zones), Partial at centre (approx. 6.4% of Live View Screen), Centre-weighted average and Spot (approx. 2.8% of Live View Screen) metering patterns
Shooting modes: Scene Intelligent Auto, Hybrid Auto, Creative Assist, SCN, Program AE , Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual exposure, Movie
Scene presets: Self-Portrait, Portrait, Smooth Skin, Landscape, Sports, Close-up, Food, Panning, Handheld Night Scene, HDR Backlight Control, Silent Mode
Creative Assist presets: Background Blur (5 settings), Brightness (19 levels), Contrast (9 levels), Saturation (9 levels), Colour Tone 1 & 2 (19 levels), Monochrome (Off/Black and white/Sepia/Blue/Purple/Green)
Picture Styles: Auto, Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Fine Detail, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined (x3)
Creative Filter modes: Grainy B/W, Soft Focus, Fish-eye Effect, Water painting effect, Toy camera effect, Miniature effect, HDR, Art standard/vivid/ bold/embossed
Colour space options: Adobe RGB, sRGB
ISO range: Auto (ISO 100-6400),  100 – 25600 in 1/3 stop increments with expansion to ISO 51200;  ISO 100 – 6400 with expansion to ISO 25600   for movies
White balance: Auto (Ambience Priority/White Priority), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten light, White Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom, Colour Temperature (100 Kelvin increments); +/-9 levels of compensation in Blue/Amber or Magenta/Green axis
Custom Functions: 9 customisable buttons
Flash: Built-in GN5 (ISO 100/m); maximum coverage at approx. 15mm
Flash modes: Auto (E-TTL II); red-eye reduction is available
Flash exposure adjustment: +/- 2 EV in 1/3EV increments
Sequence shooting: Max.  10 frames/sec.  
Buffer capacity: 33 JPEGs or 10 CR3.RAW frames
Storage Media: SD, SDHC, SDXC cards (UHS-I  compatible )
Viewfinder: 0.39-type OLED Electronic Viewfinder with Approx. 2,360,000 dots, 100% coverage, 22mm eyepoint, dioptre correction
LCD monitor: Vari-Angle 3-inch electrostatic capacitive touchscreen LCD (TFT) with 3:2 aspect ratio, approx. 1,040,000 dots; 100% coverage, brightness adjustable
Playback functions: Single image with/without information (toggle options), Playback zoom (15 steps plus smooth pinch-to-zoom), Index display (4/9/36/100 images), Jump Display (1/10/custom number image, by shot date, by rating, by folder, by movies only, protected only), slideshow with transition effects. erase (single/selected), protect
Interface terminals: Hi-Speed USB (Micro USB), HDMI (Micro – Type-D connector), HDR output to compatible TV supported
Wi-Fi function: Wireless LAN (IEEE802.11b/g/n), 2.4 GHz only, 1-11 ch, with Dynamic NFC support
Power supply: LP-E12 rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack; CIPA rated for approx. 235 shots/charge (370 shots/charge in Eco mode)
Dimensions (wxhxd): 116.3 x 88.1 x 58.7 mm
Weight: Approx. 387 grams (with battery and memory card)