Canon EOS M M50 Black 2018

The Canon M50 is a fantastic beginner mirrorless camera with top-tier image quality in a tiny, lightweight body. The autofocus is great for photos, but the heavily cropped 4K video is a letdown. If you can snag a kit for under $500, it's an absolute steal for learning photography.

That 24.1MP APS-C sensor is a standout, landing in the top tier of our database for image quality. Photos come out crisp with solid color straight out of the camera. The Dual Pixel AF is quick and accurate for stills, and the 10fps burst is well above average for catching action. Video is where things get a little messy. You get 4K, but it comes with a heavy crop that makes wide shots a pain, and the Dual Pixel AF doesn't work in 4K, which is a real bummer. Stick to 1080p and you'll be much happier. The 5-axis digital stabilization helps smooth out handheld footage, but it's not a miracle worker.

Stacked against newer rivals like the Fujifilm X-S20, the M50 shows its age in video features and build. The Fuji has better 4K, superior battery life, and a more robust feel. The Panasonic S5 IIX is in a different league for video but costs way more. Where the Canon wins is pure simplicity and price. It's less intimidating than a Nikon Z6 and more affordable than an OM System OM-1. If your main goal is learning photography without a steep learning curve, the M50 is still a charming choice, but video-focused shooters should look at the Fuji or Panasonic.

Pricing for this thing is all over the map, from $430 for a renewed body to some wildly overpriced bundles hitting $3400. The sweet spot is definitely on the lower end. At around four to five hundred bucks for a kit, it's a steal. You're getting a sensor and autofocus system that punches way above its weight. Just don't get suckered into a bundle that costs more than a current-gen full-frame camera. The best deals we're seeing are on Amazon for renewed kits.

The Canon EOS M50 is basically the camera equivalent of a golden retriever. Friendly, eager to please, and way more capable than it looks. It's a 24.1MP mirrorless shooter that's been a go-to recommendation for beginners for years, and honestly, it still holds up. The autofocus is snappy, the menus won't make you want to throw it out a window, and it's so light you'll forget it's hanging off your shoulder.

Skip this if video is your main gig. The cropped 4K with no Dual Pixel AF is a dealbreaker for serious video work, and the lack of a headphone jack makes audio monitoring a guessing game. If you need a rugged, weather-sealed body for hiking or adventure shooting, look elsewhere because this plastic build won't survive a surprise rain shower.

The Canon M50 is a brilliant little camera for someone dipping their toes into a "real" camera for the first time. It's perfect for street photography, product shots, and streaming thanks to that clean HDMI out. The image quality will blow away any phone, and it's a joy to carry around. Just know its limits: serious video work and rough weather are not its friends.