Canon EOS R50 V review: Compact and made for content creators

India Today

4 days ago

Professionals need those large cameras loaded to gills and costing a cool few lakhs of rupees. Right? Some professionals, yes. But in the last few years, there is a new group of professionals, those whose work is content creation. Whether travel vlogs, streaming while gaming, or just creating memes, content creation has become a full-time job for many. Camera companies have taken a note. And the Canon R50 V is the result. Relatively affordable, every aspect of this camera is tuned for creation work. Yes, it clicks photos too, but all-in-all this is a camera for vloggers.advertisementIn this context, now let's look at what the Canon R50 V really brings to the table. The first thing that jumps out at you with the R50V is how affordable it is. At a price of Rs 79,995, this is arguably the best-priced camera content creators can be. This price also includes the RF-S 14-30mm F4-6.3 IS STM PZ lens. In fact, the whole kit is designed for content creators because the lens uses 'power zoom' that is more useful for content creators who want extra smooth zooming in and zooming out compared to still photographers who are not going to care about this aspect.Now, before we talk of everything else, first the key specs of the Canon R50 V. The Canon EOS R50 V comes packed with a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor and DIGIC X processor. For videos it offers oversampled 4K at 30fps footage with no cropping. This is quite good to see in a camera that is priced relatively so affordably. Although, some content creators may find 30fps limiting. For them there is also the 4K recording available with 60fps, although in this instance the footage is cropped. Then there is FullHD recording with up to 120fps. There's also support for Canon Log 3 (C-Log 3) footage, which would make uniform colour grading easier for content.
The EOS R50 is typically bundled with the RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.3 IS STM PZ lens, which is the company's first RF powered zoom lens.
advertisement
Of course, these are the features that you get in other cameras as well. But where Canon is focussed with the R50 V is in making the camera video-first tool. This happens with the design and controls. Instead of photography focussed buttons, Canon prioritises video controls. Even the command dial on top has video options instead of photo controls, which are offered through a touchscreen menu. In addition, the R50 V houses a dedicated button for one-touch live streaming, multi-angle broadcasting with other devices, and handy features like a 3-mic noise reduction system and 24-bit 4-channel audio input.You can mount the camera in both landscape and portrait orientations, which makes it easier to use for live streaming on platforms like YouTube and Instagram.Now, what about photographers? The R50 V can click photos too. It has a fairly decent speed of 12fps and respectable low shutter speed of 1/8000 in electronic shutter mode. It also offers quite generous maximum ISO of 51200, making it easier to click photos in low light.Compact, with some compromisesAs I mentioned earlier, the Canon EOS R50 V is made specifically for creators – though anyone can use it. But it's really aimed at this new segment of users, and as a result Canon has tried to keep the functioning of this camera simpler.advertisementFor example, unlike regular mirrorless cameras, the control panel has fewer buttons and is more focused on video modes. You'll see buttons like Auto Video, Live Video, Camera 1, C2, C3, and so on. Then there are also two capture buttons – one in the traditional top-right position, and another on the front left at the bottom, which is easier to reach when you have mounted the camera on a tripod vertically.
Canon EOS R50 V features a simplified control panel compared to the standard EOS R50, which focuses more on video-centric functionality.
One good aspect of simplifying and reducing buttons is that the camera is going to feel easier for those who have not grown up with a DSLR. At least that is what I felt while using the R50V. In other words, even if you're a fairly new content creator, you'll likely get the hang of this camera quite quickly.advertisementNow, as compact and nice as the camera is, because of its size — and because it is aimed at content creators who tend to use the rear screen — the R50V doesn't have a viewfinder. This will be missed by photographers and more so because I feel that the rear screen, which uses a TFT panel, could have been brighter. While shooting photos outdoors I particularly felt that the screen was not as bright or vibrant as I would have liked it.Build-wise, the camera is quite lightweight and doesn't strain your hand, even during long shoots. It weighs around 551 grams with the battery, SD card and the kit lens. As a body only it is extremely light at just 370 grams. There's also a rubber thumb rest on the back, just near the AF-ON button, and a grip that too has a layer of nice rubber on it, which makes it easier to hold the camera comfortably in both landscape and portrait orientation.
The EOS R50 V camera kit weighs 551 grams, including the 14-30mm lens.
advertisementFor all your content creating needsWhile the Canon EOS R50 V is marketed as a camera for content creators who focus heavily on video, it actually performs well for both videography and photography. I tried recording a quick vlog, and the video quality was impressive. I also took a few photo walks with the camera, and it captured decent photos, with good — typically Canon — colours.Having said that, this is a video-first camera where its sensor doesn't have to struggle with fine details. The crop sensor means it can't match the quality offered by full-frame cameras, some of which have now started approaching the Rs 1 lakh mark. Now, in videos I did not find any issues. The footage the R50V records is fantastic, particularly in uncropped and oversampled mode for 4K footage. It also has a reliable auto-focus system. Canon is making arguably the best auto-focus for video shooting, particularly with its superb eye-focus. In the R50V it is evident as you shoot videos because as the subject moves — like you will while making a vlog — the camera autofocus tracks and keeps everything sharp.However, when it comes to photography as in still image photography, I feel the sensor shows its limitations. Do keep in mind that my experience is also based on R50V used with a kit lens 14-30 and kit lenses are usually not the best one can get.
EOS R50 features a 3-inch LCD screen
advertisementIrrespective, I found that while R50V clicks photos with good colours, in terms of details — particularly in lower light — it is noticeably worse than some of the recent cameras that I have used in recent months. For instance, in some of the photos zooming in revealed a noticeable lack of detail. At the same time, the smaller image sensor means the R50V didn't particularly suit my style of shooting. Often I tend to shoot wide and then crop later but with this kit I found that I didn't have much room for cropping.Also, as I mentioned earlier, there's no viewfinder – so when shooting outdoors, it was sometimes difficult to judge the lighting and tone accurately using just the kind of TFT screen that the R50V has. This made it a bit tricky to see and capture exactly what I wanted, especially under bright sunlight.Having said that, I still had a lot of fun while using the R50V. I also really liked the features like built-in colour grading presets, an easy setup process, and quick access to functions – all of which make the R50 V very user-friendly.Additionally, the Canon app works well with iPhones and iPad, offering more flexibility for going live and easier setups for content creators and social media users who want quality output without the fuss. As for battery life – it easily lasted me over six hours. I shot more than 350 photos, and still had about 50 per cent battery left, which is quite good.
Canon EOS R50 V with its video-specific lens,costs Rs 79,995 in India.
Have a look at some of the photos captured by the Canon EOS R50 V.Canon EOS R50 V review: Should you buy it?This is a sort of different camera. I will not even call the R50V a hybrid camera. Instead, I will say this is a camera for content-creators. First and foremost. It can click photos, yes. But get it for recording videos and not clicking photos.The great bit is that the Canon EOS R50 V has been priced extremely well. With its video-specific lens, it costs just Rs 79,995. That makes it truly a good option for anyone who is looking to up their social media and YouTube videos but don't want to splurge on a full-frame camera. It is also nice and compact, which too is going to be helpful for content creators, because you can mount it on a hand-held tripod and roam around shooting locations throughout the day without tiring yourself.Finally, the size and the price also works in favour of the R50 V for all those who are looking to get a camera they can carry on their holidays or road trips. Sure, this is not a tool for professional photography. But for capturing family snapshots and footage at birthday parties celebrated with friends, it does the job better than what you will manage with your iPhone or Pixel.