Canon 30D versus Canon M50

The Canon EOS 30D and the Canon EOS M50 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2006 and February 2018. The 30D is a DSLR, while the M50 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The 30D has a resolution of 8.2 megapixel, whereas the M50 provides 24 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their size, their sensors, their features, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Canon 30D vs Canon M50

The physical size and weight of the Canon 30D and the Canon M50 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter. If you prefer, you can also use the toggle button to switch to a comparison in percentage terms (in this case, the camera on the left side – the 30D – represents the basis for the calculations across all the size and weight measures).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon M50 is considerably smaller (33 percent) than the Canon 30D. Moreover, the M50 is substantially lighter (50 percent) than the 30D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 30D nor the M50 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the 30D gets 750 shots out of its BP-511A battery, while the M50 can take 235 images on a single charge of its LP-E12 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The M50 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 44 percent) than the 30D, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison: Canon 30D vs Canon M50

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the M50 is 2 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the M50 offers a higher resolution of 24 megapixel, compared with 8.2 MP of the 30D. This megapixel advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.72μm versus 6.42μm for the 30D). However, it should be noted that the M50 is much more recent (by 12 years) than the 30D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The M50 indeed provides for movie recording, while the 30D does not. The highest resolution format that the M50 can use is 4K/24p.

Feature comparison: Canon 30D vs Canon M50

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the M50 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the 30D has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 30D and Canon M50 along with similar information for a selection of comparators. The full specs-sheets can be found in the camera manual or, for example, in the dpreview camera hub.

The M50 is a current model that online retailers, such as amazon, will have in stock. In contrast, the 30D has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 30D was succeeded by the Canon 40D.

Review summary: Canon 30D vs Canon M50

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 30D or the Canon M50 – has the upper hand? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 30D:

• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Easier setting verification: Has an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (8000/sec vs 4000/sec) to freeze action.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 235) on a single battery charge.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2006).

Advantages of the Canon EOS M50:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 8.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 71%.
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/24p video.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 230k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (116x88mm vs 144x106mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 395g or 50 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (44 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 12 years of technical progress since the 30D launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the M50 is the clear winner of the contest (13 : 5 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 30D or the M50. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable. This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The detailed reviews can be accessed by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

Review scores
Camera							Camera Launch (year)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (amazon)	Used Price (ebay)
	Canon 30D (⇒ rgt)	87/100 HiRec	HiRec	reviewed	reviewed	-	2006	1,399	discont.	check
	Canon M50 (⇒ lft)	Rec	79/100 Silver	..	..	3.5/5	2018	779	latest	check
	Canon 77D (⇒ lft | rgt)	..	82/100 Silver	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	2017	899	latest	check
	Canon M100 (⇒ lft | rgt)	Rec	..	4/5	..	3.5/5	2017	499	latest	check
	Canon M6 (⇒ lft | rgt)	-	80/100 Silver	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	2017	779	latest	check
	Canon M5 (⇒ lft | rgt)	Rec	82/100 Silver	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	2016	979	latest	check
	Canon M3 (⇒ lft | rgt)	reviewed	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	2015	679	discont.	check
	Canon 60D (⇒ lft | rgt)	87/100 Rec	79/100 Silver	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	2010	1,399	discont.	check
	Canon 7D (⇒ lft | rgt)	93/100 HiRec	84/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	2009	1,699	discont.	check
	Canon 50D (⇒ lft | rgt)	90/100 HiRec	HiRec	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	2008	1,299	discont.	check
	Canon 40D (⇒ lft | rgt)	90/100 HiRec	HiRec	4.5/5	reviewed	4.5/5	2007	1,299	discont.	check
	Canon XTi (⇒ lft | rgt)	85/100 HiRec	HiRec	reviewed	4.5/5	4/5	2006	799	discont.	check
	Canon XT (⇒ lft | rgt)	80/100	HiRec	reviewed	reviewed	-	2005	899	discont.	check
	Canon 20D (⇒ lft | rgt)	-	HiRec	-	reviewed	-	2004	1,499	discont.	check
	Canon 10D (⇒ lft | rgt)	-	HiRec	-	reviewed	-	2003	1,999	discont.	check
	Nikon D80 (⇒ lft | rgt)	86/100 Rec	HiRec	reviewed	4.5/5	4.5/5	2006	999	discont.	check
	Nikon D200 (⇒ lft | rgt)	91/100 HiRec	HiRec	reviewed	5/5	-	2005	1,699	discont.	check

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when refering to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

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