R50 or R10; both with RF S18-150 Lens

I’m in the market for a new mirrorless camera but I need a longer lens than the standard 18 - 55 or thereabouts, which most seem to come with.

I can just about afford up to £1400 which gives me two Canon cameras as follows :

1/ R50 body only plus RF S 18 - 150 lens or

2/ R10 with the same lens as above, in a kit

Both are pretty much £1350

Which would you go for and why, please ?

I'd take the R10 any day of the week. It's substantially more capable and friendly for growing as a photographer. I have one as an addition to my R5 and R6, and it barely misses a beat: twin control dials, an AF joystick, comfortable grip, great AF, great FPS. If you can afford the R10, then I see zero reason to buy the R50.

I was in a similar situation to you and initially intended to buy the R50 mainly for its small size. After some investigation I eventually opted for the R10 and don't regret the decision.

The size difference is negligible and the main difference is the depth added by the grip which is in the same dimension as the lens projecting from the camera so is really not an issue.

I initially opted for the 18-45 lens and missed the extended reach so managed to buy an unused 18-150 at a very reasonable price from someone on ebay who'd bought it included in a kit and didn't want it. For me that's a much more capable combination although I've kept the 18-45 for those situations where I want a small camera lens combination.

I consider the additional dial on the R10 to be a significant improvement in the user interface but for me the real clinchers were the mechanical shutter and the increased buffer size allowing longer burst shots. I did consider the R7 but it was really beyond my budget at the time and didn't tick the "compact" box.

You don't say what type of photography you are interested in so my decision process may be very different to yours.

I chose the R50. After assigning the buttons on the R50 I can use it almost as fast as the R10. You can add the 18-45 kit lens and the 18-150 for about the same price of the R10
and 18-150. My main reason for he R50 is the size which I felt was an advantage for a travel camera. The auto focus and picture quality appears to be equal. I am not a beginner but not a pro either. IMHO

I've just been to Wilkinson's to have a feel of both cameras.

As a result I've decided that for me the R10 is the better option; largely because it simply feels more comfortable in my hands.

However as it's Black Friday next week I won't be buying until nearer the date. Currently it has only £100.00 discount and I'm hoping for another £100.00 .... but we will find out in seven days time.

Many thanks to those who replied, I really appreciate your help

A620er said:

I've just been to Wilkinson's to have a feel of both cameras.

As a result I've decided that for me the R10 is the better option; largely because it simply feels more comfortable in my hands.

However as it's Black Friday next week I won't be buying until nearer the date. Currently it has only £100.00 discount and I'm hoping for another £100.00 .... but we will find out in seven days time.

Many thanks to those who replied, I really appreciate your help

Click to expand...

Good luck - the R10 is a cracking little camera. I like mine even as a R5 and R7 owner - it is fantastic to use. If you shoot CRAW (or JPEG) the buffer is also OK for me - and CRAW I can tell no difference with RAW. AF seems very similar to R7 and also 2 dials and joystick - would like 3 dials but 1 only is a non starter. Main ergo downside is with large diameter lenses and the smaller gap grip vs R7 and R5.

Personally I'd never consider a R50 - too much missing for (assuming a good deal on R10) not much less money. Infact in UK when R50 very first came out they were about the same.

A620er said:

I’m in the market for a new mirrorless camera but I need a longer lens than the standard 18 - 55 or thereabouts, which most seem to come with.

I can just about afford up to £1400 which gives me two Canon cameras as follows :

1/ R50 body only plus RF S 18 - 150 lens or

2/ R10 with the same lens as above, in a kit

Both are pretty much £1350

Which would you go for and why, please ?

Click to expand...

R50; it has MUCH improved subject detection, really matters for say video where it's super-sticky vs the R10 can get lost and you have to re-tap on the subject. R50 is much better in AF for stills, too.

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The R50 does oversampled 4K30 just like the R10, but, the R10 can do 4K/60, but the heavy crop makes it pretty much useless for most general purpose.

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When you're dealing with a smaller body like the R50, it makes touch and drag the only needed way to use AF outside of letting the AI-AF chose for you (which is really good on the R50) as it's really easy and fast to do touch and drag AF when it's very, reachable.

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R50 has improved SOOC JPEG rendition, if you're a JPEG shooter. Some folks don't like the new contrast balance, I do, but that's me.

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It's lighter and cheaper, both wins.

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The R50 lacks sensor cleaning, but, if it's just the 18-150? That's perfect as that means it's rarely if ever coming off the body anyways.

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Keep in mind though the small buffer, I didn't find it a problem with my time with it so long as, A. You use C-RAW instead of RAW and B. Use a fast UHS-I card. I used a SanDisk Extreme Pro (95mb/sec version).

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The R10 does have Mech shutter, deeper buffer, and AF joystick and 4K60, but, Mech shutter needs a fast f/1.2 prime to really see the benefit, which is silly on a crop body, that's what an R8, R6 II, R5, R3 are for, the deeper buffer isn't so much a problem if you shoot C-RAW and a fast UHS-I card and shoot in short bursts; if you're shooting longer bursts, IE pro or semi-pro sports? You already know you need a R10 or R7 and the R50 is out. The AF joystick is really moot on an R50 where I barely needed touch and drag because the newer AF that the R50 has (that the R10 doesn't) means you almost never need to override the detected AF to begin with, the smaller body means touch and drag is fast and easy too, and the 4K/60 is cropped on the R10 making it pointless unless you plan to shoot a lot of cropped 4K anyways, again, that means you're probably pro or semi-pro sports which again, R10 or even R7 are your choice out the gate.

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Hope that helps.

KevinRA said:

A620er said:

I've just been to Wilkinson's to have a feel of both cameras.

As a result I've decided that for me the R10 is the better option; largely because it simply feels more comfortable in my hands.

However as it's Black Friday next week I won't be buying until nearer the date. Currently it has only £100.00 discount and I'm hoping for another £100.00 .... but we will find out in seven days time.

Many thanks to those who replied, I really appreciate your help

Click to expand...

Good luck - the R10 is a cracking little camera. I like mine even as a R5 and R7 owner - it is fantastic to use. If you shoot CRAW (or JPEG) the buffer is also OK for me - and CRAW I can tell no difference with RAW. AF seems very similar to R7 and also 2 dials and joystick - would like 3 dials but 1 only is a non starter. Main ergo downside is with large diameter lenses and the smaller gap grip vs R7 and R5.

Personally I'd never consider a R50 - too much missing for (assuming a good deal on R10) not much less money. Infact in UK when R50 very first came out they were about the same.

Click to expand...

Agree 100%. Too much missing.

R2

If there's any likelyhood you might want to use the camera with older flashes or radio triggers, then bear in mind that the R50 doesn't have any legacy contacts on the hotshoe. It would only work with the most recent Canon flashes. You can get an adapter for £60 but probably a faff. I'd go for the R10 as it has a far fewer compromises.

I am a happy M6II owner and see myself with a R10 mark ii (or R20) in the future but need to confess I always enjoyed a lot using my M50 despite its ergonomics limitations. Once you develop your workarounds the R50 should be a very good companion for travel and other less demanding genres of photography.

RLight said:

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When you're dealing with a smaller body like the R50, it makes touch and drag the only needed way to use AF outside of letting the AI-AF chose for you (which is really good on the R50) as it's really easy and fast to do touch and drag AF when it's very, reachable.

Click to expand...

I am glad I stuck with the R50. Had to study the manual and use it a lot before I started getting the results I wanted.

By some of the comments here I am not so sure many members here have spent much time with a R50.

Many have spent more time commenting about the R50 than they have spent using one.

R50 is $543.99 at the refurbished store. It will be $499 or less next week ?

--

Hello, my name is Steve and I have GAS.

m100 said:

RLight said:

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When you're dealing with a smaller body like the R50, it makes touch and drag the only needed way to use AF outside of letting the AI-AF chose for you (which is really good on the R50) as it's really easy and fast to do touch and drag AF when it's very, reachable.

Click to expand...

I am glad I stuck with the R50. Had to study the manual and use it a lot before I started getting the results I wanted.

By some of the comments here I am not so sure many members here have spent much time with a R50.

Many have spent more time commenting about the R50 than they have spent using one.

R50 is $543.99 at the refurbished store. It will be $499 or less next week ?

Click to expand...

Maybe less during a flash refurb 15% off sale.

Most people here think they know what they're talking about, to your point, until you've actually used a product, you really don't know what you're missing.

I got what I wanted to out of the R50 immediately, but I'm also somewhat of a camera hopper that's largely stuck to the Canon ecosystem (thus far), so there's things you sorta figure out with what to expect.

I can't wholly recommend the R50 btw. It's shallow buffer will kill you, if you're a pro-sports shooter. But, if you use a fast UHS-I card and shooter either JPEG only, or JPEG +C-RAW (like I did)? It'll treat you well for general purpose, family and events. I'd steer away from 15FPS mode though unless you're strictly JPEG-only though. Otherwise? The R50, I'll say it, it's a better camera in terms of "guts" then the R10, folks will yell at me, but it's the same hardware, with better software, in a smaller body, minus the mech shutter which again, won't hurt you if you're not using f/1.2 glass and the 4K60 is cropped making it niche use case (sports, birds, think reach and 4K). And btw, e-shutter works really well on the R50 much as it does the R8, R6 II btw.

RLight said:

m100 said:

RLight said:

.

When you're dealing with a smaller body like the R50, it makes touch and drag the only needed way to use AF outside of letting the AI-AF chose for you (which is really good on the R50) as it's really easy and fast to do touch and drag AF when it's very, reachable.

Click to expand...

I am glad I stuck with the R50. Had to study the manual and use it a lot before I started getting the results I wanted.

By some of the comments here I am not so sure many members here have spent much time with a R50.

Many have spent more time commenting about the R50 than they have spent using one.

R50 is $543.99 at the refurbished store. It will be $499 or less next week ?

Click to expand...

Maybe less during a flash refurb 15% off sale.

Most people here think they know what they're talking about, to your point, until you've actually used a product, you really don't know what you're missing.

I got what I wanted to out of the R50 immediately, but I'm also somewhat of a camera hopper that's largely stuck to the Canon ecosystem (thus far), so there's things you sorta figure out with what to expect.

I can't wholly recommend the R50 btw. It's shallow buffer will kill you, if you're a pro-sports shooter. But, if you use a fast UHS-I card and shooter either JPEG only, or JPEG +C-RAW (like I did)? It'll treat you well for general purpose, family and events. I'd steer away from 15FPS mode though unless you're strictly JPEG-only though. Otherwise? The R50, I'll say it, it's a better camera in terms of "guts" then the R10, folks will yell at me, but it's the same hardware, with better software, in a smaller body, minus the mech shutter which again, won't hurt you if you're not using f/1.2 glass and the 4K60 is cropped making it niche use case (sports, birds, think reach and 4K). And btw, e-shutter works really well on the R50 much as it does the R8, R6 II btw.

Click to expand...

I used to love going to the pro sports events at the drag strip when I lived in Aiken.

I am sure the R50 can do dragstrip photos. With a RF 50mm STM.

But yes, just 6 high speed shots in a row. All in focus though.

--
Hello, my name is Steve and I have GAS.

m100 said:

RLight said:

.

When you're dealing with a smaller body like the R50, it makes touch and drag the only needed way to use AF outside of letting the AI-AF chose for you (which is really good on the R50) as it's really easy and fast to do touch and drag AF when it's very, reachable.

Click to expand...

I am glad I stuck with the R50. Had to study the manual and use it a lot before I started getting the results I wanted.

By some of the comments here I am not so sure many members here have spent much time with a R50.

Click to expand...

Correct - but already with the R10 and R7 I curse only have 2 dials - so having one is a non starter. Even my M6III has 3 dials. 1 is a non starter IMHO. I know the M6II does not have a joystick but that's expected with small size (and I do miss it) - the R50 is notably bulkier than the M6II and should have space - and for at least more dial if the M6II can have three.

m100 said:

Many have spent more time commenting about the R50 than they have spent using one.

Click to expand...

Correct - but the question is also about the R10 - if it was purely R50 linked then I'd not comment. (AF in the R10 is very good - up there I think with the R7 and R5 in my experience/use).

m100 said:

R50 is $543.99 at the refurbished store. It will be $499 or less next week ?

Click to expand...

That is a good reason now to consider it I agree - when first launched in UK was same price as R10.

KevinRA said:

Correct - but already with the R10 and R7 I curse only have 2 dials - so having one is a non starter. Even my M6III has 3 dials. 1 is a non starter IMHO. I know the M6II does not have a joystick but that's expected with small size (and I do miss it) - the R50 is notably bulkier than the M6II and should have space - and for at least more dial if the M6II can have three.

Click to expand...

It was not easy to reprogram my brain to use just one dial. I owned a 1DIII and a 7D.

Now that I have I am not any slower with the R50 than the M6II.

I turn off the control ring dial because I keep bumping it and change the exposure setting when I don't want to.

--
Hello, my name is Steve and I have GAS.