Photography News Issue 55

Camera test 36

Photography News | Issue 55 | photographynews.co.uk

ISO 100

ISO 800

Performance: ISO

A dull daylight scene was used to assess ISO. The EOS M50 with its 15-45mm lens was tripod mounted and all in-camera noise reduction switched off. The Raws were processed in Lightroom with no noise reduction selected. As expected, image quality at speeds up to ISO 400 was first rate with images looking clean and free of any graining. At ISO 800 grain starts to appear in the shadows although detail remains crisp and

colour saturation is rich, identical to slower speeds. Image quality remains of a high order at ISO 1600 and no problem using this speed for large prints. There is grain but it is crisp and neutral giving it a filmic appearance and colour saturation is less good but pictures still looknicelydetailed. Up another stop to ISO 3200 and image quality is still high, but it is at the point where some will say enough, as fine detail starts to

look less crisp and images look less smooth. It is still pretty good and if you need to shoot at this speed then it is definitely worth trying, Image deterioration ramps up a notch at ISO 6400 and noise is very obvious and starts to pick up colour; that effect is even more obvious at ISO 12,800. By the time you get to ISO 25,600 the negative impact on detail and saturation is very evident and ISO 51,200 is probably best avoided.

ISO 1600

ISO 3200

Original image

ISO 6400

ISO 12,800

ISO 25,600

ISO 51,200

Above There’s no problem getting critical quality images out even at fast ISO speeds. Scene shot at the Andaz hotel, Amsterdam.

Verdict

Performance: creative filters

Features 22/25 Lots on offer including 4K video and new compact Raw file format Performance 23/25 Capable exposure and focusing systems in still and movie modes Handling 22/25 The mix of physical and virtual controls make for good handling Value for money 23/25 Nice price for a well specified mirrorless camera with plenty of potential Overall 90/100 A capable mirrorless camera that is attractive value for money Pros Price, image quality, vari-angle monitor Cons Limited choice of EOS M system lenses with the more limited selection of EOS M lenses. Clearly there is the penalty of weight and size with the former option but it is an option nevertheless, although it would obviously be nice if Canon expanded its collection of EOS M lenses in the fullness of time. Canon’s latest introduction is aimed at the mirrorless newbie, whether they are arriving from camera phones or from DSLRs. Either way, buy the EOS M50 and you have a capable, high-quality camera and while it does not truly break new ground, what it does it does very well, thank you. Not only that, of course, it buys you entry into the Canon system. So, with the EOS-M adapter, you can fit one of the very many Canon EF/ EF-S lenses available for it or stick

Soft-focus

Watercolour

Toy camera

Miniature

The EOS M50 is similar to many cameras in this price range and it offers users pain-free ways to get creative. The various options undoubtedly broaden the camera’s appeal, particularly to those coming from smartphones. In A mode you have the choice of colour presets, but you can play

with various image parameters and save the settings as your own. So, for JPEG shooting you can adjust the degree of background blur, adjust contrast and colour saturation. There are also scene modes under the SCN setting on the mode dial. This includes a self-

portrait and a food mode. There’s also a silent mode for noise free picture taking – this silent mode is not an option offered elsewhere in the camera. Finally, there are creative filters and here you will find toy camera mode, miniature setting and soft- focus, among others. These are

fun to use, work perfectly well and give nice effects – mostly. I especially enjoyed playing with the miniature setting for some eye-catching focus effects. Creative filters can also be applied post capture in-camera and files saved separately rather than overwriting the original.