After months of rumours of a successor, last October Canon finally announced an updated version of its very successful and very affordable EOS M50 camera... with the caveat that, at least initially, it was only coming to a select few markets.
It might have taken the scenic route to get here, but the Canon EOS M50 Mark II has finally been confirmed to be making its way Down Under. It will be available to buy from March 2021 from major retailers across the country, with an RRP of AU$1,199 for the single-lens bundle that includes the EF-M 14-45mm kit lens.
It will, of course, be covered by Canon Australia's five-year warranty when purchased from an authorised dealer and also comes ready to be used as a webcam once you've installed Canon's EOS Webcam Utility software on your computer.
That's pretty great value for an entry-level camera with some advanced features, but if you already have the original M50, is it worth the upgrade?
Same-same but different
In terms of hardware, the M50 Mark II is identical to its predecessor, both externally and internally. Not only does it inherit the M50's body, it also brings over the older model's 24.1MP APS-C sensor and the now-slightly-aging Digic 8 imaging engine.
So, what's new about the updated version? It's essentially all in the software.
Canon promises that the autofocus performance has been improved on the Mark II version, with face/eye detection available on board for both stills and video. However, like the original M50, Canon's very trusty Dual Pixel AF doesn't come into play while shooting in 4K.
Unlike the older M50 model, though, you will be able to record video in portrait mode (vertical orientation). That makes the new snapper a great option for social media, like posting on TikTok or Facebook/Instagram Stories. It also has live-stream capabilities, adding to its social media appeal.
It gains a few touch controls over its predecessor as well, including a touch-and-drag focusing mechanism on the rear screen while using the EVF, plus a touch recording functionality for video clips.
So, while it doesn't quite compete with some of Canon's other new (and admittedly more expensive) mirrorless marvels, the M50 Mark II does promise to be a far more proficient camera than its predecessor.
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