Should I Get the Canon EOS M50 or the EOS M100?

The Canon EOS M50 and EOS M100 cameras represent the budget options in Canon’s mirrorless lineup, but the “budget” label is a relative one because – as Canon’s naming conventions suggest – these cameras are not on the same level. Typically speaking, Canon camera models with more numerical digits in their name are positioned lower in the camera lineup than cameras with fewer digits. In this case, the naming convention holds true. The EOS M50 has several features not included in the M100, the most notable of which is an EVF (Electronic Viewfinder). The big question becomes, are the M50’s features worth spending more for?
 
Let’s take a look at how the EOS M50 and EOS M100 compare to find out which camera might be the best for your specific needs.
 
Canon EOS M50 and M100 Shared Primary Features:
 

• Dual Pixel CMOS AF Sensor*
• Resolution: 6000 x 4000 pixels (24 MP)
• Crop Factor: 1.6x (APS-C sensor)
• Native EF-M Lens Support (compatible with EF/EF-S/TS-E/MP-E with EF-EOS M Adapter)
• Exposure Compensation: +/-3 EV in 1/3 stop increments
• Shutter Speed Range: 30-1/4000 sec in 1/3 stop increments
• LCD: 7.5 cm (3.0”) Touchscreen (TFT). 3:2 aspect ratio. Approx. 1,040,000 dots
• Built-in Flash GN: 5
• Flash x-Sync: 1/200 sec.
• Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC
• My Menu (customizable menu) vs. none
• Operating Environment: 32–104°F / 0–40°C

* Dual Pixel CMOS sensor AF benefits unavailable during 4K recording (M50).
 
Primary Advantages of the Canon EOS M50:
 

• Electronic Viewfinder + LCD vs. LCD only
• DIGIC 8 processor vs. DIGIC 7
• 143 AF points vs. 49
• EV -2 – 18 AF working range vs. EV -1 – 18
• EV 0 – 20 metering range vs. EV 1 – 20
• Auto exposure bracketing vs. none
• Ambience/white priority AWB vs. ambience only
• Vari-angle LCD vs. tiltable 180 degrees up
• Flash recycling time: 3 sec. vs. 5
• Flash hot shoe vs. none
• Adobe RGB and sRGB color spaces vs. sRGB only
• 10 fps One Shot/7.4 fps Servo AF continuous shooting vs. 6.1 / 4
• .CR3 File Format with C-RAW vs. .CR2 (no C-RAW support)
• Up to 4K UHD video recording vs. Full HD 1080p
• Compatible with Bluetooth BR-E1 / mobile device remote control vs. mobile device only
• 9 customizable buttons vs. 2

Primary Advantages of the Canon EOS M100:
 

• 100-25600 Auto ISO range vs. 100 – 6400
• 21 shot RAW buffer in One Shot Mode vs. 10
• Approx. 295 shots (410 shots in Eco Mode) battery life vs. 235 (370)
• Smaller/Lighter: 4.26 x 2.64 x 1.38″ (108.2 x 67.1 x 35.1mm), 11.29oz (320g) vs. 4.6 x 3.5 x 2.3″ (116.3 x 88.1 x 58.7mm), 13.7 oz (387g)
• Lower cost

Who should opt for the Canon EOS M50?
 
If you need a versatile, mirrorless camera and would like to shoot 4K, then the choice is easy – get an EOS M50. It’s the only Canon mirrorless option (at the moment) that can record 4K video. Although you don’t get the benefits of Dual Pixel CMOS Movie Servo AF in 4K mode, the ability to shoot 4K combined with the M50’s vari-angle LCD and small size/weight will make it an extremely useful tool for filmmaking, especially for vloggers or one-man crews. For those who prefer viewfinder shooting, once again, the choice is easy. The M50’s OLED EVF is well designed and makes it much easier to use when shooting in bright sunlight. The EOS M50 also features a flash hot shoe, better/more sensitive AF system, more sensitive metering system, a faster continuous shooting burst rate, exposure bracketing and more AWB options. These features along with the camera’s new .CR3 RAW file format (with space saving C-RAW support) result in a camera that is simply more capable of capturing compelling imagery compared to the EOS M100.
 
Who should opt for the Canon EOS M100?
 
Of the limited number of advantages the EOS M100 has over the M50, the two which will likely prove most compelling for most will be its lower cost and smaller size/lighter weight. If your budget does not extend to the M50, you need the absolute smallest and lightest Canon mirrorless option available or you don’t anticipate utilizing the M50’s extra features, the M100 is there for you.
 
Relevant Information
 

• Canon EOS M50 Review
• Canon EOS M100 Review