Should I Get the EOS Rebel T7i/800D or the EOS M50?

For those shopping for their first non-smartphone camera, a backup camera for a current kit or simply upgrading from a lower level/previous generation Rebel-series camera, the Canon EOS Rebel T7i/800D and EOS M50 are likely to be considered. Today, we're going to look closely at these two cameras to see which might be the better option for addition to your kit.

Canon EOS Rebel T7i/800D and EOS M50 Shared Primary Features:

  • Resolution: 24 MP / 6000 x 4000 pixels
  • Crop Ratio: 1.6x
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF, up to 1080p 59.94 fps
  • Shutter Speed: 30 - 1/4000 sec.
  • Auto White Balance with Ambience priority / White priority
  • Wi-Fi, NFC & Bluetooth
  • 3" (7.7/7.5cm) Vari-angle Touchscreen LCD, 1040K dots
  • Flash X-sync: 1/200 sec.
  • SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
  • Similar Price (at US authorized retailers, excluding rebates)

Primary Advantages of the Canon EOS Rebel T7i/800D:

  • Native compatibility with EF, EF-S, TS-E & MP-E lenses
  • More Sensitive AF: down to EV -3 vs. EV -2
  • Larger Buffer: Up to 27 RAW/unlimited JPEG vs. 10/33
  • Wider Exposure Compensation Range: +/-5 EV vs. +/-3 EV
  • Large Auto ISO Range: 100 - 25600 vs. 100 - 6400
  • Higher Power Flash: 13.1 GN vs. 5
  • Optical Viewfinder
  • Longer Battery Life: 820 shots vs. 235 (370 in Eco Mode)
  • Compatible with E3-type remotes, smartphones/tablets and BR-E1 (Bluetooth) vs. BR-E1 and smartphones/tablets only

Primary Advantages of the Canon EOS M50:

  • Native compatibility with EF-M lenses, compatible with EF, EF-S, TS-E & MP-E lenses via adapter
  • Newer Processor: DIGIC 8 vs. DIGIC 7
  • More AF Points: 143 vs. 45
  • Faster Burst Rate: Approx 10.0 fps RAW (7.4 with Servo AF) vs. 6
  • Better Face Detection: Eye AF vs. Face AF
  • Wider Metering Range: EV 0 – 20 vs. EV 1 – 20
  • Higher Resolution Video: 4K UHD vs. FHD 1080p
  • Electronic Viewfinder
  • Smaller: 4.6 x 3.5 x 2.3" (116.3 x 88.1 x 58.7mm) vs. 5.16 x 3.93 x 3.00" (131.0 x 99.9 x 76.2mm)
  • Lighter: 13.7 oz (387g) vs. 18.77 oz (532g)

Who should opt for the Canon EOS Rebel T7i/800D?

If you are a current Rebel-series owner but want the benefits of a Dual Pixel CMOS sensor, and the size and weight of your current kit is a non-issue, then the EOS Rebel T7i/800D will offer a seamless transition with no adapters required to use your current set of lenses and a familiar button/control layout that feels right at home in your hands. With no adapter required for use with EF, EF-S, TS-E & MP-E lenses, there's one less vital piece of gear to be forgotten or malfunction. Just remember your fully charged battery and a memory card, throw your lenses in a bag and you're good to go (although we do recommend packing other items as well).

Note that the T7i has an optical viewfinder (OVF) while the EOS M5 has an electronic viewfinder (EVF), and both show up as advantages for their respective cameras. Depending on what you're shooting and what your preferences are, either one may be more beneficial than the other. Check out our OVF vs. EVF comparison here.

If you're interested in exploring off-camera lighting, the Rebel T7i offers an integrated Speedlite transmitter that will allow you to control off-camera Canon Speedlites remotely. To get the same functionality with the EOS M50, you would need a master flash (600EX II-RT / 430EX III-RT) or ST-E3-RT / ST-E2 transmitter, reducing the mirrorless camera's size/weight benefits.

The Rebel T7i's more sensitive AF system is able to lock on in lower light, and its battery will keep you shooting long after the EOS M50's battery has been exhausted.

Who should opt for the Canon EOS M50?

The EOS M50 represents a huge step up in image quality for those coming directly from a smartphone, and its size and weight will provide an easier transition into ILC (Interchangeable Lens Camera) photography compared to a traditional DSLR body. The EOS M50 will also be a great choice for current Canon DSLR owners who want a compact option that can also serve as a backup camera in a pinch (with the adapter) or otherwise want a reduced load for vacations, hiking or business trips, especially when one of Canon's EF-M series lenses will fit the bill perfectly.

Want to capture 4K video? The M50 has you covered (albeit without the benefits of Dual Pixel CMOS AF). If 1080p output is your goal, you can easily downsample 4K video (with very slight cropping on the right and left sides), crop the frame to provide a tighter angle of view, or even pan your FHD video within the confines of the 4K captured frame. You can also mimic zooming in and out of a scene to add even more production value to your 1080p movies. When not utilizing 4K capture, the M50 offers similar benefits as the Rebel T7i, including DPAF subject tracking.

On top of the size and weight advantages of an M-series kit, the M50's faster burst rate in single shot mode can help you capture the peak action as long as AF tracking is not needed for the specific situation. And if you prefer the benefits of an EVF (Electronic Viewfinder), then the M5 becomes the easy choice.

Summary

While the EOS M50 is a moderately capable camera with the size and weight benefits a mirrorless system brings, Canon's current [limited] EF-M lens selection may not provide all the flexibility desired in an ILC kit. And while Canon's complete EF/EF-S/TS-E/MP-E lenses can be used with an adapter, using lenses designed for DSLRs on a mirrorless camera negates much of its most alluring quality, its reduced size and weight.

On the other hand, the EOS Rebel T7i/800D, with its native ability to mount Canon's full range of EF, EF-S, TS-E and MP-E lenses, along with its higher battery life and built-in Speedlite transmitter, represents a simpler and more versatile platform on which to build a photography kit.

For those general purpose photography situations where a single, variable aperture zoom lens will suffice, the EOS M50 paired with an EF-M zoom lens can be a very convient option that will not be a burden to carry throughout the day. Note that as Canon releases more EF-M lenses, the versatility of an M-series kit increases along with the M50's appeal.

More Information:

Posted: 5/22/2018 11:03:03 AM ET   Posted By: Sean
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