The EOS R50 is Canon’s new entry-level mirrorless camera, sporting a lot of similarities to the EOS M50 II and the best-in-class EOS R10.
Beginners and vloggers have a more cost-effective entry point into Canon’s EOS R mirrorless camera range with the new Canon EOS R50. This mini-DSLR style camera packs much of the same core tech as the best-in-class EOS R10, but is positioned below it in the line, with a simpler body and some minor differences in spec.
Alternative beginner mirrorless cameras to the EOS R50 include the Nikon Z50, Fujifilm X-T30 II, and Canon’s own EOS R10 and EOS M50 II. The name of that latter camera gives us a clear nod as to where the EOS R50 is pitched, and the two cameras have many similarities. We’ll go into more depth about how they stack up against one another in our upcoming EOS R50 vs EOS M50 II article.
DSLR users considering mirrorless can use a triple-digit camera like the Canon EOS 250D as a reference point to the EOS R50, although autofocus and video performance is in a different league using mirrorless.
Thankfully, given the dearth of optics available for RF-S-mount cameras, Canon launched a new lens on the same day as the EOS R50 – the RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1. That now makes three crop-sensor lenses, all of which are zoom lenses – there are still no primes.
Canon has some way to go in enticing photographers to its crop-sensor cameras by way of adding more and better-quality lenses – we can but hope that Canon starts to show its RF-S lens line some of the love it’s lavished on its full-frame RF mount.
The Canon EOS R50 was announced on February 8, 2023, and is set to hit the shelves in March. It’ll cost £789.99 / $750 (approx) / AU$1,249 (approx) body-only, while you can also buy the camera in a kit with the RF-S 18-45mm lens for £899.99 / $800 (approx) / AU$1,399.
There are two colors to choose from, black and white, with the white kit option including a silver version of the 18-45mm lens.
The new RF-S 55-210mm lens launched alongside the camera will set you back £429.99 / $400 (approx) / AU$649 on its own. In addition to those three RF-S lenses, the EOS R50 can also be used directly with any of the full-frame Canon RF lenses with no adaptor needed.
Another Canon EOS R system camera, another mini-DSLR-style design. Canon has played it safe with the entry-level EOS R50, which is basically a slimmed-down version of the EOS R10, omitting a few external buttons and joystick. That’s less scope for customization, and a greater emphasis on auto functions, and using the vari-angle touchscreen.
The result is Canon’s smallest, lightest and simplest EOS R system camera. It’s even smaller and lighter than the EOS M50 II, which is another point of reference. We’re talking a mere 12g, but at 375g including card and battery, the EOS R50 is a tiny little thing.
The EOS R50 has a slightly smaller handgrip than the EOS M50 II, but it still offers enough purchase for a secure grip with those small-aperture zoom lenses like the RF-S 18-45mm.
During our hands-on time with the EOS R50, we also used the camera with the new and larger RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1 lens.
