Canon R50V Photography Review
Last year, Canon released a simple, beginner-friendly, and affordable video-focused camera in the R50V. Along with the Canon R6V and C50, it also introduced a new, sleeker body style for these video cameras.
When I saw the R50V’s launch last year, my first thought was, “I love that body design.” It reminded me so much of the Canon EOS M system, particularly the Canon M, M3, and M6 series with no viewfinder.
Much like Canon’s first mirrorless system, the R50V was smaller, thinner, and arguably more portable than many of its predecessors.
So I tested one out for photography. Many reviews focus on the video capabilities of this camera, and for good reason: it’s a mini cinema cam.
The R50V came with a few built-in photo downsides: no physical shutter curtain, no electronic viewfinder (EVF), potential overheating, limited battery life, etc.
What better way to test some of these disadvantages than taking the R50V out to the desert heat of Arizona?
I took a work trip to Tempe, Arizona in June, and let me tell you, it was hot. Most days, it was 100+ degrees Fahrenheit hot. Coming from 75-degree Michigan, it was almost unbearable.
But I braved the sun and hit the streets to see if the Canon R50V – paired with the compact RF 28mm f/2.8 – could be used as a photo-first camera, despite the perceived drawbacks.
I’ll tackle these potential downsides one by one.
Lack of EVF
Arizona has no shortage of sunlight. One snag with EVFs is that if the sun is bright, it’s harder to see the back screen on cameras with EVFs.
In Tempe, I had to turn up the screen brightness to its highest level to keep scenes crystal clear. I was grateful that the screen wasn’t an issue, even with those bright desert skies.
I’ll credit my own comfort level with using Canon M cameras without EVFs, too. Using the R50V was like using my Canon EOS M6.
Electronic Shutter
The Canon R50V was the first time I’ve used a camera with an electronic-only shutter. Walking around town, shooting architecture and street photography, I had no issues with the shutter.
Granted, I wasn’t shooting fast-moving subjects. I also wasn’t shooting a lot of artificial light, nor was I using flash (I rarely do). In these cases, the electronic shutter wasn’t an issue at all.
Limited battery life
The Canon R50V uses the smaller LP-E17 battery, the same one used in smaller Canon mirrorless cameras like the RP, some older consumer-grade DSLRs, and the later Canon EOS M cameras. I use the LP-E17 in my Canon EOS M6, for instance.
In my experience, I had no issues worrying about battery life in my travels. The challenge may come if you’re using the R50V for video as well as photography. I brought along two batteries and had no issues with battery life during my travels.
OVERHEATING
Overheating is mostly a video issue. Once again, I had no issues with overheating while using the Canon R50V – even in the hot Arizona sun.
Photography Advantages
- Autofocus: Canon’s R-series autofocus is world-class – one of the best in the industry. I’m coming from the DSLR series, so having the camera recognize people, vehicles, etc. automatically, and track them in real time, has been a revelation. I know, I’m late to the party. But still, it’s been fun to watch the autofocus be so sticky.
- Portability: If you want something compact and portable, the Canon R50V is a great little camera. It’s thin and light, and paired with a pancake lens like the RF 28mm f/2.8, it’s a perfect little everyday camera. This body design is now reflected in the R6V as well, and I like this direction. It comes with a comfortable built-in grip, but if you have larger hands, you can try out something like the SmallRig R50V grip (I tried it – it’s great!).
- Hybrid Capabilities: The Canon R50V’s photo mode is a single option on the camera’s command dial. The rest are all video options – and since this is a video-forward camera, that makes sense. This setup makes hybrid shooting easy, helping you move between photo and video mode at the flick of the dial.
- Image Quality: No modern camera is a bad camera these days. It just depends on your preferences. Even with its APS-C-sized sensor, the Canon R50V’s image quality is great. The files were easy to make my own, and the dynamic range was good enough for the high-contrast scenes I faced in Tempe.
Because the Canon R50V is a video camera with an option for photos, if you’re looking for a photography-focused camera, this may not be it. With its lack of built-in flash capabilities, the R50V is not a studio camera, either.
But if you’re looking for a hybrid camera, or want to get started in video without losing picture taking, this is a portable, affordable, capable option.
You can pick up a refurbished Canon R50V at a nicely discounted price.
Watch my YouTube video where I share more thoughts about the R50V and you can see it in action: