The Canon R50 is very much an updated Canon M5
By Sherry
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2026-05-09
My new Canon R50 is an updated camera, to replace my Canon M5 with an 18-150mm lens, that I've been using since I purchased it in 2017. I loved that camera for its size, and at the time, very new digital features. I bought it as a companion to my Canon Rebel T6i, outfitted with a 70-300mm lens, so that I would have different cameras for very different situations. We were going on safari in Africa and I wanted to have an, "always ready" camera & zoom lens for whatever crossed our path. I did, also, at that time, add an asdapter to the M5 setup, so that, if I chose to, I could use the full size lenses on that camera. That was the BEST decision! My Rebel chosse to die while on safari in the Serengetti. There are no camera stores, nor are there any camera repair shops in the Serengetti.I was able to use my larger lens with the tiny M5 that way. My Rebel T6i, still under warranty, after Canon tried to repair it 3-4 times, was replaced it by Canon with a brand new Rebel T7i. A couple of years later I upgraded to a Canon 90D with the 100-400 L lens.
Fast forward to 2026.: I am now happily using a relatively new R7 with the R mount 100-500 L lens for my nature shots.
Liking the convenience and cleanliness of not constantly switching lenses on one camera, and having too many issues at this point with the M5, I opted to retire it.
I just bought the R50 and am still learning the nuances of this upgraded camera. I have shot less than 50 photos with it so far, and will be happy to update my review after I spend more time with this new small, lightweight camera.
With my limited use, so far...
My Likes:
It has "EYE" recognition for people, animals, and vehicles
It is smaller than I expected
It is lighter than I expected
I can control many more features that I see on the screen and viewfinder
there are many more display and usage choices than with the M5
My Dislikes:
The camera's description said it felt "plastic-y" I didn't expect it to truly be all a lightweight plastic. It feels flimsy...I hope not.
The menu button is in the same place (the wrong place) as it was on the M5. This is a biggie! Don't the designers ever try out the cameras? My hand hits the menu button almost every time I hold the camera up to use it. It drives me crazy! My vision has gone from 20-20 twenty years ago to +4 now. If I don't have my reading glasses on me when using the camera, I can't reat the screen. When I hit the menu button, there is always a good chance I'm going to accidentally hit some setting and change it. The button should be at the top left, as on a;; other cameras I've ever used, or the user should be able to wasily enlarge the buttons on the back scren...just asuggestion...CANON, if you're reading this
Battery life seems short. Luckily, I have lots of batteries to have charged and ready to carry along with my kit