Canon EOS R50 V review

The Canon EOS R50 V is an attempt to capture content creators such as vloggers in addition to Canon's core photographer audience. With the uplift in people making podcasts, vlogs, and personal YouTube channels, it's no surprise.

Unlike expensive, top-end EOS R models, such as the full-frame EOS R1, however, the R50 V incorporates the smaller APS-C-sized sensor typically found in entry-level mirrorless cameras, which is reflected in the lower price. Consumer-friendly features also include a flip-out-and-twist LCD screen that helps with selfies and 4K video self-recording, as well as a faceplate-mounted record button. But is this camera as suited to stargazing as it is to navel-gazing? Read on to find out.

Canon EOS R50 V: Design

★★★

• Top-plate mode dial that combines stills and more comprehensive video settings
• Command dial that's handily encircled by an on/off power lever
• Flip-out tilt-and-swivel LCD

Compared to mirrorless cameras that resemble shrunken DSLRs, or more retro-styled examples like the Fujifilm X100VI or the OM System OM-3, the Canon EOS R50 V's design appears somewhat basic at first glance. It's essentially a box that houses a sensor and a lens mount. True, that pretty much describes any digital camera, but perhaps taking inspiration from its boxy Cinema EOS series, the Canon EOS R50 V impression given here is that it's more about function than form.

Still, a classy, matte-black finish helps disguise a mainly plastic and rubber, lightweight build. With the removable SD card and battery, the Canon EOS R50 V weighs about 13 ounces (370 g) or about as much as a point-and-shoot compact camera. In practice, that makes this camera commendably portable, which is especially important if you'll be carrying a tripod for astrophotography. However, this camera is too thick to fit in a pocket.

The lens can be changed to suit your intended purpose. We had Canon's RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.3 IS STM PZ or 'Power Zoom' to play with, which helps maintain a compact set-up overall, while featuring a motorized zoom mechanism that you can control via a lever encircling the shutter-release button. While it's rare to find such control on a mirrorless camera, the rest of the controls here mostly resemble those on older fixed-lens point-and-shoot cameras.

There are some modern touches, however. There's a rear screen that can be flipped out from the body and rotated to face the subject in front of the lens, or at least tilted to get a better low- or high-angle view.

Directly above the lens is a vacant hot shoe for an accessory flash, as there's no built-in bulb. This nestles next to a familiar shooting mode dial, recessed into the top plate, thereby reducing the chance of accidentally nudging it from one setting to another in the dark or during transportation. Alongside the regular stills and scene options are three custom settings, plus a standard video and 'Slow and Fast' video option, which gives videographers control over the speed of capture and playback.

With the R50 V's DSLR-type command dial, you can quickly scroll through the many on-screen menu options. Each control fell readily under our thumb as our forefinger hovered over the shutter-release button. There's a second record button nestled beneath the lens mount — a handy extra for those directing the lens at themselves.

For those who want a steady and level camera for star gazing, there are two screw threads to enable tripod mounting — one on the same side as the handgrip and one more conventionally located at the camera base. These options respectively allow portrait and landscape shooting.

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Tripod mounting is essential for astrophotography and even wise for general subject shoots. That's because the Canon EOS R50 V's handgrip, although rubberized, is narrower than we'd like. Even with a separate thumb rest on the back, we almost dropped the camera when moving our thumb up a notch to spin the backplate dials. Luckily, there are lugs for attaching an included strap.

The opposite flank of the camera features various essential input/output ports protected by rubber flaps. These allow for an accessory microphone, headphones and cable release; the latter is an option for astrophotographers who would otherwise set the self-timer to prevent camera wobble and blur. However, there is a self-timer.

One advantage of this camera's bare-bones design is that it pushes key features to the forefront. Plus, anyone trading up from a smartphone to a dedicated camera won't be daunted by a bewildering array of options because the design lends itself to intuitive operation.

Canon EOS R50 V: Performance

★★★★

• 24.2-MP effective images via a 22.3 x 14.9-mm APS-C- sized sensor and DIGIC X processor
• Onboard digital image stabilization system that's best supported by an image-stabilized lens
• Tilt-and-swivel LCD screen

The Canon EOS R50 V matches — and, in many cases, beats — the performance of most consumer-level mirrorless cameras. Although the EOS R50 V is aimed at amateurs rather than pros, it is as swift to power up as we'd expect a consumer-level mirrorless camera to be. The backplate LCD blinks into life around two seconds after its on/off switch has been flicked. With a half-press of the shutter-release button, the camera acquires a focal point in a literal blink of an eye.

The touch screen allowed us to tap a point on the screen to redirect the autofocus to our intended portion of the frame. For astrophotography, we found it useful to tab left on the rear-plate control dial to switch from auto to manual focus, to make sure heavenly specks of light were sharply rendered.

The rechargeable battery is good for around 480 shots on a charge, which is enough for multiple long-exposure images in an evening. Interestingly, for a consumer camera, there's no built-in flash bulb, although the provided vacant hot shoe allows you to attach accessories. But for nighttime photography, the lack of a flash is more of a benefit than a problem.

The Canon EOS R50 V offers sufficient manual control over exposure duration, ISO light sensitivity and focus for night-sky photography. The ability to set a self-timer helps to avoid jogging the camera and introducing unwanted blur or star trails.

This Canon also keeps image noise well under control. Utilizing manual focus and the manual shooting mode allowed us to alternate between light sensitivity settings of ISO 1600 and ISO 3200. Coupled with these settings, we found exposure durations from about four to 15 seconds delivered the best results. Alternatively, when we tested the EOS R50 V in natural daylight, the images were rich in color and detail. Minimal adjustments were needed for exposure and contrast.

Canon EOS R50 V: Functionality

★★★★

• A choice of JPEG, Raw and HEIF formats for stills
• Option to add creative effects
• 4K resolution video at up to 60 fps or full HD up to 120 fps

Sensibly matching the dimensions of its LCD screen, the Canon EOS R50 V's default image aspect ratio is 3:2, which delivers full-resolution still photographs. The step-down alternatives are 4:3 (standard digital), 16:9 (widescreen) and 1:1 (square). You can change the look and feel of the images by selecting from the picture style options. These include selections optimized for portraits and landscapes, as well as various color filters. We were aiming for a natural, faithful rendition of subjects, so we tended to opt for the standard picture style option.

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At first, you'll need some time to get familiar with the camera and the menu options. However, the camera's functionality feels relatively fluid after a short time.

We liked that we could just tap an option on the screen to select and implement it, rather than pressing different buttons to figure it out. However, as we found when attempting astrophotography, it's nearly impossible to locate the correct backplate button in the dark. It doesn't help that most of the buttons are tiny and the camera and controls are black. Therefore, it's much easier to compose and review your shots via the on-screen display.

Canon ESO R50 V: User reviews

We were lucky to enjoy an early hands-on experience with the Canon EOS R50 V, meaning there were scant user opinions available when we wrote this review. However, the user reviews that were available say the Canon EOS R50 V resembles a baby Canon Cinema EOS camera that puts potentially powerful features in the hands of aspiring content creators. Others note that the EOS R50 V is a solid choice that leaves room to grow your skill set while offering impressive specifications for the price.

How we tested the Canon EOS R50 V

We tested the Canon EOS R50 V for its suitability to astrophotography, shooting fully wide at f/4 and selecting both the camera's manual mode and manual focus. We alternated between ISO 1600 and ISO 3200 and tried exposures from 10 to 15 seconds down to just four or five seconds. We found that these settings delivered the best results.

We also mounted the camera on a full-size angle-adjustable tripod and selected the self-timer mode to minimize instances of camera shake that could contribute to blurred images or jumping streaks of light. A two- second self-timer proved perfectly sufficient.

We also tested the camera in the daytime, mostly leaving the camera's picture style settings on the standard option because we wanted a natural look that we could readily compare to our experience with other models. The images proved well saturated and rich in color, without appearing unrealistic.

We also shot video at both 4K resolution and full HD, and both produced detailed results. The only audible issue when we recorded outdoors was wind noise. However, an accessory microphone equipped with a 'dead cat' windshield can improve the audio, so this isn't a deal-breaker.

Should you buy the Canon EOS R50 V

The Canon EOS R50 V is a portable and relatively affordable camera for astrophotography, but thanks to its video capabilities, it is targeted primarily at influencers and vloggers who are looking for a straightforward tool for self-recording. Though it does present a portable and relatively affordable tool for those seeking to attempt astrophotography, if we were to entirely ignore its video capabilities, that would feel like a bit of a waste.

There are more comprehensive manually featured mirrorless cameras for those who want to capture night-sky views. They include the OM System OM-3, which even directs you to optimal settings via a dedicated starry-sky menu setup.

If this camera isn't for you

If you're looking for astrophotography-specific features, including starry-sky autofocus, consider the OM System OM-3, which offers a classic camera design and the ability to make manual adjustments on the fly when you're stargazing. If you're seeking a hybrid camera for both video and stills and want a few more features, check out the Panasonic Lumix S1R II.

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