Larry Rexley wrote:
Thanks for taking the time to do the write-up and create this thread. You put a lot of thought and work in!
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I saw a used M50ii for sale today at a price too good to pass up... based on the OP's 'review' and comments in the 'second body' thread I decided to take the plunge. Managed to talk the pawn shop down to $300 for the body, EF-M 15-45 kit lens, battery and charger and the original box. I had them charge the battery, and I came back a half hour later with an SD card and thoroughly tested it before buying. Camera in like new condition, not a mark on it.
I spent a couple hours out in the field using the camera alongside my M6ii. Overall, I'm very impressed with it!
My desire is to use it as a second body with a different lens alongside my M6ii, so I don't have to change lenses constantly. I tend to change them frequently with the type of shooting I do. Not only is a second body a big time-saver --- but now I shouldn't miss shots changing lenses ---- and I'll have a lot less risk of dust getting on the sensor.
Overall Impression
My overall feeling using the camera was: I felt like a had a different-looking M6ii in my hands that had some dials and features removed, with a non-removable EVF and an articulating rear screen. I did not feel like I had an unfamiliar camera in my hands --- and it certainly did not feel like an entry-level camera. it was nimble, responsive, and gave me almost identical results to the M6ii (except for resolution).
Here are my first impressions as an active, dedicated M6ii user:
Positives
- Size, weight, handling, controls, control layout, and operation of the M50ii are similar enough to the M6ii so that switching back and forth is not a hindrance - I adapted to it quickly
- Most setup menu choices, and many button 'customization' options are close to the M6ii (kudos Canon for this kind of consistency!!) --- so much so that I was able to set the same buttons do the same things and can use both naturally together in the same session without significant confusion
- Performance of the camera felt very similar -- very responsive --- autofocus as far as I could see was virtually identical (I do not push AF as much as others) and I loved the fact that I could move the autofocus point with my thumb on the rear screen while looking through the EVF --- the autofocus operation experience is virtually identical - even focus peaking options and operation (I use vintage lenses a lot)
- Except for the difference in the file resolution and file sizes --- the output of both cameras was virtually identical! Kudos Canon again for amazing consistency (also to DxO as well used to process all results). Except for resolution and EXIF data, you can't tell which files came from which camera.
- Low light ability to autofocus is excellent as it is on the M6ii. I was able to autofocus using the EF-S 55-250 with 1.5x converter stacked with 2x converter (this would be close to f16) INDOORS near a window. The original 24 MP M6 could not focus at lower than f8 with teleconversion
- it is a positive to me that it is an obviously 'different' camera model in appearance--- it very clear 'which one' I am using. If I had two identical m6ii's it might get very tricky remembering which one was set in which exposure modes and was dedicated for which type of shooting (even if I had one black one and one silver one)! Because one body has a 'simpler set of features' ---- choosing which body is best for which type of shooting is easier (that may sound strange but it's true --- the m6ii is clearly better for certain things)
- it is also a positive for me that the camera has a non-removable EVF and an articulating rear screen that are both DIFFERENT than the M6ii's --- again here each may serve better for particular types of shooting --- and now I have the best of both worlds
- I don't mind that the resolution of the M50ii is slightly lower --- if shooting with two lenses (telephoto zoom for BIF and wider zoom for landscapes for example) --- the M6ii clearly is the one for telephoto (BIF) as the added resolution gives it more 'reach' for far-away birds, plus the faster 14 fps frame rate and the M6ii's custom exposure modes work well for BIF etc.
Hindrances
- Lack of rotating rear 'wheel' on the back of the camera. Used for so many things on the M6ii ---- scrolling menus, scrolling to review stills, etc. Not having this wheel was really noticeable because it's such an ingrained action for so many things. Not having it will take some getting used to...
- At only 7 fps shooting RAW, the buffer filled up very fast! After only a few short half second bursts I had to wait. I did some 7 fps shooting of an Amtrak train. They travel at 60-70 mph and very high speed shooting is needed plus a fast shutter speed. The 7 fps mode fills the M50ii's buffer as quickly as , and maybe more quickly than, the m6ii fills its buffer at 14 fps, it seems in what little testing I did.
- Lack of being able to use electronic shutter with any exposure programs. I shoot much of my m6ii stuff using electronic shutter --- love the silence and zero vibration --- I also shoot 50-300 photos almost every day and am afraid I will wear out the shutter! Workaround on the M50ii is to use the "SCN' setting and set it to use "silent mode' ---- this uses fully electronic shutter but ONLY with auto-exposure ---- this will work for me some of the time. The automatic exposures that the camera chooses are pretty reasonable most of the time, as mentioned in the OP's review
- Lack of the M6ii's 'Fv' exposure mode (and of course C1 and C2 custom modes). In the past month or so I've switched mostly over to using Fv.... will have to go back to Tv or Av modes or silent full auto. This is not so bad, as I am often double-checking exposure anyway 'just to be sure' it's doing what I want
- the M50ii came with yet another EF-M 15-45mm IS STM kit lens.... LOL. I gave up on my old copies and have been selling them off. Oh well, I'll test this one --- who knows maybe it's better and I'll get a keeper?!
Here's a sample shot with the M50ii of a trolley waiting for Amtrak train to go by:
Night shot of river, M50ii ISO 6400 processed with Smart Lighting disabled, DxO Deep Prime luminance 50, Lens Sharpness (Global) +50:
Identical shot but with the M6ii, using the same lens just a few minutes later --- same exposure, identical processing with DxO
In the M6ii shot the sky is slightly darker --- it was getting dark quickly but perhaps something else was going on like Saturation or contrast was slightly different in the in-camera picture style)
If I had an M6II again, I’d consider the M50 II just for using zooms on it and as a second body.
