Big test
PERFORMANCE: EXPOSURE LATITUDE
-3EV
-2EV
IMAGES This friendly garden visitor put on a good gymnastic display for the Canon EOS M50 Mark II, fitted with the EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM and used at the 200mm end. The exposure was 1/100sec at f/7.1, ISO 200. The EF-M 55-200mm is a decent, rather than exceptional performer given its £300 price tag, but its compact size really appeals
-1EV
0
+1EV
Final word Verdict
+2EV
+3EV
To check out the flexibility of the EOS M50 Mark II’s Raws, I shot +/-3EV exposure brackets of various scenes, with bracketing done in manual mode by adjusting the shutter speed. Here, the EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens was used, and the pair were supported by a Leofoto LS-324C carbon-fibre tripod. The correct exposure was 1/60sec at f/5.6, ISO 100. Later, the Raws were exposure corrected in Lightroom. For this scene, even the +3EV shot recovered well, but that wasn’t always the case. Where lighting was stronger and contrast higher, the +3EV shot looked much less satisfactory, with highlights appearing veiled. These simply could
The Canon EOS M50 Mark II, just like its predecessor, is a decent, perfectly capable camera and good value. There’s nothing in the EOS M50’s feature set to stop you in your tracks, nor is using it going to set the pulse racing. Nonetheless, its handling is safe and the images produced are perfectly good – whether your background is smartphone or top-end DSLR. So, if you’re a newcomer to digital cameras, the EOS M50 Mark II is a good way of getting into the Canon ecosystem, especially if your aim is creating video content as Canon envisages. For existing owners, the camera is a handy backup that takes EOS EF/EF-S lenses via an adapter and provides good stills and video. Whatever your needs, the Canon EOS M50 Mark II is a good buy.
IMAGES Expect a respectable exposure performance from the EOS M50 Mark II’s Raws, with shots overexposed by +2EV looking good after careful editing. Underexposed shots fared better, featuring low noise levels in the shadows
not be recovered. Overexposing by +2EV proved more successful in terms of image recovery, although strong highlights picked up a slight cyan colour cast before editing.
As usual, underexposure was much less of an issue. Even drastically abused shots were able to be recovered with a high degree of success.
22 /25
FEATURES Plenty for image makers of all levels, but nothing groundbreaking HANDLING Tried, tested and typically Canon, so it’s all pretty straightforward PERFORMANCE Consistently and reliably produces good images in a wide range of situations VALUE FOR MONEY No issues here – the EOS M50 Mark II offers plenty of bang for your buck OVERALL Not a huge step forward from the original model, but an improvement nonetheless
quickly setting self-timer, light measuring pattern and aspect ratio. In the monitor’s normal view, five icons have a thin outline, denoting virtual buttons for key features – ISO, focus magnifier, exposure compensation, aperture and touch shutter enable/disable. Pushing the info button toggles between an optional spirit level, plain screen and another settings screen, where the Q icon activates and enables adjustments to key features.
The camera’s user-friendly nature continues with its menus. There are two options: standard Canon, or a simplified guided version that looks less daunting and uses simple graphics – while a few words on the front screen explain what you can find under shooting or function settings. Before and after pictures are used as prompts, irrespective of the menu type selected. For example, choosing shutter priority AE displays a pair of waterfall shots, showing the benefit of
considered shutter speed selection. In aperture priority, there are two scenic images indicating the differences between aperture choice. Catering for users of all levels and needs, the EOS M50 Mark II enables you to keep things simple or dig deeper into settings. On test, I had the camera and the company of three EF-M lenses to enjoy: the 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM, the 23mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM and the 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. WC
23 /25
22 /25
23 /25
90 /100
THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO MAKE GOOD USE
PROS Price, good image quality, vari-angle monitor, compact size CONS Battery life nothing special, minimal upgrade from the original EOS M50
Where will your kit go next? Inspire others, earn some extra cash and make a difference. Sell your used kit and let someone else love it as much as you have. Make good use of your used gear. Sell yours today at mpb.com/sell
Issue 88 | Photography News 31
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