Canon EOS M50 Mark II

The Canon EOS M50 Mark II is a small mirrorless camera released in 2020. At 387 grams and 116 x 88 x 59 millimetres, it slips into a small bag or a roomy coat pocket, which makes it a natural companion for travel and everyday shooting.

Its 24MP APS-C sensor and EF-M mount suit families, hobbyists and anyone sharing photos and clips online, offering interchangeable lenses without heavy gear.

Owning it is straightforward: one SD card slot and a 305-shot battery rating, so longer or busier shoots call for a spare of each.

The 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor, handled by the Digic 8 processor, provides enough pixel resolution for large prints and generous crops. A busy frame can be tightened later while retaining a substantial pixel count.

Autofocus uses 143 points, and the camera shoots at up to 10fps. That burst figure is a maximum rather than a sustained promise, but it still gives you several frames of a moving subject to choose from.

The electronic viewfinder has 2.36 million dots and provides an eye-level electronic preview before you take the shot.

Two constraints shape how you shoot. There is no in-body stabilisation, so sharp handheld results at slower shutter speeds depend on your lens and technique. The 1/4000s shutter ceiling also restricts wide apertures in strong light, and the EF-M mount defines which lenses attach natively.

The camera records 4K video in the MPEG-4 file format, a common choice that keeps clips practical for holidays, family moments and online sharing.

Frame rates reach 120fps, which lets you stretch a jump, a splash or a quick gesture into slow motion. The maximum resolution and maximum frame rate are listed separately, so confirm the combination you need before a shoot.

When you film yourself, the flip-out touchscreen lets you frame the shot and check your composition from in front of the camera.

With no in-body stabilisation, handheld walking footage needs a steady hand, a stabilised lens, a tripod or a gimbal. A built-in timelapse mode rounds out the movie options for clouds, traffic or sunset sequences.

At the back sits a 3-inch TFT LCD with 1.04 million dots and touch control. You can navigate menus and review images by touch, which keeps day-to-day handling quick and simple.

The screen also flips out, so waist-level and overhead framing become comfortable for stills, and live view lets you compose away from the eyepiece.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both built in, giving the camera two built-in wireless connection options.

A built-in flash provides quick fill light, and external flash units are supported when more light is needed. There is no built-in GPS receiver and no weather sealing, so protect the camera from rain and dust.

Storage runs through a single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot compatible with UHS-I cards. There is no second in-body card position, so plan capacity and card handling accordingly.

The LP-E12 battery carries a 305-shot rating, a stated figure rather than a promise for every situation. Live view, video and flash all draw extra power, so a heavy mixed day may run past one battery.

The battery cannot be charged over USB, so topping up has to happen between sessions rather than from a power bank on the move. Charging a spare before a long day out is the practical habit to build.